40 Under 40: Maria Augutis

Recruited to compete for the UGA Track and Field team, Double Dawg avant le mot Maria Augutis thought she would be homesick for Sweden. But her time at UGA and the Franklin College turned into the best years of her life – producing two degrees and an SEC championship in the triple jump.

Today,  the Swedish Television & StormGeo Meteorologist is helping modernize global weather forecasting from Sweden. Other career highlights include:

• The early years of her career were spent on major gift fundraising both in the U.S. and New Zealand. At Oxfam, she raised funds for their mission to fight the injustice of poverty
• She returned to meteorology at the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand where she specialized in high-resolution forecasts for many different industries
• In early 2020, she got her dream job offer  – to become a meteorologist at Swedish Television

Community Involvement

• As a member of the L.E.A.D Academy at UGA,  she is fortunate enough to be able to participate in the Learn, Play, Excel program giving her the opportunity to mentor students about the importance of education, perseverance and pursuing their dreams
• Serves as a mentor for young girls through Girls Inc., an organization that encourages girls to be strong, smart and bold
• Delivers talks on climate change to younger audiences. “Today’s children will bear the brunt of the impact of climate change, and it is crucial that they are educated in the subject,” she says. She designed an online curriculum about weather and climate that is available to all middle-school students in New Zealand, something she hopes to replicate in Sweden

An inspiring alumna and member of the 2022 40 Under 40. Congratulations Maria!