Anne Shaffer has been named the Associate Dean of the University of Georgia’s Graduate School by Ron Walcott, the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School. In this position, she will be responsible for academic affairs and will support the development and implementation of strategic initiatives.
As an Associate Professor in the department of Psychology with dual appointments in the Clinical Psychology and Brain and Behavioral Sciences programs, Shaffer has served as the graduate coordinator for the department since 2017. She has also served since January 2020 as an Administrative Fellow in the Office of Inclusion and Diversity Leadership in the Dean’s office of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She is an elected member of University Council, serving on the Human Resources committee and previously on the Faculty Affairs committee. Shaffer is a selected participant in this year’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology, sponsored by the American Psychological Association, with prior participation in UGA’s Office of Faculty Affairs Future Leaders program and the Faculty Leadership Institute.
Shaffer’s research focuses on risk, resilience, and development in the family context, with an emphasis on emotion regulation and communication. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and her research is supported by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, targeting the development of novel interventions and measures of parenting.
The internal search committee, chaired by Jean Martin-Williams, was impressed by Shaffer’s record in research and student mentoring that showed a strong commitment to equity and justice in graduate education. They noted her prior experiences in graduate education point to her abilities to strengthen collaborations with campus partners in innovative, student-focused ways.
With a strong record of mentorship in her department and on campus, Shaffer has served as a mentor in the Gateway to Graduate School and TRIO McNair Scholars programs, and in the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities. She is a member of the UGA McCoy-Hutchinson Graduate Mentoring Academy and a trained facilitator in the Entering Mentoring curriculum offered by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER).
“Dr. Shaffer’s experience in working with graduate students brings an added dimension to our work in the Graduate School and will help us to expand our capacity to enhance their academic and personal well-being,” Dean Walcott said. “Her ability to work with colleagues across the university will help us to build exemplary graduate programs and recruit exceptional students as part of our strategic efforts to grow graduate education.”
Dr. Shaffer said, “I am honored by the opportunity to promote graduate education at UGA, and to serve the Graduate School’s mission of inclusive excellence. I look forward to working with the broader graduate community in pursuit of these goals.”
