The University of Georgia has named David Graves its director of undergraduate admissions, effective Sept. 1, 2023.
In his role as director, Graves will oversee student recruitment and application review for first-year and transfer applicants to the University of Georgia. He will also oversee the awards process for the majority of UGA’s merit-based scholarships and new student orientation.
“David is a respected and dedicated leader at UGA, and he is well known across the field of admissions,” said Andy Borst, vice provost for enrollment management. “He has a passion for helping students and parents feel comfortable and excited as they apply to UGA. I am thrilled to have David’s leadership in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.”
Graves has over 30 years of experience in admissions. He joined UGA in 1997 and has held positions in UGA’s admissions office, including assistant director, associate director, senior associate director, and interim director of admissions.
He has helped the admissions team innovate their admission process and greatly expanded the use of technology in the admissions office. For the past 15 years, he has been the author of the UGA Admissions Blog, which provides advice on navigating the admissions process. Students and parents across Georgia have relied on the blog as a resource for the latest information on admissions and application decisions.
“David’s engagement in admissions has made a lasting impact, and his leadership will be instrumental as UGA continues to attract thousands of applicants as the flagship institution of Georgia,” said Marisa Anne Pagnattaro, vice president for instruction and senior vice provost for academic planning. “He’s a strong collaborator across campus and the state. He will be a great partner in attracting the best and brightest students to UGA.”
Graves holds both a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in English from Clemson University. He is a recognized expert in college admissions. He has been a presenter and member of regional and national admissions associations, from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling to the Southern Association for Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Counselors. He and his team have also assisted other colleges in implementing their own CRM recruitment systems. On top of his many responsibilities at UGA, Graves has also volunteered with Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with cancer, for the last 29 years.
