About Alumni
- 06.19.2013
The Twelve Oaks named top luxury inn - 06.18.2013
UGA alumnus receives 2013 Honorary State Degree from Florida FFA - 06.17.2013
Forrest Griffin (AB ’03) retires from UFC - 06.14.2013
UGA young alumni to gather at SweetWater Brewing Company tonight - 06.13.2013
William “Bill” Jenkins Stembler (JD ’71) + Georgia Theatre Company open new movie theatre in Athens - 06.12.2013
Georgia Museum of Art director receives American Alliance of Museums Award - 06.11.2013
UGA alumnus on New York Times Bestsellers List
- 06.19.2013
- 06.10.2013
UGA alumnus protects California’s natural resources as director of the CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - 06.07.2013
UGA alumna reaches unique milestone - 06.06.2013
Shyam Reddy (JD ’00) Joins Euramax as SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary - 06.05.2013
UGA alumna named to Forbes 2013 list of the most powerful black women in the world - 06.04.2013
Melissa Boone (BBA ’97) named Charlotte Business Journal Woman in Business - 06.03.2013
UGA alumnus and veterinarian to bulldog mascot passes away - 05.31.2013
Alumnus named grand prize winner of 2013 Iron Age Designs’ Challenge
- 06.10.2013
- 05.30.2013
Bulldog 100 Deadline is TOMORROW - 05.29.2013
Recap: 2013 UGA Alumni Employee Breakfast - 05.28.2013
Last week to nominate for Bulldog 100! - 05.24.2013
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! - 05.22.2013
UGA graduate wins Bearings Specialists Association Lifetime Achievement Award - 05.21.2013
UGA graduate now a golf curator at St. Andrews - 05.20.2013
UGA alumna wins Teach for America award to enrich students’ technological skills
- 05.30.2013
- 05.17.2013
Betsy Crossley (BS ’77, MS ’80) elected mayor of Nashville suburb - 05.16.2013
Spotlight on the Jane and Harry Willson Center for Humanities & Arts - 05.15.2013
Alumnus leads Columbus, Ohio, arts council - 05.14.2013
Grady College creates Carolyn Caudell Tieger Chair in Public Affairs Communications - 05.13.2013
Alumna Katarina Burin wins $25,000 ICA award - 05.10.2013
Is it May already? - 05.09.2013
On the road again with UGA Days
- 05.17.2013
- 05.08.2013
The Georgia Review to host readings in NYC - 05.07.2013
Seniors, we’re hosting the first ever Commencement Celebration! - 05.06.2013
Bulldog serves as world-renowned authority on French novelist - 05.03.2013
UGA students receive Udall, Truman and Goldwater scholarships - 05.01.2013
UGA mourns cherished members of the Bulldog family - 04.30.2013
Ben Stowers (AB ’08) leads foundation to protect Georgia’s natural resources - 04.29.2013
UGA alumna leads Phoenix nonprofit for at-risk youth
- 05.08.2013
- 04.26.2013
UGA alumnus receives Pulitzer Prize for local reporting - 04.25.2013
Genetics graduate to spearhead new nonprofit initiative to open a bioscience complex in Portland - 04.24.2013
Orlando based non-profit seeks to fulfill dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses - 04.23.2013
UGA graduate leads “dream team” in initiative to map the human brain - 04.22.2013
UGA unveils new license plate design - 04.19.2013
Sending our best to Boston - 04.18.2013
Grady announces new dean and recognizes outstanding alumni
- 04.26.2013
- 04.17.2013
UGA seeking images for TV public service announcement - 04.16.2013
Sixth UGA School of Law grad selected to clerk for U.S. Supreme Court - 04.15.2013
UGA app designed by students launches today - 04.12.2013
Mowery Consulting Group wins four 2013 Pollie Awards - 04.11.2013
WE LOVE OUR DONORS! - 04.10.2013
UGA Days Kick Off in Columbus, Georgia - 04.09.2013
Leadership lessons from the Cherokee Nation
- 04.17.2013
- 04.08.2013
UGA residence hall named for former Governor George D. Busbee - 04.05.2013
Two UGA Centenarians Still Going Strong - 04.04.2013
Alumna Named to Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Services Board - 04.03.2013
UGA Graduate Aims to Catapult Students into Fulfilling Careers - 04.02.2013
Mark Your Calendars! - 04.01.2013
UGA Mourns Two Bulldog Greats - 03.29.2013
UGA Alumni Corporate Chapters Form Connections in the Workplace
- 04.08.2013
- 03.28.2013
Atlanta City Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell selected to the 2013 class of Henry Crown Fellows - 03.27.2013
Bulldog-Owned Company Wins Small Business of the Year Award - 03.26.2013
Alumni Bring New Brewery to Athens - 03.25.2013
UGA Alumna Wins Inaugural “Breakthrough Prize” Worth $3 Million - 03.22.2013
UGA Alumni Association + 2013 UGA Entrepreneurial Week - 03.21.2013
State Names Executive Director of Revived Charter Schools Commission - 03.20.2013
Virginia Tech Math Professor Earns Early Career Award
- 03.28.2013
- 03.19.2013
Two UGA Faculty Members Named Meigs Professors - 03.18.2013
Happy (Belated) St. Patrick’s Day! - 03.15.2013
UGA Alumni Staff Members Help With Card-Writing Campaign - 03.14.2013
Alumna Featured in New York Times - 03.13.2013
Legendary Journalist Eugene Patterson (ABJ ’43) To Be Buried at Arlington Today - 03.12.2013
Alumni Chapters Host IMPACT Students on Spring Break - 03.11.2013
President of Costa Rica Visits UGA Campus
- 03.19.2013
Dr. C. Douglas Johnson ’99, ’01 First to Win All Four GGC Faculty Excellence Awards
Georgia Gwinnett College’s fast-growing reputation in higher education rests in large part on the extraordinary quality of its faculty and its dedication and fulfillment of its core values. And one professor, “Dr. Doug,” as he is fondly known to his students, was honored during Convocation in September as the first faculty member to receive all four faculty excellence awards, selected by a committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students. Since 2009, Johnson has received awards recognizing excellence in scholarship and creative activities; student engagement; service; and teaching.
