Hello, team! It has been an exciting start to 2026 for DAR - from regional events and Signature Programs to Career Fairs and board meetings, everyone has been hard at work. I am grateful for your continued commitment to excellence in your role and proud of how we are all DARing to Level Up!
As you are aware, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted the University of Georgia School of Medicine preliminary accreditation on February 13. This milestone allows the university to recruit and admit its inaugural class, a landmark achievement for public medical education in Georgia. This is a very special time for UGA, and I'm proud of how our division has collaborated to raise funds to support the Medical Education and Research Building and student scholarships.
Last month, I had the chance to attend the CASE District III Conference in Nashville and enjoyed spending time with our team, watching team members present and learning from other universities. As you travel to conferences this year, remember that you're doing so as an ambassador for UGA. Conferences provide a valuable opportunity for you to network with peers from other universities who might be interested in joining our UGA team one day.
If you haven't already done so, mark your calendars for our half-day AdvanceUGA Conference for DAR staff on March 23. I look forward to spending time together as a division hearing from three inspiring alumni and honoring this year's Level Up award winners. In an effort to make The Pulse a more helpful resource for you, you'll notice a new format below. Be sure to visit the link to the blog post to read all the relevant content for this month that you are used to seeing in The Pulse. |
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Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the UGA Foundation |
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Here is where we stand as of February 27. Questions? Please email Danielle Free. $7.5M remains in matching funds for undergraduate scholarships. |
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Dawg Day of Growth March 5 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Terry Executive Education Center Dawg Day of Giving Student Event March 26 | 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Discover DAR: Student Affairs and School of Medicine March 27 | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Alumni Directors Spring Meeting April 9 | 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. Georgia Power Training Conference Room Fanning Institute for Leadership Development |
| Spring Alumni Board Executive Committee Meeting
April 29 | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Virtual Spring Alumni Board Meeting May 1 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Studio 100 Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication Advancing the Arch Volunteer Leadership Training Conference July 17 - 18 Athens, GA |
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What You'll Find in the New Pulse Blog |
The New Pulse Format!
To learn more about each of these topics head over to the new Pulse blog post! |
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Bulldog 100
- Alumni Awards
- Parents Leadership Council Weekend
- Senior Signature
- Dawg Day of Giving
- A Sweet Reminder of How Much You're Appreciated
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| - Security Awareness Training Compliance
- Mentor Program Update
- Donor Spotlight & Story Recommendations
- UGAF@Work
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If you would like to schedule a visit with Jill, please contact Carol Barach to avoid double-booking. Thank you! |
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Katie Adams Chattanooga, TN (Mar. 3-5) Naples/Ft. Myers, FL (Mar. 10-13) |
Chandler Boyle Raleigh, NC (Mar. 11) Athens, GA (Mar. 18-20) Charlotte, NC (Mar. 25-26) |
Matt Brown Athens, GA (Mar. 23) |
Alysse Capitanelli New York, NY (Mar. 3, 5, 9, 12) Connecticut (Mar. 4)
Athens, GA (Mar. 22-25) |
Madi Cox Greenville, SC (Mar. 11-12) Atlanta, GA (Mar. 24-26)
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Ali Elyaman Chicago, IL (Mar. 9-11) Los Angeles, CA (Mar. 23-26)
San Francisco, CA (Apr. 13-16) Northern CA (May 3-4) |
Courtney Hart Athens, GA (Mar. 16, 25) |
Chris Jefts Thomasville, GA (Mar. 18-19) Rome, GA (Mar. 24-25) |
| Joey Lynn Augusta, GA (Mar. 11-12)
Boston, MA (Mar. 30 - Apr. 2) |
Weldon Kolker Athens, GA (Mar. 23) |
Elizabeth Kozak Athens, GA (Mar. 2-4, 22-24, Apr. 13-16) |
