University of Georgia Magazine Fall 2026 by University of Georgia Alumni Magazine

THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

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Welcome to the Jungle We've got fun and games and UGA students studying in Costa Rica

LAWSON LUCKIE #7 Tight End

Downtown Athens | Peachtree Battle | Avalon | Gainesville | Thomasville OnwardReserve.com

CONTENTS

Experience the rainforest through student researchers’ eyes, p. 28.

Go bananas with Georgia alumni, p. 22

THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA FALL 2026

INSIDE 5

President’s Pen

UGAtoZ

President Jere W. Morehead discusses how UGA fuels innovation and discovery.

Highlights from across the UGA community.

36 On the Bulldog Beat

Incoming students and families learn what it means to become Bulldogs.

38 Bulldog Bulletin News for UGA alumni in Georgia, across the country, and around the world.

40 Class Notes

Meet the new owner of a beloved Athens restaurant, a guide to Savannah’s most popular destinations, a retired Marine Corps officer with a refreshing second act, and more successful Georgia alumni!

56 Faculty Focus

Get to know Karen Norris, GRA Eminent Scholar in Immunology and Translational Biomedicine, Center for Vaccines and Immunology.

BILLY SCHUERMAN

FEATURES

ON THE COVER

16 Right on Track

UGA’s women’s track and field team has won three straight national championships, including a recent outdoor title.

18 Transformations

UGA’s Health Sciences Campus has a rich history. Its future will help shape medicine and well-being in Georgia.

22 Red and Black and Yellow

The Savannah Bananas are a remarkable sports and entertainment story. Behind the scenes, there’s an a-peel-ing bunch of UGA alumni.

28 Welcome to the Jungle

We’ve got fun and games and, more importantly, UGA students learning important lessons in ecology, health, and veterinary medicine while studying abroad in Costa Rica.

COVER PHOTO BY CHAMBERLAIN SMITH

Georgia Magazine photo editor Chamberlain Smith captures UGA undergraduate students Isabelle Morissette and Joshua Caruso bird watching on the Joan Spector Bridge in Costa Rica. See more UGA student encounters with Costa Rica’s wildlife on pages 28 to 35.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Sky’s the Limit AN EVER-CHANGING ARRAY OF COLORS SIGNALED A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR members of UGA’s Class of 2026, who were cheered on by family and friends at Sanford Stadium on May 8 for the annual spring Commencement ceremony.

2 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CHAMBERLAIN SMITH

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

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VOLUME 106

ISSUE NO. 4

GEORGIA MAGA ZINE

Editor · Eric Rangus MA ’94 Associate Editors · Aaron Hale MA ’16 and Leigh Hataway MA ’17 Staff Writers · Jayne Roberts and Savannah Peat AB ’19 Art Director · Lindsay Robinson ABJ ’06, MPA ’11, MA ’22 Advertising Director · Kipp Mullis ABJ ’93 Photo Editor · Chamberlain Smith ABJ ’18 UGA Photographers · Andrew Davis Tucker, Dorothy Kozlowski BLA ’06, ABJ ’10, and Billy Schuerman Contributing Writers · Rachael Andrews BA ’17, MA ’21 and Lilli Sosbee AB ’22 Contributing Designers · Andrea Piazza ABJ ’12, MA ’19, Whitney Mathisen, Kaiya Plagenhoef, Nancy Xiong, and Marisa Castengera Editorial Interns · Maura Rutledge AB ’26, Sarah Watts, and Keely Crow Research Writing Graduate Assistant · Sydney Barrilleaux BS ’24, MA ’26

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Vice President · Kathy Pharr ABJ ’87, MPA ’05, EdD ’11 Senior Director for Integrated Media Communications · James Hataway MA ’10 Assistant Vice President and Chief Operating Officer · Fran Burke Project Manager · Brittney Wurdeman

ADMINISTR ATION

President · Jere W. Morehead JD ’80 Interim Senior VP for Academic Affairs & Provost · Ron R. Walcott PhD ’99 VP for Finance & Administration · Ryan Nesbit MBA ’91 VP for Development & Alumni Relations · Jill S. Walton BSA ’99, MPA ’03 VP for Instruction · Marisa Anne Pagnattaro PhD ’98 Interim VP for Research · Christopher King VP for Public Service & Outreach · Stacy Jones BSFCS ’93, EdD ’19 VP for Student Affairs · Michelle Cook VP for Government Relations · Blake Raulerson AB ’14 Interim VP for Information Technology · Ilir Hasko Senior Director for Marketing and Communications for Development and Alumni Relations · Lacey Creech

Change your mailing address by contacting e: records@uga.edu or ph: 888-268-5442 Find Georgia Magazine online at news.uga.edu/georgia-magazine Submit Class Notes or story ideas to gmeditor@uga.edu ADVERTISE in Georgia Magazine by contacting

Kipp Mullis at e: gmsales@uga.edu or ph: 706-542-9877 FINE PRINT

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

4 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Georgia Magazine (issn 1085-1042) is published quarterly for alumni and friends of UGA. POSTM ASTER | Send address changes to: University of Georgia 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North Athens, GA 30602

An Equal Opportunity, Veteran, Disability Institution

PRESIDENT'S PEN

Fueling Innovation and Discovery Generous support for endowed professorships is powering a record-breaking research enterprise and driving real-world impact for our state and beyond.

The University of Georgia’s reputation as one of the top public institutions in the nation is built upon the foundation of a world-class faculty. Each day, our faculty cultivate transformative learning environments in the classroom, pursue groundbreaking research with real-world impact, and diligently serve communities through public outreach initiatives. This level of excellence is driven by an institutional commitment to invest in scholars who are tackling society’s greatest challenges. At the heart of these efforts is a concerted focus on expanding the number of endowed faculty positions at the university. These positions, created by the exceptional generosity of our alumni and friends, allow UGA to recruit and retain outstanding faculty members who catalyze innovation and are widely recognized as leaders in their respective disciplines.

“As we enter the next exciting chapter of the university’s history, our remarkable faculty will continue to set the standard for excellence on our campus and meet the needs of communities near and far.”

During my tenure as president, we have established nearly 200 new endowed chairs and professorships, increasing the total from 227 to 406. These numbers represent a tremendous accomplishment, and the UGA Foundation has extended its fundraising match to further elevate the generosity of our loyal donors. Together, these funds will significantly enhance UGA’s research enterprise now and well into the future. The return on these investments, along with several Presidential Hiring Initiatives in fields of strategic emphasis, continues to fuel UGA’s ascent in faculty research productivity. Last year, total research and development expenditures surpassed $654 million, a new institutional record that reflects a 75% increase since 2015. The positive impact of our faculty’s work, however, does not stop there. Faculty continue to publish their scholarship in books and leading academic journals, consistently earning recognition from prestigious national organizations. Additionally, for the third year in a row, UGA researchers ranked first in the nation in translating their discoveries into marketable products, including biological technologies, sustainable agricultural crops, and more. As we enter the next exciting chapter of the university’s history, our remarkable faculty will continue to set the standard for excellence on our campus and meet the needs of communities near and far. Drawing on the ongoing support of our alumni and friends, the growth of endowed chairs and professorships will position UGA to lead the way in the pursuit of new knowledge with tangible impact. It is an exciting time to be part of the University of Georgia as we answer the call to shape a brighter future for our state and its people.

Jere W. Morehead President GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CONGRATS TO THESE TOP DAWGS

leading in their industries and communities.

CAMERON BANKS

WALKER BEARD

DRAKE BERNSTEIN

WARD BLACK

DYLAN BROWN

LUCAS BROWN

NETTIE E. BROWN

ELLEN CLARKE

LIZZIE DIGIOVANNI

KRISTEN DUNNING

JASON P. EDWARDS

JUSTIN ERNEST

SKYE ESTROFF

RENEE REGINA FULLER

ALEX GRIFFIN

J. HILLYER JENNINGS

PATRICK KLIBANOFF

E. DARREN LIDDELL

BRADEN T. MEADOWS

CLARK MILNER

MEGAN MORONEY

GEORGIA EVERT O’DONOGHUE

KATIE PENLAND

COLE PHILLIPS

SARA POWELL

BLAKE RAULERSON

BRITTANY CASSELL RAWAY

COLIN ROCKER

KENNETH SANCHEZ

JACKIE SHERRY

JAMEY SHIRAH

HARINA SOMASUNDARAM

CLAIRE STEPHENS

MIRANDA WILLIAMS THOMAS

AUSTIN TULL

TRAVIS A. VOYLES

LAURA WARREN

MASATO WEBB

SAMANTHA H. WELDON

TIFFANY N. WOOTEN

Learn more about the UGA 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 | alumni.uga.edu/40u40

UGA Z to

Highlights from across the UGA community

SEASON OF CHANGE

Celebrating UGA’s Spring 2026 Graduates UGA welcomed more than 9,400 graduates as its newest alumni during its spring Commencement ceremonies. DJ Shockley AB ’05, former UGA and Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Emmy Award-winning sports director for FOX 5, spoke to graduates about navigating change as the keynote speaker during UGA’s undergraduate Commencement ceremony in May. Recounting the obstacles he overcame in his career and how they’ve shaped him, Shockley prescribed patience and perseverance when facing challenges.

“Growth happens when you’re uncomfortable,” Shockley said. “Embrace the change ahead.” Blake Witmer AB ’26, the undergraduate Commencement student speaker, kept the theme of change in her address. “If there is one thing that our years here at the University of Georgia have taught us, it is that one of the only true constants in life will be change,” Witmer said. “Construction on campus. Bus routes. Class schedules. They all changed. And yet, every time, we adapted. We figured it out. We always do.” A total of 6,537 spring undergraduates and 1,055 expected summer undergraduates, along with 1,885 graduate students, met requirements to walk in the ceremonies.

Georgia on Her Mind Marianna Baccus BMus ’26 (left) ushered in that big moment of change from the stage with a moving performance of “Georgia on My Mind” that had the Class of 2026 linking arms and swaying. “I’d never sung for that many people before, so it was such a special way to close this chapter,” said Baccus, who earned her bachelor’s degree in music therapy from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The Tennessee native learned how to use songs, lyrics, and melodies as one-on-one interventions in healthcare settings during her time at UGA. She has seen this in action through her clinical work, which she’ll continue at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. BILLY SCHUERMAN

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

UGA to Z IT’S A MIRACLE

UGA Miracle Raises $1.4M for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta The 31st annual UGA Miracle Dance Marathon raised a whopping $1,402,031.26 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. More than 2,000 students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in Stegeman Coliseum in the spring to celebrate UGA’s largest student-run organization and its continued commitment to children’s welfare. The 2026 Dance Marathon began at 10:30 a.m. and ended at midnight. The 13.5 hour marathon included festivities like live music, a silent disco, and a variety of group games. UGA Miracle’s mission centers on supporting patients and families at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, otherwise known as “Miracle Families.” These families play a central role in the organization, sharing their stories with students to highlight the real-life impact of fundraising efforts.

UGA Miracle students reveal the final fundraising total—more than $1.4 million raised for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. SPECIAL

HONORING STUDENT VETERANS

More than 120 Veterans Earn UGA Degrees

FINELY SCULPTED

Museum of Art Exhibit Rediscovers Acclaimed Sculptor “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone” is the first major retrospective exhibition of the acclaimed 19th-century sculptor’s work. The new exhibition in the Georgia Museum of Art features 30 pieces by Lewis from public and private collections across the United States and abroad, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about Lewis’s remarkable life through her mastery of marble. Born in Greenbush, New York, in 1844, Lewis became the first sculptor of Black and Indigenous descent to achieve widespread international acclaim. Her career took her from Boston to Rome alongside the major American sculptors of her generation. The exhibition foregrounds her rediscovered masterpieces alongside her contemporaries and the artists she influenced.

Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone @ Georgia Museum of Art Aug. 8, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027

8 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

The University of Georgia continues to be a national leader in support for student veterans and service members. For the 2026 calendar year, 122 student veterans will earn a degree—the largest graduating class since the inception of the UGA Student Veteran Resource Center (SVRC) in 2013. In April, the SVRC hosted its 13th annual Honor Cord and Scholarship Ceremony. UGA President Jere W. Morehead JD ’80 presented graduates with military honor cords, and donors provided scholarships to bridge veterans’ education benefit gaps. “It is such a privilege to be acknowledged by President Morehead with the military honor cord,” says Marylyn Key BFA ’26, one of those new graduates and a retired Marine Corps gunnery sergeant. “I can’t begin to express the amount of pride and gratitude this gives me.” The 2025-26 academic year was the first in which UGA’s veteran population topped 400 students. The SVRC anticipates more student veterans to join the campus community over the summer, including continued growth at UGA’s extended campuses and among online students. The SVRC provides transition assistance to veterans and service members including opening doors to available resources and facilitating career readiness.

UGA to Z YELLOW CARD

Pay-to-Play System Prices Out Young Soccer Talent Every season, Georgia families spend thousands of dollars on youth sports. New research from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication suggests that the youth sport system is a market response to the American system of linking sports to education. “Virtually no other country tries to do sport development through schools in the way the United States does,” says Welch Suggs PhD ’09, co-author of the study and associate director of the Carmical Sports Media Institute at Grady College. Schools are funded unequally, and the resources available to an athlete depend heavily on geography and economic class. Elite, privatized club systems developed in response to this disparity, offering quality coaching and competitive schedules for a hefty price tag. Playing for a private sporting club can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 annually. This commodified “pay-to-play” structure prevents many talented players from accessing needed training and resources. In addition to financial barriers, families with working parents often can’t carve out entire weekends to travel to tournaments. Athletes from lower-income families may not have reliable transportation. There may be options for young players across the country, but it starts with overcoming the competitive instincts baked into the American sports market, Suggs says. Recent UGA graduate Gabriella Etienne AB ’26, experienced this market while competing for a club soccer team in Cherokee County. She agrees that collaboration is essential. “If we can find ways to come together and establish a pathway that we’re all decided on, that might be a way to have more success and let more people be involved in the game,” says Etienne, coauthor of the study.

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI A

V IS T

U CKER

Ron R. Walcott has been named interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. He replaces Benjamin C. Ayers (inset), who was named president of Clemson University over the summer.

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

Competing in youth sports presents challenges for not just young athletes but also their families, according to new UGA research.

NEW LEADERSHIP

Walcott Steps in as Interim Provost Ron R. Walcott, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, has been named interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, effective Aug. 1. Walcott succeeds Benjamin C. Ayers, who was recently appointed president of Clemson University. As vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School, Walcott PhD ’99 has led efforts to significantly strengthen graduate education. Since assuming the role in 2020, graduate enrollment has increased by more than 20%, while the total number of scholarships and fellowships that support graduate students has grown by more than 80%. During his tenure, Walcott spearheaded the creation of several initiatives designed to elevate graduate student development and well-being. Chief among these is GradFirst, a campus-wide program for first-year graduate students that leverages high-impact educational practices to promote successful graduate school experiences. Walcott holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in plant pathology from Iowa State University and a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Georgia. He joined the faculty of UGA’s Department of Plant Pathology as an assistant professor in 1999 before ultimately earning promotion to his current rank of professor. He previously served as interim dean and associate dean of the Graduate School, as well as assistant dean in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

UGA to Z BUILDING BONDS

LEADERSHIP UPDATE

Strong Support Networks Benefit Youth in Military Families

New Dean Named for the College of Environment and Design

Youth in military families need support from parents and peers to maintain mental health, according to new research from the University of Georgia. Potential parental deployment, frequent moves, and other obstacles make adolescence a particularly challenging time for youth in military families. However, researchers found that strong relationships are associated with adolescents’ ability to use skills such as problem-solving and self-reliance to promote well-being. Evin Richardson MS ’13, PhD ’17, corresponding author of the study and an assistant research scientist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, says that encouraging adolescents to participate in extracurricular activities can build important peer connections. By fostering connections both in and out of the home, military youth can have the stable support they need to better focus on their own self-efficacy and long-term mental GE TT health. Y IM AG

Jules Bruck, a nationally recognized leader in landscape architecture and nature-based coastal resilience, is the new dean of UGA’s College of SPECIAL Environment and Design. Bruck previously served as director of the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Florida. She brings to UGA a distinguished record of academic leadership, high‑impact research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Bruck is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, one of the profession’s highest honors. Her research includes a $9.4 million project to develop defensive shellfish‑based living shorelines, an approach with direct relevance to coastal communities in Georgia and beyond. ES

CLEARING THE BAR Junior Kimani Jack won an individual title in high jump at the NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in June. The Bulldogs finished second in the team event.

Georgia Takes Second in Men’s Outdoor Track

TONY WALSH/UGA ATHLETICS

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Powered by two event championship performances, the Georgia men’s track and field team finished second at NCAA outdoor championships in June. Arkansas won its 11th national title, finishing with 56 points, only seven ahead of the Bulldogs. Tennessee and LSU followed, making the top four a Southeastern Conference sweep. Top UGA performances included junior Kimani Jack, who cleared 7 feet, 5 3/4 inches to win the high jump. Georgia also won the championships’ final event—the 4x400-meter relay. The Bulldog quartet of Xai Ricks, Sidi Njie, Landon Costen, and Jonathan Simms finished with a time of 2:57.93, earning the 10 points necessary to vault the squad past Tennessee into second.

UGA to Z

$8.8M GRANT FOR GEORGIA FARMERS

ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

SICK SERPENTS

REAPING THE BENEFITS

Rising Infections Endanger Wild Snake Populations

UGA to Receive $8.8M to Help Georgia Farmers

A deadly combination of fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections could push certain species of snakes toward extinction, according to new research from the University of Georgia. The study found that some pathogens are more prevalent across snake species than previously thought. Previous research cited Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola as the cause for Snake Fungal Disease, a highly contagious and often fatal skin infection. The present study found that the fungus disproportionately affects pygmy rattlesnakes, with more than one in three rattlers testing positive. This is concerning for the pygmy’s future, as the fungus has already been linked to localized population crashes in other rattlesnake relatives like the endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake. Snakes play a key role in the environment by contributing to environmental balance and biodiversity. But snakes, particularly venomous ones, are not always seen in a positive light. “We often fear what we do not understand. Rattlesnakes are dangerous, as are many wild animals, but it is critical for the public to be educated on their value in our ecosystems and to learn how to safely coexist,” says Corinna Hazelrig BSFR ’21, PhD ’25, corresponding author of the study and a doctoral graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine and UGA’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study.

The University of Georgia will receive $8.8 million over three years to help farmers restore streams and rivers on their land through the Working Lands for Wildlife’s Southern Waters Framework. The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Odum School of Ecology, and College of Engineering are joining the UGA River Basin Center and the UGA Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems to host the program. UGA will deploy nearly two dozen biologists and engineers across the South to address challenges on working lands, such as field erosion, loss of forest cover, and degraded dams. Working with local U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, the program will tap into existing USDA funding sources, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, to pay for physical improvements to stream connectivity and aquatic habitats. Since 2023, biologists and engineers working for the program have provided technical assistance to 48 landowners and technical assistance or direct project support to Natural Resources Conservation Service offices across six states.

Y IM

AG E S

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

UGA to Z TICK, TICK, TICK

BANNER YEAR

A Bite That Can Rewrite Your Diet

Jackson Earns Golden Spikes Award

Alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy triggered by tick bites, can turn a routine meal into a life-threatening event. The condition, which can trigger reactions to red meat and, less commonly, dairy, was once considered rare but has emerged as a public health concern. As diagnoses rise, UGA scientists are working to understand, at the molecular level, how tick bites can lead to severe allergies. Lone star ticks are the primary transmitters of alpha-gal sugars to humans. As the dominant species in Georgia, these aggressive arachnids are distinguished by a white dot on the back of the females. Some people develop alphagal syndrome after just a few tick bites. Others, even after many bites, never do. What drives this difference remains a central question for researchers at UGA’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. For scientists, the goal is clear: understand the biology well enough to move from explanation to prevention and, eventually, cut to treatment. Until then, the best prevention remains to avoid tick bites altogether. When in forested or grassy areas where ticks could be a problem, researchers recommend wearing long clothing, tucking pants into socks, and wearing permethrin-treated garments, which can kill ticks on contact. Stay on established trails, avoid tall grass and brush, and perform careful tick checks as soon as you return home. Make sure pets are treated with tick prevention products.

SPECIAL

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Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson capped his remarkable season by earning the 2026 Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award goes to the nation’s top amateur baseball player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship and character, and an overall positive contribution to the sport. Georgia is the only school to ever have a pair of Golden Spikes winners in a threeyear period. Charlie Condon, who is now in the Colorado Rockies system, took the Golden Spikes in 2024. Jackson, a junior from Sandy Springs, led the nation in total bases (212) and runs (88) while ranking second in home runs (32) and RBIs (87). He was just the third player in history to capture the SEC Triple Crown, leading the league in batting average (.379), home runs (32), and RBIs (school record 87). His 1.276 OPS was the SEC’s best. Jackson is the first catcher in NCAA Division I history to register at least 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season. Jackson was the leader of a Bulldogs team that finished 53-14, won the SEC regular season and tournament titles, and returned to the Men’s College World Series for the first time since 2008.

LLY

ERM

Daniel Jackson won the SEC Triple Crown and led Georgia to the Men’s College World Series for the first time since 2008. He is the second Bulldog in three years to win the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur baseball player.

DON’T LET THEM BITE

How to Check for Bedbugs When Traveling While bedbugs are the last thing we want to think about when planning a trip or vacation, a few simple steps at the beginning and end of travel can prevent a complicated and expensive problem upon returning home. Dan Suiter, urban entomologist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Orkin Distinguished Professor in Urban Entomology at UGA, and Ben Hottel, technical training lead with Rollins Pest Control, walk through the process of checking for bedbugs and ensuring there is no risk of an infestation. They advise travelers to place their luggage on a hard surface or luggage rack and use a phone light to search the

headboard, mattress, G E T T Y IM A GE S and box springs for bedbugs, which appear as black specs. They emphasize the importance of checking the seams of the mattress, as bedbugs often hide there. If you find evidence of bed bugs in your cloth luggage, Hottle says that dryer heat for 30 to 45 minutes kills the bugs at any stage of life. Learn how to search for bedbugs:

T.UGA.EDU/BEDBUGS

Every community has a story of IMPACT. Through Public Service and Outreach, the University of Georgia listens, partners, and delivers solutions that help communities across Georgia enhance local economies and expand opportunity.

Strengthening downtowns

BUENA VISTA

“Because of the tools being provided to us by the Institute of Government, generations are going to benefit.”

260+

-Kevin Brown, mayor, Buena Vista

Georgia downtowns benefitted from the Institute of Government’s services in the past 10 years

CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT Learn more: cviog.uga.edu

Building up small businesses “The SBDC has been really incredible throughout the whole trajectory of our business.”

