Sniff to Assume New Leadership Role at UGA

Danny Sniff (EdD, 2011) will assume a new leadership role at UGA on Jan. 1, 2016 as the director of academic partnerships in the College of Environment and Design.

Sniff has served as associate vice president for facilities planning and University Architect since 2000.

In his new role, he will be working directly with CED Dean Dan Nadenicek to provide leadership for the UGA-Georgia Tech partnership, the Georgia Design Collaboration, and will instruct and oversee students working collaboratively between the professions of landscape architecture, architecture and planning. Sniff will work on other teaching, research, and service projects for the college as well.

Sniff has agreed to continue to serve the Division of Finance and Administration on several special projects that will include overseeing campus master planning efforts at UGA’s extended campuses and outlying facilities, and consulting with the new leadership of the Office of University Architects on an as-needed basis on building design reviews.

Sniff began his career at UGA in 1988 with the Physical Plant (now Facilities Management Division), then was asked to serve as the assistant director of the Campus Planning Office (now the Office of the University Architects) in 1992. He was named director in 1995 and promoted to associate vice president in 2000. During his tenure, Sniff and his team administered over $2.5 billion in new construction and renovated space that resulted in a 50 percent increase in building square footage at UGA.&

A major initiative accomplished under his leadership was the development and completion of UGA’s comprehensive physical master plan in 1997, which helped to guide the transformative development of East Campus with the Ramsey Center, new housing and dining in the East Campus Village, and the Performing and Visual Arts Complex. The plan steered the student-focused development of the Miller Learning Center, the Tate Center Expansion, the Terry College of Business Learning Community, the Russell Special Collections Libraries Building and the new Bolton Dining Commons.

Sniff’s commitment to historic preservation helped direct the systematic renovation of nearly every facility on UGA’s Historic North Campus, including Meigs Hall. In addition, he spearheaded the formation and implementation of a physical master plan to transform the former Navy Supply Corps School property into UGA’s Health Sciences Campus, and also oversaw a number of new and renovated state-of-the-art facilities to support UGA’s growing research enterprise.

Sniff worked closely with UGA and UGA Athletic Association leadership to develop a comprehensive facilities master plan for athletics in 2009, which led to a renovation and expansion of the Butts-Mehre facility, significant upgrades to Stegeman Coliseum and Foley Field, and the establishment of Reed Plaza outside Sanford Stadium. He and his staff also oversaw scores of projects that transpired prior to that master plan, including the Coliseum Training Facility, the Women’s Sports Complex on South Milledge Avenue, and multiple enhancements to Sanford Stadium.

Sniff’s focus on incorporating sustainable practices into every capital project resulted in the removal of several acres of surface parking lots, the installation of a series of raingardens and rainwater collection systems on the main campus, and the establishment of the university’s first green roofs.