News from the Franklin College |
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Dear Franklin College alumni,
Happy New Year! As we look to celebrate the next quarter century of the Franklin College and as the University of Georgia continues to build on its excellence and vision for the future, our faculty, students and alumni give enduring shape to these efforts. There is extraordinary momentum across our campus and across the state. I want to thank you for your support of the university and for being part of the Franklin family. |
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In the past few months, we celebrated renovations to campus landmarks central to our instructional mission. From architectural renovations including the newly-reopened Holmes Hunter Academic Building and the completion of the first phase of renovations on Science and Ag Hill to faculty developing new courses and online degree programs, we continue to expand our reach and reaffirm our commitment to academic excellence. A vision for Academic Innovation helps us build capacity across the arts and sciences. Throughout our libraries, performance stages, laboratories and classrooms, creative inquiry connects exceptional curiosity to innovative solutions that build a better world.
This issue is a bit long...but we had so much news to share that we couldn't help ourselves. These stories highlight the Franklin Spark bringing together the arts and sciences including the GROVI collaboration between math and arts, music and medicine student Caroline Malcom as well as Spanish and biology student Alexandra Wells.
The boundless energy of our students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni and friends of the college provides the spark for this powerful momentum. Together, we are moving the university forward. I deeply appreciate the strength of your commitment to the future of Franklin and UGA. Warm wishes for a wonderful 2025, |
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Anna Stenport Dean, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences |
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Executive VP and CTO of Intel Greg Lavender Visits Campus |
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Greg Lavender, B.S. Computer Science '83, returned to UGA for the first time in nearly three decades. Lavender is the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Intel and AI is abundantly present in his day-to-day activities. He presented two campus lectures framed around the topic of “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Cultural Evolution of Computational Thought from Pythagoras to the AI Era,” examining the history of computer science and AI and the impact of the past on our future. Read more
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Lavender also took part in an interview with his scholarship recipient and School of Computing student Hannah Le, who expressed her gratitude to Lavender's commitment to future innovators. Read the interview |
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“This scholarship has truly eased my financial burdens, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my challenging coursework and extracurriculars," Le said. "It has also inspired me to push forward and one day make a meaningful impact—financially and through mentorship—in the same way Dr. Lavender has honored Dr. Smith’s legacy. As I pursue a future in cybersecurity, I am passionate about advancing women in computer science and giving back to support future students in the field.” |
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Four Franklin College Alums Awarded 2024 Graduate School Alumni of Distinction |
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Dr. Alton Standifer, Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Chief of Staff to the Provost; Dr. Matthew Heric, Chair, Graduate Education Advancement Board; Alumni of Distinction Award Recipients: Dr. Khalifeh AlJadda (Ph.D. `14), Dr. Theda Perdue (MA `74, Ph.D. `76), Dr. Ashvin Chhabra (MS `84), Honorable Ms. Inez Tenenbaum, Dr. Leo Twiggs (Ed.D. `70); Dr. Ron Walcott, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School |
In 2013, the UGA Graduate School’s Graduate Education Advancement Board (GEAB) established the Alumni of Distinction award to honor graduates who have achieved exceptional success in their professional careers and in service to their communities. More specifically, the Alumni of Distinction award recognizes achievements that exemplify UGA’s mission “to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things” at local, regional, and global levels. Alumni of all UGA graduate programs are eligible for consideration for the Graduate School’s Alumni of Distinction award. This year, of the six award recipients, four are graduates of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Congratulations to our alums who exemplify Franklin’s curiosity, creativity and innovation.
Read more
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The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2024 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest growing alumni operated or owned businesses. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences congratulates our alumni honorees and their 20 businesses celebrated on this year’s list. We are always so proud of our Franklin alumni who are making positive impacts in the community. Congrats to all! Read more
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Following Dual Tracks – Student Pursues Music and Medicine |
Tapping into the intersection of the arts and sciences, Franklin College provides students with unparalleled opportunities to mix all kinds of interdisciplinary studies. |
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Caroline Malcom, a second-year Honors student and Cora Nunnally Miller Scholar in the Fine Arts, is majoring in piano performance in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music while also on a pre-med track studying chemistry and biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Malcom believes her addition of the arts to her science degree provides her with disciplinary skills for her future in the medical field. “I think studying piano has taught me a lot of discipline and hard work that will carry into my career as a physician” she said. Read more
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Double Major Alexandra Catherine Wells Named to National Humanities Leadership Council |
Senior Foundations Fellow and Stamps Scholar at the University of Georgia, Alexandra Catherine Wells, was recently selected for the National Humanities and Leadership Council. Wells, a dual Franklin major studying cellular biology and Spanish, recently conducted undergraduate research with the Kiepreos Lab with the team’s work recently published in Nature Communications.
