Graduate School Doctoral and Master’s Fellow Awards

Hudson Barthes is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia. He is proud to have been admitted into the Industrial-Organizational Doctoral Program. He is excited to have joined Dr. Jeffrey Olenick and his COFFEE Lab, where they will focus on research areas including training, diversity, and systems of inequality.

Barthes is passionate about exploring the intersection of disability and the workplace, particularly concerning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His lived experiences as someone on the Autism Spectrum motivates his research.

Originally from Navarre, Florida, Barthes earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Creative Writing at Florida State University, followed by his master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of West Florida.

Throughout his academic journey, Barthes has been recognized with several honors and awards, including the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and graduating as an Honors College Scholar. His thesis, “Sensory Processing and Work Engagement: An Exploratory Study,” examined the relationships between neurological thresholds, sensory responses, and work engagement. He is currently expanding this research to include ASD traits and ADHD symptomatology.

Upon completion of his doctoral degree, Barthes is eager to continue his research within academia and guide the next generation of scholars as a professor. In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing comics, the secular study of religion, and going on adventures with his wife.

Dilan Bat-haee is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. He is working under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Berry. He plans to write his dissertation on Civil War memory in classic country, contemporary country, bluegrass, Southern rock, and folk music.

As an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina, Bat-haee graduated summa cum laude in December 2021, earning a B.A. in political science and minors in both Southern studies and sport management. His passion for history, especially that of his native South, grew as a result of his Southern studies coursework. Determined to make a career out of his love for studying the human past, he accepted a fellowship to attend The University of Alabama and received his M.A. in history in the spring of 2024.

Combining his interest in the United States Civil War and country music history, Bat-haee wrote his M.A. thesis titled “I Sang Dixie: Confederate Memory in Classic Country and Bluegrass Music.” His research focuses on the proliferation of the Lost Cause Ideology in country music lyricism. He is the first scholar to identify glorification (of individuals) as a notable theme present in both the Lost Cause and country lyricism. Additionally, he has conducted a number of oral history interviews with country and bluegrass legends including the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Tim O’Brien, and Pete Anderson. Bat-haee presented his thesis at the 40th annual International Country Music Conference in May of 2024.

Bat-haee chose to attend UGA because of the history department’s prestigious faculty and specialty in Southern history, as well as his love for the school’s campus and the city of Athens. Upon graduating with his doctoral degree, he hopes to teach at the university level and publish a book on his dissertation topic.

Hannah Boone is a doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia.

Boone was born and raised in Pfafftown, North Carolina. She attended Elon University, where she did her undergraduate Honors thesis in environmental anthropology. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Boone moved across the country to pursue her master’s degree in applied anthropology at Oregon State University. There, she continued to focus on social-environmental relationships, joining an interdisciplinary research team investigating the impacts of the largest dam removal in US history on the Klamath River. Her thesis project centered conservationist’s conceptualizations of the Basin post-dam removal, along with their priorities for natural resource management decision-making.

In addition to contributing to the larger project’s goal of understanding the perspectives of different affected groups in the Basin, Boone’s research left her feeling attached to the river and its surrounding ecosystems. She has also learned that there are great benefits to an interdisciplinary team approaching environmental issues jointly. These sentiments of attachment to place and appreciation for interdisciplinary teamwork led Boone to apply to the Integrative Conservation program at UGA.

She is excited to continue to participate in the synthesis of ways of knowing from anthropology and the natural sciences, and to see what else is in store for her at UGA.

Michael Brennan is a doctoral student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, working under Dr. Michel Kohl. He will continue his previous research from Jekyll Island with eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.

Brennan got his bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University where he did research on land management and how it affected lizards and their parasite communities. He also worked as a technician for the USGS to remove invasive tegu lizards in South Georgia.

While completing his master’s degree, Brennan was awarded both the Jack N. Averitt award for research excellence and the Georgia Sea Grant and UGA Marine Extension state fellowship working on Jekyll Island State Park where he did research on eastern diamondback rattlesnake behavior, diet, habitat use and life history.

Brennan is from Stockbridge, Georgia but, being from an Army family, he doesn’t have one place he “grew up.” The one thing that has been constant is his passion for nature and wildlife, especially amphibians and reptiles. He started his career working in wildlife education and husbandry at Zoo Atlanta, and then a raptor center in Statesboro.

Brennan is excited to continue his research at a school with such high prestige for research and is honored to accept the UGA doctoral fellowship.

Jimmie Brown is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. Under the advisement of Dr. Scott Nelson, Brown will study how repudiated public debts shaped the financial trajectory of the U.S. South. The work proposes to contrast how properly managed public debt led to accelerated growth in Georgia while poorly managed debt led to economic stagnation in Mississippi.

