Executive Director's Welcome
	Welcome to the Office of Regional Engagement. Our vision is to engage North Georgia's four leadership themes, as set out by President Potter's 2007 Strategic Planning white paper:

• Leadership in Teaching and Learning Innovation
The Office of Regional Engagement supports instructors using diverse teaching techniques by developing infrastructure for service learning partnerships and offering an array of continuing education classes for lifelong learning. Also, through the Office of Sponsored Programs, faculty and staff are able to identify appropriate funding opportunities to improve their teaching.

• Leadership in Educating Engaged Citizens
Because the development of engaged citizens requires practice, involvement beyond the classroom extending into the community is essential. The Office of Regional Engagement is developing service learning partnerships to provide experiential learning opportunities associated with community life.

• Leadership in Regional Development
As the only comprehensive university in the region, North Georgia has an obligation to lead regional development through education and through partnerships for economic and community development. Educational partnerships especially represent a valuable long-range investment in our future, improving the quality of our next generation of students and their capabilities to stay in our region and lead its development. The Office of Regional Engagement coordinates academic programs to tailor our educational programs and services to regional needs and fosters relationships with regional schools, business and industry, non-profit organizations, and community governance agencies to improve the quality of our lives together. Partnerships with K-12 schools, businesses small and large, and health care institutions are three of the most significant areas of potential contribution to our region.

• Leadership in Living Our Values
North Georgia is valued as a place that cares for its students, providing an individualized educational experience of intellectual and personal worth. A culture that respects the dignity of each individual, acts on the basis of humane values, and nurtures and serves others, North Georgia is a learning-centered organization, guided by professional standards that are adhered to by all. We in Regional Engagements demand of ourselves the highest standards of human and professional behavior, offering an example for our students to emulate as they assume leadership in their lives beyond our institution.

Please contact us to become a part of our vision as we collaborate to fulfill it.

Sincerely,
Donna A. Gessell, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Regional Engagement
Office: 202 Vickery House
EMail: dgessell@ngcsu.edu
Phone: 706-864-1543
Fax: 706-867-2795
Vitae