Tags: Society

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UGA's Hall named National Geographic Explorer

University of Georgia faculty member Cassandra Hall has been named a National Geographic Explorer, a National Geographic Society program that recognizes groundbreaking scientists, conservationists, educators, and storytellers. This year, 20 were selected from among 3000 applicants.  National Geographic Explorers are exceptional individuals in their fields who receive funding and support from the Society to illuminate and protect our…

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UGA joins leading institutions in NextGenAI consortium

The University of Georgia is one of the founding partners in NextGenAI, a first-of-its-kind consortium with 15 leading research institutions dedicated to using AI to accelerate research breakthroughs and transform education. OpenAI, known for its generative AI technologies including ChatGPT, is committing $50 million in research grants, access to OpenAI’s tools and compute funding through the consortium. The initiative will support the discovery…

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In today's weather: Franklin alumna brings the forecast

Leigh Spann (BS '01) served as the morning meteorologist for WFLA, Tampa Bay’s NBC affiliate, for the last 17 years. Over that time, she and her community weathered sunny days and severe storms like Hurricane Milton, which packed 100+ MPH winds and a possible storm surge of more than 15 feet: A storm like Milton could wipe out large portions of a metro area that numbers 3 million residents. “I try to keep that thought in my head when I’m talking…

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UGA faculty experts aboard Nat Geo vessel in Antarctica

On February 1, 2025, UGA faculty members Patricia Medeiros and Renato Castelao took part in a National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula as part of their Visiting Scientist Program. Medeiros and Castelao, both professors in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of marine sciences, boarded the National Geographic Endurance in Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for the White Continent, along with…

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Pridemore named UGA Marienthal Professor

University of Georgia faculty member William Pridemore has been named the inaugural Marienthal Professor in Sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The professorship was approved by the Georgia Board of Regents in fall 2024. Pridemore is currently Franklin Professor and head of the UGA department of sociology in the Franklin College. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the…

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Seven distinguished alumni recognized with 2025 awards

The 2025 Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Award winners highlight leaders in their industries, creating new ways of conducting business, collaborating on innovations, maintaining their curious nature and making an impact in their communities and around the world. This January we introduced the Franklin Spark - characteristics that unite us across the arts and sciences. These traits are undeniably ambitious, exceptionally curious…

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UGA music minor Laila Carter shows her spark on Today

A first-year UGA student with big musical dreams got a chance to showcase her singing Tuesday morning during a surprise moment on The Today Show. She did not disappoint: Laila Carter, a journalism and political science major minoring in music who attended North Oconee High School, was on the TODAY plaza on spring break with other members of UGA when host Craig Melvin asked for her. Carter told Melvin that she wanted to one day be on Broadway, '…

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Janet Westpheling, 1951-2025

Longtime professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ genetics department, Janet (Jan) Westpheling passed away Feb. 16 after an extended illness.  Westpheling's UGA legacy will be honored through a Foundation Fellowship fund: “Jan was a dear friend and an extraordinary member of the UGA faculty,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “She was a devoted mentor to many students, a responsible and dedicated University leader, and a…

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How I Got the Job: Franklin Math Alumni share insights at Industrial Math Day 2025

This spring, four UGA Department of Mathematics alumni returned to campus for Industrial Mathematics Day to share insightful advice with undergraduate students at the event’s panel. Returning alumni include: Patrick Akande (PhD Mathematics `24), Jack Beasley (BS Mathematics `23, MS Business Analytics `24), Annabelle Marshall (BS Mathematics `23) and Bria Ross-Butler (BS Mathematics `23).  Jack Beasley received his B.S. in Mathematics at UGA…

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Franklin alumnus Artis Stevens shares wisdom on the importance of mentorship

In 1985, the Holmes-Hunter Lecture Series was established in conjunction with the University of Georgia to honor Dr. Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first Black students to enroll at UGA. The lecture is given by a distinguished scholar or public figure who exemplifies excellence. This year’s keynote speaker was Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and a Franklin College alumnus. He earned a…

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Herod named Regents' Professor

Two University of Georgia faculty members, including Franklin College professor Andrew Herod, have been named Regents’ Professors in recognition of their innovative and pace-setting research. The honor is the highest professorial recognition bestowed by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The university’s 2025 Regents’ Professors are Andrew Herod, Distinguished Research Professor in the department of geography in the Franklin…

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UGA Hacks Turns X: School of Computing’s 48 Hour Annual Coding Event

Earlier in February, UGA’s School of Computing club, UGAHacks, hosted the 10th annual Hackathon. The Hackathon took place over 48 hours beginning Feb. 8 in the Zell B. Miller Learning Center.  This year’s theme was Rock n’ Roll and hackers were encouraged to think outside of the box and embrace the spirit of innovation in unconventional ways. The event showed the community of driven individuals here at UGA as there were 12 sponsors, over…

