Matthew L. Bishop, Ph.D. Director Current Position: Matt Bishop serves as the director of the University of Georgia's J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, an interdisciplinary unit of public service and outreach. Current Activities and Expertise: As director, he leads a 15-member, multi-disciplinary faculty that works directly with individuals, community and civic groups, non-profit organizations, and youth and adult-based leadership organizations to develop and implement leadership development programming. Bishop has an extensive background in leadership and community economic development, community visioning, strategic planning, and group facilitation processes. Previous Experience: Previously, Bishop was a faculty member with the University of Georgia's Archway Partnership where he was responsible for overseeing operations and managing faculty in Archway communities. He has served as UGA's lead faculty for statewide initiatives such as the Department of Community Affairs' Communities of Opportunity Initiative and the University of Georgia's Initiative on Poverty and the Economy. Before joining the university of Georgia, Bishop served two governors as associate director of the Georgia Rural Development Council, as a regional coordinator with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and as an analyst with the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. He is former chairman of the Celebrating Rural Georgia conference, and a former board member of the Georgia Rural Health Association. Education: 1997, B.A., political science, Presbyterian College 1999, M.P.A., public administration, University of Georgia 2012, Ph.D., public administration, University of Georgia Awards: 2013 University of Georgia’s Walter Barnard Hill Award, which recognizes distinguished achievement in public service and outreach by UGA faculty and public service professionals 2013 Presbyterian College's Young Alumnus of the Year Award 2013 Georgia Trend's 40 under 40 Boards: Leadership Georgia L.E.A.D. Athens Steering Committee Georgia 4-H State Advisory Committee
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