$9.7B

SUWANEE

- Lisa Winton, Winton Machine Company

sales generated by SBDC clients in the past five years

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Learn more: georgiasbdc.org

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WORK IN GEORGIA

BULLDOGS GIVE BACK

Longtime UGA benefactors Kay and Doug Ivester are excited to play a role in supporting the state’s future nurses. DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

A Foundation for Care A landmark gift establishes the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing ahead of its inaugural class.

efore its first students ever step into a classroom, the University of Georgia’s Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing already has what many programs spend decades building: a name, a mission, and a powerful foundation rooted in philanthropy. In April, UGA announced the school would be named in honor of Victoria Kay Ivester, recognizing transformational gifts from Doug Ivester BBA ’69 and the Ivester Foundation to create a $20.5 million endowment benefiting the school. At a luncheon for Doug and Kay Ivester and members of the Ivester Foundation board hosted by President Jere W. Morehead JD ’80, Kay Ivester was surprised with the announcement that the school would bear her name, honoring her lifelong commitment to caring for

others and strengthening communities across Georgia. Founding Dean Carolyn K. Clevenger and other university leaders also attended the luncheon. “It means so much to me to be able to play a role in supporting UGA’s—and the state’s—future nurses,” Kay Ivester says. “I’m deeply honored and even more inspired by what this school will mean for students who feel called to care for others and for the communities they’ll go on to serve.” For Clevenger, the timing and scale of the gift are extraordinary. “Not all nursing schools are named, and not all have an endowment,” she says. “To have both, before we even welcome students, is tremendous.” That early investment, she explains, ensures the school can launch with intention. When its first cohort arrives

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in fall 2027, there will be philanthropic resources in place—supporting students, faculty, and innovative programming from day one. Clevenger sees the endowment as more than a simple financial contribution. It signals what is possible when philanthropy begets progress. “Philanthropy is the accelerator,” she says. “It allows you to make a real difference in people’s daily lives, not only years from now but right away.” That immediacy is critical as Georgia faces growing demand for nurses and for expanded access to care. The new school is designed to meet that need by preparing graduates to serve in hospitals, public health departments, schools, and communities in every one of the state’s 159 counties.

President Jere W. Morehead presents Kay Ivester with an engraved bowl during the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing event.

But the school’s impact extends beyond workforce development. “Nursing is one of the most assured pathways to upward mobility,” Clevenger says. “You can follow a calling to serve while also supporting a family, buying a home, and changing the economic trajectory of generations.” That dual promise of service and opportunity aligns closely with the Ivesters’ philanthropic legacy. Longtime supporters of UGA, the couple has invested across disciplines, from business and medicine to education and the arts, with a focus on expanding access and strengthening communities. Their influence will now be woven into the fabric of the nursing school. “There’s a thread there around servant-leadership,” Clevenger says. “Our students will see what it means to use your resources, your time, your talent, and your generosity to improve the lives of others.” As the school grows, that ethos will shape not only who students become but also how they lead. With a focus on mentorship, community engagement, and long-term career support, the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing aims to prepare graduates who will influence patient care, health systems, and communities across the state. For Clevenger, success is measured in both degrees awarded and lives changed. Patients cared for, communities strengthened, and future nurses inspired to give back all define the school’s impact. “Like building a home, this is the foundation,” she says. “Because it’s strong, everything we build from here can go even further.” For more than three decades, the Ivesters have shaped the University of Georgia through extraordinary generosity. At its heart, this naming reflects something deeper: a lasting commitment to care and to the students and communities who will embody that legacy for generations to come.

Founding Dean Carolyn Clevenger, then-Provost Benjamin Ayers, Kay Ivester, Doug Ivester, President Jere W. Morehead, and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Jill Walton pose for a photo during the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing event.

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

“There’s a thread there around servant-leadership. Our students will see what it means to use your resources, your time, your talent, and your generosity to improve the lives of others.” — CAROLYN K. CLEVENGER Founding Dean, Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing CHAMBERLAIN SMITH

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Right On Track

Winning national titles becomes second nature for Georgia’s women’s track and field team. WRITTEN BY ERIC RANGUS MA ’94

TONY WALSH/UGA ATHLETICS

Since coming to the University of Georgia in 2021, director of track and field Caryl Smith Gilbert (center) has collected national championship hardware. Georgia’s women’s track and field team has won three consecutive national championships: the 2025 outdoor title, the 2026 indoor title, and, most recently, the 2026 outdoor title.

he Georgia women’s track and field team won its second consecutive outdoor national title in June, scoring 50 points to outpace SEC rivals Florida (43 points) and Arkansas (38 points). Two Georgia sprinters—senior Dejanea Oakley and redshirt freshman Adaejah Hodge—won individual national titles and set collegiate records in the 400-meter and the 200-meter, respectively. Oakley, from Jamaica, also ran a leg on Georgia’s second-place 4x400-meter relay team. In addition to her national title in the 200-meter, Hodge, a 2024 Olympian representing the British Virgin Islands,

set a collegiate record in the 100-meter preliminaries on her way to a secondplace finish in the final. Her prelim time of 10.63 seconds trimmed an impressive 0.12 seconds off the previous record held by two-time Olympic medalist Sha’Carri Richardson, who set the mark in 2019 while running for LSU. Hodge also ran a leg on Georgia’s thirdplace 4x100-meter relay team, giving her a hand in 24 of the Bulldogs’ 50 points for the meet. “I’ve been watching this meet since I was 7, so just knowing I could get the collegiate record in the 100 and the 200 is something special to me,” Hodge says.

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Georgia has now won three consecutive national championships in women’s track and field: the 2025 outdoor, 2026 indoor, and 2026 outdoor. The team joins women’s swimming and diving (19992001), equestrian (2008-2010), gymnastics (2005-2009), and women’s tennis (20252026) as UGA squads to capture at least three straight national championships. Georgia’s director of track and field, Caryl Smith Gilbert, is the second female coach to win two consecutive outdoor titles, and she is the first female head coach to win four NCAA outdoor women’s championships. Her first two were at the University of Southern California. GM

2026 NCAA Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championship

TONY WALSH/UGA ATHLETICS

Redshirt freshman Adaejah Hodge, seen here in the 200-meter prelim, won her first national championship in the event with a collegiate record time of 21.63. She also finished second in the 100 meter. Bottom: Senior Dejanea Oakley also won an individual national title and set a collegiate record in her event—the 400 meter. Both Hodge and Oakley scored points on relays, as well, helping power the Bulldogs to their second consecutive outdoor national championship.

Final Team Results

UGA Individual Results

1. Georgia: 50 points 2. Florida: 43 points 3. Arkansas: 38 points 4. Oregon: 36 points 5. USC: 32 points 6. Iowa State: 30 points 7. Washington: 28 points 8-T. Illinois: 27 points 8-T. Nebraska: 27 points 10. LSU: 24 points

200m, 1st place: Adaejah Hodge 400m, 1st place: Dejanea Oakley 100m, 2nd place: Adaejah Hodge 4x400m relay, 2nd place: Vimbayi Maisvorewa, Michelle Smith, Tianna Springer, Dejanea Oakley 4x100m relay, 3rd place: Kaila Jackson, Adaejah Hodge, Reign Redmond, Jassani Carter 400m hurdles, 4th place: Michelle Smith Shot put, 6th place: Nina Ndubuisi

TONY WALSH/UGA ATHLETICS

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

The University of Georgia has selected a site for the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing on the Health Sciences Campus near Prince Avenue.

The School of Medicine’s new medical education and research building is scheduled for completion in December 2026 and will serve as the school’s primary educational building.

Wheeler Hall

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School of Medicine Wright Hall

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Transformations UGA’s Health Sciences Campus has a rich history. Its future will help shape medicine and well-being in Georgia. WRITTEN BY AARON HALE MA ’16 ILLUSTRATED BY KAIYA PLAGENHOEF

rom educating future teachers to readying logisticians to preparing doctors, the 58acre campus at the intersection of Prince and Oglethorpe avenues in Athens’ Normaltown district has been the training ground of a wide array of vital professions. Before it became known as the University of Georgia’s Health Sciences Campus, the site was—at one time or another—the State Normal School, Coordinate College, and the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School. More recently, the campus has been home to the UGA College of Public Health and the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership. The first class of UGA School of Medicine students joins the campus this fall, and it will also be the future home of the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing.

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GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

A Rich History From 1891 to 1932, the campus served as one of Georgia’s first teacher colleges, The State Normal School, which gave the Normaltown district its name. Its oldest surviving buildings date from this period, including the Carnegie Library Learning Center. Following the Normal School’s 1932 incorporation into UGA’s Department of

Education (now the Mary Frances Early College of Education), the campus became known as Coordinate College and housed UGA freshmen and sophomore women. In the 1950s, the federal government bought the property and transformed it into the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School. The Navy’s Supply Corps managed global supply chains, logistics, and support for the Navy.

The Health Sciences Campus officially opened in 2012, but the Normaltown site has been in existence for well over a century under different names.

The Health Sciences Campus served as one of Georgia’s first teacher colleges from

1891-1932

The campus operated as the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School for nearly 60 years. ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

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ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER

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Fast forward to the 21st century, when the federal government began closing dozens of its military installations, and an opportunity arose for the campus’s next reinvention. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education deeded the site back to UGA, leading to its current status as the Health Sciences Campus.

CHAMBERLAIN SMITH

An aerial view at sunrise highlights reveals the Health Sciences Campus’s peaceful atmosphere and proximity to Normaltown neighborhoods.

A New Home for a Healthier Georgia The campus first hosted classes for UGA’s College of Public Health and the newly formed Medical Partnership in 2012. Since then, the College of Public Health has continued to thrive, now offering undergraduate degrees in health promotion and environmental health, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in public health that cover infectious disease surveillance, program evaluation, and health policy. The college’s research and service address disaster prevention, care across the lifespan, and support for patients and their families, among others. The scope of work at the Health Sciences Campus expanded in 2024 when Gov. Brian Kemp BSA ’87 announced his vision

for an independent medical school at UGA. That vision included a proposed $50 million investment to construct a new building dedicated to medical instruction and research. That facility, which received financial backing from the Georgia General Assembly matched by an additional $50 million in private support, is nearing completion. When the new medical education and research building opens in December, it will be the school’s primary educational facility. The 93,000-square-foot building will feature large active-learning classroom spaces, an anatomy lab, simulation and clinical skills centers, study spaces, and more. About a third of the building will be

dedicated to biomedical research. The new medical school is just one piece of the university’s vision to support the health of Georgians, and the state needs additional nurses as much as it needs more physicians. While the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing will officially launch its classes in East Athens in 2027, its future will be rooted in the Health Sciences Campus. Work has begun to design a new nursing school facility near Prince Avenue. The combination of medicine, nursing, and public health programs in one place ensures this historic plot becomes the epicenter of Georgia’s healthcare future. GM

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Red and Black and Yellow UGA alumni find home beyond home plate with the Savannah Bananas. WRITTEN BY SAVANNAH PEAT AB ’19 PHOTOS BY BILLY SCHUERMAN

early 200 times a year, across 45 states, an ensemble of performers dance, sing, and flip like they’re in a Broadway show. But instead of being on a stage and under a spotlight, this spectacle unfolds on a baseball diamond during a nine-inning game. It shouldn’t work, but it does for the Savannah Bananas. The Bananas, an exhibition baseball team akin to basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters, are a worldwide phenomenon. They boast 35 million digital followers and millions more in-person fans who go, well, bananas for the players who effortlessly combine the worlds of performance and sport. Founded in 2016, the team started small, playing for curious crowds in Savannah’s 5,000-seat Grayson Stadium and filling a spot in the wood-bat collegiate summer Coastal Plain League. But by 2023, they were touring the world with an impressive following of fans. In 2026, with a record-breaking 3 million tickets sold, their own six-team league—the Banana Ball Championship League—and even a cruise, the team has peeled away any doubt about its success. They’re not done yet, though. The Bananas are still in the first inning and look to their expanding behind-the-scenes team to keep the momentum going. Each member of the Bananas family, whether stationed at home or on the road with one of the newer teams in the league, loves what they do. That family includes four UGA alumni, all based in Savannah. “The merging of the Bulldogs and the Bananas is really cool,” says Bananas group media relations specialist Sam Bauman. “Whether you’re in Savannah or Athens, there’s such a great fan base, and there’s people that come from that base that are fired up and really talented. Josh, Elsa, Maren, and Carley—these are people who are foundational in helping us grow.”

