January 31, 2025
After a cold and snowy start to 2025, I hope you are settling into the new semester. I am excited about our many opportunities to work together in the new year as we advance excellence in teaching, research, and service at the University of Georgia.
Our university celebrated a tremendous milestone earlier this month with the announcement that three students have been named Schwarzman Scholars. This is the first time UGA has produced three Schwarzman recipients in a single year: seniors Aryan Thakur of Cumming and Amanda Whylie of Kingston, Jamaica, and alumnus Garrett Williams of Atlanta. The prestigious award will allow them to pursue a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, starting this August.
Like our students, faculty at the University of Georgia continue to earn recognition for their exceptional scholarship and research. William “Bill” D. Branch, the Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is the 17th UGA faculty member to receive this honor, which recognizes inventors whose innovations have had a significant impact on society, economic development and quality of life.
The University of Georgia’s online degree programs once again placed among the nation’s best in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Online Programs rankings. Several of our programs placed in the top 10 in the annual survey, which ranks higher education institutions on criteria including engagement, services and technology, faculty credentials and peer assessment. It’s noteworthy that retention rates in UGA’s online programs are close to 100%, thanks to a strong student experience and engaging coursework.
Looking ahead, our Signature Lecture Series will bring distinguished leaders from a variety of disciplines to our campus this semester to share their insights and perspectives. Coordinated by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Signature Lectures feature speakers noted nationally or internationally for their broad, multidisciplinary appeal and compelling bodies of work. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to hear from prominent voices in business, education, the arts and humanities, the sciences and many other disciplines.
Our Active Learning Summit is quickly approaching, and I encourage faculty to register for this important and exciting event. The summit, scheduled for Feb. 27 and 28 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education and Hotel, will showcase the growth of active learning across the university and the impact it has made on thousands of students.
As always, thank you for your commitment to our university and our students. I wish you the best in 2025!
Sincerely,