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Kudos, February 2025

From individual achievement and career success to community impact, Franklin College faculty, students, staff and alumni were recognized for excellence. Tapping into their Franklin spark, these individuals demonstrated their ambition, curiosity, creativity, and innovative spirit. Congratulations to:  Community UGA boosts Georgia’s economy by $8.4 billion – UGA Today The Athens Wellbeing Project transforms data into change – R&B UGA tops…

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Noted and Quoted, February 2025

The benefits of vacations, global dust and the Georgia Museum of Natural History headline the top February features of work and engagement from our faculty colleagues and outstanding alumni. Did we mention vacation? Those stories plus few more: The best thing you can do for your well-being on vacation, according to science — and the worst – research led by Ryan Grant, doctoral student in the department of psychology, reported by the New York…

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UGA alumna Mackenzie Britt returns to UGA for 2025 Industrial Mathematics Day

On February 8, Mackenzie Britt, (BS Mathematics `20, MS Business Analytics `21), spoke to mathematics students at the UGA Department of Mathematics’ Industrial Mathematics Day.  Britt, currently a senior business analyst at Capgemini in Austin, Texas, specializes in business-to-business commerce. Prior to Capgemini, she worked at Ad Victoriam Solutions and was a part of the Elevate Program. At Ad Victoriam Solutions, she was promoted three…

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Four Franklin faculty named NAI Senior Members

Leading a record number of inductees for the institution, four Franklin College faculty are among eight University of Georgia researchers selected by the National Academy of Inventors  as 2025 NAI Senior Members, surpassing the record number of five inductees set last year. UGA now has 24 Senior Members overall: NAI Senior Members are distinguished faculty, scientists and administrators who have demonstrated success in patents, licensing…

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Franklin advisors recognized with UGA excellence awards

Academic advisors help guide students at every point on their academic journey. The sustained depth and professionalism of the Franklin College Office of Student Academic Services has resulted in a near sweep of the 2024-2025 University of Georgia Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards.  Alexandria Brock, Tashia Caughran, and Greg Kline of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Office of Student Academic Services received…

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The Jill and Marvin Willis Center for Writing: Where Creativity, Community and Culture Meet

In the fall of 2024, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Office of Development hosted a naming ceremony for the Jill and Marvin Willis Center for Writing.  The event took place in the Miller Learning Center, one of three locations where the Center is housed. Associate professor and director of the Center, Rebecca Hallman Martini, English department head, Roland Végső, Franklin College Dean, Anna Stenport, University of Georgia…

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Pack for study away, pack for life

With 33 study abroad programs across five continents and 57 countries, the Franklin College is a significant driver of international UGA student experiential opportunities. As the home of many of UGA's longest-standing programs, our faculty and advisors remind students at every turn to dial-up their campus learning experience by integrating one or more of these well-established programs into their university. That's one reason why we are so…

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UGA Theatre presents “John Proctor is the Villain”

Set in a high school English classroom in rural Georgia, “John Proctor is the Villain” depicts a group of students as they grapple with Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and discover unsettling parallels to their own lives in the process in UGA Theatre’s next production, “John Proctor is the Villain” by Kimberly Belflower and directed by Sloan Elle Garner. As the story unfolds, deep-seated secrets surface, challenging their notions of heroism,…

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Interdisciplinary seed grants propel UGA AI

As machine learning techniques and the reach of large language models (LLMs) become integrated into leading-edge research projects that span the university, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence is creating early leverage for collaborative faculty projects to access greater external support. Four university-wide research projects have been awarded seed grants under the new initiative: “Artificial intelligence is not just about creating…

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Trailblazing colleague, Criminal Justice Studies program, honored with President's Medal

The late Susette Talarico, scholar and longtime leader of the UGA Criminal Justice Studies Program, and the Honorable Steve C. Jones, Senior U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, were honored with the President's Medal at the 2025 Founder's day luncheon: The President’s Medal recognizes individuals, not currently employed at the university, who have made extraordinary contributions to the UGA community by supporting students…

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Time away, time to play, keeps work in perspective

The critical element of life balance and time away from professional duties provides an ever-green yet timely focus of new research from UGA psychology. Employees and employers can enhance both work and life by adhering to a regular cadence of vacation rest and relaxation – and honestly unplugging from work obligations: The meta-analysis of 32 studies from nine countries suggests that not only are vacations more beneficial for boosting employee…

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The pesky business of pesticides

Pesticide-resistant crops create prosperous opportunities but spark concern about health for both humans and the environment.    Agricultural biotechnology has created pesticide-resistant crops that are central to many Argentinian farmers. Franklin College faculty member Pablo Lapegna, associate professor of Sociology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies, explores the way these farmers view the pesticides sprayed on their crops and…

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Noted and Quoted, January 2025

Across the New Year, Franklin faculty remained constantly engaged in research, scholarship and media outreach around the globe.  A few of the many stories that framed the calendar change over the previous month: 2024 likely the warmest year on record — why it matters to you – Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences  Marshall Shepherd writing at Forbes The Semester at Skidaway study program shines –…
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