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One of the Savannah Bananas’ beloved traditions is giving a young fan the opportunity to round the bases and experience a home run celebration. The Bananas are an amazing sports and entertainment success story, and, behind the scenes, several UGA alumni are a part of it.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

First Pitch Strike

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Savannah native Elsa Paulick BSEd ’24 embraced Banana Ball while she was still in high school. “I walked into that stadium, and I could just feel the music and the vibration and adrenaline in my heart, and I was like, ‘This is exactly where I want to be,’” she says. Paulick found that belonging in something as simple as serving all-you-can-eat options for the team’s earliest fans—hot dogs, hamburgers, and chocolate-dipped bananas. When she graduated from high school in 2020, it was impossible to leave the Bananas family. So she didn’t. While studying sport management in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, Paulick spent her weekends with the team. She transitioned to roles in catering and merchandise, traveled with the Bananas by car or by plane, and still made it back in time for class. When she graduated, Paulick wanted to get back the same feeling she had as a newcomer. Getting a job as a first impression specialist, then, fit like a glove. It’s her job to invest in impactful game moments with each fan. She’s greeting or assisting them one-on-one, jumping over to ticketing or merchandise stands, or answering questions outside of games. “I get to give those first moments I had to new people. I thrive in this environment where I’m able to be caring, different, fun, hungry, and constantly growing,” she says. “Going to UGA gave me that mentality to wake up every morning and attack the day and go at it.” Paulick aims to ensure every fan has a blast. And now there are a lot more people to do that with than when she first started six years ago. “It’s absolutely insane to see what we’ve been able to take on the road,” she says. “I cannot wait to see where we go next because I know it’s going to be bigger and with even more fans.”

Elsa Paulick is always dumbstruck watching Bananas fans fill football and MLB stadiums. But it’s still just as special to see an at-capacity Grayson Stadium in Savannah.

Before games Josh Talevski runs around the field pumping up fans. He also catches them up on past games.

On the Mic Josh Talevski AB ’23 always loved the people behind sports just as much as the game itself. Grady College’s Carmical Sports Media Institute helped him become one of them. He credits his high school digital media teacher for not only encouraging his sports reporting and enthusiasm at UGA, but also pointing him toward the Savannah Bananas. Talevski applied to be a video intern for the summer after his junior year. He didn’t get it. Instead, the Bananas offered him what would be a lifechanging internship on the broadcast team. “My time with the Bananas really resonated with me,” he says. “A lot of little different things came together to set me on this path, which is really special.” Talevski provided color commentary during broadcasts while closely learning the players, the routines and their moves. And more soon arrived. With new teams and new players (but the same unique elements key for a Bananas game) created for this league—starting with The Party Animals in 2020—a full-time statistician was needed. Talevski got the call. His role has since expanded beyond the broadcast booth. Talevski continues to provide game commentary on digital broadcasts worldwide, while also tracking game and player statistics. He’s in the dugout, on the field, and sometimes even in the plaza, hyping up fans. “This place really allows us to be ourselves,” he says. “We get to share our joys and our passions with fans, and the fact that we care so much about the stats and the players really rubs off on them. It’s really cool to see that and hear that.”

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GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Fan Favorite For those new to the experience, it’s easy to gawk at fans’ Bananas tattoos, the senior women gettin’ down with the Banana Nanas dance team, or the babies in banana costumes whose parents are hoping their little ones will be ceremoniously lifted skyward, Lion King-style, by a player as “Circle of Life” plays over the speakers. Carley Moore AB ’24 invests in the quieter, but still impactful moments. Whether it’s helping a bright-eyed kid get their favorite player’s jersey or making a family feel like VIPs, Moore offers a Bananas experience that fans will never forget. “Our main goal, throughout our whole entire operation, is serving our fans,” says Moore, the Bananas’ merchandise coordinator. “We want to give them the best possible experience that we can. I am a huge extrovert, so I love being around people, and the fans are who I get my energy from.” Moore grew up in a quiet spot outside of Watkinsville and always wanted to be surrounded by people. Today, working among 100 fellow Bananas employees and millions of fans, she’s living that dream. While at Grady, then-faculty member Tom Cullen MA ’18, MFA ’21 saw Moore’s extroverted take on life and pointed her in the direction of the Bananas for a merchandise internship. That internship involved much more than selling T-shirts and foam banana fingers. Moore experienced a community that made her want to continue to foster it. She went right back to Savannah when she graduated and has been doing so ever since. At home and on the road, Moore oversees setting up the physical stores, souvenir stands, merch trucks, and managing the dozens of people who staff them. “When there are slow moments, I love taking time to really ask people things like where they’re from or if this is their first game. It’s like I’m building the community that UGA has,” Moore says.

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Carley Moore works for the Bananas, but she’s also a Party Animal! Working the merch stand means cheering on all the teams in the Banana Ball Championship League.

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BANANA BALL LEAGUE What’s better than one banana? A whole bunch! Banana Ball includes not just Savannah but five other themed teams—all with their own dances and gimmicks—who play the Bananas and each other around the country. The league includes: · Savannah Bananas · Party Animals · Firefighters

· Texas Tailgaters · Loco Beach Coconuts · Indianapolis Clowns

The Bananas have over 100 full-time employees and dozens more interns who give the operation its momentum. Maren Finnegan helps make sure that they get the best of the bunch.

Utility Player

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While many folks travel for the Banana Ball World Tour, others, like Maren Finnegan AB ’23, BBA ’23, keep things running at home. A Colorado native who moved to Georgia as a teen, Finnegan pursued business administration at the Terry College of Business, pairing management skills with a focus on helping others succeed. She also became fluent in Spanish to better connect with anyone and everyone. “I call myself a Swiss Army knife,” she jokes. “I want to make decisions that make sense for people, not just profit.” After a whirlwind job search, the Bananas stood out—not just as a place to work, but as a team she wanted to support long-term in human resources. Finnegan’s title of people and culture coordinator comes along with core workplace responsibilities like benefits open enrollment and scheduling. But she also oversees the addition of new gogetters to the staff roster. Recruiting energetic full and part-time workers is one thing. Helping interns learn as much as possible during their time with the organization is even more special for Finnegan. “Finding people that bring in new mindsets is always going to be a welcoming outcome,” she says. “That’s how I see us grow, pushing our staff to have new ideas and exposing ourselves to new things.” GM

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Welcome to the Jungle Students learn how human activities influence biodiversity and ecosystems while studying in Costa Rica. WRITTEN BY LEIGH HATAWAY MA ’17

“O

PHOTOS BY CHAMBERLAIN SMITH ABJ ’18

ne day in the field is worth months in the library,” Dr. Sonia Hernandez always says. If that’s the case, Hernandez’s monthlong course in Costa Rica, held in partnership with the University of Costa Rica this past summer, should have earned her students a degree. Hernandez PhD ’08 leads a group of students on an immersive study away experience focused on conservation medicine and biology. “Conservation medicine is a discipline that’s rooted in understanding how human activities are impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functions,” she says. “It encourages researchers to be proactive rather than reactive. It’s about identifying these big problems and using research to come up with solutions.”

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Savannah Dixon conducts water quality research in the Sarapiquí River on the Tirimbina Biological Reserve in Costa Rica. Student researchers took sediment samples to examine under microscopes in the lab.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

“One day in the field is worth months in the library.” —

DR. SONIA HERNANDEZ, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the College of Veterinary Medicine

A student holds a hummingbird that was caught during one of the groups’ projects. It was later released.

Professor Sonia Hernandez and Dr. Hakon Jones, a doctoral student in comparative biomedical sciences, examine a bird that was caught in a mist net to identify species of birds frequenting certain areas at specific times. The students compared these findings to those of past research trips to determine how bird populations in the Tirimbina Biological Reserve may be changing.

“This program has taught me a lot about what it means to do this type of work, what it means to be part of it, and the importance behind conservation and sustainability.” — NATALIE CAMACHO, Second Year, Wildlife Sciences, Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Natalie Camacho and fellow students paddle along the Puerto Viejo River in Sarapiquí.

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Anna Kate Talbot practices using a blow gun to fire a tranquilizer dart at a target.

Balancing Human, Environmental, and Animal Needs As a young wildlife veterinarian in the 1990s, Hernandez began inviting students to work alongside her in the field in Costa Rica. She continued that practice as she pursued a doctorate from UGA’s Odum School of Ecology in the late 2000s. This year’s trip marked the 10th time the course was offered at UGA. “There’s value in actually doing the work and not just reading or hearing about problems. You internalize that knowledge better,” says Hernandez, a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor who holds a joint appointment in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We preach a lot about conservation from Western countries and developed nations. We prescribe a lot of management solutions, and, in reality, we have very little understanding of what people on the ground need and why things evolve the way that they do.” Conservation is a people-driven process, Hernandez explains. And to successfully implement any conservation efforts or changes, it’s critical to understand that values and

cultural norms differ from place to place. That’s why the course isn’t just about saving the rainforest or preserving biodiversity. It’s about understanding the interconnections between the health of the environment, animals, and people. The concepts of One Health, a research approach that centers those connections, are omnipresent in the Costa Rican rainforest. And they’re just as palpable for the students as they hike through the jungle, secure biological samples from wild animals, and build rapport with local community members. The University of Georgia is a national leader in One Health, heading a variety of interdisciplinary efforts as one of an elite group of universities with schools of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture all on one campus. Experts in these three disciplines work with top-notch researchers in public health, pharmacy, engineering, arts and sciences, ecology, law, agriculture, forestry and natural resources, and journalism and mass communication, positioning UGA at the forefront of this innovative research approach.

Cecilia Clarke (foreground) and Anna Cate Ramsey collect data from an anesthetized coatimundi, also known as a coati.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

“It feels like you’re in Jurassic Park. Every night, it’s a different jungle.” — MELANIE HOLTHAUS, Graduate Student, Wildlife Sciences

The Costa Rica trip is open to student researchers from universities beyond UGA. They contribute to the group and receive academic credit at their home institutions. Above, (from left) Melanie Holthaus, a graduate student and grants coordinator for the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, works alongside Cornell University undergraduate Dante Napoletano and University of Pennsylvania graduate student Laura Marquez to collect data from a red-eyed tree frog (seen at left). The researchers went on nightly hikes to capture, record information, and release the frogs.

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Shiloh Birje (left) and Robert Wilson take an iguana back to the lab.

Undergraduate student Cole Serrapica examines parasites under a microscope in the lab. The project is part of an international grant to the Hernandez lab to study ocelot diets in the lowland rainforest. Blood from an iguana is magnified 100 times to look for the presence of hemoparasites.

“There is almost nothing known about the diet and parasite transmission of lowland rainforest ocelots, so by doing this study we will be able to have a full comprehensive diet and understanding of their prey interactions. In doing so, we will be opening the door to another niche of research and be able to see what prey animals’ health should be prioritized to help ocelots.” — COLE SERRAPICA, Second Year, Animal Biosciences

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

A kinkajou climbs a tree after being released by the mammal project research group.

Honduran white bats huddle under a leaf. The bats modify leaves into the shape of tents to protect themselves during the day. Forestry major Samuel Crider observes Honduran white bats through a thermal scope.

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(From left) Anna Cate Ramsey, Cecilia Clarke, Samuel Crider, Mika Thiessen, and Cole Serrapica bond over lunch at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Tirimbina is an educational, scientific, and ecotourism hub on more than 850 acres of tropical rainforest.

