December 3, 2025
I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and restful Thanksgiving break. It is hard to believe that the end of the semester, final exams and Fall Commencement are quickly approaching.
I am delighted to report that Carolyn K. Clevenger has been named the founding dean of the UGA School of Nursing. Dr. Clevenger comes to UGA from Emory University’s highly regarded Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. She has served on Emory’s faculty since 2003 and has held several leadership roles over the past decade, including as assistant and associate dean. I look forward to working with Dr. Clevenger as our university expands its impact by addressing critical healthcare needs throughout the state.
There has been much to celebrate at the University of Georgia this fall. We welcomed an extraordinary class of new students, an outstanding group of scholars joined our faculty and our institution continues to be recognized as one of the best public universities in the nation.
UGA was recently named the 2025 recipient of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Innovation and Economic Prosperity Award. UGA was honored in the “Place Category” of this prestigious national award in recognition of several community and economic development initiatives across the state.
In the 2025 Open Doors Report, UGA ranks No. 1 in the nation for short-term study abroad participation and No. 5 overall. The report, released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, indicates a total of 3,322 UGA degree-seeking students studied abroad for academic credit during the 2023-24 academic year. This marks the third consecutive year UGA has ranked in the top 10 for study abroad participation, solidifying the university’s position as a national leader in international education.
Once again, prospective students are taking note of the University of Georgia’s excellence in teaching, research and service. We received more than 34,000 early action applications this fall, an increase of 13 percent over last year’s record number. As we move into the regular decision process, we are on track for another record year for total applications.
Our institution’s sustained success is a testament to the dedication of our talented faculty and staff. I wish you the best as the semester comes to a close, and I thank you for your commitment to the University of Georgia.
Sincerely,