Brown holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Florida A&M University and a Master of Arts in History from the University of West Georgia. His past research focused on the effects of historical public debt and capital creation on government action, culminating in a master’s thesis titled, Debt Repudiation and the Outcome of the Civil War.

Brown’s historical works have garnered the Hellen J. Jackson and Albert S. Hanser Awards for historical writing. He presented his paper, “Southern Factorage as a Capital Generation Strategy and How it Strengthened Secessionist Thought.” at UGA’s financial history conference Capitalist Souths.

Before returning to academia, Brown served twelve years as a multi-functional logistician in the United States Army. He owns Brownstone Custom Cabinetry and, as its principal, supervised the creation of over 1000 cabinet/furniture projects. More importantly, Brown trained three apprentices to journeymen, ensuring another generation of cabinet makers serve the area while also making a comfortable living.

Nastaran Dakhem is a doctoral student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Georgia, under the supervision of Dr. Peter Kner. She is particularly inspired by Dr. Kner’s pioneering work in structured illumination microscopy, which offers advanced imaging techniques for studying living cells. Dakhem is eager to collaborate in the Advanced Imaging Lab, where she can further her research interests in Biophotonics and Optoelectronics.

Dakhem completed her master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Optics and Photonics from Shahid Beheshti University. During her master’s studies, she delved into the dynamic realm of Optics and Photonics. Her thesis focused on designing a state-of-the-art silicon photonic electro-optic modulator, which represented a significant advancement over existing models. She graduated with top honors, successfully defending her thesis with distinction.

For her doctoral studies, Dakhem chose the University of Georgia, drawn by its exceptional research facilities and esteemed faculty. She aspires to become a leading researcher and academic in her field and is dedicated to advancing knowledge through impactful research, scholarly publications, and committed teaching.

Elifnaz Erturen is a doctoral student in Biomedical Engineering, working under Dr. Hitesh Handa. Her research interests include biomaterials and tissue engineering which stems from her curiosity about their treatment potentials and regenerating traits.

Erturen aims to enhance her engineering skills and gain knowledge that will further help her build a career around her dream of advancing regenerative medicine that is cost-effective and equitably attainable. By leveraging her skills and knowledge at the University of Georgia, she is committed to designing healthcare research projects that prioritize underrepresented populations globally and enhance their access to these innovative solutions.

Erturen was raised in Istanbul, Türkiye where she developed an early interest in regenerative medicine, which led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at Yildiz Technical University. By participating in the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Program at the University of Tartu, Estonia for a semester, she had the chance to experience a different education system, adapting to live with people from around the world, which ignited a passion in her to explore the world beyond.

Victória Lane Silva is a doctoral student in the Department of Romance Languages – Portuguese at the University of Georgia, with a keen interest in Afro-Latin American literature.

Lane Silva’s previous research experience has concentrated on the study of the African diaspora, Black feminisms, Black transnationalism, and translation studies. For her master’s degree, she analyzed and translated three scenes of Toni Morrison’s play Desdemona, with lyrics by Rokia Traoré, from English to Brazilian Portuguese. Her work integrated literary criticism with a translation grounded in Black feminist epistemology. Currently, Lane Silva is interested in focusing on the literary production of women from the Afro-Latin Diaspora, exploring the similarities and differences in literature produced across diverse locales and languages.

Originally from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Lane Silva has a deep passion for her hometown. In 2022-2023, she gained valuable experience as a Fulbright grantee in the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program, serving as a Portuguese Teaching Assistant at UGA. She completed her master’s degree in Literature and Culture at the Federal University of Bahia in 2023.

Lane Silva chose the Department of Romance Languages at UGA as the best place to achieve her goals as a scholar because she can focus on the study of the Lusophone world while also exploring race, ethnicity, national and transnational identities, and the diversity of artistic expressions in Latin America. She is excited to join a program with a distinguished history of supporting scholars and aspires to be part of its outstanding placement record for graduates.

Lia Follet is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, working under Dr. Brian Bauer. Her research interest focuses on characterizing the emotional context in which adolescents and emerging adults experience suicidal crises.

Follet’s goal is to extend these characterizations to examine if certain crisis treatments work better for certain people at certain times. She hopes that by integrating disability theory into crisis treatment planning, suicidologists can direct people towards interventions that are easier to engage with during crisis periods, ultimately helping save lives.

Follet’s work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. To date, she has authored 33 posters and symposia (20 first author) with one poster receiving a national conference award for best poster submitted to the research methods special interest group.

Before coming to UGA, Follet received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland in 2020. She worked as a research assistant at Harvard University and Franciscan Childrens, a children’s hospital. There, she assisted on and coordinated several projects focused on understanding, predicting, and preventing adolescent suicide.

In the future, Follet aims to be a professor of psychology at a major research institution.