A Month in the Field, A Lifelong Passion In the conservation medicine course, the jungle becomes a living laboratory. The students spend a week honing their technical skills at a wildlife rehabilitation center. They handle, anesthetize, and collect biological samples from wildlife while also learning about the circumstances that brought the wildlife to the center. Then, the class heads to a lowland rainforest site where students are taught methods of wildlife investigation and develop independent research projects, focusing on hypothesis-driven questions and how to design experiments to test their questions. Students then spend a week working in the clouded forests and mountains of the Monteverde region, specifically in the town of San Luis, concentrating on the social and economic factors that influence environmental issues in the area. The course ends in Bijagua, a small town that serves as the gateway to Volcán Tenorio National Park and the turquoise waters of the Rio Celeste.

There, UGA alumnus and native Costa Rican Jorge Rojas PhD ’24 collaborates with community leaders to conserve the largest land mammal in the Americas, the tapir, an endangered but iconic species. “This program has taught me a lot about what it means to do this type of work, what it means to be part of it, and the importance behind conservation and sustainability,” says Natalie Camacho, a second-year wildlife sciences major on the trip. Like many of the students on the trip, Camacho’s research doesn’t end when the proverbial final bell rings. As part of the ocelot working group, she will continue analyzing samples from the lesser cat species, determining how diet plays a role in parasite transmission within ocelot populations. “I can’t wait to see what we find when we go through all of this back in Athens.” GM

Students cross the Joan Spector Bridge, the longest suspension bridge over water in Costa Rica.

See more photos from Costa Rica at:

T.UGA.EDU/JUNGLE

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

ON THE BULLDOG BEAT

PROPER ORIENTATION Before classes start in the fall, incoming students get to experience their first two days as Bulldogs together. It’s a rite of passage. WRITTEN BY KRISTA RICHMOND AND ERIC RANGUS MA ’94

very Bulldog takes a different path to the University of Georgia. They all start from different points, but the one place they intersect is New Student Orientation. Designed for incoming first-year and transfer students, New Student Orientation provides the essential information, resources, and connections necessary for students to succeed academically and socially. These programs foster a sense of belonging and prepare both students and families to confidently navigate the collegiate journey. “Ultimately, what we come back to is how we are preparing students to be engaged at UGA,” says Jansen Rouillard, director of New Student Orientation. He leads a group of 20 energetic orientation leaders, who guide the newest Bulldogs along the first steps of their journey. “For the majority of students, we are the tone setters, the culture setters, and

PHOTOS BY BILLY SCHUERMAN

the primary source of information and connection during their first steps as new Bulldogs,” Rouillard says. Orientation sessions look a little different each year. For example, based on data gathered from students about their experiences, Rouillard’s team moved from one-day to two-day sessions for all incoming students, allowing them to be engage with the content, thus creating a more dynamic experience. The session content also changes as needed. This year, incoming students will hear more about the use of artificial intelligence at UGA, as well as active learning initiatives. New students will attend their first academic advising sessions, complete placement tests, check in with housing, and take part in a variety of sometimes-loud, always-energetic group activities. Since it is common for parents or other family members to accompany their new Bulldogs to orientation, a

separate schedule for families is available. However, there are ample opportunities for families to go through orientation together. More than two dozen orientation sessions take place from May through August, and more than 80 offices across campus come together to make that happen. The goal is to offer incoming students an authentic experience so that they know what to expect when classes begin.

Jansen Rouillard (inset) is UGA’s director of New Student Orientation. His crew of 20 orientation leaders overflow with energy. They channel some of it into teaching the Georgia Chant to our newest Bulldogs.

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Orientation leader Katie Hollister leads her group on a stroll past Sanford Stadium.

Is this still a thing? For orientation leaders Andreas Toney (left) and Israh Daniel, maybe?

Family members take part in orientation just like new students, and everyone learns how to Call the Dawgs.

Incoming freshman Gavin Kew and his mom, Anita, take a selfie to document their orientation experience.

Mealtime in Oglethorpe Dining Commons.

Silent disco!

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

THE NATION

don't miss out! FALL GAME-WATCHING PARTIES

Alumni chapters around the world host game-watching parties for local Bulldogs throughout football season. Find your watch party at alumni.uga.edu/ gamewatching and update your contact information with UGA to ensure you’re invited. It takes two minutes at alumni.uga.edu/update.

UGA CELEBRATES 40 OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI The 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 was revealed in July and will be celebrated on campus in September. This group of outstanding young alumni under the age of 40 are among the university’s most passionate and successful grads, personally and professionally. Check out who made this year’s list on page 6 or online at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

chapter spotlight

HOMECOMING

October 3 Alumni are invited to return to Athens for 2026 Homecoming festivities hosted by many schools, colleges, and other campus groups. All alumni are welcome to join in the activities on Myers Quad prior to kickoff and ending at game time when UGA hosts Vanderbilt. Details at alumni.uga.edu.

GAINESVILLE CHAPTER Chapter President: Kris Nordholz BBA ’95, MBA ’96 Number of Local Alumni: 19,500 The most recent addition to the UGA Alumni network has hit the ground running with programming and events to strengthen Bulldog ties in the area. In April, Emma Laing MS ’00, PhD ’03 and Katherine Ingerson PhD ’23, faculty members in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) were joined by students in the Peer Nutrition Educators Program at Food for Thought: A Night of Health and Wellness with FACS. The students provided cooking demonstrations to local alumni as well as insight into the world of health and fitness as emerging professionals.

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

2026 PRESIDENTS CLUB RECEPTION

October 16 Members of the Presidents Club— those who contribute $1,500 or more during a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30)—are among UGA’s most committed supporters. Each fall, President Jere W. Morehead JD ’80 thanks Presidents Club members at an on-campus reception. This year’s event will take place on the Friday before the UGA vs. Auburn game. Want to join the UGA Presidents Club? Visit give.uga.edu/presidentsclub.

38 G E O R G I A M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 6

SPECIAL

UGA FACS students and faculty gathered with chapter leaders and local alumni at The Phoenix at Lake Lanier to share insights on healthy living.

Find your local alumni chapter:

TINYURL.COM/CHAPTERSGMAG27

SCHOLARSHIPS CHANGE LIVES As a new academic year begins in Athens, a fresh class of students arrives on campus eager to learn, grow, and make their mark. For students like Rachel Newman (below left) and Alex Mejia Lopez (below right), scholarships do more than ease financial burdens; they open doors to possibilities, connections, and a richer, more meaningful college experience. Today’s scholarship recipients are a lot like you were at UGA—driven, hopeful, and ready to take on the world. Through the generosity of Bulldog donors, they are empowered to pursue their passions, overcome challenges, and seize every opportunity UGA has to offer. When you give, you help fuel life-changing discoveries, strengthen communities across Georgia, and ensure that every student with the drive to succeed has the chance to do so.

EDWIN HAMMOND

“Because of this support, I have been able to pursue study abroad experiences that have broadened my perspective both academically and culturally—opportunities that may not have been feasible otherwise. Being able to immerse myself in new environments has strengthened my understanding of my field and helped me grow into a more globally aware student.”

“The experiences afforded to me because of my scholarship have helped me grow professionally, develop leadership and teamwork skills, and build meaningful connections with others. This support has made a lasting impact on my college experience and has brought me closer to achieving my goals of becoming a successful engineer and giving back to my community in the future.”

— RACHEL NEWMAN

— ALEX MEJIA LOPEZ

Make your impact today and help the next generation of Bulldogs thrive at give.uga.edu/scholarship-commitment.

Stay Connected! YEAR-ROUND, WORLDWIDE, AND LIFELONG. Check out what's going on for alumni and update your email or mailing address with UGA.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

class notes Compiled by Maura Rutledge AB ’26, Keely Crow, and Sarah Watts

ALUMNI PROFILE

The Right Fit

my McGuire spent much of her life praying for an opportunity to uplift others. When she thinks about that now, she laughs. In 2024, she founded the Modern Bra Company, a bra-buying “experience” that McGuire BSFCS ’16 equates to shoe shopping. Each fitting varies by the individual, as she focuses less on aesthetics and frills, and more on custom, comfortable garments tailored to each body that you can’t find in most chains. Her friendly demeanor and unparalleled knowledge made her business a success, and so the Modern Bra Company quickly outgrew its small storefront in a Buford salon suite after only a year in business. Now located in the Mall of Georgia, McGuire’s bright boutique captures her personalized approach. Every curtain, display, and decoration has been carefully chosen by McGuire to create a welcoming atmosphere. Shoppers aren’t surrounded by unrealistic imagery or the pressure to be glamorous. Instead, the focus is on comfort and encouragement. “If you try a shoe that doesn’t fit, you try a different size shoe. But if a woman buys a bra that doesn’t fit, she immediately starts criticizing herself,” McGuire says. “I really wanted to teach people to see themselves the way that I see them and show them that it doesn’t matter what size they are. They’re beautiful.” It’s not just about body positivity but giving women the chance to reclaim normalcy. Those diagnosed with or recovering from breast cancer often experience physical changes every few months, from weight fluctuations to mastectomies and reconstructive

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

Amy McGuire’s business was so popular, she outgrew her original location in just a year. She opened her current store at the Mall of Georgia in April and sales have tripled.

surgeries. McGuire has welcomed some women back multiple times throughout the course of their treatment, making personalized care all the more crucial during a challenging time. “While some women choose to change their bodies, when a woman has had this type of reconstruction, she was dealt a hand,” she says. “What I realized was that I was re-introducing women to themselves. I get choked up when I talk about it.” McGuire graduated high school ready to help others. After working as a medical assistant, surgical supplies sales associate, and nurse, she paused to raise two children. Twelve years later, she returned to the workforce but struggled to find the right fit.

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She started a program at the University of North Georgia to become a midwife, but her mentors and bosses encouraged her to pursue a future in business. An academic adviser said UGA had exactly what she needed: a degree in consumer economics. At age 40, McGuire became a Bulldog and loved every second of it. “I couldn’t believe it,” she says. “My whole family roots for the Dawgs, and they got to root for me too.” Surrounded by college-aged kids who often mistook her for the professor (and then looked to her for life advice), she hunkered down and earned a degree from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship certificate.

CLASS NOTES 1955-1959 John Blau BBA ‘56 is retired and living an active life in New York.

1965-1969 Stuart Owen BS ’65 owns MECO Automotive Service and Repair in Roswell.

Roberta Richmond BSEd ’68 is the co-owner and co-director of Camp Dovewood Christian Camp for Girls in O’Brien, FL, where she also teaches horseback riding. Billy Peel BBA ’69 is a managing partner at Mortgage Capital Services.

1970-1974 Rick Allen BSPH ’74 retired after 41 years at the Georgia Drugs & Narcotics Agency, where he served in various upper-level positions in different organizations. He received a National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Distinguished Service Award and UGA College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award.

Jack Rives AB ’74, JD ’76 retired as the president of Rocket Legal Professional Services. He previously served as the executive director of the American Bar Association and as a judge advocate (JAG) in the Air Force where he reached the rank of lieutenant general.

Amy McGuire BSFCS ’16

DOROTHY KOZLOWSKI

Modern Bra Company doesn’t use models or any imagery in promotion. McGuire believes every woman should see themselves instead.

That training became useful much sooner than she expected. When her favorite bra shop closed, McGuire couldn’t find another. So she opened her own with the help of the UGA Small Business Development Center. The center worked with her to develop the concept, calculate the overhead costs, and set a plan for growth.

And there is a big plan for growth. With the assistance of a creative engineer and new ownership partner, McGuire hopes to expand Modern Bra Company into swimsuits and eventually franchise the company. “I’m a dreamer. I’m always looking 100 yards past where I am,” she says.

No matter how wide her venture expands, McGuire plans to never lose the one-onone aspect that allows her to connect with people. From a breast cancer survivor who wants to move forward to a woman who blames herself, not the product, McGuire understands every interaction can be a gift. And an opportunity to make a difference.

Written by Savannah Peat AB ’19 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES C. Diane Smock AB ’74 received the Extraordinary Achievement Award for voluntary leadership at the Upstate Mediation Center in Greenville, SC. Vera Stewart BSHE ’74 released her third cookbook, The VeryVera Cookbook: Generations, in 2026. Her television series, The VeryVera Show, airs in 72 markets across the U.S.

