Tags: Society

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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…

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Innovation Initiative: Transforming Academic Culture in the Arts and Sciences

The Franklin College Innovation Initiative is designed to guide our efforts and focus into the next era of American higher education. Dean Anna Stenport provides an outline of the three-part initiative 1) Academic Innovation, 2) Research Partnerships and Public Engagement, and 3) Student Success, in a series of interviews discussing the context of this ambitious enterprise and plans for implementation. "The Franklin College commitment to…

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Radiocarbon dating techniques re-setting Indigenous histories

A session organized by UGA faculty at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings in early May discussed the ways recent innovations in radiocarbon dating are rewriting the history of Indigenous sites.  Many of these new histories are challenging conventional wisdom about Indigenous persistence, or the lack thereof, in the face of European contact, researchers reported during a session co-organized by Jennifer Birch, professor of…

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High blood pressure linked to degenerative diseases in Black Americans

A new research study found that Black Americans diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension in midlife had significantly higher levels of a dementia-related biomarker more than a decade later. The study followed more than 250 participants with high blood pressure, diabetes or both conditions. The researchers found that while one diagnosis alone did not indicate a dramatic neurological effect, having both led to striking results: “This matters. This…

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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…

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Franklin College Innovation Initiative 2025 – the next quarter-century

Part 3 of 3 – Student Success 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 third of a three-part series of interviews, Franklin College Dean Anna…

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Even common plants threatened by climate change, new study shows

New research from a team led by University of Georgia scientists from the Franklin College and the Odum School of Ecology reveals that even common plant species with a broad geographic distribution are at risk of decline based on climate change, potentially contributing to a loss in biodiversity.  Published in Science , the study integrates ecological and evolutionary approaches to model past, present and projected climatic tolerances…

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David Shaffer: A legacy of teaching, research, and giving back

David Shaffer, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus in theDepartment of Psychology, has made an indelible mark through his passion for teaching, innovative research, and generous philanthropy. In an April 15, 2025 interview with Rich Slatcher, Gail M. Williamson Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Shaffer shared insights into his journey in psychology, cherished memories from UGA, and the motivations behind his…

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National Academy of Inventors UGA chapter launch

The University of Georgia officially launched its chapter of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) on April 28, with 12 Franklin College faculty among the 31 founding members. The chapter will celebrate innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions at UGA.  Since its founding, NAI has promoted innovation and the societal impact of academic inventions by recognizing and empowering U.S. patent holders, supporting education and…

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Robinson elected to AAAS

University of Georgia Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Gregory Robinson has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Robonison joins an illustrious list of 250 members elected in 2025, including renowned figures like CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper, actor and humanitarian Danny Glover, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés. A UGA faculty member since 1995, Robinson has conducted…

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Noted and Quoted, March/April

Franklin faculty led into spring and beyond with news and expertise across the media. A sample of the stories available in media across the globe: Wildfires are burning across the South. Here’s why more could be on the way – Pam Knox, faculty member in the Atmospheric Sciences Program, quoted by the AJC   Lunar sample research could help protect astronauts and uncover origins of water on the moon – research co-authored by professor of…

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Dawgs In the Desert – Morocco Connect Abroad Reflections 

Dawgs make their mark wherever they go, and now their prints are left behind in the golden sands of Morocco. For three first-year students — international affairs major Brady Hawkins, regenerative bioscience major Bram Rosenblatt and music education major Nichole Botsoe — the opportunity to take their studies overseas through the University of Georgia’s recently-introduced Connect Abroad program provided an unforgettable experience.  We…

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Franklin Forward Research Grants

The Franklin College announced the latest round of funding through the Franklin Forward graduate student seed grant program. In the spring 2025 cycle, six projects were funded, with donor support. The six Franklin Forward recipients for spring 2025, and their projects: Carsynn Miller, doctoral student, industrial/Organizational Psychology: Effective Talent Management Strategies for Autistic Employees Sloan Garner, doctoral student,Theatre and…

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Student Q & A: Alexa Bill shows the power of 'and'

Alexa Bill, double major in history and social studies education in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, and triple minor in classics, European studies & historic preservation in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences shows the power of the ampersand with her multiple academic pursuits as well as many interests on and off campus. 1. What advice would you give to high school students who are preparing for the college…

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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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UGA wins Regents Cup Debate Series

The Georgia Debate Union won the overall team title at this year's Regents Cup Debate Tournament on Thursday, April 17. The Regents Cup was created by Chancellor Sonny Perdue in 2024 to support civil dialogue and debate amongst USG colleges and universities. The competition was hosted by the University System of Georgia at Middle Georgia State University in Macon.    The Georgia Debate Union is housed in the Franklin College of Arts…

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Senior Russian Flagship double-major named a 2025 Truman Scholar

University of Georgia senior Mercedes “Sadie” Bengs is one of 54 undergraduates from 49 colleges and universities across the nation to be selected as a 2025 Truman Scholar, a prestigious award given each year to students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector. Bengs is from Aberdeen, South Dakota, and is studying international affairs in the School of Public and…

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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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Special PNAS feature on Global Inequality includes UGA's Birch

A collection of articles in a special feature published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Economic Inequality Over the Very Long Term, released findings of a large, international research team that includes University of Georgia faculty member Jennifer Birch. An expert on the archaeology of Indigenous societies in eastern North America, Birch is co-author on 4 of the eleven articles comprising the April 14 special feature…

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Franklin College Innovation Initiative 2025 – the next quarter-century

Part 1 of 3 - Academic Innovation  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 first of a three-part series of interviews, Franklin College Dean…

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Franklin's Sloka Sudhin awarded Goldwater Scholarship

Sloka Sudhin is one of three University of Georgia students among the 441 undergraduates from across the nation to be recognized as Barry Goldwater Scholars this spring. They have earned the highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of mathematics, engineering and natural sciences. Sudhin, a Foundation Fellow and Stamps Scholar from Marietta, Georgia, is majoring in data science and applied mathematics in the Franklin College of…

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Tom Schulman, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter, visits UGA Department of Religion

Greeted by a round of applause from a class full of students, "Dead Poets Society" screenwriter and Academy Award winner Tom Schulman visited UGA on April 10. Schulman was interviewed by religion professor and department head Derrick Lemons about his process writing the film and his experiences in the movie industry as a part of Lemons’ Anthropology of American Religion course. Students watched the film to prepare for Schulman’s visit, which…

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Franklin students present their research at CURO Symposium

As visitors descended the escalator of the Classic Center and walked through the doors of the Grand Hall, they encountered hundreds of hardworking students eager to present their research. An atmosphere of education and engagement filled the air.  On April 7 and 8, undergraduate students from UGA came together to present at the annual Center for Undergraduate Research (CURO) Symposium with a record-breaking number of 723 presentations…

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UGA's Roberts Thompson receives Society for American Archeology Award

University of Georgia faculty member Amanda Roberts Thompson has been selected to receive the 2025 Award for Excellence in Curation and Collections Management from the Society of American Archeology. The 2025 SAA awards will be presented April 25 at the SAA 90th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. This Award for Excellence in Curation and Collections Management is given annually to recognize excellence in curation and collections…
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