The University paid the first $250,000 installment Tuesday to the Athens Homeless Property Corporation, the next step in completing transfer of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School property to the University for use as a health sciences campus.

The payment was triggered by the U.S. Department of Education’s March 21 approval of the University’s application to acquire the Navy School property as a public benefit conveyance. With the approval of the U.S. Navy – the next step in the process – the property would be given to the University without further charge.

Under federal law, property of military bases that are being closed are to be disposed of in a manner that benefits the homeless. The Local Redevelopment Authority charged with selecting a use for the Navy School property agreed that it would support transfer of the site as a public benefit conveyance in exchange for the University’s payment of a total of $8 million to support local homeless programs. The first payment was due upon U.S. Department of Education approval of the plan. It will be used to plan for the acquisition of replacement property and construction of offsite facilities for local homeless services providers.

“We are thrilled with the progress UGA is making with both state funding and DoEd approval,” said Buddy Allen, chair of the Athens LRA. “Receiving this first payment allows us to put into motion our plans for acquisition and construction of new facilities to serve the homeless population in Athens.”

“The community’s support and cooperation in this project has been critical, and we are very pleased that, with the support of the LRA and others, this project has moved to an important next step,” said University President Michael F. Adams. “We are well within the projected timeline and very much look forward to receiving final title to the property, at which time it is agreed we will make the remainder of the payment to the homeless corporation.”

Real estate mogul to present lecture

Thomas G. Cousins, one of the icons of Atlanta real estate, will give the final spring lecture of the Terry Leadership Speaker Series on Friday, April 25, at 10 a.m. in room 120 of the University’s Law School.

Cousins’ talk, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Institute for Leadership Advancement at the University’s Terry College of Business.

Cousins is chairman emeritus and founder of Cousins Properties Inc., which he started in 1958. Today it is one of the country’s premier real estate development companies and among the largest equity real estate investment trusts.

He is the fourth business leader this spring to address students through the expanded Terry Leadership Speaker Series. David Hanna, chairman and CEO of CompuCredit Corp., spoke in February. Cynthia Cooper, the WorldCom whistleblower who uncovered the largest corporate fraud in U.S. history and Allison O’Kelly, who won Terry’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award last year as the entrepreneur who founded and leads Mom Corps, a nationwide staffing company. Both speakers gave lectures in March.

“It was our goal to increase the number of opportunities that our students have to learn from well-known leaders, who represent various companies and industries, as well as different stages of the typical career in business,” said Robert Sumichrast, dean of the Terry College. “The kind of challenges that leaders face and what they’ve done with the opportunities they’ve been given to lead others are important lessons for our students to hear.”

Univ. publishers to receive Gov. Award

The University of Georgia Press will receive a 2008 Governor’s Award in the Humanities for its distinguished publishing program, which has enriched the humanities in Georgia. The press, nine Georgians from across the state and one other organization will be honored at the 23rd Governor’s Awards in the Humanities luncheon, which will take place at the Old Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in Atlanta on May 8.
Established in 1938, the press is marking 70 years of service to the state of Georgia and to readers. Its books represent high standards of scholarship, editing and design. Additionally, the press has reintroduced masterworks of out-of-print fiction and non-fiction through the Brown Thrasher series. The press has been a partner to the Georgia Center for the Book, public libraries and other venues devoted to reading and discussion. It is also a partner in the development of the New Georgia Encyclopedia, the first state encyclopedia originally conceived as an online publication.

“The University of Georgia Press has worked tirelessly to uphold our history and heritage,” said Gov. Sonny Perdue. “I salute all the winners for their efforts to promote the humanities in Georgia.”

Recipients of the Governor’s Awards are nominated by the public, reviewed by a committee of the Georgia Humanities Council board and approved by the governor.

“These individuals and organizations build community, character and citizenship in our state through their efforts,” said Jamil S. Zainaldin, president of the Georgia Humanities Council.

- University News Service