1975-1979 Rick Szabo ABJ ’75 retired from his position with Hormel Foods after 34 years, specializing in sales and marketing management. Tim Burgess AB ’77 served as a member of the Board of Education in Oconee County for 11 years. He also served six years on the Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Reed Jarell BBA ’77 has owned Sherwood Road Productions, an interactive murder mystery company in Virginia, for more than 12 years. Mark Rutherford ABJ ’77 retired as the chief human resources officer at First American Financial in Orange County, CA, after more than 14 years. Lowell Mooney BBA ’78, MACC ’79, PhD ’89 retired in 2025 after 36 years as a professor at Georgia Southern University.

Tom Catudal BS ’79 has more than 45 years of experience in DoD and C5ISR domains. He served 26 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a colonel. Pete Lammers BSEd ’79 is the owner of Sautee Productions, a music production company.

1980-1984 Glenn Crooks AB ’80 is in his 12th season as the lead radio commentator for Major League Soccer’s New York City FC. He is also the author of Put It On Frame. Carol Evans BSA ’80 retired as the lead wildlife biologist from the Bureau of Reclamation in the U.S. Department of the Interior. Sandy Brown BLA ’81 founded JaeBird Design, an outdoor furnishing and decor company located in Boulder, CO. Mark Clegg AB ’81 received the Award for Excellence in Local History Advocacy from the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council for his book The Crimson and Gold— Football and Integration in Athens, Georgia. Alice H. Murray AB ’81 received a 2026 Christian Indie Award for her book God Adopted Us First: Faith Lessons From An Adoption Attorney’s Adventures. Mickey Yongue ABJ ’81 is the senior director of marketing and communications at the

Select nights November 2026-January 2027 Visit wonderlights.uga.edu for more information. Tickets will go sale in September.

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UGA College of Pharmacy. David Chapman BBA ’82 retired as a director in the IRS chief operating officer’s staff after 38 years of federal service. Christopher Phillips BSFR ’83, MFR ’85, JD ’88 is a HunterMaclean partner recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer. Richard D. Heinsohn BFA ’84 presented The Ghost We Live By, a multimedia visual art exhibition, at The Bankers Alley Hotel, which houses a contemporary art exhibition program, in Nashville, TN.

1985-1989 Laurie Sotus BBA ’85 is the owner and president of the Buck Jones Nursery, her late father’s landscape supply business. Jackie Wiederholt BSPH ’85 retired after 40 years as a pharmacist. Lynn Monk BBA ’86 retired as a high school math teacher from the Academy of Classical Education in Macon. Nella Maxwell BBA ’88 has directed the Savannah Care Center for the last three years, dedicated to providing pregnancy resources. Sean Hynes BBA ’89 owns and operates the Syracuse, NY, franchise of Play It Again Sports.

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE

Self Portrait

Allie Cottrill’s photography typically focuses on kids’ fashion and advertising. But she will occasionally turn the lens on herself. ALLIE COTTRILL

ou may have seen Allie Cottrill’s work. If you’ve ever walked down the baby aisle in a grocery store or Target or Costco, the chances rise exponentially. Glance at the diapers. Every Pampers package with a photo featuring a baby and an adult was taken by Cottrill, a premier fashion and advertising photographer with a professional portfolio reaching back more than two decades. Cottrill’s non-professional portfolio goes back even further, beginning on the campus of the University of Georgia. “All the pictures of me with my friends in college, I was always the one with the camera on my shoulder,” Cottrill BFA ’88 says. She first developed an interest in photography

Allie Cottrill BFA ’88

while in high school in Virginia. That interest took off when she came to Athens and further blossomed during her senior year, when she studied abroad at UGA’s campus in Cortona, Italy. “The whole time I was there, I was shooting,” Cottrill recalls. “I’d borrowed my dad’s cool little 35 mm Canon. I was doing a lot of writing for my art history courses, but I found I could express myself better through photos.” Still, photography remained just a hobby. Cottrill came to UGA to study graphic design, and after graduating from the Lamar Dodd School of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and art director for more than 15 years. Cottrill’s career was fulfilling, but she never put down her camera. When she and her husband, Geoff, started a family in the late 1990s, she discovered new layers of talent while documenting what she calls the “babyhood” of daughters Abby and Claire. “Every day, I shot three rolls of film, just capturing these beautiful moments,” Cottrill says. “Now people shoot on their phones, and those moments are fleeting, but there is something about film that just stops time. So, I’m just grateful I have those pictures.” In 2005, Cottrill began taking photographs professionally. Three years later, she was shooting full time, and she knew where she wanted to go. “I just didn’t want to just do portraits and things like that,” Cottrill says. Those years in art direction and graphic design— skills she credits her UGA education for helping develop—gave her a built-in target. “I wanted to get back into advertising. So, I focused on kids’ fashion.” Within a year, she was shooting global campaigns. Many professional photographers will avoid working with children or babies. But Cottrill thrives in the environment. “I’m always looking for a connection with the child,” she says. “Sometimes it’s making eye contact. Sometimes it’s the model in the space or the graphic design element. Maybe it’s the shapes or the negative space, then I’ll get goose bumps and I know I’m close to it.” Cottrill has worked with dozens of brands; a new campaign for a Pampers’ product line called Amore is the latest. Most of her work is in New York or Miami. She’ll shoot for a week every two months or so. The rest of her time is spent in planning and preparation. In 2025, Cottrill and her husband moved from Atlanta to Massachusetts and settled on Cape Cod. She’s an hour’s drive from Boston and three hours by train from New York, so work trips aren’t complicated. Cottrill doesn’t get back to Athens a lot but tries to attend a football game each year. Despite that distance, her UGA experience remains close to her heart. “That summer in Cortona, before I graduated,” she says. “That’s when I realized there was magic through a lens.”

Written by Eric Rangus MA ’94 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

Located in the heart of Athens, GA, the Georgia Music Collections from the University of Georgia Libraries represents key players in music history across genres, from the beginnings of Soul and R&B in Macon and Augusta to the birth of Alternative Rock and New Wave in Athens and the rise of Southern Hip-Hop in Atlanta. Explore the collections when you attend an event at Athens, GA’s newest venue, Akins Ford Arena.

INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS | MUSEUM QUALITY EXHIBITS AND MORE!

Visit AkinsFordArena.com for more information

OUR GEORGIA COMMITMENT

CLASS NOTES

Getting to know UGA’s most committed Bulldogs Q: As former student-athletes at UGA, how did your

experiences shape your passions for philanthropy?

Davis: While playing golf at UGA, I studied sport management.

That helped me see a different side to the sport. I was given opportunities to grow as an athlete and an individual through my program, so I want students who come after me to have those same experiences.

Todd: When I played at UGA, it was not as structured as it is

now with workouts and mandatory study halls. The focus on charity and philanthropy involving student-athletes is much bigger now, and that was something the Davis Love Foundation was really interested in. My role in the PGA Tour is centered on charity, and our goal with these tournaments is to raise money and give back. I’m so thankful Davis has had the opportunity to be exposed to topics like this a lot earlier than I was.

Q: How is the Davis Love Foundation looking to expand its

support of UGA students and build on their momentum?

T: We want to keep fostering the relationship we have with UGA.

SPECIAL

Two generations of Bulldog golfers (from left to right), Todd and Davis Thompson, are involved with the PGA and with philanthropy at the University of Georgia.

ather and son duo Todd BSEd ’88 and Davis BSEd ’21 Thompson have channeled their passion for golf into a tool to improve the lives of UGA students. Based in St. Simons Island, Todd serves as the tournament director for The RSM Classic golf tournament, while Davis is a player on the PGA Tour. Todd works in tandem with the Davis Love Foundation to host The RSM Classic each fall. With the help of other Golden Isles alumni, a partnership between the foundation and UGA has yielded two endowed scholarships through the Let All the Big Dawgs Eat Scholarship Initiative and the Georgia Commitment Scholars program.

“Our tagline is ‘helping children and families in need,’ and when we found we were able to do that with students at the university, we jumped at the chance.” — TODD THOMPSON, Tournament Director, RSM Classic

We have a great partnership with the university and a very dedicated group of alumni in St. Simons. We’re so grateful for the UGA staff who come down, host at the Dawghouse, and connect alumni with other former UGA golfers who are now playing professionally. Our tagline is “helping children and families in need,” and when we found we were able to do that with students at the university, we jumped at the chance. This partnership is a two-way street that we’re excited to continue and expand.

Q: What has it meant to have these experiences as father and son?

D: My dad is the reason why I grew up a Bulldog fan. When I got

the chance to attend UGA and play golf there like my dad, it was a dream come true. I had a great four years at UGA, and now I get to see him on the PGA Tour at events like The RSM Classic. When I was a kid, we would go to junior golf tournaments together—he worked them while I played them, and now we get to do that on a professional level.

T: It’s been a serendipitous experience, for sure. The progression of doing this together—from his time in junior golf and seeing him grow and letting us experience both ends of professional golf to the highest level—has been a real highlight for me.

Want to make an impact on UGA? Join committed alumni like Todd and Davis Thompson and give today:

TINYURL.COM/GIVEGMAG27

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

For Bring a friend & cheer on the Dawgs ! ®

alumni.uga.edu/gamewatching

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE

If Sidewalks Could Talk

Martin Sinderman AB ’76, MPA ’77

artin Sinderman will only stop telling ghost stories when he becomes one. As one of the dedicated walking tour guides in Savannah who shares all sorts of stories—ghost and otherwise—he’s not afraid. “If I dropped dead on a tour, I hope that wouldn’t hurt my Yelp reviews,” he jokes. Some people might slow down at 60. Not Sinderman. He was ready for another adventure. So, Sinderman founded Savannah Sidewalk Tours, which offers walking tours of the city to all sorts of energetic adventurers or curious vacationers. “I had to keep moving, and although Savannah speaks for itself, I loved the idea of helping it do so where I could,” he says. Before settling in Savannah, a quintessentially historic, vibrant city, Sinderman AB ’76, MPA ’77 embraced a similarly charming place: Athens. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native had felt drawn to Georgia growing up, so when it came to college, he looked no further than UGA. Through his bachelor’s in political science and master’s in public administration, Sinderman learned how essential writing and research skills are for a young professional. More importantly, he learned that it’s the people—not landmarks—that make a city special. “You can go walking around UGA’s campus and see all of these beautiful buildings and beautiful people,” Sinderman says. “Everybody’s got a huge variety of personalities. There are so many different types of people, and I get to see even more of them now doing tours.” After he graduated in 1977, Sinderman took a job as a city management analyst in Savannah. Though new to the city, it stayed with him long after he left for freelance writing in Atlanta. So when his wife convinced him to move back, he returned to this city full of stories to tell and years of experience to tell them. “This was not something that really came naturally to me at the start,” he

Martin Sinderman, the founder of Savannah Sidewalk Tours, hosts tourists from all over the world, who are experiencing not just his adoptive hometown for the first time but also the state of Georgia. BILLY SCHUERMAN

says. “I’ve always been shy, but then I realized what got me through that before was storytelling. Now that’s what sets me apart in my tours.” Sinderman’s tours aren’t one size fits all. For history buffs, Sinderman might spend time talking about how city founder James Oglethorpe is credited with adding the city’s ample green spaces and squares. If there’s a special love for architecture, perhaps he’ll note Savannah’s many nods to Parisian design. Bulldog fans might want to visit filming locations from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a Savannah cult classic that helped the city become a tourist hotspot—including references to Sonny Seiler BBA ’56, JD ’57, whose family has managed the Uga bulldog line for decades. Sinderman leads multiple tours of up to 30 visitors, every day, up to six days a week. Even after 10 years on the job, he always looks for new nuggets to share about the city he loves so dearly. Like, did you know why some buildings

have downspouts in the style of fish or dolphins? “They’re scaring off evil spirits,” Sinderman says. “Evil spirits will not cross the body of water, so before they swoop into a home, they catch sight of our friend the dolphin spout and reassess,” he says. Savannah has seen a lot of change over its nearly 300 years. While some areas, like the iconic River Street or Forsyth Park, have stood the test of time, there are plenty of additions. Sinderman says between mom-and-pop boutiques and restaurants, and large, industrial facilities, the city is ever-changing. But the heart of the city isn’t going anywhere. And neither is he. “Savannah has always been a forwardmoving, evolving place,” Sinderman says. “It keeps my work interesting. Tours are always changing, and you have to adapt. You have to get creative and really focus on the stories.”

