Tags: Human Nature

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Juneteenth, 2024

On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto…

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Jordyn Faucette named Beinecke Scholar

University of Georgia senior Jordyn Faucette was one of 19 students across the nation to be awarded the Beinecke Scholarship this spring, UGA's third winner of the scholarship and its first since 2019. A first-generation college student and a McNair Scholar, Faucette is majoring in philosophy and English in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and political science in the School of Public and International Affairs. She is also working…

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PhD student investigates ancient languages, with a side of roller derby

Nashville native Nakita Barakadyn's journey into the world of linguistics began with her curiosity about the origins of Japanese. “I became a linguist in the first place because I heard the tantalizing statement ‘Nobody knows where Japanese came from,’” she says. “I was a kid at the time, but now I understand they just meant that Japanese is a language isolate—it has no known relatives.” Encountering this linguistic mystery imbued with her a…

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Franklin College departments advance their commitment to undergraduate writing

Over the course of the 2023-24 academic year, four departments in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences took writing in their programs of study to the next level. In collaboration with the Franklin College Writing Intensive Program (WIP), the departments of anthropology, mathematics, history, and philosophy developed plans that articulate characteristics of writing in the discipline. These include desired writing abilities of students in the…

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A long goodbye to the Southern accent

When we initially shared this new linguistics research late last year, it was tailor-made for media across the region, the nation and beyond. Since then UGA researchers Margaret Renwick and Jon Forrest have become a familiar presence in numerous reports of the demise of the Southern drawl. Georgia Magazine revisits the story in its new issue: Sometimes, linguistic studies start with a hunch. A good example is when a non-researcher notices that a…

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Parasuraman, Park recognized as faculty 'best mentors'

The Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities recognized two faculty members who enhance the learning experience of undergraduate researchers at the University of Georgia, at the spring 2024 CURO Symposium. This year’s recipients of the CURO Research Mentoring Award are Ramviyas Parasuraman, assistant professor in the School of Computing, and Hea Jin Park, associate professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Parasuraman is…

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Williams guides students through recruitment and beyond

Terrific profile on Franklin staff member Marshall Williams, director of admissions for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music who not only recruits students, but also helps guide them through their time at the University of Georgia. Columns shares the story: “I really value students’ mental health and well-being,” he said. “I want students to feel supported and know that they’re not alone in the experiences they’re dealing with in this environment…

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Honors College recognizes Terns, Yi

The Morehead Honors College recognized three UGA faculty members who have made significant contributions to Honors education. During the annual Honors graduation banquet in April, Michael Terns and Hyangsoon Yi received the Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor Award, and Erin Towery received the J. Hatten Howard III Teaching Award. Terns is a Regents’ Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology with adjunct appointments in microbiology…

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Intern Appreciation: Jason Hawkins

The Franklin College office of communications was very fortunate to have two terrific interns during the 2023-24 academic year. We had the chance to speak with each of them about their UGA experience – and their experience working with us. Our communications writer intern Jason Hawkins (AB '24) shares some thoughts and his future plans in this video.  Thank you, Jason! We enjoyed working with you.

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Spring commencement 2024

Today's THE day! 6,627 undergraduates have met requirements to participate in the university’s spring Commencement ceremonies tonight. This wonderful achievement by these soon-to-be UGA alumni marks an important moment on their journeys and the Franklin College takes great pride in celebrating each and every member of the Class of 2024. Welcome parents, friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate your graduate and all UGA graduates. Your love…

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Spring 2024 Graduate Commencement

Congratulations to all of our master's and doctoral students on this momentous day! Welcome to campus, parents, friends and loved ones. Live stream of today's event. Ceremony Location:Stegeman Coliseum Stegeman Coliseum Map Master's/Specialists Ceremony:Start Time: 10:00 a.m.Doors Open: 8:00 a.m. Doctoral Ceremony:Start Time: 2:00 p.m.Doors Open: 1:00 p.m.  