Kate O'Reilly Greenville, SC/Asheville, NC (Mar. 10-12) Lynchburg/Lexington/Charlottesville, VA (Mar. 31-Apr. 3) Washington, D.C. (May. 27-29) |
Zack Robbins Statesboro, GA (Mar. 3-5) Thomasville, GA (Mar. 17-19) |
Michelle Rotondo Athens, GA (Mar. 3-4, 19, 23, 31, Apr. 14-15) |
Vince Thomas Jacksonville/Orlando, FL (Mar. 3-5) Columbus, GA (Mar. 18-20) |
Christina Varnedoe Athens, GA (Mar. 26-27) |
Michelle Versfeld Atlanta, GA (Mar. 10) |
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Parent Giving Team Travel
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Courtney Ayers Dallas, TX (Mar. 3-5) Atlanta, GA (Mar. 10, 17) |
Meredith Glenn Washington, D.C. (Mar. 4-6) Augusta, GA (Mar. 16) Greenville, SC (Mar. 25) |
| Eric Schmidt Charlotte, NC (Mar. 18-19)
Atlanta, GA (Various trips) |
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Mason Black Atlanta, GA (bi-weekly) |
Kaylin Jones New York, NY (Mar. 10-13) Savannah/St. Simons, GA (Mar. 31 - Apr. 2) |
| Mary Beth Mallard Tifton, GA (Mar. 2-3) Gainesville, GA (Mar. 26)
Boston, MA (Mar. 30 - Apr. 2) |
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A long-term, relationship-driven effort resulted in a $1M scholarship from a set of parents who joined the Parents Leadership Council in 2022. Their interest in making a principal gift was sparked by a blog featuring their classmate, BJ Schaknowski, and his $1 million gift, which led to conversations with Eric Schmidt about creating a meaningful opportunity for “entrepreneurial engineers.”
This fall, Eric and Ruth Seiler worked together to shape a proposal for the Engineering/MBA Double Dawgs program with a focus on entrepreneurship. Matching funds were leveraged to support an initial $200k commitment before the end of 2025, with a shared understanding that the scholarship will ultimately grow to $1M. In parallel, Patrick Knowlescoordinated with the family’s financial advisors to begin documentation for the remaining $800k estate component, supporting the long-term vision of the gift.
This effort is a strong example of how collaborative, cross-unit engagement advances principal gifts. Annual Giving and RPM supported early identification and outreach through a targeted mailer; the Parents team deepened engagement through the PLC; DARCOMM’s storytelling provided the original inspiration; and partners across Engineering, Terry, and GEP contributed at key stages. Most recently, Jennifer Hancock and Graff Wilson provided guidance on structuring the funds to reflect the unique split between Engineering undergraduate and Terry MBA programs.
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Open Position Postings in DAR
We encourage anyone interested in applying to do so. All UGA HR policies and procedures apply. If you know of a potential candidate who may be a good fit for an opportunity, contact Christy Dasher.
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Welcome to Angela Thomas, Gift Receiving Specialist, UGAF Gift Accounting
Welcome to Adison Marsh, Assistant Director of Development, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Constituent Programs - Welcome to Lee Dix, Web Operations Specialist, Advancement IT
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Congrats to Weldon Kolker, named Associate Regional Director of Development, Regional Development
- Congrats to Lauren Schlesinger, named Associate Director of UGA Foundation Gift Agreements, UGAF Gift Accounting
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Congrats to Joey Lynn, named Regional Director of Development, Regional Development
Congrats to Courtney Ayers, named Director of Parent Giving, Parent Giving Congrats to David Petmecky, named Digital Experience Officer, Annual Giving Congrats to Nic Laconico, named Director of Industry and Foundation Initiatives, Business Engagement - Congrats to Elizabeth Willimon, named Associate Director for Industry and Foundation Engagement, Business Engagement
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Congrats to Elias Bertram, named Senior Investment Analyst
- Best wishes to Adam Roell, leaving Alumni Relations
- Best wishes to Laura Bayne, leaving Constituent Programs
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Best wishes to Aubrey Miller, leaving Constituent Programs
- Best wishes to Kyle Bryson, leaving Regional Development
- Best wishes to Erica Stephenson, leaving VP Office
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Best wishes to Kaylin Wells, leaving Career Center
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Do you have information or a suggestion for an upcoming edition of the Pulse? |
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