Written by Savannah Peat AB ’19 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

Single Family, Multifamily, Land, Hotels, and Vacation Homes in AL, FL, GA, MS, NM, & OK Chris Coley CEO/Founder ColeyProperties.com ColeyProperties@gmail.com

UGA Alumnus & Society Member

1990-1994 Danny Hanson BSEH ’92 is the lead business specialist at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s office of information technology in Ashburn, VA. Dr. Marc Hyer BS ’92 is the director of oncology at AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD. Christopher Hammond IV BBA ’93 was promoted to executive vice president of industry and government affairs at Great Dane, a trailer and truck body manufacturer. Jay Henry BBA ’93 was named senior director of sustainability and innovation at Tarkett flooring products. Stacy Jensen ABJ ’93 had her book Before I Lived Here chosen as a 2027 Georgia Children’s Book Award Finalist in the picture book category. It was named to the New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2025 list and a nomination into the Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2025 list. Mel Bolling BSEd ’94 retired as the forest supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest in southeastern Idaho. He served in the position for seven years.

• Basketball Donor • Hartman Fund • Magill Society • The Hedges Society

48 G E O R G I A M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 6

1995-1999 Dagan Sharpe ABJ ’96 is head of wealth management and executive vice president at Queensborough National Bank and Trust. Jill Taylor BSEd ’96 is the recruitment and outreach coordinator for Coastal Plain CASA in Tifton, training volunteers to advocate for children in foster care. Bess Creech ABJ ’97 was appointed to the National Advertising Review Board, which is the appellate body for the U.S. advertising industry self-regulation system. Adam Geraci AB ’97 is the owner and CEO of Connected Fibers, a small business entity that manufactures and resells products in the fiber-optic industry in Roswell. Megan Hunt BSFCS ’97 has led her design business, Hunt & Hound Interiors, for 22 years. Kelly Johnson BBA ’97 was appointed as an adjunct assistant professor in the UGA College of Public Health and teaches in the Master of Health Administration program. Valerie Shepherd BSEd ’97 is the head of marketing for F&I Sentinel, a product compliance solutions provider in Atlanta. Cindy Burkes BSA ’98 is business operations coordinator for the Department of Horticulture in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE

The Measure of a School

eyond Circumstance.” These words appear everywhere at the Boyce L. Ansley School in Atlanta. They’re written on the walls, the website, and even the teachers’ shirts: a reminder that adversity doesn’t determine your potential. For Chas Choran AB ’15, AB ’15, the motto is also deeply personal. The Ansley School helps children experiencing homelessness build a future through education. As assistant principal and director of literacy, Choran is a big driver of that mission, and she wears the words “beyond circumstance” as a point of pride. But long before Choran heard that phrase at Ansley, she already understood its meaning. Choran’s mother dropped out of college to raise her, and her father died when she was 17. Those experiences led to periods of housing and financial instability for her family and now shape the urgency she brings to Ansley’s mission. “We didn’t have a lot growing up,” Choran says. “But my mom raised me with a strong sense of ethics, morality, and purpose. That’s a big part of what I want to give back to the children at Ansley.”

The First Step Choran attended the University of Georgia on a full ride through the Zell Miller Scholarship. She double majored in communication studies and sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, drawn to how institutions shape lived experience, but her passion was clearly education. She interned at camp that supported students with a disabilities, shadowed teachers at a special education school, and volunteered with a KIPP public charter school during an IMPACT spring break trip focused on homelessness and poverty. The KIPP mission—bringing tuition-free education to historically underserved communities—stayed with her after graduation. Choran later spent

Chas Choran AB ’15, AB ’15

Chas Choran, a teacher and administrator at Atlanta’s Boyce L. Ansley School, works to support her students with love, education, and community so they can grow as both learners and leaders.

SPECIAL

eight years at a KIPP school as a teacher and debate coach. She took students who were used to being underestimated, even by themselves, and she helped them win awards in major debate competitions across the state. She describes this period as “one of the most important chapters of my story,” a moment that solidified her approach to education. In her final year as a KIPP teacher, Choran was named one of their Harriet Ball Teachers of the Year and recognized as one of their Top Performing Teachers in the nation. “I think I have a passion for teaching children to use the tools they already have within themselves,” she says.

A Way Forward Choran’s passion led her to develop a wide range of skills. Now in her third year at Ansley, Choran teaches classes, manages attendance, and coaches the literacy teachers. She also serves as assistant principal and director of literacy.

“If you want a village, you have to be a villager,” Choran says. “That means that you don’t stick to your one role. You do what is necessary for the school to succeed.” The Ansley School began in a church basement and has grown to include a food pantry, a clothing closet, and therapy services for parents and students. As the school grows, so do Choran’s aspirations. She was selected as a 2025-26 Georgia Education Policy Fellow and is using her capstone project on the science of reading legislation in Georgia to affect policy discussion from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. “I once had to write an essay about my dream school, and I dreamed of a school that was the anchor for its people,” she says. Choran believes Ansley is becoming that dream. “The thing we provide that is almost more transformative than an education is community and a future beyond circumstance.”

Written by Jayne Roberts GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES Carrie Gibson ABJ ’98 released her third historical novel, The Great Resistance: The 400Year Fight to End Slavery in the Americas. Jason Shell BSEd ’98 has served as a risk advisor with Bernard Williams & Co. in Savannah for eight years. Missy Purcell BSEd ’99 is the education chair for Decoding Dyslexia Georgia and works at the state legislative level to advance policies that improve reading instruction for students across Georgia. She spoke at the inaugural Right to Read Conference in Ireland to raise awareness for students with dyslexia.

2000-2004 Julie Decker AB ’00, MEd ’11, PhD ’18 was the associate vice president for alumni engagement at Florida State University. She was named president-elect of the Council of Alumni Association Executives, representing alumni association leaders across universities in the U.S. and Canada. Shantrice Murphy BS ’00, AB ’00, AB ’00 is the executive post command sergeant for the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. Michelle Schreiner BS ’00, MS ’02, PhD ’05 is a cognitive psychologist and researcher, and a candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives.

LISA M. LANGFORD (706) 340-2242

Lindsey Duffek BSFCS ’01 is global category manager at the Vans footwear company. John Skinkle BBA ’01 was promoted to provost at Life University in Marietta. He previously served as vice president for academic affairs. Jared Abram BBA ’02 has been the president and managing partner of The Abram Group, an AEC recruiting firm in Atlanta, since 2013. Elliott Marsh Jr. BSA ’02, MAL’11 is a vice president and resident director for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Statesboro. Jennifer Allen BBA ’03, BBA ’05 works as a lead IT consultant at AT&T Consulting and Professional Services. Jonathan Dalrymple AB ’04 is the CEO of Chugach Alaska Corp., a diversified defense and commercial company. Lee Gross BSES ’04 is a senior advisor at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, working to increase U.S. agricultural exports across the world. Maggie Jewell BS ’04 has worked as an association manager at Community Management Associates in Atlanta for the past 22 years. Lauren Wright ABJ ’04 serves as a board member of the UGA Rowing Alumni Association. She rowed for UGA’s club team from 2001 to 2004.

BONNIE DUNN (706) 614-7360

YOUR HOME TEAM UGA Terry College of Business Graduates UGA Redcoat Auxiliary Alumni Over 60+ Years of Real Estate & Financial Experience Supporters of Bulldawgs Battling Breast Cancer

50 G E O R G I A M A G A Z I N E | F A L L 2 0 2 6

2005-2009 Dynast Amir BSA ’05 is the founder and creative director of Danfo, a travel brand that curates group experiences across Africa. Douglas Harden AB ’05 completed Georgetown University’s strategic management program. Ben Sheidler AB ’05 is a principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, where he advises companies on strategic communications, public affairs, and reputation management. He spent 11 years at The Coca-Cola Co. before serving as vice president of external communications at Equifax. Renee Smith BS ’06 has served as a Realtor in Atlanta for 20 years. Chey Holbrook ABJ ’06 is a certified professional photographer and the owner of Chey Photography, a high-end portrait studio in south Metro Atlanta. Kimberly Ramsey EdS ’06 retired after 30 years of teaching second and third grades in Fulton, Coweta, and Newton counties. She was Teacher of the Year at White Oak Elementary and Oak Hill Elementary and Media Specialist of the Year of Newton County. David Ballard AB ’07, AB ’07, MPA ’07, JD ’11 released his book, The Order of Virtue, a thriller whose protagonist is a UGA freshman. Dayna Kiley BSEd ’07 is the assistant director of special education for the Gainesville City School System. Lee Moore AB ’07, MA ’08 released his book, China’s Backstory: The History Beijing Doesn’t Want You to Read, detailing the histories of Taiwan, Xinjiang, the Chinese economy, and Hong Kong. Danielle Phillips BS ’07 serves as an assistant professor in the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ryan Mills AB ’09 has spent 16 years in orthopedic distribution and logistics working for top companies in the industry including Zimmer Biomet and Stryker. Katherine Smith ABJ ’09 secured the top fundraising spot for the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians Cookie Campaign in East Tennessee.

2010-2014 Nicole Santora AB ’10 founded Ingredient Gal, a wellness brand focused on helping women simplify nutrition. Sara Phillips AB ’11 is an attorney with Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers in Atlanta.

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE

‘The National’ Leader

Erin Wilson ABJ ’11, BS ’11

unchtime classics like ham and cheese sandwiches elevated with rosemary, strawberry jam, and arugula. Stuffed Medjool dates with smoked paprika and Manchego cheese. Or perhaps a strawberry Basque cake with gelato, jam, and a shortbread crumble. No matter what diners try, Erin Wilson, owner of the popular downtown Athens restaurant The National, wants their experience to be perfect. Wilson ABJ ’11, BS ’11 came to the University of Georgia to study public relations in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. It was through Grady’s job board that she learned The National was looking for a social media intern. Though The National is now one of the Classic City’s most beloved restaurants, it was just a 4-year-old upstart when Wilson started working there. Instagram was also brand new but quickly becoming the place for promoting all things food. The National didn’t have much of an online presence at the time, but Peter Dale ABJ ’99, the restaurant’s award-winning founder and executive chef, knew social media offered an opportunity to expand the restaurant’s reach beyond Athens. Wilson worked part-time at first, sharing The National’s story on Instagram and setting up its website as a digital home base. She later started working the floor as a hostess and channeled her inner foodie by helping with pastry a few times a week. She prepared Portuguese-style custard tarts and baked 20 mini pies a day during the restaurant’s “pie phase.” She also helped The National celebrate New Year’s Eve by creating individual, boxed cheesecakes topped with edible glitter. “I loved the finesse, but I also was drawn to the repetition and consistency that is instilled in a great kitchen,” says Wilson, who became general manager in 2015, a partner in 2018, and owner in 2026. “As the years went on, I found myself wanting to continue growing with the restaurant. I loved how my skills in

Whether diners visit for snacks and drinks, a traditional three-course meal, or a curated menu family style, new owner Erin Wilson wants to make sure their time at Athens’ beloved restaurant The National is the best it can be.

