Chapter News Archives

Bulldogs in Boston: Celebration of Science and Connection

July 15, 2026/by Krissy Robinson

Boston called and Bulldog Nation answered. Since the University of Georgia was established, Bulldogs have dedicated themselves to upholding its traditions and celebrating its people.

Whether you are across the world or right around the hedges, they have shown time and time again that Bulldogs never bark alone.

In the historic and charming city of Boston, one alumni group exemplifies Bulldog pride through their commitment to stay in touch and connected to Athens.

Engaging Members

The Boston Alumni Chapter recently hosted a life science and networking event that engaged alumni through a shared love of science and UGA. Panelist Seychelle Vos (BS ’08) a geneticist and associate professor at MIT, and panelist Adam Barb, head of biochemistry and molecular biology at UGA, led the conversation.

A group photo at the panel event featuring Adam Barb, Seychelle Vos, and Dustin Henderson

From left to right, two guests pose next to Adam Barb, Seychelle Vos and Dustin Henderson.

The event was a success and provided alumni the opportunity to engage with UGA beyond campus. Even as athletics offer a valuable bonding experience for Bulldogs everywhere, collaborating with UGA through its academic and research offerings provides limitless opportunities for alumni.

Boston also takes pride in a strong scientific industry, which made the event extremely relevant to alumni in the area.

Attendees were able to learn how the guest speakers’ ambition led them to success in their careers and how they might do the same. They also shared professional insights and meaningful advice to encourage the audience in their endeavors.

“Life sciences are making tremendous strides. We are able to improve the quality of people’s lives in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago,” Vos said.

Both panelists further stressed the importance of teamwork to create real change in today’s complex environment. Participants were thoroughly involved and displayed their interest with high-level questions and the desire to connect.

The event culminated to a discussion on how Franklin College of Arts and Sciences extends a widespread reach and gives alumni the ability to make an impact by giving back.

“Alumni enthusiasm helps fuel the next generation of scientists,” Barb said.

Photo features the layout of the panel event with some guests seated and others standing. Bulldog decor is spread out around the room

Picture taken at the panel event featuring guests and Bulldog decorations.

Further Opportunities

The Boston chapter maintains a diverse portfolio of activities such as happy hour networking events, game-watching parties and even a visit from the President of UGA, Jere W. Morehead, in the fall. They make a conscious effort to organize at least one event per month to keep alumni engaged.

The game-watching parties, specifically, have long been held at the Irish pub, Clerys, with anywhere from 20 people for smaller games to 250 people for bigger championships.

Spectators can expect to be welcomed into an inviting Athens-like atmosphere in which their favorite gameday traditions take place.

The chapter strives to retain a dedicated alumni group year-round. To accomplish this, they have adapted their communication to include various social media and email messaging with the help of Dustin Henderson (AB ’10), chapter president.

Whether football or science is your forte, the Boston chapter has something to offer you.

“If you valued your time as a student at UGA, this is a way to continue that, in perpetuity,” Henderson said.

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The Red and Black Network: Mexico City Edition

May 1, 2026/by Shweta Krishnan

Bulldog Nation spans far and wide, beyond the hedges and across the globe – keeping the alumni network connected year after year.

In Mexico City, a small, but passionate group of University of Georgia alumni maintains the Bulldog spirit, stretching UGA’s influence far beyond the Classic City.

The UGA Mexico City Alumni Chapter connects both current students and alumni, through mentorship opportunities, professional development events and game-watching parties.

Connecting with Current Students

In 2025, Andrew Guenthner (BBA ’89, MBA ’91), president of the UGA Mexico City Alumni chapter, learned that Terry College of Business students would be spending spring break in Mexico City for an international business course. Seeing an opportunity to connect with current Bulldogs, Guenthner — along with John Hyatt, CEO of Southward Advisors — helped coordinate a meaningful engagement during the trip.

The alumni chapter hosted the group at Guenthner’s apartment, where alumni shared their experiences living and working abroad. Later in the week, he hosted them at Aeroméxico as part of their visits with multiple corporations in Mexico City. During the visit, students gained firsthand exposure to Aeroméxico’s global business operations through interactive Q&A sessions with multiple Aeroméxico leaders. The group was presented with a case study, which they took back to Athens as part of their coursework.