Saumya Gade is a doctoral student in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences program as a UGA DVM-PhD (VMSTP) student. Her research interests include utilizing organoids derived from spontaneous animal models of diseases present in both humans and animals to reduce the need for laboratory animal models in drug development and disease modeling and studying the reverse translational paradigm.

Gade has experience studying in vivo murine models of osteoarthritis and hypophosphatasia, pathological lesions in Virginia opossums, parasite ecology of marsh periwinkles, and vector ecology of ticks and mosquitoes.

Gade was an UGA Regenerative Bioscience Center fellow and was awarded several scholarships including multiple CURO Research Awards and the Cordelia Anne Ellis Endowment.

Her goal is to become a veterinary pathologist and focus her career on comparative pathology and One Health.

Katie Harmeyer is a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is interested in the neuroscience of early adversity.

Karmeyer’’s undergraduate research experiences centered around adolescent aggression, suicidality, and the impacts of intimate partner violence on young families. In the past year, she has supported a University of Denver fMRI study exploring the influence of stress on newborns and their mothers. Today, she is most interested in understanding the impacts of early childhood adversity on brain development and adolescent well-being. She will be exploring these topics in the Youth Development Institute, led by Drs. Oshri and Geier.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Harmeyer completed her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience and Behavior, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. There, she supported a coalition dedicated to implementing neuroscience research, collaborated with the Department of Child Services, and was a fellow at the University’s Center for Social Concerns. She hopes to maintain this focus throughout her career and is eager to learn from the Athens and UGA communities.

Harmeyer chose UGA because of its uniquely collaborative HDFS department, and she’s excited to be part of the rapid growth at the Youth Development Institute. In her spare time, she loves running, boating with her family, and cheering on Notre Dame football (time will tell if she becomes a Dawgs fan, too!).

Morgan Harper Nichols is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include the role of diverse narratives in various communication contexts and how creative and digital innovations enhance message design, particularly as it relates to mental health and well-being.

Harper Nichols has an interdisciplinary focus in media and narrative studies, focusing on artistic and digital media intersecting with human communication and storytelling.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Point University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Media Arts from Lindenwood University, where her research led to the development of interactive tools using emerging technologies to engage narratives.

Harper Nichols has published on intersectional identity, digital media, and aesthetics, and as a public speaker and workshop facilitator, she demonstrates these concepts in practical applications. Morgan serves as Vice President of the Board for TWLOHA and is active in initiatives on mental health awareness and support. Her work has achieved recognition through media outlets like Good Morning America and The Today Show, and she has been selected as a featured author at events like Black Authors at Essence Fest and Google Talks.

Growing up in Georgia deeply influenced Harper Nichols’ appreciation for community engagement and the multitude of narratives within the state. Pursuing a Ph.D. at UGA builds on this foundation, and the Communication Studies program offers an opportunity to further study narrative’s impact on health, making UGA the ideal place to advance communication research and skill development, aligning with her goals. Her career plans include enhancing dialogue and understanding across diverse communities through public and health communication.

Sophie Kim is a doctoral student in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. She will be working under Professor Sun Joo “Grace” Ahn at the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE).

Her interests include collaborating with linguists to assist in the development of AR/VR programs that facilitate language learning, and utilizing AR/VR to aid the sensory impaired and make rapidly-evolving modern technologies more accessible and digestible to aging demographics.

Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the United States with her family in 2002. The state of Georgia has been her home for more than 20 years. After graduating from Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County, she went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Fascinated by various modes of storytelling, Kim went on to study journalism at Northwestern Medill, specializing in video and broadcast. Under the tutelage of acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Professor Craig Duff, Kim filmed and edited a short documentary focusing on Chicago-based transgender performer Joan Jullian. Returning to her hometown, she worked as a content strategist and social media manager at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

Sarah Kingsley is a doctoral student in the School of Political Science & International Affairs at the University of Georgia.

Kingsley’s research interests revolve around two key areas: the role of political and economic institutions in promoting or hindering structural reform and the impact of these institutions on the social condition of a state’s citizens. She aims to explore how a state or firm can implement institutional reform despite that institution’s resistance to change, particularly in the context of labor or welfare reform.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Kingsley received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2015. Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked as a patent examiner of medical devices at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After five years living in Washington, DC, she returned to Atlanta to pursue a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Georgia State University. This move was motivated by her growing interest in the workings of large government institutions like the USPTO and the effect of one’s economic position on one’s success in navigating such institutions.

Kingsley is excited to attend UGA, not only to add to her collection of degrees from public universities in Georgia, but because UGA offers a supportive yet rigorous environment for her to explore her research interests. Her ultimate goal after graduation is to contribute to academia as a scholar and teacher.

