October ’24 DAR Star: Stacy Stanford
We work with absolutely incredible people — and we all have varied interests and experiences, which adds to the unique makeup of the University of Georgia. We’ll be regularly spotlighting a few rock stars from around the division so that even if you don’t cross paths with them in the break room or Zoom with them on a weekly basis, you can get to know colleagues who can enhance your work life and productivity.
Without further ado, please enjoy our Q&A with Stacy …
Name: Stacy Stanford
Title: Senior Director of Business Engagement
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As the senior director of business engagement, I help connect some of Georgia’s largest corporations to UGA’s talented students, world-class faculty, philanthropic priorities, research opportunities, and core facilities & services. Our team serves as the university’s strategic partner to companies of all sizes and works to develop a pipeline of talent and identify areas for growth and partnership with industry.
Where can we find you?
- Online: ude.agu@drofnats.ycats
- On Campus: 1 Press Place
- At Home: Statham, Georgia
Time in DAR: 5 and 1/2 years!
What are 3 things you wish others in DAR knew about your job?
- Working with some of the university’s most strategic industry partners takes patience, persistence, and COLLABORATION with so many campus partners.
- Our office represents the vast depth and breadth of the entire campus when working with our industry partners, so we constantly strive to make their experience with UGA as seamless as possible.
- I always choose the long term strategy over the short term win. These company partnerships will be around long after I am gone, and many of them were established long before I got here!
What is a work project you’ve been most proud of participating in? Co-establishing and co-leading our inaugural campus strategy team for Chick-fil-A and the Cathy family.
What is your favorite reason for working for UGA/DAR? My passion for the Bulldog Nation combined with my passion for developing strategic corporate partnerships.
On a typical Saturday evening, you can find me… Watching the Dawgs play on a patio somewhere with the grill going!
No. 1 tip for someone just joining DAR? Get comfortable with GAIL as soon as you can! Go grab coffee or go on a walk with people from different departments and in different roles. And don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions — there is so much to learn here!
Outside of work, I’m passionate about… Cheering on my kids in football, baseball, flagline, swimming, and theatre!
Tell us about your family! I met my husband (of 20 years!) during our junior year at UGA and we have a daughter in 9th grade, son in 6th grade, and a chocolate lab. Outside of work, you can find me in a football stadium, at a ballpark, or swimming pool cheering them on!
We hope you learned something new about Stacy. We are lucky to have her on our DAR team! Don’t hesitate to reach out to her to talk football over coffee!
