FACS Convocation - Fall 2023

GRADUATING CLASS of 2023 Fall

The College of Family and Consumer Sciences develops leaders who focus on the science and art of helping individuals live well in a complex society.

WELCOME Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, Dean BILL AND JUNE FLATT OUTSTANDING SENIOR Jennifer Ray, Nutritional Sciences STUDENT PERSPECTIVE ADDRESS Claire Maiona, Human Development and Family Science RECOGNITION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS Dr. Allisen Penn, Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach Marshals: Emily Crum, Benjamin Kemp RECOGNITION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FINANCIAL PLANNING, HOUSING AND CONSUMER ECONOMICS GRADUATES Dr. Swarn Chatterjee, Department Head Reader: Sherle Brown Marshals: Paul Chasteen, William Neaime HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE GRADUATES Dr. April Few-Demo, Department Head Reader: Dr. Melissa Kozak Marshals: Brooke Vituli, Alex Harvill NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES GRADUATES Dr. Connie Rogers, Department Head Reader: Dr. Art Grider Marshals: Tiersly Wanka, Caroline Soares TEXTILES, MERCHANDISING AND INTERIORS GRADUATES Dr. Gajanan Bhat, Department Head Reader: Dr. Clair McClure Marshals: Olivia Grace Palmer, Rachel Madison Phillips WELCOME TO THE FACS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Bridget Helms STUDENT CHALLENGE ADDRESS Rajan Bedi, Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics CLOSING REMARKS AND RECESSIONAL Dr. Anisa Zvonkovic, Dean Outstanding Senior award winner receives a cash gift from the Flatt Student Achievement Fund.

BSFCS: Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE SPEAKER Hometown: Lake Forest, California Activities and Honors: • Board Member, Women’s Ministry, Catholic Student Assocation • Volunteer, Extra Special People • Small group leader, Ignite Student Ministry, Catholic Center at UGA • Ultimate Frisbee Team, UGA Rec Sports

CLAIRE MAIONA

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE

Why I chose my major: HDFS was originally my minor. As I took more classes, I fell in love with the subject, the faculty and how applicable the content was to my everyday life. I changed my major to HDFS my junior year and never looked back. One thing I love about HDFS is that it combines psychology, sociology and biology to understand how people change over time.

What I like most about FACS: I have always felt as if FACS cared for my whole self, not just the part of me that is a student. Beyond the numerous resources FACS offers its students, the professors are some of the kindest and most caring people I have encountered at UGA. Post-graduation plans: Following a two-month traveling stint, I will be moving to Nashville to work as a Health and Benefits Specialist at Aon.

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STUDENT CHALLENGE SPEAKER Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia Activities and Honors: • Miller Learning Center security assistant • Outstanding Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program preparer Why I chose my major: There are very few professions you can do in this world that can help others in tangible, meaningful ways! Financial planning breaks down the barriers between the advisor and the client and requires you to keep the best interests of others at the forefront of your mind all the time. To be in an industry where others understand this intrinsically is humbling and an honor!

What I like most about FACS: The people and the journey they took to get here! So many of us didn’t know about this college when we applied, but it’s only when we got here and spent some time wandering that we found there is an environment that could key in on our passion and strengths to prepare us for necessary and meaningful work in the real world!

RAJAN BEDI

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Post-graduation plans: I have signed an offer with Fidelity Investments and will be working on becoming a fully-licensed Financial Advisor in their development program in January. I’ll also be taking a trip to Japan with my friends after I get settled!