Noh-Won Park is a doctoral student in Quantitative Methodology at the University of Georgia’s Department of Educational Psychology. Under the guidance of Dr. Shiyu Wang, she focuses on diagnostic classification models, computerized adaptive testing, and machine learning.

While exploring her career options, Park discovered that personalized learning could be a powerful method to achieve her goals as it diagnoses students’ unique challenges and needs and provides instruction tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, her interest in quantitative research expanded. This inspired her to focus on implementing personalized learning and instruction through quantitative research, particularly in accurately assessing students’ cognitive levels.

Park received a bachelor’s degree in Education and Moral Education as well as a master’s degree in Sociology of Education from Ewha Womans [sic] University in Seoul, Korea. 

Prior to joining UGA, Park taught moral philosophy at a middle school in Seoul, Korea for seven years. In her third year of teaching, she met a student who was determined to grow academically but faced significant challenges due to her disadvantaged background including poverty, domestic violence, and neglect by family. This encounter ignited Noh-Won’s passion for addressing educational inequalities and helping students unlock their full potential regardless of their family circumstances and upbringing.

Park is very excited to pursue a doctoral degree in Quantitative Methodology at UGA.

Hannah Petronek is a doctoral student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Under the advisement of Dr. Villari, she looks forward to continuing her exploration of forest pathology and mycology in this new academic setting.

Petronek graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree in Plant Pathology. Her professional journey began during her undergraduate studies when she developed an interest in forest pathology, mycology, and genetics. This passion was further amplified through her research experiences, particularly under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Kasson at WVU. Here she found an interest in the evolution of fungal plant pathogens and how they adapt to the changing climate.

Recognized for her dedication and achievements, Petronek was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship as a first-time applicant. Through networking and mentorship from professionals like Dr. Shannon Lynch of UC-Davis, she was introduced to Dr. Caterina Villari at UGA Warnell. Impressed by the program and the potential research opportunities after a visit to Athens, Georgia, she decided to apply and continue her doctoral studies in Forestry at UGA.

Originally hailing from Wheeling, West Virginia, Petronek overcame various challenges, including financial hardship and limited access to educational resources. Despite additional tribulations, such as being the child of two addict parents, being hard-of-hearing, and struggling with complex PTSD and ADHD, she has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Petronek is exceptionally grateful to have been selected for the Warnell Assistantship and to have been awarded the Graduate Doctoral Fellow Award.

Roshaye Poleon is a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Georgia. She hopes to research how familial and cultural contexts shape caregiving practices and child outcomes in Black /African American families. Poleon believes that it is our duty as researchers to strive to understand and appreciate the diverse contexts in which children are raised to best nourish the next generation and the families we reach.

Poleon attributes much of her passion for research to her worldly experience collaborating with scholars from far and wide. During her post-bac years, she worked as a research coordinator for a cross-site integrative data analytic research study aiming to develop a transdiagnostic infant mental health risk calculator. Here, she developed a strong interest in infant social development and parenting practices, leading to her pursuit of a Ph.D. exploring these concepts in families of color.

As a Fulbright Sutton Trust alum, Poleon is no stranger to international student life, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at Northwestern University.

Her passion for bringing culture to the forefront of parenting and child development research drew her to the HDFS program at UGA. In particular, working with esteemed faculty looking to address the unique challenges, successes, and contexts families of color face provided a unique opportunity to support these communities and amplify voices that often go unheard in research spaces – something Poleon hopes to change.

Jolssen Rodríguez is a doctoral student in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, working under Dr. Amy Stitch. His research interests include decolonizing systemic issues within institutions of higher education which come from his background in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Liberation studies.

Rodríguez’s previous work has focused on the experiences of students of color, First-Gen students, LGBTQ+ students, and students impacted by U.S. immigration policy in predominantly white spaces of higher education.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Providence College and his master’s degree from Tufts University.

Born and raised in a Dominican-Sicilian household in north shore Massachusetts, Rodríguez is the first person in his family to pursue a Ph.D. and is thrilled to continue his passion towards equitable, inclusive, and sustainable practices within education at the McBee Institute.

His future goals are to advocate for and educate the future of scholars of higher education to progress socially conscious, sustainable, and inclusive cultures within colleges and universities, primarily through student advocacy and support.

Tamara Nur Sezer is a doctoral student in the Sociology Department at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are social psychology, crime, law, and deviance.

Nur Sezer traveled to the U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey, to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She obtained her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. During her undergraduate studies, she completed a senior project that examined how overachieving students’ gender and emotional displays after receiving their grades affect observers’ perceptions of the students.

Bio info unavailable

Maria Tislenko is a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia, working with Professor Joseph Ornstein. Her research focuses on urban and rural politics and various dimensions of inequality.