This program allows Terry students to learn more about the global economy and the Mexico City chapter was happy to take part.

“They were able to speak with local businesspeople and understand the business environment for airlines, in this particular case, here in Mexico,” he said.

“It was clear that the group appreciated the interaction, as many reached out after the visit,” he said.

Experiential learning trips like this help students learn how to solve real-life problems outside the classroom.

And the different opportunities that these students are exposed to allows them to explore possible career options in a supportive environment.

“I like working with students,” he said. “I’ve always done that at work, sometimes continuing to mentor people that used to work with me 15+ years ago.”

Other Engagement

The Terry International Business trip isn’t the only event that the Mexico City Alumni Chapter is engaged with. They also host game-watching parties and high school recruiting events.

With the high school recruiting events, the chapter, led by Bart Rich (BA ’13, BS ’13), VP of recruitment, arranges to be a part of the week of college fairs for the seven major private high schools in Mexico City, providing the students more information about UGA. The college fairs are open not only to students from these high schools, but to others from the surrounding community as well.

“We provide them with ways to find out about what UGA has to offer and encourage them to reach out,” he said.

Even while being thousands of miles away from Athens, this chapter finds a way to cheer on the Dawgs during football season.

They partner with a local restaurant, Pinche Gringo, BBQ and typically have a reserved spot where alumni can spend time together.

On average, about 10-15 people will attend the game-watching parties. But sometimes, more alumni that just happen to be visiting Mexico City.

Not only is this chapter interested in cultivating Bulldog pride, but SEC spirit as well. During the 2024 and 2025 football seasons, they hosted a joint watch party with the University of Texas at Austin alumni chapter, the Texas Exes. The goal is to combine efforts and have more SEC alumni come together to share their love for college football.

Through mentorship, outreach and shared traditions, the UGA Mexico City Alumni Chapter continues to prove that no matter the distance, Bulldog Nation remains strong.

Interested in connecting with fellow UGA alumni in your area?

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Georgia’s Capital and the Bulldogs’ Backyard

December 11, 2025/by Shweta Krishnan

Right in the Bulldogs’ backyard and at the heart of the Peach State, the UGA Atlanta Alumni Chapter stands as the largest alumni chapter, representing nearly one-third of all UGA alumni.

“This chapter represents around 30% of all living UGA alumni, so our board has the opportunity to connect a huge Bulldog family and rally them to support both the university and our Atlanta community,” Will Ferrand (BBA ’15), the Atlanta chapter president said.

“Working for this UGA family is a big responsibility, but a massive privilege as well.”

With multiple game-watching parties across the city, the Atlanta game day experience is always a classic. The chapter’s most well-known watch party location is Monday Night Brewing, located in West Midtown; this year, they also incorporated Red Pepper Taqueria and the new greenspace in the city of Tucker, Georgia.

Members of the Tucker municipal government reached out to the university and the Atlanta chapter to inquire into being an official game-watching party venue in their newly created outdoor space. By working with the Mayor of Tucker and city council staff, they were able to create the first UGA Alumni chapter/local municipality partnership of its kind.

“We held three watch parties in Tucker this season, and each was a great success,” Ferrand said. “We’re excited to continue working with them and hope this kind of partnership can become a model for other chapters as well.”

The Atlanta Chapter hosts game-watching parties across the city.

Per game, there is an average of 75-100 people ready to cheer on the Dawgs and for the bigger matchups of the season, up to 200 fans will gather together. With UGA making post-season appearances the past few years, they have also seen huge crowds of over 300 people for events like the SEC Championship.

Aside from cheering on the Dawgs, this chapter loves to host events to support Atlanta sports teams, including the Hawks and the Braves. In previous years, they helped host the UGA Night at the Hawks and the UGA Day at the Braves events, where a portion of ticket proceeds supported the Atlanta Chapter Scholarship Fund.

This fund supports a student in the greater Atlanta area attending the University of Georgia.

