Dr. Scott Pegan, CoP associate professor in the department of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences, has been named chair of the University Council Executive Committee for the University of Georgia, effective immediately. This is the first time in the 114-year history of the College of Pharmacy that a faculty member from the college has served in this capacity.
The University Council serves to promote the educational interests of UGA. Specifically, the council votes on recommendations from its various standing committees, acts in an advisory capacity to UGA President Jere Morehead, and serves as an outlet through which the campus community can voice an opinion regarding university policies and initiatives. Further, this committee accepts or rejects items received from various standing committees, among other entities, to be placed on a given University Council agenda. This committee also considers and reports to the council on any issue affecting the general welfare of the university.
In addition, Dr. Pegan will represent the entire faculty of UGA in various capacities, including serving as Grand Marshal of the University commencement ceremonies, as well as representing the University on the University System of Georgia Faculty Council and the Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Faculty Senate Leaders. He also will represent the faculty as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association and as an ex-officio voting trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation.
Since he joined UGA’s College of Pharmacy in 2014, Dr. Pegan’s research has focused on the regulation of the human innate immune system, the discovery of new therapeutics for nerve and pesticide agent poisoning, and the discovery of new antibiotics for use against tuberculosis. Dr. Pegan earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of California in San Diego, where he received the Kamen Award for Best Dissertation in Biology and Chemistry. He is a U.S. Army Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran and a U.S. Army Reserve Major and biochemist for the United States Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. Along with his current duties, Dr. Pegan serves as the University System of Georgia Faculty Council chair-elect.
For more information on Dr. Pegan, see The Pegan Lab, along with his profile in UGA’s Focus on Faculty.