Tislenko’s keen interest in the spatial analysis of political processes drives her current research, where she seeks to better understand the intersection of geography and politics, how urban and rural disparities influence political behavior and policies. She aims to combine her expertise, background and skills to address urban inequalities and policy challenges and to contribute to effective and equitable urban governance.

Tislenko completed her B.A. in Political Science at MGIMO University and holds a master’s degree in Economics from RUDN University in Moscow.

Before joining UGA, Tislenko led the Political Geography Club at MGIMO, where she explored territorial identity through fieldwork in Moldova, Georgia, Estonia, and various Russian regions. During her master’s studies, she was awarded several scholarships and specialized in urban development focusing on European smart cities and digital divide, which led to several peer-reviewed publications.

Tislenko is particularly interested in the spatial analysis of political processes, a passion that developed during her participation in 6 research projects as a research fellow at MGIMO and teaching assistant at RUDN. Her experience in teaching multicultural student groups has deepened her appreciation for diversity in academic and professional settings, inspiring her to pursue further academic endeavors.

Nikki Hejia Zhang is a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Sciences at UGA and is working with Prof. Amanda Spivak to further explore soil organic matter and mineral interactions in salt marshes. In addition to advancing wetland soil science theory, this research will assist state and federal partners in identifying properties of dredge material that can enhance carbon sequestration in beneficial use projects.

Before coming to UGA, Zhang began researching carbon sequestration in salt marshes during her master’s program at Yale University. During this time, she collected and analyzed hundreds of sediment samples from various salt marshes along the coast of the Northeastern United States. Her research examined the impact of past and current urban development, particularly dam construction, on sediment accretion, carbon sources, and long-term carbon sequestration in salt marshes. This analysis contributes to the broader understanding of spatial and temporal blue carbon dynamics.

Born in Japan and raised in China, Zhang grew up in a coastal city and developed a deep attachment to the aquatic environment and the coastal community. She interned at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), where she learned about the urgent need for carbon capture to mitigate climate change.

Ayse Hilal Avci
Gifted and Creative Education Ph.D. Program, Department of Educational Psychology, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Makenna Burslie
Integrated Life Sciences, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Anna Grace Bushong
Ecology, Odum School of Ecology

Nishtha Chauhan
Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Ghazal Darougheh Daftar Owen
Department of Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Lauren Gingerella
Forestry and Natural Resources, Warnell School Forestry and Natural Resources

Gabriela Greilinger
International Affairs, School of Public and International Studies

Kaili Gregory
Integrative Conservation, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Rachel Hill
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Tarikul Islam
Polymers, Fiber, and Textile Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Zara Jilani
Department of Sociology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jaesung Lee
Social Work, School of Social Work

Ananya Malik
Higher Education, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education

Jennifer McCann
Integrative Life Sciences, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jordan Parker
Veterinary Scientist Training Program, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine

Ernie Ramos
Department of Statistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Matty Ray
Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Sahar Saadat
Department of Entertainment and Media Studies, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

Christopher Edgardo Padilla Sandoval
Department of Mathematics, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Brittany Shivers
Journalism, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

Amit Talukder
Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Christopher Washburn
Department of Linguistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jack Wood
Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Bridgette Allen is a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Georgia. She will have a focus in analytical chemistry.

Allen graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor of science in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. During her senior year, she researched with Dr. Shahab Shamsi, focusing on the application of analytical chemistry techniques to forensic science. One of the projects she worked on was optimizing the separation of psychoactive cannabinoid isomers utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet-visible detector. Starting her sophomore year, Allen began working as a teaching assistant in chemistry labs, including Organic chemistry I and instrumental analysis, where she discovered a passion for teaching. For the 2024 academic year, she was awarded an undergraduate student assistant award.

Allen chose UGA because of its robust chemistry department with distinguished faculty. The diversity of research in chemistry at UGA was also important due to the potential for collaboration. The abundance of professors conducting diverse research utilizing mass spectrometry for the analysis of biomolecules drew her to the program while the friendliness of the department cemented her decision.

She is excited to move from downtown Atlanta to a traditional college town like Athens. Although she anticipates spending the majority of her time in the lab, she hopes to explore the numerous hiking trails in the county.

Samantha Biernat is a graduate student in the department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include studying the long-term effects of cover crops and living mulches on soil health and moisture.  

Biernat completed her undergraduate degree in her home state of Indiana from Ball State University. She received her bachelor’s of science in Biology with a minor environmental management. 

While completing her degree, her interest in soil science began while assisting Ph.D. candidate David McFarland in his research focused on studying the effectiveness of biochar in the retention of nutrients in soils for enhancing crop growth and protecting water systems from agricultural runoff. At Ball State she also had the opportunity to earn a prescribed fire for managers certification and volunteer alongside the universities’ land manager and restoration ecologist to conduct prescribed burns at Cooper Farm to help ensure the health of the prairie by controlling invasive exotic plants.  

