Tags: Alumni

Pictured: Valdes and Aviles talking
Mentoring foundation – a shared language in computing

Both Lily Valdes (BS ’25) and Aries Aviles (BS ’21) began their journey to success in computer science in the University of Georgia School of Computing. As alumni of the same program, they understand the challenges that come with entering the ever-changing world of technology. Through the UGA Mentor Program, they discovered how meaningful it can be to connect across generations of computing students. What began as a search for guidance turned…

Pictured: Punkosdy in lab
From Small-Town Curiosity to Cutting-Edge Cancer Research

Growing up in the rural town of Tallapoosa, Georgia, George Punkosdy (BS ’98, PhD ’04 – Cellular Biology) was always drawn to understanding how things worked. But it was a high school chemistry class taught by the tough yet inspiring Mr. Tommy McGuire that truly ignited his passion for science. The intricate interactions of nature’s building blocks fascinated him and set him on a path that would eventually lead to groundbreaking work in…

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Dr. Rev-up

Franklin biology alumnus Chip Chambers traded whipping up the excitement of Sanford Stadium crowds for serving patients in rural South Carolina. UGA shares the story in this terrific installment of Beyond the Arch: As the patients describe their ailments or injuries or updates to the fresh-faced doctor with the red beard and kind eyes, it’s unlikely they’re picturing Chambers in his previous life leading student section cheers at Georgia…

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Peggy Galis – A “History” of Giving

In our final story in this seven-part series, we’re excited to highlight our 2025 Franklin alumni award winners—showcasing their accomplishments and providing some insights as we seek this year’s nominations. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards honor a group of outstanding alumni across various categories. These individuals exemplify the Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition,…

Pictured: Vice President Jill Walton, Dean Anna Stenport, Kelly Layton, Brent Layton, School of Art Director Joe Peragine, President Jere W. Morehead, and Layton Design Studio Director Lindsey Camelio at ribbon cutting ceremony
Creativity ignites and drives student success at the Layton Design Studio

Launched in Spring 2025, the donor-funded Layton Design Studio bridges academic learning and professional practice. This new client-focused studio is modeled after a small design firm fully run by creative students that work as a team of art directors with non-profit and business clients alike from concept to execution. In 2023, graphic design alumna Kelly Layton BFA ’90 and husband Brent Layton AB ’89 donated $500,00 to establish the Layton…

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A Family That “Bleeds Red and Black”

In this seven-part series, we’re excited to highlight our 2025 Franklin alumni award winners—showcasing their accomplishments and providing some insights as we seek this year’s nominations. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards honor a group of outstanding alumni across various categories. These individuals exemplify the Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition, curiosity, creativity,…

headshot photo of Sherrie Hines
Courtroom to Campus: Sherrie Hines’s Franklin Journey: Mock Trial to UGA Law School Lecturer  

Dual-University of Georgia grad and now UGA law professor Sherrie Hines attributes her time in the Franklin College   to her current successes. While at the UGA, Hines studied criminal justice and speech communications, and still uses tools from her courses such as a law school textbook from Professor Stephanie Lindquist's criminal law class. A 2006 summa cum laude, Hines went on to pursue a law degree from UGA, graduating in 2009. “I…

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From Redcoats and UGA Drama Major to Emmy-Nominated Showrunner

In our fifth profile in this seven-part series, we’re excited to highlight our 2025 Franklin alumni award winners—showcasing their accomplishments and providing some insights as we seek this year’s nominations. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards honor outstanding alumni across various categories. These individuals exemplify the Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition, curiosity,…

Headshot image of Jeff Shellebarger
Digging Deep, Rising High: The Lifetime Achievements of Jeff Shellebarger

In our fourth story in this seven-part series, we’re excited to highlight our 2025 Franklin alumni award winners—showcasing their accomplishments and providing some insights as we seek this year’s nominations. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards honor outstanding alumni across various categories. These individuals exemplify rhe Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition, curiosity,…

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Original Space Dawg achieving lift-off at NASA

As founding ringleader of the UGA Small Satellite Research Lab, Franklin alumnus Caleb Adams (BS ’18, MS ’20) displayed an early knack for tackling tech and software conundrums, as well as putting teams together. Today, those skills, intuition and creativity are hard at work in helping lead efforts in Silicon Valley at NASA’s Ames Research Center to develop automated spacecraft to manage traffic in Earth’s low orbit and perhaps one day…

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Jack Hartpence: Supplying Water, Serving Humanity 

In this seven-part series, we’re excited to highlight our 2025 Franklin alumni award winners—showcasing their accomplishments and providing some insights as we seek this year’s nominations. The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards honor a group of outstanding alumni across various categories. These individuals exemplify The Franklin Spark, the characteristics that unite the arts and sciences: ambition, curiosity, creativity,…

Headshot photographs of alumni winners
11 Franklin College alumni among 2025 UGA 40 Under 40

Each year, the University of Georgia unveils its class of 40 alumni under the age of 40 who are leaders in their industries and communities. The individuals honored in 40 Under 40 embody the excellence of UGA alumni and we are proud of our 11 honorees, the foremost innovators among early career arts and sciences graduates in their respective fields. Their curiosity and creativity exemplify the enterprising vision of the Franklin College of Arts…

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Alumni Awards are open!

