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 message finds you well. Springtime is upon us as we quickly approach May commencement. We have another jam-packed issue with lots of amazing news to share – seven alumni have been selected to receive Franklin Alumni Awards and our faculty have received accolades including a new Sloan Foundation Fellowship, a new Regents Professorship, four Franklin faculty elected as senior members of the National Academy of Inventors and more.
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Our students have also been going above and beyond outside of the classroom. Franklin triple-major Rayna Carter received the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award at the 21st Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast, Will Tomaszewski won his category in the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) and music minor Laila Carter sang on the Today Show.
UGA was internationally recognized by the nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators as one of five institutions nationwide for excellence in integrating international education and during Spring break, many first-year students participated in Connect Abroad traveling to Costa Rica, England, Greece, Italy, Morocco and Peru. Outstanding and inspiring news like this brings our community together and reminds us of the creative excellence that pervades our college.
The Franklin College is committed to strengthening the connections across our entire community. We have welcomed a steady parade of distinguished alumni back to campus in 2025, from the Artis Stevens' Holmes-Hunter lecture to multiple visits by alumni for panels in computing, mathematics, philosophy, psychology and the school of music. There is nothing like in-person alumni engagement for our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Many of these visits become life-changing affirmations for everyone involved. We truly treasure when alumni give back by sharing their time and experience – our students learn from not only your career success but the impact of your selfless commitment to the greater good. I encourage you to consider becoming involved with the Franklin College through engagement with your departments and programs. Your time and continued commitment to the college makes a difference.
The vibrancy of the arts and sciences makes UGA, and specifically the Franklin College, the special place that it is. The Franklin College Dean's Office is extraordinarily proud of all our alumni and the role you play in helping strengthen the academic programs at the center of this dynamic spirit. The honor of educating UGA students is a responsibility we take very seriously – work we celebrate and champion – and we always welcome your support. Consider participating in the annual Dawg Day of Giving today, March 27.
Best wishes, |
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Anna Stenport Dean, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences |
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The University of Georgia’s 4th annual Dawg Day of Giving is today, March 27. 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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Celebrating Our Amazing Alumni – Seven 2025 Award Recipients |
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Young Alumni - John “Jack” Hartpence (AB ’15 English)
- Mid-Career - Steve Yockey (AB ’01 Drama)
- Lifetime - Jeff Shellebarger (BS ’78 Geology)
- Distinguished Alumni - Dr. Sangram “Sam” Sisodia (PhD ’85 Biochemistry)
- College Service - Peggy Galis (AB ’68 History)
- Family - Charlene Benn (BS ’85 Computer Science) and Fraser Family
- Innovation -Sharmin Pathan (MS ’18 Computer Science)
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Triple Dawg Gregory Moss Returns to Campus |
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Pictured: Moss, left, with UGA Distinguished Research Professor Richard Winfield |
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Triple dawg Georgia Philosophy alumnus Gregory Moss (AB Philosophy `07, AB German `07, MA Philosophy `07, PhD Philosophy `14), currently an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, visited campus and spoke with Philosophy Department Student Ambassadors Zoe Simmons and Nathan Haynes. In this interview, Moss details his current philosophical work on Absolute Dialethism, his experiences at UGA, the state of philosophy, fast food metaphysics and upcoming projects. Read more.
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Franklin Alumnus Artis Stevens Shares Wisdom on the Importance of Mentorship |
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The Holmes-Hunter Lecture Series was established in 1985 to honor Dr. Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first Black students to enroll at UGA. The 2025 keynote speaker was Artis Stevens (AB Communications '97), President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Stevens shared the story of utilizing the foundation he built as an undergraduate at UGA to lead one of the nation’s most impactful youth mentorship organizations. |
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His time in the Franklin College not only honed his communication skills but also instilled the critical thinking, leadership and innovative mindset that have guided his career. Read more |
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Dorinda and David Dallmeyer Support the Georgia Museum of Natural History |
David and Dorinda Dallmeyer are channeling a lifelong love of natural history museums into a sustainable legacy of support for the Georgia Museum of Natural History. Read about their journey and their passion for building appreciation for Georgia's diversity of wildlife, ecosystems and geology. Read more |
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Shaping a Legacy: Laura Kate Holden |
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology student Laura Kate Holden will be one step closer to her dream of becoming a doctor as the UGA senior approaches graduation in May 2025. She’s applied to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, and hopes to be a doctor in the U.S. Air Force. Since her freshman year, she's worked with Lance Wells, an associate director of the Center for Molecular Medicine. Read more.
