Wayne W. Antenen, Ph.D.

Wayne W. Antenen, Ph.D. died June 21, 2025, at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. He was born on April 8, 1931, in Highland, Illinois, son of Fremont H. Antenen and Florence (Zobrist) Antenen. Wayne was predeceased by his parents and daughters, Julie Beth Antenen and Amy Jo Antenen. He is survived by his wife, Mary Christofferson Antenen, son Wes F. Antenen and wife Amy Davis Antenen, daughter-in-law Marykay Mentzer, grandchildren Emma C. Antenen and Charles W. Antenen, brother Lowell D. Antenen and wife Eleanor, four nieces and three nephews.

Wayne earned his BS (1953) and MS (1957) Degrees from Illinois State University. In 1963, he earned his Ph.D. in Counseling and Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois. During the Korean War, he served as a medical laboratory specialist in the U.S. Army Medical Services Corps.

After earning his Ph.D., Wayne served four years on the faculty of the University of Florida. In 1967, he joined the faculty of the University of Georgia in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services. He was Department Chairman, 1975-77. As a member of the UGA Graduate Faculty, Wayne was the major professor for sixty-two doctoral students. During his career, he was a State of Georgia licensed and nationally certified Professional Counselor. Wayne was a member of the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association. He was a member (1969-72) of the Ethical Practices Committee of APGA, forerunner of the American Counseling Association.

In 1970, Wayne and a colleague founded the Child and Family Guidance Center, now the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation, in the College of Education. He co-directed the Center for fifteen years. In 1984 with two other UGA faculty members, he developed the UGA Graduate Certificate Program in Marriage and Family Therapy and served on the program’s Executive Committee for several years.

For ten years, Wayne was a consultant to the U.S. Department of Labor in the area of employment counseling and client assessment. He was consulting editor of a twelve-volume competency based, in-service training program for employment counselors and counseling supervisors published by the U.S. Department of Labor. The training program was available to all federal / state employment service agencies in the nation. Wayne provided technical assistance to State Agencicies for implementation of these programs.

In 1977, Wayne served on a National Task Force to review and update the Federal Regulations for U.S. Employment Service Counseling. He was a member of the National Advisory Board (1978-80) to the Stanford Research Institute’s National Study of the Impact of Counseling in the U.S. Employment Service. Wayne was awarded the Distinguished Professional Service Award by the National Employment Counselors Association and later served as the Association’s President, 1980-81.

In 1986 following Dr. Jan Kemp’s trial and the subsequent University System of Georgia’s audit of the UGA Division of Developmental Studies, Wayne was asked to direct the Division. He, with the faculty and staff of the Division, refined polices and developed academic assistance programs to serve a broader range of UGA students. The program is now titled the Division of Academic Enhancement. In 1992, Wayne served as Chairman of the University System of Georgia Advisory Committee on Developmental Studies / Learning Support. For ten years, he was a member of the NCAA sanctioned UGA Professional Sports Counseling Panel for student athletes.

Wayne retired from UGA in 1995 as Professor Emeritus. He was honored by Illinois State University with induction into the College of Education Hall of Fame in 2005.

Wayne cherished family gatherings and during retirement, enjoyed breakfast and poker sessions with former colleagues. For many years, he was an avid largemouth bass fisherman on Georgia and Florida lakes. He especially valued Florida fishing trips with his son, Wes. Wayne was a devoted fan of UGA football and basketball.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the:

Crohns & Colitis Foundation

https://bit.ly/antenenmemorial

For check donations, please send to:

Attention: Antenen Tribute

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

4780 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Suite 540 #474

Atlanta, Georgia 30338-5504

A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, is in charge of arrangements.