News Archive - 2025

photo of people constructing new shoreline reef, day
Oyster shore strengthens Sapelo Island

Nik Heynen, Distinguished Research Professor of geography in the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, and friends hit upon an ingenious idea to tackle waste in an Athens industry and arrest the effects of sea level rise on a Georgia barrier island. Tyler Leslie and Hunt Revell had worked at the popular downtown Athens seafood restaurant, Seabear. Working at an oyster bar, Leslie and Revell were aware of the high volume…

photo of house model bathed in red light, with spooky tree and shadows
Theatre students excel with Evil Dead: The Musical

Blood, songs, demons, dancing and more! UGA Theatre's production of "Evil Dead" brought the audience a musical filled with comedy horror, catchy songs, and plenty of fake blood.  "Evil Dead" is a rock musical featuring four college students who camp out in an old cabin in the woods, when they discover an ancient book that unleashes demons and the undead into the world. Inspired by slasher films and filled with plenty of comedy, “Evil Dead”…

photo of two people sitting across a table, computer screen and books in background
Franklin genetics major named UGA's 10th Marshall Scholar

Finn Walsh will build on her studies in infectious disease post graduation as UGA’s newest Marshall Scholar. The senior from Atlanta will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in genetics and a minor in Spanish through the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She has conducted undergraduate research through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, with the majority of her work in the Odum School of Ecology. Up to 50 students are…

graphic with letters and text on blue field
Perspective illuminates ethics across disciplines

Rather than a specialized approach to a set of philosophical questions or political issues, ethics presents a way of evaluating choices in an open society. The tools to navigate choices may involve a variety of expertise and disciplinary specialties, but these are also connected simply by the physical world where they are put into practice. Piers Stephens, professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of philosophy, explains…

Bulldog 100
Nearly one third of Bulldog 100 companies led by Franklin College alumni

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumni continue to show their Franklin Spark, the characteristics that define us at the intersection of arts and sciences (ambitious, curious, creative, innovative and tomorrow’s leader) and distinguish themselves as dynamic leaders in business and innovation. In the 2026 Bulldog 100 — selected by the University of Georgia Alumni Association as the fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA…

photo of musicians performing on stage
New musical frontiers with Emily Koh

Composer Emily Koh, associate professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, typically creates new emotional textures and moods in 24-pitch increments. Her work with two pianos dictated this constraint, an approach she stuck with for a long time. When she decided to explore music beyond 24 pitches, however, she knew she needed a new solution. Working with partners in the College of Engineering, Koh created ModμMIDI, a modular MIDI device with…

photo of actor speaking to audience members in theatre
Local students Experience UGA through theatre program

Ten years after she was a Chase Street Elementary School third grader, Maya Shrivastav found herself on stage as a UGA student performing for an audience of third-graders. "It was a full-circle moment. It’s really great to see how everything I’ve done since third grade has led me here,” said Shrivastav, now a first-year UGA student majoring in international affairs, political science and ceramics. Both Shrivastav and the students at her former…

Nikita Jha
Nikita Jha’s transformative internship at Azalea Robotics

In spring 2025, Nikita Jha, a fourth-year Franklin and Terry student, embarked on a transformative internship at Azalea Robotics, a startup revolutionizing airport baggage handling through autonomous robots. As a Foundation Fellow in the Morehead Honors College pursuing a dual degree in computer science and economics, Jha’s experience was more than a spring internship—it marked a defining chapter in her journey toward innovation at the…

graphic with photo of two men, white text on black background
Music, German student makes inroads into international opera

In summer 2024, Peter Kanda (B. Mus. Piano Performance, German Studies Minor ‘26) prepped his final year at UGA by participating in the Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy in Slovenia. Founded under the direction of Maestro George Pehlivanian, the academy is a pillar of the international opera scene, offering comprehensive training for conductors and vocalists from all over the world, with a focus on refining their skills. Its summer opera…

2026 Alumni Award winners
Celebrating Excellence - Franklin 2026 Alumni Awards

For more than 200 years, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences has served as the heart of the University of Georgia, uniting the arts and sciences to champion interdisciplinary learning, shape leaders, fuel discovery, and strengthen communities. As the College looks ahead to its next quarter century, Franklin remains committed to blending tradition and innovation to address society’s most complex challenges. In a world defined by rapid…