Public Service Recognition Week 2026
Why I Serve
In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, we’re sharing what inspires our team members.
Whether behind the scenes or on the front lines, our faculty and staff are making a difference.
They work closely with government and community leaders to build stronger communities, drive economic success, and improve quality of life across Georgia.
Here are reasons why they serve.
Leigh Askew Elkins, Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Leigh Askew Elkins, Infrastructure and Community Resilience
“I want to make an impact; I want to be able to say and see that I helped create positive change.
We’re making a difference for Georgians every day. Whether training elected officials, engaging high school students on a downtown master plan, or working with a state agency to rebrand and revive a program, you can see the impacts across the state.
Creating and investing in places people want to live and play, like vibrant downtowns and parks, while also protecting and managing the state’s rich diversity of natural resources, attracts economic development to Georgia.”
Karen DeMeester, Survey Research and Evaluation Support
Karen DeMeester, Survey Research and Evaluation Support
“In my work, I witness and support the broad, societal impacts that come from integrating UGA research and public service missions. Research is most impactful when focused on understanding and addressing the needs of real people in communities across Georgia and beyond.
Public service ensures research is relevant, community-driven and benefits people’s lives.
Georgians often face complex challenges that require teams of people with varied knowledge, skills and lived experiences.
Collaborative teams of research and public service faculty have the potential to profoundly change people’s lives, and that’s why I love my job.”
Eric Robinson, Governmental Training, Education, and Development
Eric Robinson, Governmental Training, Education, and Development
“I’m most excited in the morning before class begins...
My motivation comes from the challenge of presenting content in a way that every participant understands its relevance to their work and inspires them to apply the concepts they learn in class.
Our work is important because we provide participants with the knowledge, skills and abilities to function more effectively in the workplace, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Georgia.
It’s a privilege and honor that government entities and citizens trust us to assist them.”
Brian Simmons, Survey Research and Evaluation Support
Brian Simmons, Survey Research and Evaluation Support
“My work allows me to translate the experiences and voices of Georgians into actionable evidence for state agencies, supporting decisions grounded in real data rather than assumptions. This deepens our understanding of how programs function and highlights opportunities to make them more responsive and effective.
By systematically collecting and analyzing feedback through rigorous surveys and evaluations, we support smarter policy choices and stronger outcomes for Georgians.
Ultimately, our work amplifies individual perspectives, improves the quality of services they rely on, and helps state agencies deliver services that are more efficient, transparent and impactful for communities across the state.”
McKenna Eavenson, Infrastructure and Community Resilience
McKenna Eavenson, Infrastructure and Community Resilience
“Working in Public Service and Outreach allows me to give back to the state of Georgia in the same way it has invested in me.
As a lifelong Georgian and a University of Georgia alum now pursuing my MPA here, I’ve seen how strong partnerships between people and institutions build resilient communities.
Through my work, I help equip government officials and staff with energy-related knowledge to support informed decision-making and long-term resilience.
It’s an honor to connect UGA expertise and communities across the state, and I’m grateful to serve a state that has given me so much.”
About the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government
Founded in 1927, the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government informs, innovates, and inspires so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. As an integral part of the University of Georgia’s public service and outreach mission, the Institute of Government’s faculty, staff, and students work every day to provide the highest quality educational programing, on-the-ground assistance, and innovative tools that equip government leaders, build stronger communities, inspire economic success, and improve quality of life throughout the state of Georgia.
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