President Bonita Jacobs engages with students during the 2023 Spirit Night.
Article By: Denise Ray
It's no secret that students affectionately refer to University of North Georgia (UNG) President Bonita Jacobs as "PBJ," and now students will have a chance to talk with Jacobs at an event dubbed "PBJs with PBJ." UNG’s Student Government Association (SGA) is hosting the event, which will take place on March 30 at the Dahlonega Campus at the shuttle stop by Barnes Hall and Dunlap Hall from noon to 1 p.m.
"Through this event, we hope that students may join us for an enjoyable time and learn a little bit more about the role of President Jacobs and SGA together. Additionally, we seek to informally give students a chance to talk with and thank President Jacobs for all her contributions as president before she retires this summer," Anna Møller, SGA president, said.
President Jacobs has a lot on her plate, and she does all that for students. SGA works for students, too. This is an event that was designed in such a way to provide that visibility, transparency and accessibility to the student body and the UNG community.
Mallory Rodriguez
UNG's director of student life and leadership programs
The menu will include various peanut-butter-and jelly-themed refreshments, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, thumbprint cookies with grape and strawberry jelly, peanut butter cookies with chocolate candies, no-bake peanut butter bars with chocolate, and gluten-free cookies.
"It's definitely a term of endearment. People love her. She's just such a lovely person and is so positive and enjoys her interactions with students," Mallory Rodriguez, director of student life and leadership programs, said. "She enjoys being able to have an informal way to connect, including personal conversations. This is just a great format to be able to have those interactions."
The event is something Møller hopes will set a precedent.
"As we seek to build further traditions at our university, this event is an important step in building collaborative events between SGA and the university president, which is something we hope to continue as the new president begins in July," Møller said. "It is important for students to have the opportunity to meet the president face to face and to see the direct collaborative partnership that SGA engages in with the president to make positive change on their behalf."
After discussions with Jacobs' staff and the Office of University Events, they decided that this would be a way to have some fun with the students and honor Jacobs before she retires, Rodriguez said.
"President Jacobs has a lot on her plate, and she does all that for students. SGA works for students, too. This is an event that was designed in such a way to provide that visibility, transparency and accessibility to the student body and the UNG community," Rodriguez said.
