Image: Julianne O’Connell, a current McBee Institute Ph.D. candidate, was recently featured as a part of the University of Georgia’s Beyond the Arch, a collection of stories that highlights UGA’s top students and alumni who have taken their success far beyond the arch. As an adventurer with a heart for service and building community through food security, O’Connell exemplifies someone who has traveled beyond UGA and Athens to make a difference. The feature article highlights O’Connell’s extraordinary journey of service from her undergraduate career as a dedicated UGArden member and resident advisor in Creswell Hall to her international adventures teaching English and German in Indonesia and Austria. After a stint of visiting over 30 countries, O’Connell made her way back to the Classic City to pursue a Ph.D. and to focus on improving student support services for the next generation. “Julianne’s commitment to serving others is both inspiring and infectious. We are truly grateful for her efforts to reduce food insecurity and to build community at UGA and beyond.” said Erik Ness, director of the McBee Institute. Since her return to UGA, O’Connell has led the Higher Education Student Society and served on the McBee Institute Public Service and Outreach Committee. Julianne is also a graduate assistant in UGA’s Office of Service Learning and previously served as a graduate resident advisor in her former home, Creswell Hall. “Julianne endlessly impresses me.” said Tim Cain, McBee Institute faculty member and O’Connell’s major professor. “Our many conversations about her work on food insecurity, her service activities, and travel adventures are always fascinating because Julianne is. She was the 2021-2022 recipient of the J. Douglas Toma Excellence in Scholarship and Service Award, presented by the faculty each year to a student in recognition of their combination of academic accomplishments and service contributions. She exemplifies the spirit behind the award and continues to live up to the noble ideals which it recognizes.” Read the full feature on Julianne O’Connell here: https://stories.uga.edu/spearheading-service/ Type of News/Audience: General News
