News Archive - 2026

two students talking in front of poster
UGA School of Computing research day underscores growing ties between AI and health care

“As UGA continues to grow its efforts in health-related fields, the integration of computing, engineering, AI, and biomedical research will be essential; I believe the future of healthcare depends on it," said College of Engineering Dean Alex Orso in his opening remarks at UGA's School of Computing annual Research Day—a tradition that began in 2010 under its predecessor, the Department of Computer Science.” Jointly sponsored by the Franklin…

Macie Phillips smiling outside within graphic frame
Hands-on and fearless: How Macie Phillips found her place in marine science

For Macie Phillips, choosing the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia felt like destiny. As the youngest of four siblings who graduated from UGA, she was ready to complete the family tradition. But it was the university’s marine science program that truly sealed the deal. As a Double Dawg in ocean sciences and ecology, Phillips took advantage of the many multidisciplinary opportunities available through Franklin.…

students working on computers
Inaugural UGA ASA DataFest 2026 showcases the next generation of data science talent

Sponsored by the American Statistical Association (ASA), the inaugural UGA ASA DataFest 2026 was held April 10–12 and hosted by the University of Georgia’s Department of Statistics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The event brought together a diverse group of student data scientists for a weekend of innovation, collaboration, and real-world discovery. Over 48 hours, 94 undergraduate and graduate students from the UGA, Augusta…

Kennedy Ingram outside in graphic frame
Franklin senior Kennedy Ingram breaks ground in ocean science graduation milestone

“It’s the mystery of it,” says Kennedy Ingram about the ocean. “Knowing that over 80% of the ocean is still unexplored makes me feel like there’s so much left to discover.” In May, Ingram will graduate from the UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences with a B.S. in ocean science and a minor in geology. She is one of the first two Black women to graduate from the program, and her academic path reflects Franklin’s emphasis on experiential and…

Olivia Kim in graphics frame
Chemistry is the foundation for everything says student commencement speaker Olivia Kim

For Juyeon “Olivia” Kim, chemistry is more than a major - it’s a lens for understanding the world. A chemistry major with a minor in mathematics, Kim will deliver the student commencement address at Franklin’s Department of Chemistry ceremony in May 2026. A Presidential Award of Excellence honoree, she has distinguished herself as both a scholar and a leader on campus. Kim serves as president of the UGA Chem Club, part of the American…

Francie Carson in graphic with black background
“Caught Up Inside”: Lamar Dodd senior Francie Carson’s innovative textile work wins emerging artist award

Francie Carson, a senior at Franklin’s Lamar Dodd School of Art, arrived in Athens as a student-athlete recruited for the swim team. Carson, who prefers the pronoun they, said they soon found their true calling: textiles and weaving. At this year’s Lyndon House Arts Center Juried Exhibition, Carson’s textile sculpture, “Caught Up Inside,” earned the Arts Center Choice Award given to an emerging artist. The award includes the opportunity to…

Exterior of the Georgia Museum of Art
Franklin history students work together to bring history to life

It’s easy to feel far removed from the Civil War era, but for students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences’ Hands-on Public History course, that isn’t the case.   Students in this class work with community partners to develop public history projects based on primary and secondary sources. This spring semester, the class partnered with the Georgia Museum of Art to curate “Seeing the News in Harper’s Weekly, 1860 – 80,” an…

Keiko Bridwell outside
Where you’re from in how you speak: Franklin Ph.D. candidate Keiko Bridwell’s research on language and place

Ph.D. candidate Keiko Bridwell’s path to commencement at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences began with a fascination for words and grew into a study of how language shapes identity. As a Ph.D. candidate in linguistics, she focused her research on Athens and neighboring Oconee County, exploring how communities separated by a river and a county line express who they are through speech. By analyzing vowel patterns and interviewing Georgia…

Blessing in front of 2026 graphic
When people become data points: A Ph.D. candidate’s call for ethical guardrails in biotech and AI

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Ph.D. candidate Blessing Temitope Adewuyi has built her academic journey around perseverance and faith. Raised in southwestern Nigeria, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree. In May, she will again make family history as the first to earn a Ph.D. Adewuyi’s work sits at the intersection of ethics, religion, and biomedical science. Focusing on bioethics, she examines how advances in…

Blake Witmer outside
UGA 2026 commencement speaker uses studio art minor as communication tool

When senior Blake Witmer got the call that she would serve as UGA’s 2026 spring commencement student speaker, it marked a milestone in a college career shaped by leadership, communication, and community. Behind that work is something quieter that has shaped her just as much: art. Witmer will graduate in May with a degree in public relations from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and a minor in studio art from the Lamar Dodd…

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