Biernat chose to continue her education at the University of Georgia where she will be working on her research with Dr. Levi in the pedology lab. She is honored to be a part of the College of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences and is looking forward to completing her master’s degree while conducting research and assistant teaching at UGA.  After graduating, she plans on becoming a soil science consultant.  

During her time in Athens, Biernat is eager to explore Georgia’s scenic hiking trails and experience the music scene downtown.   

Madelyn Butterworth is a graduate student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are centered around the effects that long term hospital stays have on pediatric patients. This work involves observing the effects of patient activities, group therapy and the creation of stable schedules for the patients.

Butterworth is a passionate advocate for children with medical needs. She recently graduated from Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. Her degree focused on Social Engagement and a minor in Child Advocacy.

While at KSU, Butterworth was the Philanthropy Director for Phi Mu and the Family Relations Chairman for Miracle. In partnership with fellow students, she was instrumental in raising over $400,000 during her tenure at KSU and helped to shine light on the needs for medically fragile children and their families. While completing her bachelor’s degree, Butterworth worked as a Patient Safety Sitter and a Rehabilitation Aid at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Participating in her volunteer and work activities, led her to develop a passion to pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist.

She recently received the Graduate Masters Fellow Award from UGA as she begins the Child Life program.

Butterworth grew up cheering on the Dawgs and chose the University of Georgia because of its outstanding reputation in the field of Child Life. The collaborative environment and the opportunity to work with esteemed faculty members in an accredited Child Life program were pivotal in her decision to join UGA.

Looking ahead, Butterworth plans to leverage her education, passion, and experience to pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist.  With a solid foundation from UGA, she will be well-prepared to achieve her professional aspirations and positively impact the lives of her pediatric patients and their families.

Phillip Cicero is a graduate student in the Department of Communication at the University of Georgia. His program’s focus is in Rhetorical Studies.

Coming from a religious background, Cicero’s research interests primarily lie in religious rhetoric and focus on the ways the rhetoric of evangelical pastors and leaders of the Christian right shape their audiences’ understanding of sexuality, race, and gender roles.

He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton where he graduated with a B.A. in English and History.

While studying at UD, Cicero worked as an editorial assistant for Animal History and was a member of the University of Dayton English Student Advisory Board. He also was able to present this research at the University of Dayton’s Stander Symposium.

Cicero grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and is looking forward to living outside of his hometown. Outside of the academic world, he enjoys traveling the world, cooking, watching soccer, and reading. He is excited to work with University of Georgia’s Department of Communication faculty this coming fall semester and looks forward to expanding his research.

Alyssa Connolly is a graduate student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Working under Dr. Steven Castleberry and the Jones Center at Ichauway, she will study the impact of quail management practices on native rodent populations.

While completing her Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources with a Conservation Biology emphasis, Connolly studied fish, rodents, bats, and invertebrates in the Sonoran Desert region. Through the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP) at the University of Arizona, she studied Cassiopea jellyfish and published her first paper on the fluid dynamics of soft-bodied corals. Her interest in research led her to complete an internship at Bandelier National Monument studying the occupancy of the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse in the Jemez region.

Connolly’s passion for wildlife began in high school where she competed in the Future Farmers of America competitions for forestry and wildlife. She has since had the opportunity to train under land managers in the US Forest Service, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Connolly is thrilled to have the opportunity to study rodents in the southeast and gain exposure to a new climate and group of peers. She considers it a high honor to be joining the legacy of the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. She hopes to work as a federal wildlife biologist to help preserve biodiversity and unique habitats across the United States.

Kaylee Gallatin is a graduate student in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Georgia. Her interests within dietetics lie in sports nutrition and disordered eating.

Gallatin completed a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with a minor in Health Promotion at Michigan State University.

While completing her undergraduate degree she assisted the Head Performance Basketball Dietitian at Michigan State as a Spartans Fuel Intern and had the opportunity to work closely with Division 1 athletes. Gallatin was also the president of a women-led fitness organization on campus called CHAARG. This organization serves to provide a safe space for women to find movement they enjoy and connect with other girls.

Gallatin received several awards during her undergraduate career including an Education Abroad Academic Excellence Scholarship and achieved the Dean’s List throughout her undergraduate education. She was recently awarded the Graduate Masters Fellow Award and the Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship Award from UGA.

During her time at UGA, Gallatin hopes to explore different settings within dietetics through her Dietetic Internship rotations. She also hopes to complete a sports nutrition emphasis within her degree. By completing the MS-DI program at UGA, she will be eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam and will be well prepared to serve the community through nutrition.

Virginia Griswold is a graduate student in the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia, pursuing an MSc. in Ecology. Her research will center around plant-soil feedbacks of Ericaceae, with focal points on succession and plant function in forest ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians.