Fun UGA merch that the UGA Atlanta Alumni Chapter has at their game-watching parties.

Alumni chapter leaders work with business leaders and large corporations from all over the metro Atlanta area to help connect the community back to UGA. From the Georgia Economic Outlook series hosted by the Terry College of Business each year at the Georgia Aquarium, to UGA Emeritus Board of Trustees events around the city, Atlanta is a home away from home for UGA outside of Athens.

“The partnership between Atlanta and Athens is such an important one for our state and our university, and our chapter is excited to be a part of it,” Ferrand said.

“The Atlanta Chapter is going to have more opportunities for alumni engagement. Since we Never Bark Alone, the chapter wants to be a conduit for our alumni to find the UGA causes they are most passionate about and help them contribute their time, talent, or treasure back to the university.”

Interested in connecting with alumni through your local chapter?

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Dawgs in Wyoming: Recreating Saturdays in Athens in the West

November 21, 2025/by Tucker Walker

UGA Alumni Chapters across the country prove that no matter where you are, you never have to bark alone.

The vast support of the UGA community manifested itself for Brad Flynt (BBA ’05, MBA ’12, JD ’12) during his move from Atlanta to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2017. While house-hunting, Flynt was surprised to see a UGA pillow featured in the pictures on the listing of his future home. Little did he know that small UGA connection would spark a years-long, community-wide tradition in a small ski town 1,600 miles away from Athens.

That UGA pillow (and home) belonged to Mark “Fish” Fishman (AB ’89). The two alumni quickly connected over a shared love for Georgia and, in 2017, decided to start an alumni chapter of their own.

With upwards of 60+ people in attendance at their game-watching parties, the Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter has made a significant impact by bringing more red and black spirit out West.

“Part of the panache of this particular chapter is that we’re like an oasis,” said Fish Fishman, co-founder of the chapter.

Jackson Hole Wyoming Alumni Chapter game-watching party celebration.

Game-watching party attendees celebrate the Dawgs.

Flynt and Fishman work hard to curate a game-watching atmosphere that makes Dawg fans feel like they are back at home Between the Hedges.

In fact, every year the pair drives two hours to the nearest Chick-Fil-A in Idaho Falls, Idaho to bring a true taste of Georgia to their first party of the season.

However, the Bulldog magic doesn’t just stop after the season opener. The founders make sure to keep tradition alive all the way in Wyoming. Fishman’s daughter, Mia Fishman ’26, created homemade turnover spikes to amp up the chapter’s game celebrations.

co-founder of UGA Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter and his daughter show off their homemade, golden UGA turnover spikes.

Fishman and his daughter show off their homemade turnover spikes.

The Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter also honors some of UGA’s most fierce rivalries in unique ways. This year for the Georgia vs. Florida game, Fishman imported 30 pounds of alligator meat to make gator balls for attendees to snack on while watching the iconic matchup.

“We joke that it’s the closest thing you could be to Sanford Stadium in Wyoming,” said Brad Flynt, president of the chapter.

The abundance of Bulldog spirit brings local alumni closer to home, especially if they are new to town. The Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter’s game-watching parties have become a go-to event for UGA alumni to connect with new people after making the move from Athens to Wyoming. The founders even say they introduce all new faces to the usual crowd, ensuring that everyone supporting the Dawgs is welcomed by those around them.

The Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter’s game-watching parties also attract a crowd far beyond UGA alumni and fans. Fans from across the Southeast attend these events to be surrounded by SEC spirit. Flynt and Fishman have even transformed Wyoming natives into full-fledged Georgia fans, as the watch parties have become a popular Saturday activity for local families.

“Kids our sons’ age that are not Georgia fans, end up becoming Georgia fans because they like the whole experience of being there and seeing a bunch of grown people barking,” said Flynt.

Children decked out in red and black smile while attending a Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter game-watching party.

Children of attendees enjoy the fun of a game-watching party.

Connecting people and building a community around the beloved Bulldogs is Flynt and Fishman’s ultimate goal for their chapter. They live by the saying “Dawgs helping Dawgs,” which they make sure spans past the Georgia Bulldogs on their email list.

