The UGA campus is alive with expectation as students rush to their next class, the library, their favorite café, or the Chapel for one of our signature lectures. It won’t be too long before the trees and flowers begin to bud and the vibrant colors of early spring fill the landscape. The Graduate School is on the move too, both figuratively and literally. We have relocated our offices to historic Terrell Hall on the beautiful North Campus Quad, returning to the setting in which Dean Bocock, our founding dean, held office circa 1910. Although it may seem like we are returning to our roots, make no mistake, the Graduate School continues to surge ahead, leading the way and advancing graduate education for UGA students. We thank all of you who have contributed your financial support to help us endeavor to enhance the UGA graduate experience!

The quality and breadth of UGA graduate programs are remarkable and speak to the strong commitment to our mission as a land and sea grant institution, and the first state-chartered university in the country. Today’s graduate students are formidable, a force to be reckoned with, and the next generation of world leaders. They enjoy greater opportunities than ever before. The world is quite literally their classroom and their laboratory. We must challenge them to be critical, transformative thinkers and effective communicators in order to shape the extraordinary future that awaits. There is much to do, and even more could be done with greater resources. More than ever, our students face great difficulty in financing their educational costs and research. Because of limited resources, many will be unable to take advantage of unique opportunities to expand their horizons. As you read through this latest issue and learn more about our students, I hope that their passion and thirst for learning motivates you to consider making a contribution to benefit graduate education at UGA.

So, what do poetry, wine, STEM, politics and UGA have in common? That’s easy: Many of those featured in this issue are first generation graduate students who reach across barriers, seize opportunities and push beyond the limits of their personal circumstances to reach their dreams. In this issue of our award-winning magazine, you will meet several amazing individuals. There is no doubt that hearing their stories will fill you with pride and inspiration. Read on….