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Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics Dr. Swarn Chatterjee, Department Head BSFCS, Consumer Economics JoAnna Lane Dickson Kenneth Cole Johnson Wade Smith Murdock Joseph William Rauton Jennifer Rice Summa Cum Laude Ansley Nicole Wiggs BSFCS, Financial Planning Hope Carolyn Armistead Cum Laude Rajan Bedi Alexis Hope Clanton Tobias Wulff Dileng James Harold Gaston James Vincent Girone III Grayson William Gorman Magna Cum Laude Nathaniel Hood Ian Oliver Levitt Gray Robert Long Abigail Nicole Mauldin Cum Laude Natalie Payne John Rucker Reeves Samuel McCoy Wages Cum Laude

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BSFCS, Housing Management & Policy Asher Stephonn Allen Bryce T. Bogart William (Willy) Elia Neaime II Summa Cum Laude Parker Maron Way Cassandra Maria Wylie Master of Science in Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics Gabrion Norkel Johnson Major Professor – Dr. William Cupples Benjamin William Kemp Major Professor – Dr. Dee Warmath Chaht Kumar Major Professor – Dr. Swarn Chatterjee Andy Li Major Professor – Dr. Kristy Archuleta Mercy Akeyo Oloo Major Professor – Dr. Dee Warmath Sakinah Imani Powell Major Professor – Dr. John Grable Timothy Jason Tidwell Major Professor – Dr. John Grable Richard Lin Zulick Major Professor – Dr. John Grable Doctor of Philosophy in Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics Malika Dhakhwa Major Professor – Dr. Patryk Babiarz

Human Development and Family Science Dr. April Few-Demo, Department Head BSFCS, Human Development and Family Science Mardra Amirrah Caldwell Alexandra Faith Harvill Cum Laude Emory Hinkle First Honor Graduate Claire Angelyn Maiona Magna Cum Laude

Sara Elizabeth Massey Magna Cum Laude Elaine Reagin Metcalf Mary Madden Pehrson Cum Laude Ashley Claire Smith Adriana Josephine Tharp Brooke Nicole Vituli Cum Laude

Nutritional Sciences Dr. Connie Rogers, Department Head BSFCS, Culinary Science & Nutrition Christine Garner Spates BSFCS, Dietetics McKenzie Leigh Clark Nancy Shannon Halloran Haley Nicole Hannah Emilie Ruth Hudgins Erin Michelle Iverson Julia Micale Pittman Cum Laude Grace Ashleigh Potts Jennifer Jean Ray Tiersly Nchang Wanka Cum Laude

BSFCS, Nutritional Sciences Dorian Grant Sri Nayana Maradana Caroline Russell Caroline Akemi Soares Iizuka Magna Cum Laude Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition Jillian Makala Allen Major Professor – Dr. Connie Rogers Allison Arters Major Professor – Dr. Emma Laing Gabrielle Arters Major Professor – Dr. Emma Laing 7

Grace Ann Burton Major Professor – Dr. Emma Laing Whit Aaron Cooney Major Professor – Dr. Alex Anderson Celia Catherine Croxton Major Professor – Dr. Emma Laing Emily Ann Crum Major Professor – Dr. Alison Berg Tiffany An Vo Major Professor – Dr. Silvia Giraudo Doctor of Philosophy in Foods and Nutrition Katherine Ingerson Major Professor – Dr. Ginnefer Cox

Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors Dr. Gajanan Bhat, Department Head BSFCS, Fashion Merchandising Samantha Leigh Allen Meredith Anne Eidson Cum Laude Ava Rose Outzs Olivia Grace Palmer Summa Cum Laude Rachel Madison Phillips Lana MaSha Ridley

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OUTSTANDING SENIOR Hometown: Bethlehem, Georgia Activities and Honors: • Melynda Flatt Reid Dietetics Scholarship Recipient • The Mullis Family Scholarship Recipient • Presidential Scholar and Dean’s List • The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi) • Student Dietetics Association

JENNIFER RAY DIETETICS

Why I chose my major: I knew I wanted to go back to school for a second undergraduate degree. However, until 2018, I wasn’t sure which degree program I wanted to pursue. My life changed in March 2018 when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Based on this diagnosis, I made the decision to adjust my diet and make some lifestyle changes. Within nine months, I had lost 40 pounds. My doctor removed the word “diabetic” from my medical chart, and I no longer had to take medications for diabetes or check my blood sugar levels. I believed if I could change my life by changing my diet, I could help others do the same. In July 2019, I reached out to Dr. Laing regarding the dietetics program and she was very helpful. After our conversation, I knew the next step in my life’s journey would take me to UGA and that I would major in dietetics.