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She continues to explore the importance of humanistic perspective in solving current global issues. “I am thrilled to join a community of students, professionals and mentors who share an appreciation for the humanities and an interest in exploring how they can guide us in making thoughtful decisions. I am excited to bring a medical perspective to our conversations and explore its intersections with other fields,” says Wells. Read more
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Save the date! The University of Georgia’s 4th annual Dawg Day of Giving is March 27, 2025. UGA calls all University of Georgia alumni, donors, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends to show their support for this university we all love so dearly. Every donation helps UGA transform communities and change lives. When we all work together, there is no limit to who and where we can help! |
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Not only are faculty and students making headlines here at UGA, but they are being recognized on the national and global stage. Franklin’s faculty and students are covered in local, national and international media including ABC News, Forbes, The New York Times, Augusta Chronicle, UGA Today, WSB-TV and more. In the months of September, October,
November and December, there have been over 100 stories including mentions of our outstanding faculty and students spanning from language and science to psychology, arts and more. A few highlights are shared below.
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UGA Researcher Explores Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy’s Future |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology professor Debra Mohnen emphasizes the importance of biofuels and the future of renewable energy in the Augusta Chronicle. Alternative fuels can be grown on marginal lands that are unstable for traditional crops but great for the crops renewable energy. These biofuels have significant environmental benefits, such as storing carbon and reducing soil erosion. Read more about Franklin’s September in the news here.
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| UGA Researcher Links Broken Corn Chromosome to Cancer |
Plant biologist Kelly Dawe's research on genetic mutations linked to cancer was featured in UGA Today. Dawe’s research focuses on the breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycle, which causes chromosomal instability found in cancer cases. Dawe received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to explore how the plant responds to these DNA and genetic mutations, potentially providing insights into cancer’s genetic makeup. Read more about Franklin’s October in the news here.
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Between the Hedges and Between the Genomes |
Here at UGA, football and the hedges are a fall Saturday favorite. Plant Biology Professor and Hedges Researcher James Leebens-Mack's recent sequence of the Sanford Stadium hedge gene was featured in WSB-TV and the Athens Banner-Herald
. Leebens-Mack and students found that the hedges planted in 1929 were genetically identical to the hedges that were removed in 1996 for the Olympics.
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Not only does this research provide insights into the hedges in beloved Sanford Stadium, but offers valuable information into the Chinese privet, the hedges species. Read more about Franklin’s November and December in the news here. |
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| Franklin College of Art and Sciences Enters its Next Quarter Century |
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For over two centuries, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has been an innovator in interdisciplinary studies. As we enter our next quarter century, we look to continue this trajectory and cannot wait to share all of our student, faculty and alumni successes in the arts, sciences and beyond.
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UGA Celebrates 40 Years of AI: A Legacy of Innovation and Technological Advancement |
This year marks the 40th year of Artificial Intelligence at UGA. That is 40 years of groundbreaking innovation, research and development from areas of healthcare, agriculture, computer science, robotics and more. Believe it or not in 1984, a group of individuals from the Department of Computer Science were drawn to creating technology and innovation that traditionally required human intelligence and that’s how AI found its roots at UGA. To read more about UGA’s AI initiatives, please read this article posted by Georgia Magazine.
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Marching Forward – Celebrating 120 Years of the Redcoat Band and 50 Years of the Redcoat Alumni Band |
Happy 120 years to the UGA’s Redcoat Marching Band! For almost 120 years, the Redcoat Marching Band has been the heartbeat of the University of Georgia. Since 1905, the Redcoats have since become both creator and keeper of the university's most beloved traditions, while proudly representing the institution in thousands of appearances.
This year we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Redcoat Alumni Band. The first ever Alumni Band Event was held on November 9, 1974. The anniversary was a year-long celebration with the grand finale being held at halftime of the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game. What better weekend to celebrate old-fashioned hate and 50 years of our beloved Redcoat Alumni! Read more
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Mathematics and visual arts may seem like opposites, but they share thoughts of space and symmetry. Associate Professor of Graphic Design Moon Jung Jang and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Mathematics David Gay have merged the two through their project, GROVI (Geometry, Research, Outreach, and Visualization Initiative). Read more.
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| Road Trip - UGA's Interdisciplinary Field Program |
Franklin continues to offer students hands-on opportunities to grow their real-world expertise. Recently, the University of Georgia’s Interdisciplinary Field Program offered a unique 60-day U.S. road trip through 23 national parks where students explored geology, ecology and anthropology. This was the cover story of the Georgia Magazine 2024 winter issue. Read more.
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UGA Researchers Unveil Breakthrough Quantum Computing Algorithm |
Franklin continues to thrive in interdisciplinary research. Recently, UGA faculty created a new quantum algorithm that addresses one of the most complex challenges in single-cell analysis, signaling significant impact in both the fields of computational biology and quantum computing. This breakthrough holds significant potential for real world disease research solutions. Read more.
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While Franklin College has arts all year long, the arts took center stage in November's annual Spotlight on the Arts. Click each image to read more. |
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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 the great news about the Franklin College. |
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| January is National Mentor Month and the perfect time for you to join us! |
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 one, 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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