To help support different kinds of dogs (and cats), the Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter makes and sells custom merchandise at their game-watching parties and sends the proceeds to local initiatives, many of which support animals in need.

An array of custom t-shirts made by the Jackson Hole Alumni Chapter hangs on a wall.

The chapter’s custom t-shirts for sale at a game-watching party.

Through celebrating the growing UGA family in Jackson Hole, the chapter’s game-watching parties have become a true celebration of Bulldog spirit.

Interested in finding Bulldog connections in your area?

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Dawgs on the Coast: Bringing Athens to the Sunshine State

November 5, 2025/by Jaxon Meeks

The red and black spirit of Bulldog Nation stretches far beyond the hedges in Sanford Stadium, reaching the coastal waters of the Florida panhandle.

No matter where you are located in the Sunshine State, the UGA Emerald Coast Alumni Chapter welcomes all alumni — current and future — to cheer on the Dawgs.

The UGA Emerald Coast Chapter established its presence well over a decade ago and has since continued to serve as a central hub for those living in Bay and Walton counties, as well as their surrounding communities. From across the panhandle, alumni gather at the Old Florida Fish House under a palm tree canopy near a sparkling coastal dune lake.

A table at the Old Florida Fish House featuring game day accessories.

With a venue that is able to host over 300 people, the game day experience is always elevated. In fact, the chapter held the most well-attended game-watching parties among all participating UGA alumni groups during the 2024 football season, drawing a total of 2,582 Dawgs fans across 14 events.

Outside of game-watching parties, the Emerald Coast Chapter enjoys highlighting alumni work in the surrounding community. In 2024, in collaboration with the Lamar Dodd School of Art, the chapter hosted a gallery night at Jonah Allen Gallery, named after a UGA alum and artist. The evening mixer was just one of the ways the chapter continues to engage with the community and connect alumni in the area.

Family and friends gathered at a game-watching party at the Old Florida Fish House.

The chapter is only continuing to grow, thanks in part to a growing Bulldog Nation. They are hoping to continue engaging with more younger alumni in the area. Chapter leaders DJ Burnham (BBA ’21), Steve Hicks (BBA ’85) and Pete Foley (ABJ ’79) utilize their photo and social media skills to encapsulate the game-watching party experience.

“The Emerald Coast Chapter truly excels at creating a warm, family-like atmosphere that makes alumni, fans, and friends feel right at home,” DJ Burnham said. “From calling the Dawgs to sponsor giveaways and the classic ‘victory cannon’, they do an incredible job of bringing everyone together and making each game day unforgettable.”

The Emerald Coast Chapter game-watching party during UGA vs. Texas in 2024.

In the future, the chapter hopes to expand its game-watching parties to 3-5 venues by the start of the 2026 season. Austin Bentley (AB ’17, MS ’22), the chapter president, and other leaders are exploring more options to reach more Dawgs through the watch parties and other events.

With their community engagement, expanding social media presence and the inviting atmosphere at the Old Fish House, the Emerald Coast feels a little more like a home away from home when Saturday rolls around.

Interested in finding Bulldog connections in your area?

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Bulldogs Abroad: Building Community Across the Pond

October 30, 2025/by Shweta Krishnan

Bulldog Nation knows no borders. From the heart of campus in the Classic City all the way across the pond to London, our alumni chapters bring the red and black spirit to Bulldog around the world.

The UGA London Alumni Chapter brings hundreds of alumni and friends an ocean away from campus for one common purpose: to cheer on the Dawgs. No matter how far away you are from Athens, there’s always a way to connect with other Bulldog alumni.

Together, the London Chapter collaborates with staff in Athens to host game-watching parties for alumni, friends and fans to cheer on the Dawgs and make it feel like home.

“There’s an unmistakable energy in the room when everyone is cheering on the Dawgs together, halfway across the world from Sanford Stadium.” Drew Bacon (AB ’08), president of the London Chapter, said.

London Chapter president Drew Bacon and his wife, Christine Bacon.

The first step is trying to find a venue that is willing to cater to American football fans, particularly since it’s not the most popular sporting event to watch in England.

