Effective July 1, Steve Dempsey, associate vice president in the office of the vice president for public service and outreach at the University of Georgia, has been named interim director of UGA's Fanning Institute.

Dempsey will be succeeding Joe Whorton, long a fixture in public service, who is retiring July 1. Dempsey previously served as the assistant director of the Institute of Community and Area Development at UGA.

“We are fortunate to be able to call on Steve for this leadership role. He brings many years of experience in public service to UGA and has an in-depth knowledge of Georgia’s communities. During the interim period, Steve will provide administrative leadership for new and continuing programs and projects currently being carried out by Fanning faculty and staff," stated Jennifer Frum, vice president for public service and outreach.