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Mentorship Matters—UGA Mentor Program Inspires Students

English major Mann Sy Tha credits his time in the UGA Mentor Program to his newfound knowledge of writing and publishing speculative fiction—specifically, short stories. “I have always been passionate about creative writing and eventually publishing,” Sy Tha says in a reflection of the program for his English 4001: Careers for English Majors course taught by Christine Lasek-White. “I now have a view into what being a professional author looks…

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Spring 2024 End of Semester video

Highlights and thanks for a great 2024 academic year from Anna Stenport, Dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

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Language flagship programs catapult 2024 Boren Scholars

A record number of 11 UGA undergraduates were selected for Boren Scholarships this spring. The award is designed to add important international and language components to students’ educations by giving them the opportunity to study overseas in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Boren Award recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation in exchange for up to $25,000 in funding. The national…

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Kudos, April 2024

From competitions and professional society inductions to the most prestigious fellowships and scholarships, our colleagues – and students – continued to shine brightly, lighting up Honors season at UGA and beyond. A roundup of just a few of the many awards and accolades: Bob Schmitz, UGA Foundation Professorship in Plant Sciences and Lars G. Ljungdahl Distinguished Investigator in the department of genetics, was honored with the 2024 Charles…

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Generative AI student competition

The 2024 Generative AI Competition for UGA students took place this spring and the winners were announced this week. In the competition, UGA students and student teams were invited to use AI to create something meaningful to enrich the UGA community/experience.  Eight projects were submitted, ranging in topic from threatened species to schedules. Earlier this month, the top three projects were determined by a panel of faculty judges:…

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Study Away experiences shape success on campus and beyond

Study Abroad can introduce life-changing experiences for students – whether visiting foreign countries for the first time or opening new connections to people, places, and potential careers. Franklin College units have historically offered robust Study Away opportunities – the Cortona program and the Classics Study in Rome were both initiated in the 1970s. Integrating travel and study opportunities with on-camous degree programs can be…

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UGA doctoral student wins multiple accolades during 2023-24

Saurabh Anand, a multilingual rhetorician, and an ESL writing pedagogue originally from India, has enjoyed a tremendous academic year with state and international awards for his scholarship. In 2023 he was awarded the John R. Stowe Cultural Immersion Grant by The Georgia TESOL Association and a Future Leader Award from the International Writing Center Association.  2024 brought a Short-term Research Grant from the German…

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Sonia Kovalevsky Day at UGA

The department of mathematics held its first-ever Sonia Kovalevsky Day on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the UGA Boyd Research and Education Center. Named for the first major Russian female mathematician and the first woman appointed to full professorship in Northern Europe, the event celebrates Sonia Kovalevsky (b. 1850). Kovalevsky displayed an aptitude for mathematics from a very young age; but her father discouraged her because he believed…

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Brickman, Thompson elected to AAAS

Three University of Georgia faculty members – two from the Franklin College – have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the organization announced this week, bringing the university to 45 total members of the exclusive group. Fellows are elected each year by the AAAS Council to recognize achievements that lead to scientific progress. This year, UGA’s new Fellows are Victor Thompson and Marguerite…

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UGA's Warnock wins Inaugural Regents Cup Debate

Franklin College undergraduate student Ansley Warnock ('25) was the individual debate champion at the the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Regents Cup Debate Series. The Valdosta State University (VSU) debate team won the tournament over competitors from Georgia Tech, Georgia College, UGA and the University of North Georgia. In all, nine students from six USG institutions participated in the event, hosted on Middle Georgia State University’s…

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Ericson takes Grand Prize at 13th Three-Minute Thesis competition

Hannah Ericson, a doctoral candidate in Genetics, is the Grand Prize Winner at this year’s University of Georgia Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition for her presentation titled “Catalyzing Change: What Helps Department Heads Be Successful?” A Ph.D. candidate studying biology education in the Genetics department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Hannah works with Dr. Tessa Andrews studying teaching evaluations at UGA: To promote…

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Native American Studies scholarship

INAS is accepting applications for the Ruth Pack scholarships through May 31. Preference is given to Native American students, applications are limited to INAS certificate students, Native American students and students working in Native American fields.  Courtesy of a generous gift to recruit and support Native American students at the university from UGA alumnus Chris Goeckel (BBA’84), the Institute of Native American Studies (INAS) will…

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Quinn named director of Dean Rusk Center

Congratulations to our UGA colleague and Franklin alumna Sarah Quinn who has been appointed the director of the Dean Rusk International Law Center, a nucleus for global research, education and service for the University of Georgia School of Law since 1977. Quinn, who has directed the center on an interim basis since June 2023, previously served as associate director for global practice preparation and managed the school's Global Governance…

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2024 UGA Research Awards

Congratulations to the many Franklin College faculty members who were recognized this week at the 45th annual University of Georgia Research Awards. Our departments, programs and institutes were well-represented with a range of creative investigations across the full breadth of disciplines and professorial rank, including Early Career Scholar Award winners, all four from the Franklin College: Established by the UGA Research Foundation, these…
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