News Archive - 2025

Students in attendance at the CJ Studies event
Criminal Justice alumni return to guide students in annual “speed mentoring”

Each year, the University of Georgia Criminal Justice Studies Program hosts a speed mentoring event that connects students with alumni and professionals across the criminal justice field. More than a networking opportunity, the event bridges classroom learning with real-world career paths.   “This annual event is always exciting for our students.” said Sarah Shannon, director of the Criminal Justice Studies Program. “They get to…

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English and German double major explores summer in Berlin

For one UGA Franklin student, the summer of 2025 was more than an experiential learning opportunity – it was an awakening of perspective, creativity, and cultural understanding. As a double major in German and English, Cooper Sunderland spent a six-week study abroad immersed in Berlin, exploring not only a new city but new ways of seeing the world and himself as a writer – all through the funding made possible by the SPARK Fellowship. …

Pictured: Nancy Wells with Bria Smith at AwA
The Advice with Alumni - Franklin Edition provides speed mentoring at its best

The most recent Advice with Alumni (AwA) – Franklin Edition provided students with more than just a chance to network. It created a space where meaningful conversations and shared experiences sparked confidence and motivation for life post-graduation.  Held during Franklin’s semiannual Board of Advisors meeting in Athens, the event brought together students and distinguished alumni for an afternoon of speed mentoring. The format of…

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The collaborative power of poetry and photography in Andrew Zawacki’s Endscape

UGA professor explores a distressed landscape in new interdisciplinary collection This November Andrew Zawacki, Distinguished Research Professor in the department of English, published Endscape, a collection of his poetry and photography. The work appears in the inaugural edition of the P5 Photo Poetry Pamphlet series, directed by Photoworks.    Endscape began around 2019, born out of an interest in the landscape surrounding…

Pictured: Mahadkar in Redcoat uniform, photo credit: Andy Tucker
Yash Mahadkar finds harmony in leadership and education

Yash Mahadkar, a second-year music education major at the UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music, keeps the heart of the Bulldog spirit – the Redcoat Marching Band – beating on through his dedication and leadership. Mahadkar grew up surrounded by music, rooted in the Indian classical music that his family played in prayer and religious ceremonies. With his mother playing the harmonium and his father teaching him the tabla, his history and family…

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Alumni emphasize flourishing theatre program

Five accomplished alumni from the University of Georgia’s Department of Theatre and Film returned to campus this fall to share insights from careers spanning film, television, arts administration, production technology, and fundraising.  Moderated by theatre major Abby McWethy (BA, ‘27), the panel showcased the department’s growing influence across creative industries and affirmed the enduring value of a UGA education. The event was a…

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Top rankings affirm UGA as a leader for international education

With more than 50 study abroad programs across five continents and 57 countries, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is no stranger to the power of the international student experience. With the University of Georgia ranked No. 1 in the nation for short-term study abroad participation and No. 5 overall, the reach of that power for all UGA students is assured – and growing: A total of 3,322 UGA degree-seeking students studied abroad for…

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Communicating research through art and creativity

As the timer counted down 4 minutes and 33 seconds, presenters took the stage to share their integrative arts investigations. The presentations that unfolded went beyond standard explanations of an abstract and utilized creativity to captivate the audience.  The 2025 4’33” Competition featured a variety of presentations from poetry readings to immersive visuals. First place winner Younghyun Kim, Ph.D. student in Learning, Leadership, and…

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From UGA to AI Innovation: Azalea Robotics' Journey

In spring 2025,  Nikita Jha, a fourth-year computer science and economics major at the University of Georgia, was interviewed along with the co-founders of Azalea Robotics and UGA alumni, David Millard (BS Mathematics and Computer Science, `14) and John B. Stroud (BS Mathematics and Economics, `16). Stroud and Millard shared their journey from being students at Franklin to founding a Y Combinator-backed startup in Berkeley, Ca., where Jha…

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Schroeder receives Elemental Critical Minerals grant

University of Georgia faculty member Paul Schroeder will lead one of 11 new partnerships launched to accelerate innovation in engineering biology for sustainable critical mineral supply chains.  Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered in partnership with the UK Science and Technology Network, this initiative provides targeted grants to strengthen transatlantic collaboration in sustainable…