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Rayna J. Carter Seeks Knowledge Through Community |
On Jan. 17, Rayna J. Carter won the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award at the 21st Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast. Rayna Carter is a third-year student majoring in psychology, sociology and women’s studies at UGA. She seeks to combine the social sciences and hard sciences by not only conducting her own research alongside Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Julie Stanton, but also working to ensure other students have accessibility to conduct research. |
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“There are a lot of different types of knowledge, and people should be able to access that knowledge, so I’m really passionate about breaking down barriers to education,” she says in an article for UGA Today. Read more. |
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Will Tomaszewski Wins Trumpet Competition |
In March, Will Tomaszewski won first place in the Vincent Bach Undergraduate Solo Division at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) finals held at Texas Christian University. Tomaszewski is a music performance major expected to graduate in 2026. Read more. |
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Pictured: Nichole Botsoe on 2025 Connect Abroad trip to Morocco. |
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Connect Abroad Takes to New Levels |
This spring break over 200 first-year students had a unique experience by participating in Connect Abroad. In six international locations, students had the opportunity to explore the culture, society, politics, business, art and more. School of Computing students traveled to London and had several corporate visits, including Google, ViaSat and EssenceMediaComm. They also ended their week with a mixer getting an opportunity to connect with alumni – what an amazing week! Learn more about Connect Abroad opportunities here. |
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School of Computing Advances to Two National Finals and celebrates UGA Hacks Turning 10 |
Two School of Computing teams advance from regional competitions and are headed to finals. First place winners Abdu Addis and Hiep Pham are headed to the International Competitive Programming Contest (ICPC) after winning Division 2 in the Big South Region advancing from regional competition. The Hack Pack team placed second in the NCAE Cyber Games and is advancing to the national competition. Read more.
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UGA’s School of Computing club, UGAHacks, hosted the 10th annual Hackathon with over 48 hours beginning Feb. 8 in the Zell B. Miller Learning Center. The event showed the community of driven individuals here at Franklin as there were 12 sponsors, over 500 passionate participants and 150 innovative project submissions. |
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Innovative Research : Longer Vacations Are Better For Your Health |
New Research from UGA psychology shows that taking longer holidays and incorporating physical activity can maximize health benefits. If you’re like many Americans, you probably didn’t take all your vacation time this past year. Even if you did, it’s highly likely you didn’t fully unplug while off the clock. You might want to change that if you want to improve your health and well-being, according to a new review article by Ryan Grant, a doctoral student in the Psychology Department.
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Franklin faculty and staff members were recently recognized with a range of national-level career achievement recognition and honors for scholarly excellence: |
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The University of Georgia presented its third annual Humanities Festival through April 2, featuring more than 20 public lectures, conversations, performances and other events, including a trivia night and an open reception to honor recent accomplishments by the humanities community at UGA. |
- The world-renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar performed at Hodgson Concert Hall on March 20 as part of the UGA Performing Arts Center’s Voices of Asia spring series.
- Charles Johnson, MacArthur “genius” grant awardee and National Book Award-winning author of “Middle Passage,” will give a public reading and conversation on March 26 as the annual Betty Jean Craige Lecturer of the department of comparative literature and intercultural studies.
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On March 27, Ferdia Lennon, winner of the 2024 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for comic fiction, will also have a reading and conversation. The event is part of UGA’s spring Signature Lecture Series.
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Scholarship and research, campus excellence and the return of the Iron Horse, were featured in media around the world during January and February. A few of the many great stories: |
- Paralympic medalist Jarryd Wallace to deliver Commencement address – return to campus by Communications Studies alumnus reported by UGA Today, 11Alive
- The Iron Horse, a UGA “icon,” returns to wild after major restoration – AJC, The New York Times
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Schizophrenia Today: What’s new and what’s coming – research by Gregory Strauss, Franklin Professor of Psychology, reported at Psychology Today
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New technology at Skidaway gives hope to save endangered right whales - Catherine Edwards, associate professor marine sciences, quoted in reporting by NPR, WABE
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After a naming contest, Cardea joins the celestial ranks as a quasi-moon (UGA student submitted winning name as part of an astronomy course assignment – The New York Times, R&B
, FOX5
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| Support Franklin for Dawg Day of Giving! |
Today, March 27, is Dawg Day of Giving! 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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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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