BILLY SCHUERMAN

public relations could be useful in so many ways for a space that meant a lot for me. I wanted to not only tell the story but be part of the story.” Creating each season’s menu is especially exciting for Wilson. She and Chef Matthew Palmerlee routinely source produce from local farms, so the menu changes based on what those farmers grow. The result is a menu that gathers inspiration from Northeast Georgia to Spain and the Mediterranean. Even so, Wilson makes sure there’s always a place for their classics. The National’s cucumber gazpacho, for example, is served every summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day, “like an old friend coming back” each year. “The menu is like a puzzle. What do we want to do in the moment? How do we

want the menu to feel as a whole? What do we want to do that’s fresh and new?” Wilson says. “My goal is to have a great balance of familiar classics that people love and also feel fresh and exciting.” Wilson wants people to feel comfortable, but she also wants the restaurant to give them a chance to try something they’ve never had before— and maybe discover a new favorite. The National celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2027. “I feel super honored to be the owner of this restaurant that I’ve put so much time, love, and effort into,” says Wilson. “I’m excited to continue to steward it as the place that has been important for so many people in this town and has offered me a connection to a really special community.”

Written by Sydney Barrilleaux BS ’24, MA ’26 GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES

You Can Go Home Again

Taking Flight For college, Mays wanted to go somewhere warm. In 1998, her senior year in high school, she and her father, an airline pilot, visited Athens. When she came home to Massachusetts and saw her mom, Mays was decked out in a Bulldog sweatshirt and sweatpants. The decision was made. Mays BSES ’03 studied environmental economics and management, and excelled. But when 9/11 happened, she took a hard look at her priorities. “I knew from that day—in that moment—that something was different,’ Mays recalls. “I felt the need to serve. I didn’t want to sit on my hands and be a bystander.” But she felt she owed it to her father, who did not go to college, to finish her education. So she did. After graduating, Mays moved to Boston, where she worked as an environmental scientist for CH2M Hill, doing a job she was trained for and enjoyed. After a transfer to a project

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After earning her UGA degree, Corrie Mays joined the Marine Corps and flew jets. Following combat deployment, she was selected to the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron.

SPECIAL

Today, Mays (left) is a major in the Marine Corps Reserves and she co-owns the Plum Porch, a charming gift shop on Cape Cod, with her sister, Samantha. The store is just five minutes from the house where Mays grew up—and lives with her husband and two children today.

office on the Cape, however, Mays got restless. Every day, she saw the F-15s in the skies above Joint Base Cape Cod. Her latent desire to serve returned to the forefront. Mays visited the military recruitment office in Boston. She wanted to be a Marine. And she wanted to fly jets.

In Service Mays graduated top of her class in flight school, which gave her the opportunity to pick her station. She chose to fly F/A-18 Hornets based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Less than six years into her service, Mays, a captain, was promoted to airframes division officer where

amily matters to Corrie Mays. She lives in the same house on Cape Cod where she grew up. Her children attend the same elementary school she did. Corrie and her younger sister, Samantha, who lives down the street, even run a business together. They co-own a gift shop that’s five minutes away from the neighborhood. Mays describes running the Plum Porch as her “own little Hallmark story.” Its purple-hued charms radiate from the walls, and the shop’s place in its community is reflected in the owners’ dedication. “We have jewelry, wedding gifts, birthday gifts, lots of baby items,” Mays says. “We also have a lot of locally made arts and crafts, and that’s something we are really proud of. We don’t want to just peddle goods. We want to give back.” Mays loves her Cape Cod community. That’s easy to see. But that doesn’t mean she won’t venture beyond it.

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she led one of the squadron’s largest maintenance divisions. Meanwhile, she continued to fly jets and kept the roles during the division’s combat deployment to the Middle East during the Iraq War. In 2014, Mays was selected to the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron. As Blue Angel #8, she was just the second woman to wear a number on her flight suit with the elite group. Mays flew with the Angels for two years, performing hundreds of shows.

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE

Corrie Mays BSES ’03

For her third year, she moved to an administrative role, where she helped rewrite some of the Angels’ standard operating procedures. “Being a Marine officer always meant the most to me,” she says. “But I absolutely love the honor of being a Blue Angel. Once a Blue Angel, always a Blue Angel.” By 2017, Mays had served on active duty for more than a decade, and she was ready for the next step. She and her husband, who was also a Marine officer when they met, wanted to start a family, and she knew where she wanted to go.

Her Front Porch Later that summer, she and Samantha were designing a variety of clothing—leggings, T-shirts, some baby items. They planned to visit several stores to see if any would carry their merchandise, including the Plum Porch, a local staple. Finding it closed, they reached out to the owner, who was looking to sell. So Corrie and Samantha, alongside their mother, Kelley, bought it and have been there ever since. Mays, now a major in the Marine Corps Reserves, will retire from that role by the end of this year. But she remains engaged in local veterans organizations as a volunteer and a board member. The rest of her time is spent at the Plum Porch and with her family, including her husband and two young children—she really is living the last five minutes of a Hallmark movie. “There is a saying that it takes a village,” she says. “Through good times and bad, we’re all in it together, and everybody loves each other. “This is exactly the life I wanted to eventually have for my children.” Written by Eric Rangus MA ’94

Ciara White BSFCS ’12 is a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines and social media specialist for two viral fragrance and body care companies. Lauren Flowers BSFCS ’13, MEd ’23 married Brandon Walker on St. Simons Island in May 2025. She works as the senior academic advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Matthew Efird BBA’14 released a book, Even Though, We Will: Finding Rest in the Waves of Child Loss and the Practical Arks that Carry Us Through, which recounts the death of his son Noah from an illness and the faith-based tools that carried his family through grief. He also founded the Even Though, We Will Foundation, which sends Noah’s Ark care packages to families navigating terminal prenatal diagnoses across the country. Austin Todd BBA ’14 was promoted to major in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps. He is currently detailed to the Department of Justice as a special assistant United States attorney for the Western District of Texas in the Midland/ Odessa Division.

2015-2019 Mary Russell AB ’15 is a HunterMaclean associate recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer and a Rising Star. Alexa Crow ABJ ’16 is a senior digital product manager for the NCAA Digital Sports team with a primary focus on the March Madness Live app. Hannah Rhienhart BMus ’16 is the executive director of a nonprofit music therapy practice which serves more than 600 families in North Metro Atlanta. Mitchell Nemeth BBA ’17, MSL ’18 was promoted to director of compliance at GreenSky after working as an internal audit manager since March 2024. Sarah Catherine Fowler BSFCS ’17, BSFCS ’17, MS ‘25 was named the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) National Merit Finalist Teacher of the Year for 2026. She also was named the Georgia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year in 2025. Mayank Gandhi BS ’18 is a staff psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, where he oversees the clinical programming for intensive outpatient cases and assists with autism diagnostic testing. Gracie Saas JD ’18 is a HunterMaclean attorney recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer and a Rising Star.

2020-2024 Caleb Wilson BBA ’21 earned a Certified Insurance Counselor designation with Sterling Seacrest Pritchard.

Moctar Ayeva AB ’23, MPA ’25 completed his internship and became legislative correspondent/staff assistant in the office of Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson. Marianne Lamarche BSFCS ’23 won an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and will spend the next two years in Finland and France working toward her master’s degree in teaching foreign languages. Jordan Jaffie BSFCS ’24 is a research regulatory coordinator at the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion in Savannah. Ashley Ogega AB ’24 is pursuing her master’s in public affairs at Brown University, where she has served as an MPA student ambassador, a graduate research assistant, and a graduate project analyst.

2025-2026 Esther Wenxi Liao BBA ’25 started a Master of Science in applied data science program at the University of Chicago. Eric Zheng BSAB ’25 has been accepted into a Master of Science program in biology at Georgia Southern University. Katie Brown BSEd ’26 accepted a position teaching engineering at Clarke Central High School in Athens.

GRADNOTES AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Milton Newberry III MAL ’12 is an administrator in the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

ARTS AND SCIENCES Richard Oshrain MS ’77 retired after 43 years as a periodontist. He was the general chairman of the Greater New York Dental Meeting in 2022 and 2023. Rob Hilliard MA ’79 is the founder of HooDawg Media Productions, which is producing Thoroughbreds at the Crossroads, a 90-minute documentary about the state of thoroughbred breeding and the horse racing industry. Paul Babitzke PhD ’91 was named as the inaugural Don Bryant Chair in Microbial Physiology at Penn State University in 2025. He joined the faculty in 1994. Kayla Bonilla MS ’24 is a plant healthcare specialist and business developer with Northside Tree Professionals in Chamblee. Jacob Skiles DMA ’25 joined Howard Payne University as an assistant professor of piano and music theory.

GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

CLASS NOTES BUSINESS Shelley Haynes MBA ’08 has worked for Stuart Pro Heating & Air in Buford for 20 years. She is currently CFO and vice president, focusing on financial leadership and company growth.

EDUCATION Robert C. Fore EdD ’76 professor and associate dean at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine-Chattanooga, was named emeritus professor of medical education at the Mercer University School of Medicine. Vincent Holmes MEd ’79 retired after 30 years working in the Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, where he worked as a statewide advanced program and planning analyst. Lynda Goodfellow EdD ’99 retired as professor emerita from Georgia State University after 35 years.

Andrew Lentini MEd ’05 is the assistant director of communications for The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Krystal Bailey MAT ’26 is teaching sixth grade social studies at Dacula Middle School in Gwinnett County.

Colin McRae JD ’99 is a HunterMaclean attorney recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer. Rachel Fields JD ’07 is a HunterMaclean attorney recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer.

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Carrol Henderson MFOR ’70 is the author of 20 wildlife books that have sold more than 300,000 copies.

SOCIAL WORK Emily Gary MSW ’95 is a therapist in private practice and a mental health consultant for HeadStart and Early HeadStart.

LAW Wade Herring II JD ’83 is a HunterMaclean partner recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer. Kirby Mason JD ’89 is a HunterMaclean partner recognized as a 2026 Georgia Super Lawyer.

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GEORGIA MAGAZINE | FALL 2026

FACULTY FOCUS

Karen Norris GRA Eminent Scholar in Immunology and Translational Biomedicine

CENTER FOR VACCINES AND IMMUNOLOGY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

ealthy people don’t get pneumocystis pneumonia, Karen Norris remembers thinking. But there they were—young men otherwise in good health slowly dying from a fungal infection that was almost unheard of just a few years before. She didn’t know it then, but those patients were the first sign that a new epidemic was taking hold in the U.S. and abroad. HIV/ AIDS research would soon become the focus of many researchers in the 1980s and 1990s.

But those patients were also an indication of an understudied public health threat: pathogenic fungi. Now decades into her career as a renowned scholar of translational medicine, Norris has watched as groups vulnerable to potentially deadly fungal infections have expanded to include more populations, like those with diabetes and cancer. That’s why she developed a vaccine to protect people from what the World Health

Organization calls one of the most pressing threats to public health. The vaccine has proven effective in animal models against multiple lifethreatening fungal infections, including those that pose the biggest risks to people. Now, Norris and her team are preparing for clinical trials. “The vaccine has the potential to really help people who are at high risk for these incredibly dangerous infections,” Norris says. “We need to get this done.”

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CREATE WITH US! COMMUNITY ART AND MUSIC PROGRAMS AT FRANKLIN ADULT ART CLASSES The UGA Community Art School features courses taught by UGA faculty for adults seeking to learn new skills, hone techniques, and expand their artistic expression at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Community Art School: 706-542-1511 CommunityArtSchool@uga.edu

MUSIC LEARNING FOR ALL AGES The UGA Community Music School is an organization of faculty, students, and professional alumni that offers instruction to all community members, both children and adults, at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Community Music School: 706-542-2894 ugacms@uga.edu

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