Most importantly, the biggest factor to consider in all of this planning: time. London is five hours ahead of Athens, meaning the 7:30 p.m. night game experience that many Bulldogs love, is past midnight in London.

However, this doesn’t discourage London Dawgs from getting together to watch other games. In fact, for the Oct. 18 game against Ole Miss, UGA’s London Chapter and Ole Miss’ London Chapter came together for a joint watch party that over 150 number of people attended.

The 2025 UGA vs. Ole Miss game-watchimng party in Westminster, UK.

“There’s nothing quite like hearing a full crowd in central London call the Dawgs!” Bacon said. “It’s a little piece of Athens right here in the UK.”

Not only does this chapter bring together alumni, it also supports current students that are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime study abroad experience. The London Chapter Experiential Learning Scholarship, created by the London Chapter, is housed within UGA’s Office of Global Engagement and was designed to provide financial support for students studying abroad in the UK. The London Chapter also works with the office and the Oxford Study Abroad program to support students going across the pond for study away experiences.

The London Chapter is only continuing to grow, thanks to the Bulldog network that stretches far beyond Athens. They are hoping to continue to engage alumni in the area, grow the partnership and find different ways to connect with current UGA students that are studying abroad in the area or just visiting.

“Whether they’re a transplant, a study abroad student, or an alumni visiting Europe, I hope that’s how everyone feels after they mix and mingle with the London Dawgs community,” Macy Sirman Holmes (ABJ ’13), vice president of the London Chapter said. “Full, happy, and like they’ve found a piece of home on this side of the pond.”

Interested in connecting with fellow Bulldogs in your area?

The London Alumni Chapter gathers regularly for connection and game-watching parties.

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A Dawg’s guide to Lexington

November 18, 2022/by Haley Arner

The journey to Lexington, Kentucky, is the last road trip of the regular season for the Bulldogs. For some fans, Calling the Dawgs in the Bluegrass State is a new experience, but there’s no need to fret–UGA’s own Lexington Alumni Chapter knows their way around and shared some of their favorite restaurants and classic Kentucky activities.

Dawgs in Lexington frequent restaurants like Josie’s, Drake’s, Malone’s, Winchell’s, and Ramsey’s. If you’re interested in taking a brewery tour, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is offering UGA fans 50 percent off tours with the online coupon code 2022GAKYGAME.

Keeneland is a great stop if you want to learn more about the history of racing and Thoroughbred horses in Lexington. The city is the Horse Capital of the World, so there are plenty of farms that offer tours. You can find others on the City of Lexington’s website.

Not making the trip to Lexington and looking to connect with Dawgs in your own area? Find your local UGA alumni chapter and cheer on the Dawgs with fellow alumni at a game-watching party near you.

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Alumni collaborate with Bulldog Basics for G-Day tailgate

May 5, 2022/by Alyssa Craig

The Athens Area Alumni Chapter began a new tradition during this year’s G-Day. Before the big game, the chapter organized a tailgate to reconnect with UGA fans and alumni from all over the state.

The chapter held the tailgate at The Intersection at Tate. The chapter provided free food to the attendees from The Flying Biscuit Café, gave away UGA swag and fostered a fun environment where people could enjoy themselves before the scrimmage began.

Bringing in Bulldog Basics

Beyond engaging with their fellow alumni, the Athens chapter wanted to make a positive impact on the Athens and UGA community. They partnered with Bulldog Basics—a nonprofit that provides donated, unused toiletry and personal-care items to UGA students—and hosted an item drive in tandem with their tailgate.

“I know our event was some people’s first exposure to the great work Bulldog Basics does,” said Carrie Campbell (AB ’99, ABJ ’00, MPA ’18), vice president of the Athens chapter and senior public relations specialists with University Housing. “Spreading the message about how they support students was a big part of why [we] wanted to partner with them.”

The chapter encouraged guests to bring supplies or to purchase them ahead of time from Bulldog Basics’ wish lists. With over 130 registrants for the event, the chapter collected around 10 standard-sized moving boxes worth of items—enough to fill a truck! This doesn’t even include the items that were pre-purchased.

