UGA Geography Alumni Updates: In a recent survey, we asked our alumni to submit any personal or professional updates they'd like to share with our community. We received 40+ responses from alumni with graduation years ranging from 1960-2022 and a diverse array of news to share. If you're an alumni of our department and you'd like to share any updates with our community, please click the "send us an update" button to the right. This page will be updated as we receive more submissions. Name: Jenn Williams Graduation Year: 2022 Major: Geography Update: After graduating from UGA in 2019, Jenn pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Following that, she started her career in government consulting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where I she currently still works. Jenn works in project management within the Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Surveillance Program (GRASP) at the CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). She loves leveraging the knowledge and skills from both of my degrees in my current role. Name: Haylie Mikulak Graduation Year: 2019 Major: Geography M.S. Update: Haylie is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Earth Systems science at Auburn University's Department of Geosciences. Name: Pete Akers Graduation Year: 2016 Major: Geography Ph.D. Update: In May 2022, Pete started a tenure-track equivalent position as an Assistant Professor of Physical Geography at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Name: Julian Brown Graduation Year: 2013 Major: Geography Update: In May, 2022, Julian became the City Manager of Cairo, GA. Name: Virin Vedder Graduation Year: 2003 Major: Geography M.A. Update: Virin serves as the Coordinator of World Languages and Dual Language Immersion in Gwinnett County Public Schools. "In this role, I get to live and breathe Geography daily!" Name: Eric Fournier Graduation Year: 1996 Major: Urban Geography Update: Eric recently served as a leader for the AAG’s Geography Faculty Development Alliance. He's been involved with this effort since 2001 and has been a workshop leader for both in-person and virtual events for eight of these events. Name: Wendy Shaw Graduation Year: 1994 Major: Geography Update: Wendy retired in June 2023 after a career in academia. Name: Mitchell Griggs Graduation Year: 1992 Major: Geography Update: Mitchell currently serves as the Executive Director of the Union County Development Authority Name: Joseph Garcia Graduation Year: 1991 Major: Ph.D. Geography Update: Joseph is an Emeritus Professor of Geography and Earth Science, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Longwood University, September 2021. Name: William Grady Holt III Graduation Year: 1989 Major: B.A. Geography Update: William is the Coordinator of the Urban Environmental Studies (UES) Program and Chair of Architectural Studies at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama. He appreciates the mentorship and guidance of Drs. Clifton Pannell and James Wheeler, which led to a career in urban planning. He took one of the last classes that covered both hand cartography and early GIS. "The Geography Department prepared me well for my professional and academic careers." Name: Stephen Smith Graduation Year: 1984 Major: Geography Update: Stephen retired early two years ago after working for 20 years in the airline industry and then 17 years in Information Technology. "Looking back at my time at UGA, they were some of the best years of my life." Name: Stephen L. Driever Graduation Year: 1977 Major: Geography Ph.D. Update: After more than 40 years teaching at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Stephen retired and moved to Texas in 2019. He is a Past President of the Plano Chapter of the Texas Society of Sons of the American Revolution and an active member of its Color Guard. He is currently learning Mandarin as he and his wife periodically travel to China. "I have very fond memories of my days in Athens, especially of my doctoral committee members -- Don Hoy, Jim Wheeler, and Vern Meentemeyer." Name: Masamu Aniya Graduation Year: 1975 Major: Remote Sensing and Geomorphology Update: Masamu retired from Univ. teaching in 2008, but continued research on Patagonian glaciers until around 2014. Since then he's spent time trekking in Nepal, Europe Alps and other areas. In 2019, he walked Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, about 800 km. Most recently, Masamu spent about two weeks in Georgia (the country), including several days of backcountry skiing. Name: James Bohland Graduation Year: 1970 Major: Gegography Update: James retired from Virginia Tech in 2018 after serving as Vice-President for the university's educational and research programs in the Washington D.C. area. James continues to write while retired and has contributes several pieces in the Oxford Handbook on Complex Risk and Resilience. Name: Henry C. Posey Graduation Year: 1968 Major: Geography Update: After graduating from UGA Geography, Henry went on to achieve a BBA from GA State University in 1978 and then an MBA from Mercer University in 1982.
