Tags: community

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Spring Commencement 2025

Today is the day! The culmination of our students' hard work, where they put their creativity, ambitions, curiosity and leadership all together to take the all-important next step.  Congratulation to all of the 2,100+ Franklin students graduating today! And welcome to campus to the family and friends joining us on this wonderful occasion. Go Dawgs! Go Franklin! Congratulations to the many new UGA alumni – welcome to the family! Photo by…

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Diversity Through Dance course connects culture through art

Fuad Elhage, a senior lecturer of Spanish in Franklin College’s Romance languages department, has taught Diversity Through Dance since 2010. The course allows students to spend each class period connecting to the Spanish language and culture through music and dance: However, for two semesters, the course has been adapted to integrate a service-learning component, giving students the chance to expand their participation beyond the music. Service-…

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Robinson elected to AAAS

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

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

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

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Crawfords honored with UGA's Family of the Year Award

The University of Georgia celebrated the 2025 Alumni Awards honorees during a luncheon on April 4 in Athens. The awards are a long-standing tradition intended to celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to UGA. Among the six honorees, Cathie and John Crawford III were recognized with the 2025 Family of the Year Award: John Crawford III began his family’s legacy at UGA when he graduated in 1962 …

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Ron Simons, 1946-2025

Ron Simons, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in the department of sociology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025. Simons had a long and fruitful collaboration with the Center for Family Research (CFR) over the years, and is leaving behind a profound legacy through his contributions to the field and support of other scholars’ work. CFR’s director, Steven Beach, Ph.D., says, Simons “was a…

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Janet Westpheling, 1951-2025

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

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Franklin alumnus Artis Stevens shares wisdom on the importance of mentorship

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

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

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

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Finding humanity in the algorithm

When people hold a world information in their electronics, can they find community within them? Eddie Alexander Gomez Schieber explores this question by looking at the power of communities created in the algorithmic world and the positive impact it can have.   Gomez, a Ph.D. student working with Ari Schlesinger, assistant professor in the School of Computing, in human-centered computing. He is a member of Schlesinger’s Socially Responsible…

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences! From our family to yours, all the best of the holiday season and warm wishes for 2025.

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School of Art to launch UGA Community Art School

Want to brush up on your drawing – or finally commit to that new creative endeavor you've always wanted? In 2025, the Lamar Dodd School of Art begins a new chapter in artistic outreach and instruction as it launches the the UGA Community Art School: Taught by UGA faculty and graduate students, the new series of classes maximizes individual instruction and experiential learning in the legendary studios of the Dodd, with a culminating pop-up…

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Two UGA staff receive Presidential Volunteer Service Award

Franklin College is proud to recognize two members of our Information Technology staff for receiving the prestigious 2024 Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Launched in 2003, the President’s Volunteer Service Award honors individuals whose volunteer efforts make a significant impact on their communities, inspiring others to get involved. The award has four levels: bronze (100-249 hours), silver (250-500 hours), gold (500+ hours), and lifetime…

Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

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Students get in on the act – Dawg Day of Service

With so many opportunities to get involved in the Athens community, and a student body attuned to helping others, the September Dawg Day of Service set a new standard for the number of participating students and service sites across Athens. It's never to early to learn that investing in your community is a hands-on experience: Organized by Serve UGA – student-led groups within UGA’s Department of Engagement, Leadership, and Service – students…

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High school educators join cruise on the R/V Savannah

Invited by UGA scientists Adam Greer and Marc Frischer, Johnson High School (Chatham County) principal Derrick Muhammad and four JHS educators spent just over 24 hours onboard the R/V Savannah several dozen miles off the Georgia coast, learning about the process of collecting oceanographic data with the ultimate goal of relaying insights back to their students and using their experience to develop future lesson plans: “For the UGA Skidaway…

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Athens history on film

The Athens Film Project will launch the first three of its very short films at Ciné’s Lab at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17. A project of the Athens Historical Society that began during the early days of the pandemic, the Film Project’s goal is to create films on Athens history for local 11th grade U.S. History classes. The first two films are already…

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Associate director of IT works to improves learning

Information Technology operations are an immense endeavor across every sector of society and no less so in higher education. Our students, faculty, and staff rely on an expansive, readily-available infrastructure to support, broaden, and enhance the UGA learning environment and maintain its vibrancy amidst myriad challenges and constraints, not to mention constant technological changes and requirements. That is one reason why it's great to see…

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Fall Commencement, 2023

The Class of 2023 rolls on – into caps and gowns, toward next steps, new goals, and a bright future glimmering with a fresh degree. Today's the day! Celebrate graduates! The University of Georgia welcomes its newest alumni on Dec. 15 as 1,626 undergraduates and 1,340 graduate students—a total of 2,966—have met requirements to participate in the university’s fall Commencement ceremonies: The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. in…

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Humanities departments collect professional clothes to support free student resource

Over 65 items donated to Student Government Association Clothing Closet Eight humanities departments within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia participated in an October clothing drive to support the efforts of the Student Government Association Clothing Closet. The SGA Clothing Closet was founded in 2019 and provides one free professional outfit per student per year, no matter their major, when supplies allow…


End of semester thank you video from Dean Stenport

On reading day, Franklin College Dean Anna Stenport thanks our community of friends and alumni, colleagues and students, looks back on recent accomplishments, and previews the next steps in advancing the arts and sciences at the University of Georgia.    

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Annual Holiday Concert

The Hugh Hodgson School of Music presents the annual Holiday Concert, a tradition for the faculty and students of the Franklin College, the University of Georgia,  and the Athens community. Fo two nights – beginning tonight – this cornucopia of some our strongest ensembles is the perfect start to your holiday season. Featuring the UGA Symphony Orchestra, Hodgson Singers, University Chorus, UGA Glee Clubs, British Brass Band, Jazz Ensembles…

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Peer mentor program helps students connect

Now in its third year, the Math Peer Mentor Program (MP)2 in the department of mathematics connects undergraduate upperclassmen with freshmen and transfer students. The program creates a runway to socializing new students to the rigors of a new academic environment – and welcoming students into the campus community. "From the time students meet a mentor, they immediately begin to feel connected to their department, immediately feel connected to…

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Wyatt Anderson, 1939-2023

Former dean of the Franklin College Wyatt Anderson passed away on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 at Presbyterian Village Athens. Anderson was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a dedicated scientist, administrator, and great friend of the Franklin College and the University of Georgia. Anderson had a distinguished career and a lasting impact on UGA and in the field of evolutionary biology/genetics. Renowned for his groundbreaking research on…

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Robinson honored at 2023 Blue Key Awards Banquet

Greg H. Robinson, UGA Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry in the Franklin College of Arts and Science, was awarded the 2023 faculty Blue Key Service Award at the university’s annual Tucker Dorsey Blue Key Alumni Banquet on Nov. 10 at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.  The Blue Key Honor Society is a national organization whose members are committed to leadership in student life, high…
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