The University of Georgia is preparing the next generation of leaders for Georgia, the nation, and the world. Through initiatives such as the experiential learning program, the Double Dawgs program and service-learning, UGA students learn how to apply their academic training to real-world problems.
UGA’s success in this endeavor is evident at the Georgia State Capitol, where the Governor, four constitutional officers, and 71 state legislators all graduated from UGA.
Governor Brian Kemp is one of five alumni representing the University as a constitutional officer. Kemp is the 26th alumnus to serve as Governor of the state of Georgia, advancing UGA’s long tradition of alumni serving in leadership roles. Governor Kemp is a fourth-generation Bulldog who earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 1987. His wife, First Lady Marty Kemp, also graduated from UGA, earning a bachelor’s degree from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1990.
Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr graduated from UGA. A Double Dawg, Carr earned a bachelor’s degree from the Terry College of Business in 1995 and a law degree from the UGA School of Law in 1999. Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black graduated from the University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols has strong ties to the University, having earned a bachelor’s degree from the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences in 1982, a master’s degree from the School of Social Work in 2006, and a master’s degree from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2009. Public Service Commissioner Lauren ‘Bubba’ McDonald is yet another UGA alumnus serving at the highest echelons of state government, having earned a bachelor’s degree from the Terry College of Business in 1965.
The University also is well-represented in the Georgia General Assembly. Boasting the highest representation of any college or university, UGA is proud of the 21 alumni serving in the state Senate and the 50 alumni in the state House. UGA alumni serve as committee chairmen, Governor’s floor leaders, and change makers.
The Capitol is where many UGA students will serve as interns during the 2019/2020 legislative session. UGA students intern through the Georgia Legislative Intern Program, the FACS Legislative Aide Program, the CAES Georgia Legislative Internship program, the Governor’s Intern and Law Intern Programs, and through the Office of Government Relations at UGA.
UGA is committed to advancing a culture of leadership, and the University continues to introduce initiatives to prepare students for leadership roles. Experiential learning at UGA gives students an opportunity to connect their academic foundations to the world beyond the classroom. Through creative endeavors, study abroad, internships, and faculty-mentored research, students enhance their learning and gain the important skills to lead in the public and private sector after graduation.
UGA’s service-learning programs allow students to engage and partner with communities to respond to identified needs. The skills learned through service learning help prepare students to solve problems and improve the lives of individuals across the state and nation.
In addition, the Double Dawgs program, created to give ambitious and motivated students a competitive advantage in today’s economy, allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or less. In addition to positioning students for greater career success, the Double Dawgs program helps students deepen their expertise and forge meaningful connections among separate but related fields of study. The broad-based knowledge that students apply through their studies and work in the Double Dawgs program helps them thrive in a complex world that is constantly changing.
Through outstanding instruction and innovative programs, UGA is helping to prepare leaders committed to public service—both alumni who are leading the state and the emerging leaders of the next generation.