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is excited to announce the 2026 Franklin College Alumni Awards! These awards honor a group of distinguished alumni who exemplify the characteristics of the Franklin Spark that unite us across the arts and sciences. These traits are undeniably ambitious, exceptionally curious, wildly creative, incredibly innovative, and tomorrow’s leaders. When the arts and sciences come together, innovative multi-…

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Psychology alumnus sees opportunity in impact

Born and raised in Cuba, Antonio E. Puente (MS, PhD ’78 – more on that shortly), grew up in a privileged environment that changed in a moment and gave way to scarcity. “All of a sudden, I was in a place where there was no food, no understanding of the language, and very limited resources,” Puente said of his family’s move from Havana to Miami at the beginning of Cuba’s Revolution. “We were in a 1BR apartment with my aunt, uncle, their family,…

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Alumni couple builds support network for life challenges

Jordan and Scott Arogeti, founders of SupportNow, help turn difficult moments into opportunities for creating a space where communities can rally to support those in need. “Everyone wants to take action when they hear news, and SupportNow was built to be the platform where people can take those actions,” says chief operating officer Scott Arogeti AB ’06: Through the platform, friends and family can donate money for groceries or medical bills,…

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Ancient bald cypress trees archive climate secrets, future clues

A new research study led by UGA anthropology alumna Katherine Napora (Ph.D. '21) reveals how dramatic shifts in climate can have long-lasting effects on even the toughest, most iconic trees – and offers a glimpse into the powerful forces that shape our natural world. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University and the UGA Museum of Natural History studied bald cypress trees from a buried subfossil deposit at the mouth of the Altamaha River near…

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Hodgson School of Music alumnus lives his opera dream

When Tenor Clay Hilley (BMUS '04) took on the role of Siegfried at the Bayreuth Festival for the premiere of “Götterdämmerung” on August 2022 in a last-minute cast-change, he took on more than a role in the most prestigious event in the world for Wagner opera. The call signaled Hilley's ascent as one the opera world's most in-demand tenors. Georgia Magazine has more in this recent alumni feature: From his base in Berlin, he has traveled the…

woman dances in room, people and banner in background.
Riden Family steps up for UGA Dance

After returning to the U.S. following World War II, Victor Riden Jr. graduated from the UGA while his wife Annette worked as a secretary for the university. The Riden family's deep connections to UGA, both historically and in the future have taken form in generous support for the UGA department of dance as the newly named Victor and Annette Riden Lobby in the Dance Building: The couple had two children, Martha and Vic Riden III, who earned his…

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Alumni speakers inspire graduates at spring 2025 convocations

  Jarryd Wallace, (AB Communications Studies '19) keynote speaker as well as four-time Paralympian and two-time bronze medalist, shared lessons he learned from the tests he’s faced during UGA’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony held May 9. “That’s what trials do — they forge something in us that comfort never could. They teach us to keep going when nothing makes sense. To believe when hope feels distant. To see ourselves not by what we’…

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Franklin double major Yeongseo Son named a Knight-Hennessy Scholar

2025 University of Georgia graduate, scientist and storyteller in training Yeongseo Son has been selected for the 2025 Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, a global graduate-level program at Stanford University. Son, a Foundation Fellow and Stamps Scholar who earned bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and biochemistry and molecular biology as well as a certificate in immunology, all from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, attended high school in…

photo of people in caps and gowns, light beams
Spring Commencement 2025

Today is the day! The culmination of our students' hard work, where they put their creativity, ambitions, curiosity and leadership all together to take the all-important next step.  Congratulation to all of the 2,100+ Franklin students graduating today! And welcome to campus to the family and friends joining us on this wonderful occasion. Go Dawgs! Go Franklin! Congratulations to the many new UGA alumni – welcome to the family! Photo by…

graphic with arch, white text on red rectangles, three vertical pillars
Franklin College Innovation Initiative 2025 – the next quarter-century

Part 2 of 3 – Research Partnerships and Public Engagement Franklin College has introduced a three-part Innovation Initiative guiding its efforts and focus into the next era of American higher education. The initiative consists of three pillars designed to complement each other and work together: 1) Academic Innovation, 2) Research Partnerships and Public Engagement, and 3) Student Success. In the second of a three-part series of interviews,…

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2025 Franklin College Alumni Awards and Donor Celebration

The Franklin College honored donors and alumni April 11 at the annual Franklin College Alumni Awards and Donor Celebration. Philanthropic support for new professorships and expanded Study Away opportunities and scholarships for students, as well as facilities and instructional innovations in the Jill and Marvin Willis Center for Writing and the Layton Design Studio provided a snapshot of an outstanding 2025 and the building blocks for new…

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Crawfords honored with UGA's Family of the Year Award

The University of Georgia celebrated the 2025 Alumni Awards honorees during a luncheon on April 4 in Athens. The awards are a long-standing tradition intended to celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to UGA. Among the six honorees, Cathie and John Crawford III were recognized with the 2025 Family of the Year Award: John Crawford III began his family’s legacy at UGA when he graduated in 1962 …

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Psi Chi convention showcases student research in psychology

This spring, the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences hosted the annual Psi Chi (International Honor Society for Psychology) Convention, an event showcasing undergraduate psychology students’ research. Organized by the Franklin College Department of Psychology, the convention reflected the department's commitment to academic rigor, collaboration, and exploration in psychology. The event featured a range of student…
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