The University of Georgia announced on Mar. 27 that selected professors will receive a permanent salary increase of $10,000 and an annual academic support allocation of $5,000 as part of the recognition for the title of University Professor.
The announcement highlights the significance of recognizing faculty who have made notable contributions to teaching, research, and service at the university. Nominations are submitted by deans from UGA’s schools and colleges, reviewed by a committee, and recommendations are made to the provost.
Wayne Parrott, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is among those recognized. Parrott has contributed to international education initiatives after being inspired by his own study abroad experience. He worked with UGA’s Office of Global Engagement to develop best practices for study abroad programs and chaired its risk management board for seven years. Parrott also played a key role in developing undergraduate and graduate programs in biotechnology-related fields at UGA. “Over the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Parrott has made transformative contributions to the University of Georgia through visionary leadership in international education, curriculum innovation and strategic program development, advancing the university’s mission in teaching, research and service,” a colleague wrote.
O.E. “Gene” Rhodes is another honoree serving as UGA Athletic Association Professor in Applied Ecology at Odum School of Ecology. Rhodes has led significant growth at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), increasing staff numbers substantially while expanding external funding sources during his tenure as director since 2012. His efforts contributed to SREL’s mission to provide independent environmental evaluations related to Savannah River Site operations for both public stakeholders and federal agencies such as the Department of Energy. Rhodes said: “While I am proud of the impacts that my approach to scholarship have had on the success of faculty and students at UGA, I believe my most significant and transformative achievements at UGA have been in the area of academic leadership.” A colleague added: “Dr. Rhodes has exceptional credentials as a leader…he has seeded careers, advanced the state of his discipline…and catalyzed positive change in virtually every project he has touched.”
Both professors have also been active scholars—Parrott with over 125 publications mentoring many students; Rhodes publishing more than 260 scholarly works including two edited books—and continue contributing significantly within their disciplines.
These appointments reflect ongoing efforts by UGA to recognize academic leadership that strengthens its educational programs while supporting continued innovation across departments.