Griswold is most excited and grateful to build on her passion for the intersections between plants, the environment, and society in research and outreach opportunities at UGA.

She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. At Smith, she completed her thesis research on germination responses and mycorrhizal mutualisms of Ericaceae and led a secondary project with the Botanic Garden of Smith College on seed dormancy of Pedicularis canadensis.

Griswold presented her research at two national conferences and is moving her undergraduate projects toward publication. Before attending UGA, she will conclude her role as a post-bac Research Technician at Vassar College in New York, where she studied the ecophysiology of invasive vines and mentored undergraduate researchers.

After five years in the Northeast, Griswold is eager to return to the Southeast to expand her skills and knowledge in Georgia and be closer to family. Her choice of UGA for grad school was most dependent on the depth of community and research at Odum and the connections between the plant biology and ecology departments. With her master’s, Griswold’s goal is to be a plant ecologist in the nonprofit sector, working with botanic gardens that integrate research, biodiversity, and conservation efforts.

Jacina Hollins-Borges is a graduate student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia.

She graduated from Davidson College with a bachelor’s degree in History, and focused on gender history and how social crises can manifest through clothing trends.

For her senior capstone on post-World War II women’s fashion as an expression of postwar anxiety, she received the department’s History 480 Capstone Prize. At UGA, she intends to expand on these ideas.

In between Davidson and UGA, Hollins-Borges worked for Media Matters for America as a rapid response researcher, where she tracked, researched, and wrote about right-wing media narratives and disinformation. 

Coming from a small liberal arts school, she is excited that she will be able to use UGA’s substantial archival collection to deepen her research. After completing her degree, Hollins-Borges is interested in continuing research work and sociopolitical analysis.

Aniya Johnson is a first-generation graduate student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology and language policy and planning.

Johnson received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida with a double major in Linguistics and Anthropology.

During her undergraduate career, she served as Vice President and President of the Undergraduate Linguistics Society, an ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar, a member of the International Scholars program as well as an Experiential Scholar. She was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Excellence and recognized as a Distinguished Graduating Senior by UF’s Department of Linguistics.

As an undergrad, Johnson conducted individual research, advised by Dr. Alayo Tripp, examining phonological similarities between languages spoken within the African Diaspora. In pursuing her Master’s, she hopes to continue this research and broaden her analysis to include other linguistic aspects such as grammar and lexicon. Her goal is to emphasize the validity of undervalued language varieties and dismantle negative language ideologies through interdisciplinary analyses.

Johnson chose The University of Georgia because of the opportunity it offered her to be able to focus solely on her research. As a first generation graduate student it was important for her to attend a program that would ease the worries of affordability, experiential opportunities, and drastic lifestyle changes. As a Master’s Fellow awardee within a relatively small department, and not being too far from home, she is beyond grateful to have found a program that suits her so well! Her career goals include diplomacy and advising/making language policies.

Monica Kincade is a graduate student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. Her research interests lie in Black southern history.

Kincade graduated from Fisk University with a Bachelor of Arts in History.

As an undergrad, she served as vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Pi chapter, and vice president of the Deep South Association. She was recognized as a Courier Scholar by Fisk’s history department and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Kincade was awarded the Mellon Mays Fellowship, which allowed her to conduct research on a Freetown established during the Reconstruction era in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. She also worked as an intern for the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. In this role, Kincade worked on an oral history project centered around Fisk’s class of 1961 to discuss the civil rights movement in Nashville.

Kincade’s ultimate goal is to be able to work in public history, specifically in the field of museums. Coming from a smaller history department, she is grateful to be able to access the wealth of resources the University of Georgia has to offer and further her research.

Rebekah Lee is a graduate student in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include studying the interactions of plant-parasitic nematodes with their host plants on a molecular level to identify genes involved in overcoming plant host defenses.

Lee graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia. Her focus shifted to plant pathology when she took an introduction to plant pathology course during her undergraduate degree.

During the last year of her undergraduate studies, Lee had the opportunity to work in Dr. Mitchum’s molecular plant nematology lab. She aided in testing a candidate gene’s correlation to virulence of the soybean cyst nematode on resistant soybeans. She participated in undergraduate research and presented her work in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Symposium where she placed first in the poster competition.

Lee chose to continue her education at UGA because of her desire to continue the work in Dr. Mitchum’s lab. Her career plans after graduation are to work for the United States Department of Agriculture and further the research in the field of plant pathology.

Malia Little is a graduate student in the Department of English at the University of Georgia.

She graduated in three years from Young Harris College, a liberal arts college in Northeastern Georgia, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate student, Little worked as a writing tutor and served as President of the National College Honor Society Alpha Chi. She was also a member of International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta and served as a committee head in the Student Government Association.

