Jonathan B. Hardy - Leadership Sponsor / Admin Contact

IT Director for EITS Systems Engineering & Telephone Services
706.542.7873

Jonathan is an IT Director within EITS. He has participated as both a mentor and protégé in the program for years, and in 2017 he began serving as the leadership sponsor for the Mentorship Program. Jonathan is passionate about bridging across organizational silos through evolving the traditional roles of IT in Higher Education. He co-facilitates the emotional-IQ professional development program (People Skills) at the University of Georgia, helping faculty and staff foster stronger relationships and collaborations across the organization. In addition to this program, Jonathan has helped start and/or lead multiple mentorship programs within University of Georgia and EDUCAUSE.

Alex Medina - Co-Chair

IT Professional Specialist for Terry College OIT
706.542.6799

Alex started at UGA in 2006. He helped build the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences help desk, has managed EITS labs and currently manages the Terry College’s Service desk. He is the father of three boys who inspired him to work with a local Boy Scout troop. He enjoys Athens’ restaurants, working with his hands and western martial arts. Randomness can be a way of life.

Michelle Ranae Griffin - Co-Chair

Administrative Specialist at UGA/AU Medical Partnership
706.713.2218

Michele Griffin is an administrative specialist at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership in the Office of Basic Sciences. Michele has worked at the University of Georgia for over 11 years and earned her Master of Public Administration in 2018 at the University of Georgia School of Public and International affairs. She has served on the University Staff Council since 2011 and is currently the Chair for the Staff Needs and Concerns Committee. Additional University professional service includes co-chair of the 2019 EITS Mentorship Program and a committee member of the UGA Staff Networking Program. Michele is passionate about promoting staff professional development and collaborating with peers to identify staff professional growth and career advancement opportunities.

Wesley R Johnson - Council Member

IT Senior Manager for EITS Email Administraion and Integrations
706.542.3106

Wes Johnson is the IT Manager for the UGAMail team within EITS. He’s been with UGA for 10 years and enjoys helping individuals learn new skills and make new connections. After a being both a mentee and mentor, Wes decided to join the council to facilitate positive experiences for all participants. When not working, you can usually catch him involved in the local Athens music scene both attending and performing.

Jennifer Lauren Leyting - Council Member

Administrative Specialist in Vet Med Department of Infectious Diseases
706.542.0389

Jennifer Leyting works as the assistant to the department head in the Department of Infectious Diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine. She likes being on the council because she gets to play with colorful sticky notes while pairing mentors and proteges. Every winter, she wishes it would snow, but she lives in Georgia. Her favorite color is teal, and she loves all the cute, adorable, fuzzy, scaley creatures.

Cara Winston Simmons - Council Member

Director of Student Success and Advising Center in FACS
706.542.4878

Dr. Cara Simmons serves as Director of the Student Success and Advising Center in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. She is responsible for leading the center’s activities around prospective student recruitment, orientation, academic advising, retention, budgeting, career development, student involvement and leadership, experiential learning, student programming, FACS 2000, and support services initiatives such as Bulldog Basics. Dr. Simmons is a three-time graduate of the University of Georgia.

Stacy Boyles - Council Member

IT Program Manager
706.542.7625

Stacy is an IT Program Manager within EITS at UGA. She maintains the EITS project portfolio, manages complex projects and programs for University-wide initiatives, and oversees the EITS Student Internship Program. Areas of expertise include business analysis, project management, process improvement, training and development, and organization development. Stacy's a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA), an Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and a Six Sigma Green Belt. She leads Project Management training and co-facilitates the emotional-IQ professional development program (People Skills) at UGA, helping faculty and staff foster stronger relationships and collaborations across the organization.

Marie Mize - Council Member

Access Services Manager for the Law School Library
706.542.1922

Marie Mize serves as the law library’s access services manager, overseeing the function of the circulation department. Prior to assuming this role, she worked as the evening circulation assistant. Mize also serves as President of the University of Georgia Staff Council. Additionally, Mize is the Director of the Moina Michael Poppy Project, a nonprofit that works to better the lives of veterans through fundraising and education.
Before working at the university, Mize was an area manager for Remington Products and a store manager for Timex Watches, both located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mize earned her undergraduate degree from Kennesaw State University and her MBA from Auburn University.

Wendy E. Holland - Council Member

Senior Administrative Specialist for School of Forestry
706.542.4741

Wendy Holland has been the assistant to the dean of the Warnell School since July 2015, having spent the previous 15 years in the banking industry. Wendy is a life-long resident of the Athens area, and she along with her husband have three daughters, twins who are freshman at UGA and a 5th grader. Wendy earned her Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Sociology degrees from UGA and is currently working on her Master of Public Administration degree.

Doug Lloyd - Council Member

Systems Administrator Specialist for Franklin College OIT
706.542.9900

Bio forthcoming...

Sarah Nelson - Council Member

Assistant Manager at Bolton Dining Commons
706.542.1255

Bio forthcoming...