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Alumni Highlights

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. 

 

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UGA Geography Alumni Slides:

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