News from the Chronicles - December 2025

photo of actor speaking to audience members in theatre
Local students Experience UGA through theatre program

Ten years after she was a Chase Street Elementary School third grader, Maya Shrivastav found herself on stage as a UGA student performing for an audience of third-graders. "It was a full-circle moment. It’s really great to see how everything I’ve done since third grade has led me here,” said Shrivastav, now a first-year UGA student majoring in international affairs, political science and ceramics. Both Shrivastav and the students at her former…

Nikita Jha
Nikita Jha’s transformative internship at Azalea Robotics

In spring 2025, Nikita Jha, a fourth-year Franklin and Terry student, embarked on a transformative internship at Azalea Robotics, a startup revolutionizing airport baggage handling through autonomous robots. As a Foundation Fellow in the Morehead Honors College pursuing a dual degree in computer science and economics, Jha’s experience was more than a spring internship—it marked a defining chapter in her journey toward innovation at the…

graphic with photo of two men, white text on black background
Music, German student makes inroads into international opera

In summer 2024, Peter Kanda (B. Mus. Piano Performance, German Studies Minor ‘26) prepped his final year at UGA by participating in the Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy in Slovenia. Founded under the direction of Maestro George Pehlivanian, the academy is a pillar of the international opera scene, offering comprehensive training for conductors and vocalists from all over the world, with a focus on refining their skills. Its summer opera…

2026 Alumni Award winners
Celebrating Excellence - Franklin 2026 Alumni Awards

For more than 200 years, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has served as the heart of the University of Georgia, uniting the arts and sciences to champion interdisciplinary learning, shape leaders, fuel discovery, and strengthen communities. As the College looks ahead to its next quarter century, Franklin remains committed to blending tradition and innovation to address society’s most complex challenges. In a world defined by rapid…

UGA’s new Domestic Field Study in the Bay Area
Exploring Innovation at Its Source: Study Away in Silicon Valley Where Innovation Meets Education

UGA’s new “Computing in Silicon Valley” Domestic Field Study (DFS) program offers students an opportunity to explore the technology industry with an immersive summer experience in Silicon Valley, California. A mix between online classes and immersive onsite in California, the program runs from June 4 to July 1 (Summer Short Session I) and incorporates experiential learning in one of the world’s top startup, tech hubs, Silicon Valley in San…

photo of three people standing in front of posters on a wall
Design students learn from public service engagement

The creativity of University of Georgia students provides vitality to the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s partnership with military installations – as well as a fresh take on existing infrastructure that will help guide future use. In spring 2025, 15 interior design students in the UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art were tasked with reimagining a historic gas station at Fort Benning into a workspace for architects and an archaeology lab.…

photo of man and woman holding book, woman singing
14th annual Spotlight on the Arts festival brings sights, sounds of UGA creative spirit

Exceptional arts programming, research, and scholarship across Franklin and UGA were on display throughout November during the 14th annual Spotlight on the Arts festival. Congratulations to the many students and faculty in arts units who worked so hard to capture and hold the attention of the campus community. The monthlong festival featured more than 40 events and exhibitions in the literary, performing, and visual arts, including the fifth…

Computer science alumni panel
UGA School of Computing Hosts Alumni Mentor Panel to Provide Insights Into Computer Science Career Paths

The University of Georgia’s School of Computing and the UGA Mentor Program, recently brought together four distinguished alumni for an engaging Zoom panel, offering students invaluable insight into the realities of launching a tech career in a rapidly evolving industry. Moderated by Melissa Rackley, career consultant for computer science and MIS majors, the panel featured Grant Cooksey, staff engineer at Salesforce (BS Computer Science, ‘16);…

Yohannes Abate and Students in Laboratory
Spark Hubs Ignite Franklin College’s Future of Research Innovation and Collaboration

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has developed an ecosystem of collaborative working groups called Spark Hubs. These dynamic think tanks leverage the College’s strengths and expertise in multidisciplinary, convergent instincts along with innovation. Spark Hubs emerge organically or are strategically launched to develop new lines of discovery-driven research and engagement; respond quickly to emerging opportunities that fall outside…

photo of man pointing at posters with drawings and schematics
Connected Futures: Community, Risk & Networks

Franklin College Research Mixer  November 20, 2025 | Hendershots Coffee   The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences hosted a successful research mixer on November 20 at Hendershots Coffee, our new community partner for these networking events. Thirty-five faculty members gathered to explore collaborative opportunities under the theme "Connected Futures: Community, Risk & Networks," with six presentations showcasing…