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 manifest that initial passion into an experience that has proven both personally meaningful and professionally relevant,” he explained. “I plan to attend law school, and I know how important critical reading and writing will be during that time.” 

Curiosity led Wright beyond the classroom and into undergraduate research, specifically on William Blake, the visionary 18th- and 19th-century poet and artist known for blending text and image into bold political and religious critique. First encountering Blake in a Romantic Literature course, Wright became fascinated by the poet’s experimental style and philosophical depth. He approached his professor, Casie Renee LeGette, in Franklin’s Department of English, about pursuing a directed reading that would place Blake alongside William Godwin, examining both as early anarchist thinkers during the Jacobin period.

Together, Wright and LeGette developed a syllabus and formalized the project through the English department. Over the following semester, Wright wrestled with dense philosophical and literary texts. While his work has since narrowed its focus exclusively to Blake, the project has continued to evolve. He argues that in Blake’s work, truth and reality are fundamentally spiritual and attempts to translate the spiritual into material terms often result in abstraction and injustice.

LeGette’s teaching style - built around discussion, collaboration, and discovery - left a lasting impression on Wright. In her classroom, ideas were mapped visually across whiteboards, with connections drawn in real-time as conversations unfolded. That same spirit of inquiry extends into her mentorship.

“Gavin read deeply and widely into the works of Godwin and Blake, while also exploring the scholarly conversations around each author, particularly in relation to concepts of anarchy,” said LeGette. “He spent the semester wrestling with especially challenging texts. I was repeatedly impressed by his determination to work through and with their difficulty.”

Wright’s work has already earned recognition. In spring 2025, he received the Elizabeth A. Kraft Award from the English department, a scholarship honoring outstanding research on literature from 1640–1832. Dr. Kraft, professor emerita of English, created the award because she wanted students to think imaginatively about the 18th and 19th centuries. For Wright, the award affirmed the value of sustained inquiry and intellectual risk-taking.

At the heart of Wright’s journey is a commitment to curiosity, one of the defining “Franklin Spark” characteristics. Whether enrolling in courses outside his major, attending lectures, or engaging in service learning, Wright has consistently followed his interests into new and unexpected spaces. That mindset led him to his current role as an intern with Common Good Atlanta, where he helps facilitate college-level literature courses at Whitworth Women’s Facility, an experience that grew out of a single decision to try something new.

“Just say yes to things,” Wright advises future students. “Take interesting courses, attend events outside of class, join clubs, propose that research project. ‘Yes’ will get you far.”

As he approaches graduation, Wright is choosing to remain at UGA to pursue a Master of Arts in English, continuing his exploration of 18th- and 19th-century literature while deepening his research on Blake. It’s a fitting next chapter for a student whose academic path has been guided not just by ambition but by a relentless desire to understand.