Focus on the Faculty: Kecia Thomas

Great profile on our own associate dean for faculty leadership development and diversity, Kecia Thomas:

What are some highlights of your career at UGA?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have cultivated a career at UGA that has led to many articles, books, grants and awards. As a “first-gen” college student, I’ve certainly accomplished far more than most people would have thought possible, myself included. However, without a doubt the highlight of my time at UGA has been the hooding of each one of my doctoral students. It is a privilege to be able to support a young scholar in the development of his or her career and then witness their launch as a scientist-practitioner but also as a colleague and a friend.

How does your research or scholarship inspire your teaching, and vice versa?

They are so completely intertwined that it is difficult to disentangle them. Certainly my research program reinforces for me the importance of “getting it right” in the classroom and impressing upon students and modeling for them the importance of being an effective and inclusive leader. The interaction among professors and students results in a constant process of fine-tuning our theories, hypotheses and methodologies.

One of our best. Read the whole thing.