When Eric Graise ’15 performed as a Blanche and Irving Laurie Musical Theatre Fellowship winner at the national 2015 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C., he made quite an impression. Based on that performance, he was nominated and invited to the White House to participate on a panel discussion celebrating Americans with disabilities and the arts.
“Being asked to participate on the panel was a total shock,” Eric said. “I honestly didn’t believe it until I Googled the email address and found it on the White House website.” Read more ...
“Don't take anything for granted whether it's your health, education, family, or friends,” said University of West Georgia alumnus William Wolf when asked if he had any advice for college students and recent graduates. A survivor of a spinal cord injury as well as a successful entrepreneur, William is a true example of how determination and patience translates into success, especially in times of adversity.
William graduated from UWG in 2011 with a business degree and sustained his injury in a diving accident in May of 2015. The C-3 fracture rendered him unable to move at the time of the accident, but he has since made a tremendous recovery. Read more ...
The University of West Georgia’s Ingram Library and the Penelope Melson Society will host a reception honoring alumna Dr. Ramona Pierce Teal ‘66 ‘73 ‘84 on the completion of her West Georgia Presidential Portraits series, which she has generously donated to the university. The reception will be held on Sunday, February 7 at 3 p.m. in the library’s Thomas B. Murphy Reading Room. The West Georgia Presidential Portraits Collection will be placed on display in the Ingram Library.
Dr. Teal is a retired educator turned artist. She earned a B.S. in elementary education, a Master of Education, and an Ed.S. in reading and instruction from UWG. She then earned an Ed.D. in Education from the University of Georgia. Read more ...
As a ’85-’86 graduate student at the University of West Georgia, Brent Nichols was introduced to the field of social work, which led to a career and passion that would change the lives of children in need.
While completing his B.B.A. at Georgia Southern University in 1981, Brent was asked to assist with a Special Olympics event in Warner Robins, which caused him to fall in love with the idea of giving back to his community and led him to pack up and head West to further his education and pursue a career in social work. Read more ...
Lance Paige Toland was a teenager when he first fell in love with flying. He scrubbed airplanes for $1.25 an hour at the airport in his hometown of Griffin and saved his money for $25 an hour flight lessons. By the time he was 17, he had already soloed and was soon working as a mechanic apprentice overhauling Douglas DC-3 aircraft.
When the time came to start college, Lance didn’t think he could afford tuition; however, his employer transferred him to Carrollton and encouraged him to enroll at UWG, then West Georgia College. Read more ...
Governor Nathan Deal has appointed University of West Georgia alumna Tina Bartleson ’94 to the Department of Family and Children Services State Advisory Board. Tina was the executive director of the Exchange Club Family Resource Center in Rome, Georgia from 1994-2001 and again in 2013. She has 26 years of experience working with children and families through child abuse prevention. Tina graduated UWG with a master’s degree in public and social services.
The purpose of the Department of Family and Children Services board is to support the staff that protects the wellbeing of Georgia’s children while preserving family integrity. The state boards review the administration of all welfare and public assistance functions. Read more ...
After earning her BSN in 2000 and then her MSN in 2003 from the University of West Georgia, Dr. Jan Keys proceeded into what has become a stellar career, serving in various nurse leadership roles in both Georgia and Tennessee.
Most recently, Dr. Keys was awarded the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Senior Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award from the Tennessee Hospital Association. ACHE is an international professional society of 40,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations.
The award recognizes members who are experienced in the field and who have made contributions to the advancement of healthcare management. Just a few of the qualities on which members are evaluated include leadership abilities, innovative and creative management, and contributions to the development of others in the healthcare profession. Read more ...
The University of West Georgia Alumni Association is proud to announce the 2015 class of 30 Under 30. From pharmacists and counselors to international business owners and educators, this list represents the brightest and most ambitious UWG graduates under the age of 30.
Those nominated and chosen must have met several criteria. First, they must have earned an undergraduate degree from the University of West Georgia and must have been 30 years old or younger as of March 15, 2015. The nominees must have made a documentable impact in business, education, leadership, government, research, service, or other area, while also demonstrating dedication to UWG and its mission of teaching, research and service. Read more ...
Alumnus Don North of Carrollton is currently working on a biographical book documenting the stories of African-American experiences at the University of West Georgia that have led to great success. The work will illustrate alumni who have graduated since 1967, which was when Lillian Williams, a well-respected educator, became UWG’s first black graduate.
“I am passionate about this book and the importance to document the extraordinary accomplishments of African-Americans who have been very successful in their careers,” said Don. Read more ...
Since earning his master’s degree in educational leadership from University of West Georgia in 2008, Stan McMichael has been doing big things. He is passionate about education, which has set him a step above the rest in his field. His commitment and enthusiasm has attributed to being selected as the 2015 National Association of Elementary Principals’ National Outstanding Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year. Stan is currently an assistant principal at Western Elementary School in Coweta County.
Stan’s education at UWG provided him with the tools to grow as an educator as well as a person. Read more ...
On September 17, the UWG Center for Diversity and Inclusion collaborated with the Alumni Relations and the Black Student Alliance to host the Annual Alumni Panel Discussion. UWG students, staff members, and alumni convened in the Campus Ballroom to listen to Reginald Moore ‘82, Mandy Smith ‘90, Rafael Booker ‘11, Cheryl Hill ‘94 ‘96, Ashley Copeland ‘14, and Eric Maxwell ‘83. The panelists shared their UWG experience from their first year of college to their present day as alums.
“Coming back to West Georgia is always special,” said Reginald. “I always look forward to reconnect with the students and other alumni.” Read more ...
When getting a degree, networking is something few students think about – especially when those students are majoring in something that doesn’t naturally lend itself to meeting other people. However, to make it in today’s world, networking is pretty important. And in the fields of art, music, film, and theater, meeting people and knowing a guy who knows a guy can mean the difference between making a living as an artist and taking part-time jobs to make ends meet.
UWG alumnus and artist Michael Greene recognizes the critical importance of being able to meet and network with other artists. And with his new web-based platform, myMuse, he’s addressing this essential need for students, professors, and professionals in the art world. Read more ...
The University of West Georgia Alumni and the Coweta Alumni Council hosted a Coweta County Freshman send-off event on Thursday night to welcome Coweta’s incoming freshmen to UWG.
Over 80 participants attended the event, including recent UWG graduates and long-time alumni members. Alumni met with parents and students in an informal gathering held at the newly renovated historic Newnan hospital that opened as UWG Newnan in May. Read more ...
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