What I like most about FACS: There are so many things that stand out. The most prevalent is the amazing sense of community among the professors and students. Even though I was an older transfer student, from day one, I felt I had been accepted into a wonderful and caring community of people.

Post-graduation plans: I plan to work as a school nutrition director while obtaining advanced certification in the field.

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GRADUATION WITH HONORS

The University of Georgia awards degrees with honors to candidates who meet specified standards of academic excellence. Graduating seniors are recommended for graduation with honors on the basis of their overall grade point average for all college-level work attempted. The overall GPA includes all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or subsequent to matriculation. Respective standards are as follows: Honors Designation

Required Overall GPA

Tassel Color

Summa Cum Laude

3.9 - 4.0

Red, Silver and Black

Magna Cum Laude

3.75 - 3.89

Red and Silver

Cum Laude

3.60 - 3.74

Red and Black

First Honor Graduates Each student completing a baccalaureate degree with an overall grade point average of 4.0 is designated a First Honor Graduate. The overall grade point average includes all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or subsequent to matriculation.

First Honors Candidates wear a fourragère (braided cord) on their left shoulder as part of their graduation academic regalia.

Honors Program Graduates FACS students who participate in the UGA Honors Program may qualify to graduate with Honors, High Honors or Highest Honors. To graduate with Honors, a student must have a minimum 3.3 GPA in his or her Honors courses and a 3.4 cumulative GPA. To earn High or Highest Honors students have taken at least nine Honors courses and completed capstone coursework, which can include directed research, a thesis, an internship or the completion of three graduate level courses. In addition to the capstone coursework, students who receive High Honors have maintained a 3.5 Honors GPA and a 3.7 cumulative GPA. For Highest Honors, students have maintained a 3.5 Honors GPA and an overall GPA of at least 3.9.

Please note: Because grades for the current semester are not available during the time that commencement programs are being produced and on the day of Commencement, honors designations (including First Honor Graduates) are based on the grade point average earned through the previous academic term. Final academic honor graduates for each semester are selected after grades have been submitted. Final, official honor designations are included on diplomas and transcripts.

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WELCOME To the Class of 2023, When you leave here today, you will officially become one of the thousands of alumni who call the College of Family and Consumer Sciences their alma mater. On behalf of the entire FACS Alumni Association - congratulations and welcome to the family!

Being an alumni of this college is something that brings me such pride. FACS is a college focused on enriching lives and in my opinion, there are few things more meaningful than that. Whether you studied consumer economics, nutrition, fashion merchandising or any of the other diverse disciplines available at FACS, your education was rooted in the idea of helping people thrive.

For all of you starting your career, continuing on to grad school or setting out for new adventures, I hope you take with you all of the lessons you learned at Dawson Hall - both in the classroom and those that can’t be taught in a textbook. I hope you find inspiration in new places and that you never stop learning.

For many of you, your work in the classrooms, the labs, the studios and the study halls may be coming to a close, but your work in your community is just beginning.

I encourage you to find ways to continue building your network and community with other FACS graduates.

Connect over coffee, become engaged in alumni chapters and reach out to your professors to mentor the next group of students. There is no end to the RYDER CHOSEWOOD opportunities FACS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT available to help each other succeed.

Remember, this community will always be here for you, and we’d love for all of you to stay connected with our Alumni Association.

Enjoy every moment of this special weekend, and know that later when you are ringing the bell and walking through the Arch, we are cheering you on every step of the way. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things you accomplish. Congratulations, and Go Dawgs!

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Official GradImages photos will be available at www.gradimages.com at a later date. Photos taken by the college photographer will be posted at www.flickr.com/ugafacs and on the FACS Facebook page.

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