News from the Chronicles - April 2026

Building and streetlight in evening
Celebrating the Franklin Spark: Honors Week celebrates top Franklin faculty

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences faculty and students are receiving top UGA awards during Honors Week. Since the 1930s, UGA has celebrated the accomplishments of its students and faculty with a dedicated week each spring semester. This year’s honorees exemplify the Franklin Spark, the characteristics that define faculty, students, and alumni at the intersection of the arts and sciences: ambitious, curious, creative, innovative, and tomorrow…

Researcher reaching through window
Franklin “Spark Hub” looks to expand into a new generation of chip-based biotechnical platforms

Led by physics professor Yiping Zhao, the Smart Biochips and Sensing Systems research “Spark Hub” at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Research is building on UGA’s internationally recognized strengths in chemical and biological sensing. Researchers are developing precision sensor-based tools that rapidly detect disease, monitor health, and track environmental conditions. The Smart Biochips and Sensing…

people at banquet
The Franklin Spark shines in 14 Presidential Award of Excellence senior student recipients

At this year’s UGA Presidential Honors Week Luncheon, 14 graduating seniors from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences were recognized with the Presidential Award of Excellence, a distinction reserved for students whose academic achievement, leadership, and service reflect the very best of the university.  Eight of the honorees pursued double or triple majors across a wide range of disciplines -from psychology and ocean science to…

Ganeshan sisters
From UGA to the Bay: Ganeshan sisters find connection through leadership

Like many siblings, Smitha and Shreya Ganeshan have plenty in common. Each sister studied at the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow, led tours through UGA’s Visitors Center, and took a keen interest in technology. Still, the Ganeshans, who grew up in Johns Creek, took different paths when it came to their careers. One chose medicine; the other dove into the tech industry. Dr. Smitha Ganeshan (BS Biology '14) is an assistant clinical…

Graphic of Graduate Madeline
Curiosity and faith meet science in Madeleine Coleman’s multidisciplinary journey

One story among many, this feature spotlights a graduating student from Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. When Madeleine Coleman arrived at the University of Georgia, she had an ambitious goal: to study Buddhist research in Tibet. Four years later, as a graduate of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and Morehead Honors College, she will earn a degree in cognitive science and religion, along…

Portrait of Annie Mehta
Franklin’s Annie Mehta Named 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar

Annie Mehta, a student in the Franklin’s department of physics and astronomy, has been named a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for undergraduates pursuing research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional…

Screenshot of organoids video
Organoids project re-imagines adrenal glands through models and motion

In 2024, UGA Associate Professor Nadja Zeltner received a grant to advance research in human cell generation, including adrenal gland organoids used to study disease. Adrenal gland organoids are tiny, lab-grown versions of your body’s stress response control center—adrenal glands release hormones in response to stress or excitement, regulate energy and metabolism, manage blood pressure, support immune response, and more. Supported by a…

Alejandro de Feria
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Alejandro de Feria tackles the challenges of genetic heart disorders

How often does someone become aware of their heartbeat? Maybe they feel it thumping in their chest during a run or listen to it stutter during a scary movie. For Dr. Alejandro “Alex” de Feria Alsina (BS Biology '10), listening to heartbeats is the cornerstone of his profession. De Feria is a cardiologist at the center for inherited heart disease at the University of Pennsylvania. As an assistant professor of clinical medicine, he works closely…

Gavin Wright
Following curiosity: How one Franklin senior turned passion into research

This story is part of Franklin’s celebration of its Class of 2026 graduates at the University of Georgia. For Gavin Wright (AB ’26, English), undergraduate research grew naturally out of a passion first sparked in high school: a love of reading, writing, and thinking deeply about literature. At UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, that early interest evolved into a sustained intellectual pursuit. “Studying English has been a way to…

Jeff Pilgrim
Artemis II: Franklin alumnus Jeff Pilgrim’s innovation on its way back to Earth

Artemis II returns to Earth late tomorrow afternoon, April 10, with Franklin–connected innovation on board. Jeff Pilgrim (B.S., chemistry, ’95), a University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, designed a laser spectroscopy instrument that monitors cabin air aboard the Orion spacecraft, helping safeguard astronauts on deep-space missions. This achievement underscores the impact of Franklin-trained scientists on space…

Archive by Year