Little’s research as an undergraduate focused on William Faulkner’s 1942 short story “The Bear.” Intrigued by Faulkner’s heavier emphasis on the environment as opposed to race relations, she examined the ecocritical angle of “The Bear,” advised by Dr. Eloise Whisenhunt. Little presented her research capstone at Young Harris’s annual Undergraduate Research Day. She plans on pursuing research within the intersection of American Modernism, ecocriticism, and religion.

The University of Georgia’s writing center and the assistantship as a writing tutor and option to shift to a teaching assistant in the program’s second year attracted Little to UGA over other programs. She aims to build on her undergraduate writing tutor experiences as a tutor for UGA. She looks forward to earning her master’s in her home state. She plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in English after her M.A. with further aspirations to teach college level English literature.

Leonardo Marino is a graduate student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia. His research interests include the historical development of Armenian and its place among the Indo-European languages.

Marino’s undergraduate studies were in Linguistics and Music Composition at Syracuse University.

As an undergraduate, Marino was a Coronat Scholar, a Remembrance Scholar, and the recipient of the Brian A. Israel award for Outstanding Student Composer. He was recently awarded an AGBU grant to assist with the documentation and study of the Artsakh dialect of Eastern Armenian. In past years, Leo worked with Bars Media in Armenia, where he supported various documentary film projects as a researcher and audio editor.

Marino plans to pursue a career as an academic linguist. He chose UGA for its fantastic program in Historical Linguistics. In his free time, he loves to play banjo and identify plants.

Bio info unavailable

Bio info unavailable

Charmayne Planter is a graduate student in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia. Her primary research focuses on the Gullah-Geechee community in the coastal sea islands of South Carolina, reflecting her commitment to understanding the importance of environmental conservation in underrepresented communities.

At Sarah Lawrence College, her undergraduate studies focused on international development and geography.

During her undergraduate studies, Planter won the National Conservation Young Leader Award from the National Wildlife Federation for her community engagement initiatives as a leader of the Earth Tomorrow Club. She also received the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship for her work on environmental issues in underrepresented communities and the Gilman Scholarship, highlighting her leadership and global engagement.

This summer, Planter worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Aspen Institute to create a Youth Climate Action Toolkit. She has also researched conservation in rural coastal and indigenous communities, including her Gullah-Geechee ancestry. She has shared that she has been able to offer her perspective on her concerns and apply them to work that she has conducted with support from National Geographic, The Nature Conservancy, and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Her dedication to environmental and cultural studies is further demonstrated by her work with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, where she participated in research projects through the National Sea Grant Independent Internship Opportunities.

Planter applied to the University of Georgia to pursue her master’s in geography. Based on her work during her undergraduate experience, she chose UGA for graduate school because the university fosters a supportive and meaningful approach to her field of study.

Misaki Uda is an international graduate student from Japan, majoring in Child Life within the Human Development and Family Science department at the University of Georgia.

Academically, Uda completed her master’s degree by researching pregnant high school students in Japan. Unlike the U.S., Japan lacks guidelines for supporting these students, resulting in varied support and challenges for both the students and care providers. Her research deepened her interest in maternal and child health, leading her to choose a pediatric ward when she began her nursing career.

Uda’s five-year career as a pediatric nurse underscored the importance of mental support for children. Unfortunately, Japan has fewer than fifty Child Life Specialists, and none work in the emergency hospital where she was employed. Witnessing the emotional struggles of children and their families in such settings made her realize the critical need for specialized support. She aspires to help establish an educational environment in Japan for those who wish to become Child Life Specialists, thereby enhancing the support available to hospitalized children.

Uda’s dream is to become a Child Life Specialist, a profession dedicated to providing care for hospitalized children and their families. This certification is available only in the U.S., and there are no educational institutions in Japan that offer this credential. She chose UGA since it was standing out as an excellent environment to pursue the career.

Uda is profoundly grateful to UGA and the HDFS department for this incredible opportunity. She is excited about her academic journey and eager to contribute to the field of Child Life, making a meaningful difference in children’s lives.

Richard Augenstein
Department of Kinesiology, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Clay Cook
Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Blazie Gilder
Child Life, Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Jonathan Henson
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Courtney Keeler
Department of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Eva Kerr
Forestry and Natural Resources, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Pratiksha Kotar
Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Shayla Manwill
Department of History, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Caitlin McCann
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Sarah Moore
Department of Linguistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jessica Mysliwski
Integrative Conservation and Sustainability (ICAS), Odum School of Ecology

Maya Peters-Greño
Department of History, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Skye Remko
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Christopher Saunders
Department of Anthropology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Basil Senso
Ecology, Odum School of Ecology

Kristina Simons
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Morgan Thoem
Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Annabelle Wilson
Department of English, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

JaQuira Wallace
Child Life, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Audrey Young
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences