News from the Franklin College |
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From the Desk of Dean Anna Stenport |
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Dear Franklin College Alumni,
I hope this finds you well and in the throes of fun summer plans and vacations. As a great research study from psychology doctoral student Ryan Grant pointed out earlier this year, vacations are critical for well-being and the positive effects on life and career stay with us.
Spring commencement 2025 put an exclamation point on the recently ended academic year that saw our college and the university continue its strong upward trajectory. |
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That momentum is fueled by a commitment to student success, reflected in part by record graduation rates, with four-year and six-year rates reaching 76% and 90%, respectively. The reach of that commitment is further represented by a 96% career outcomes rate, with nearly two-thirds of graduates remaining in Georgia. The Franklin College continues to develop new programs and opportunities for students to flourish and build the credentials to meet their ambitions. Just this spring we had new minors and certificates approved in Applied History, Artificial Intelligence, Bioethics
, Data Visualization, Medical Humanities, Publishing, Studio Furniture Design/Fabrication, with new undergraduate degrees in Animation, Global Languages and Leadership, and Neuroscience in the pipeline. Additionally, many students completed capstone courses this spring in a variety of fields, ranging from statistics and history to everything in between. These invaluable projects enable students to enhance their academic experiences through hands-on opportunities with businesses, organizations, and partners both off and on campus.
The tenet of impactful research is one we are honored to support and promote across the Franklin College. Health and happiness foster productive lives, as the success of our alumni attests. At the annual Franklin College Alumni Awards and Donor Celebration in April we recognized the achievements of alumni and donors who have a vision for the Franklin College instructional mission to match their heart for UGA. Whether it is as part of these celebrations, the UGA Mentor Program, or returning to campus to speak with a class, I want to encourage all alumni to find ways to engage with today's students and faculty. Your collaborative spirit makes a difference on campus.
That sense of collaboration is woven into the Franklin College Innovation Initiative, guiding our efforts and focus into the next era of American higher education. The initiative consists of three pillars designed to complement each other and work together: 1) Academic Innovation, 2) Research Partnerships and Public Engagement, and 3) Student Success
. I'm happy to share this three-part series of interviews on the plan for its implementation and invite your participation in the Future of Franklin. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn.
Have a great summer, |
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Jarryd Wallace (AB Communication Studies `19), four-time Paralympian and winner of two bronze medals, gave the 2025 undergraduate commencement address in Sanford Stadium on May 9. Wallace is the CEO and founder of the RIVL Foundation, which focuses on prosthetic innovations, amputee rehabilitative research, and community outreach. He has also collaborated with prosthetic companies to help make running blades more cost-effective and accessible.
“That’s what trials do — they forge something in us that comfort never could. They teach us to keep going when nothing makes sense. To believe when hope feels distant. To see ourselves not by what we’ve lost, but by who we’re becoming,” Wallace said. Joining Wallace in returning to campus to celebrate and inspire the class of 2025 were a distinguished list of alumni, including: |
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- Lamar Dodd School of Art – Rachel Debuque (MFA `13 Art)
- Communication Studies – James Dunn (AB `98 Speech Comm)
- Germanic & Slavic Studies - Scott Henderson Sikes (AB `82 Political Science)
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Psychology – Raj Shingadia (AB `01 Philosophy, BS `03 Psychology)
- Genetics – Cindy Starke (BS `91 Genetics)
- Geography - Denise Sunta (AB `21 Anthropology)
- Romance Languages - Sara Tricarico (AB `15 Romance Language) and Katherine Daley-Bailey (AB `00 Religion)
- Theatre & Film - Dylan Whitfield (AB `17 Theatre)
- Physics/Astronomy - M. Elliott Williams (BS `20 Astrophysics)
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In his remarks to graduating psychology students, Raj Shingadia emphasized the power of passion in driving success.
“Make sure you are working towards a goal you can be passionate about because not only will it be a more enjoyable experience, but you’ll do it indefinitely better,” Shingadia said. “You can’t spell millions without a couple of L’s,” he said, urging graduates to learn from setbacks and stay focused. “Don’t let failures discourage and distract you from your goals.” |
Capstones Enhance Student Success |
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Pictured: Museum Studies certificate program capstone course exhibition. Photo courtesy of Akela Reason, Associate Professor of History. |
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Capstone projects provide an opportunity for students to augment their classroom learning for expanded, hands-on challenges working with organizations, agencies, businesses, or other partners on campus or in the community. A wide array of opportunities across Franklin College – ranging from data-driven projects in statistics and data science to Museum Studies Certificate program students in history curating an exhibition in the Hargrett and Russell library galleries – produced outstanding work this spring. Read more
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Capstone projects are a key part of student success via experiential learning at Franklin, giving students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. If you would like to support our students in making these opportunities possible, click here. |
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Franklin College Hits the West Coast |
We had a fantastic time connecting with alumni at our summer Los Angeles mixer. The Franklin Spark was alive and well—igniting creativity, connection, and Bulldog pride across the city. Thank you to everyone who joined us—your Bulldog spark shines bright from coast
to coast! Franklin College was also honored to attend the 85th Annual Peabody Awards in Los Angeles this summer, walking the red carpet while representing the arts
and sciences! |
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Bulldog 100 embodies the best of UGA. Help us celebrate the entrepreneurs, change-makers, and risk-takers in our community by nominating a Bulldog-led business today here. Nominations close on July 31! |
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Riden Family Steps Up for UGA Dance | |
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After returning to the U.S. following World War II, Victor Riden Jr. graduated from UGA while his wife Annette worked as a secretary for the university. The Riden family's deep connections to UGA, both historically and in the future, have taken form in generous support for the UGA Department of Dance as the newly named Victor and Annette Riden Lobby in the Dance Building. Read more
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The program “World of Computing,” part of UGA’s Connect Abroad-Immerse, took 17 UGA students to London over spring break, to visit and explore one of the world’s great technology hubs, to consider the discipline through the eyes of academics, industry leaders, and historical figures. Read more
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Connect Abroad took another group of first-year UGA students to Morocco to experience what students called more than a trip, a transformation. Though the title of the program is ‘Students in the Desert,’ what they encountered was far more than sand. They discovered Morocco as a place of richness, complexity, and learning, with vibrant green landscapes and a living culture that invited them to see the world with new eyes. Read more
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Greeted by a round of applause from a class full of students, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter and Academy Award winner Tom Schulman visited UGA on April 10. Schulman was interviewed by religion professor and department head Derrick Lemons about his process writing the film and his experiences in the movie industry as a part of Lemons’ Anthropology of American Religion course. Read more
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Our students are consistently remaining at the forefront of academic excellence. Here are some recent highlights: |
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University of Georgia senior Russian Flagship double-major Mercedes "Sadie" Bengs is one of 54 undergraduates from 49 colleges and universities across the nation to be selected as a 2025 Truman Scholar
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Franklin College double-major Yeongseo Son has been selected for the 2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, a global graduate-level program at Stanford University
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Michael Skibsted a third-year Honors student from Ladera Ranch, California, majoring in ecology and biology, has earned a 2025 Udall Scholarship, one of 55 students across the nation recognized for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to the environment
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Seven Franklin undergraduates were selected as Boren Scholars this spring and will receive funding to study critical languages in Kazakhstan, Senegal, and Brazil in exchange for a year of federal service
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Ally Smith, 2025 Dodd commencement speaker and fourth-year graphic design student with a minor in studio art, design, and media, has worked closely with alumna Kelly Layton (BFA Graphic Design '90) and credits her own interests in participating in the newly introduced Layton Design Studio
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The Georgia Debate Union won the overall team title at this year's Regents Cup Debate Tournament on April 17. The Regents Cup was created by Chancellor Sonny Perdue in 2024 to support civil dialogue and debate amongst USG colleges and universities. The competition was hosted by the University System of Georgia at Middle Georgia State University in Macon. Read more
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“Volcanologists are ‘Earth-care professionals,’” said Mattia Pistone, assistant professor of petrology and volcanology in the Franklin College’s Department of Geology. “We measure the pulses, the rates of volcanic processes, like medical doctors do with human patients. And petrologists are the Earth’s pathologists, studying bodies—in this case, ancient rocks—to understand our past, present, and potentially our future.” Read more
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Super-charged Deep Sea Plumes Hold Future
of Biotech |
For centuries, advances in microbiology have depended on isolating organisms from their environment. In a new study, UGA marine scientists have turned the tables on this process by examining an extreme environment that may hold the key to a suite of genomic and biotechnological breakthroughs. Read more |
| Photo credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute. |
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Faculty research resonates widely in the media on a range of issues – timely, far-reaching, fascinating news you can use: |
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Buckle up for 3-5 major hurricanes this season, NOAA says – Marshall Shepherd, professor and director of the Atmospherics Sciences Program, warns of the severity of the season that began June 1 – AJC
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UGA study finds smartphone apps used to gauge heat lack accuracy, underestimate threats – Andrew Grundstein, professor of geography, led a team of researchers from around the United States – WUGA
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How baker’s yeast sheds light on human migration – research led by Douda Bensasson, associate professor of plant biology, shows that wild varieties of domesticated yeast species also live on trees – Futurity
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The barrier islands off the coast of Georgia are littered with millions of oysters left behind by Indigenous peoples. New research led by Victor Thompson, Distinguished Research Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Georgia Museum of Natural History, shows how they are still protecting the coastal islands today – National Geographic
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A disappearing drawl: The changing sound of the South – Margaret Renwick, associate professor in the Department of Linguistics, attributed the shift to demographic changes in Georgia and throughout the South – WFAE
- Why doesn’t the United States use the metric system – Stephen Mihm, professor of history and associate dean, writes in Reader’s Digest
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Franklin faculty members were recently recognized with a range of national-level career achievement recognition and honors for scholarly excellence: |
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Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. |
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Update your Alumni Profile |
Update your alumni profile so we can stay in touch and share great news about Franklin. |
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Mentorship is proven to help students succeed in their personal, academic and professional endeavors. Our personalized mentoring experience allows you to connect with students no matter your location and on your schedule - ranging from a single, one-hour session to an ongoing mentorship match. |
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Celebrate your alma mater by shopping the Franklin web store! |
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