Johnson credits his wife and children for the sacrifices they’ve made which allow him to fully engage while at work. And he cites his family as the single most important aspect of his life, giving him the impetus to work hard, in part, to set an example for them that goals and dreams can be achieved through perseverance.
As a first generation college student who went on to earn two master’s degrees and a doctorate, Johnson was impressed when researching employment at GGC and found that his personal values aligned well with the espoused values of the institution. Now in his sixth year of teaching at GGC, he continues to be energized by his work and ability to connect with and relate to his students while impacting their lives.
His 2012 Convocation address was well received by those in attendance. Johnson recently wrote a poem “If She Could See Me Now” in memory of his mother and says he’s motivated to continue to push himself and his students in a manner that would continually make her proud of the man and the professor he has become. Based on GGC staff, faculty and student accolades, it’s safe to say she would be proud.
Johnson has an incredible success story. These awards mark the impact that his dedication to his core values have had on his family, students, and teaching. While his recognition for all four awards is unprecedented, his contributions in the many lives of his students serve as his focus. I am honored to have him as a graduate of the University and look forward to his future successes. Go Dawgs!
Recent Entries
The Twelve Oaks named top luxury inn
Nicole Bagley Greer (AB ’97) is the owner of The Twelve Oaks in Covington, Ga. The inn opened just about a year ago and has already been recognized as a “Top 10 Luxury Inn in the World” by BedandBreakfast.com!
According to BedandBreakfast.com:
“Even when wearing clothes sewn from curtains, Scarlett O'Hara demanded the best in luxury. Channel her at Twelve Oaks, an Antebellum mansion that inspired the film Gone With The Wind. Lovingly redone, now reopened as an intimate hotel, the eight-guestroom, National Register-awarded, structure continues to enliven guests who stop and stay awhile. Located just 30 miles from Atlanta in a town rich with historic structures and oft used to film movies and television series, Twelve Oaks stands alone.”
As you can imagine, a mansion that inspired the home in a classic like “Gone With the Wind” is bound to attract additional interest from filmmakers. Actor Billy Bob Thornton has shown an interest in filming a movie there, Cindy Crawford starred in a commercial on the property, and a recent episode of “Vampire Diaries” was filmed on site. Elsewhere in Covington, scenes were filmed for “Dukes of Hazzard,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “My Cousin Vinny,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Remember the Titans.”
The Twelve Oaks is located just off the Covington town square. Guests are treated to breakfast each morning, a wine and cheese happy hour each evening, and can stay in suites such as the “Frankly Scarlett Suite” or “Suite Home Alabama.”
Congratulations on this recognition, Nicole! The Twelve Oaks sounds absolutely stunning. We wish you the very best as it continues to grow and flourish as a Georgia travel destination.
To view the complete list of Top Ten Luxury Inns from BedandBreakfast.com, click here.
UGA alumnus receives 2013 Honorary State Degree from Florida FFA
Despite UGA’s longstanding rivalry with the University of Florida, UGA graduates are living south of the Georgia border and making great contributions to the Sunshine State.
This month, Ralph Garrison (BBA ‘75) was honored with the 2013 Honorary State Degree by Florida’s Future Farmers of America.
Deb Barry, a high school agriculture teacher in Florida, nominated Garrison because of his commitment to educating students in Florida’s Manatee County about agriculture.
According to the Bradenton Herald, the Honorary State Degree is the highest honorary award presented by the Florida FFA. It recognizes individuals who contribute to the advancement of agricultural education and provide outstanding service to the FFA program.
Garrison is a member of the Manatee County Farm Bureau board, where he has served as president for 12 years. He and his wife, Sandy, own and operate Suncoast Nursery in Bradenton, Fla., and take great pride in working with plants.
Congratulations on behalf of the UGA Alumni Association, Ralph. Best of luck in your future endeavors!
This blog post was sourced from the Bradenton Herald.
Forrest Griffin (AB ’03) retires from UFC
Forrest Griffin (AB ‘03) is hanging up his gloves as an Ultimate Fighting Challenge competitor. The alumnus has been a UFC fighter for eight years and played a major role in the company’s success.
Griffin was cast in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, which he won after the live finale that has since been deemed one of UFC’s hallmark fights. During his career, Griffin went 19-7 in MMA fights and 10-5 in UFC fights. Adam (BSBE ’98, MS ’07) and Rory (BSBE ’99) Singer, owners of Bulldog 100 business Athens Fitness & MMA, played an integral role in launching Griffin’s career.
Griffin cites his health as the main reason for going into retirement. Despite his great MMA and UFC success, he has suffered a number of injuries during fights. He is expected to take on a position with UFC in the near future.
Congratulations on a successful career, Forrest – you are one tough Bulldog! I look forward to seeing what this next step on your UFC journey has in store for you.
This article was sourced from USA Today.