Bradley Erbesfield (BSFCS ’07, MSW ’10), one of the co-presidents of the Athens chapter and senior coordinator at UGA’s Disability Resource Center, recalled a special moment that happened within the first hour of the event.

Three alumnae approached him and asked him about the chapter, the item drive and Bulldog Basics. Bradley sat with them and explained the event and the impact it had on students in need.

“I love to see people feel comfortable enough asking us questions and showing interest,” he said. “I could really tell that their hearts came out to help others.”

Looking back

While this marked the first G-Day tailgate the Athens chapter ran, this was not their first time holding an item drive. In December of 2020, the Athens chapter partnered with Bulldog Basics again and hosted a donation drive virtually.

Though this was during the pandemic, the Athens chapter still wanted to find ways to support the UGA community. By hosting an online drive, the chapter was able to work with Bulldog Basics without the need for person-to-person contact.

Those who participated could purchase items from Bulldog Basics’ online wish lists or donate money directly to the organization. No one had to leave their home to take part in the drive.

“We wanted to engage with the community and push forward despite the difficulties,” Bradley explained. “It was tough, but the drive ended up having this great impact.”

Looking ahead

While both saw amazing results, shifting from a virtual item drive to their in-person tailgate allowed for the Athens chapter to physically see the UGA community come together. The amount of people who showed up—lugging heavy items like detergent or shampoo for the drive—exceeded expectations.

“The event mixed fun with engagement and philanthropy. Those are sometimes hard to bring together,” Bradley said.

With two successful donation drives done, the chapter is already looking ahead and hoping to do more with Athens-based organizations moving forward to support UGA students and the Athens community.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BULLDOG BASICS DONATE TO BULLDOG BASICS

Alumni chapter rallies support for local food bank

June 9, 2020/by Zach Armstrong

The Forsyth County Chapter recently hosted a virtual Dawg Day of Service in support of The Place of Forsyth, which provides financial assistance, clothing, food and more to those in need. UGA alumni helped to stock their food pantry in May with emergency supplies during the pandemic. Normally, Dawg Days of Service are in-person events, but instead of waiting until public gatherings can be held again, the chapter decided to re-organize the event using food drop-offs and online orders.

Hear more about the event from Katie Hildreth, UGA Forsyth County Alumni Chapter board member:

Leading up to its day of service in May, Forsyth County Chapter leaders posted regularly on social media to raise awareness for the initiative and emailed local alumni and friends. The work paid off, and on May 16 more than 450 items were donated with another 100 on the way from Amazon, all attributed to 40 Forsyth County alumni who answered the call.

The Place was specifically in need of 100 boxes of Hamburger Helper. Through the chapter’s food drive alone, The Place collected 120 boxes, putting it well ahead of its original goal.

Donated food and a chalk image of Hairy Dawg.

Food on its way to The Place of Forsyth.

May is usually when alumni chapters across the country hold Dawg Days of Service, events that rally alumni to give back to their community. Due to COVID-19, in-person Dawg Day of Service events were postponed. Kudos to Katie and the rest of the Forsyth County Chapter board for re-imagining a safe way to continue supporting the needs of an important nonprofit organization in the area. Learn more about getting involved with the Bulldog community on our COVID-19 resources page.

Since March, The Place of Forsyth has served more than 1,000 families with more than 3,000 bags of staple and kid-friendly foods, providing more than 23,000 meals total. Visit their website to learn more about The Place of Forsyth.

2019 Welcome to the City: A Recap

September 18, 2019/by Bailey Carreker

This summer, UGA Alumni Chapters across the country hosted Welcome to the City events. During these annual gatherings, Bulldogs come together to welcome new alumni to their area. The Bulldog family is always growing, and our chapters did a great job of making sure Bulldogs Never Bark Alone, wherever they go.

“What was memorable about this year’s event was the number of new faces. Some Bulldogs have been in the city for a couple years, but had no clue there was an active chapter. Others were as new as three days in Chicago,” says Michael Lyons, Chicago Chapter president.

There are more than 80 alumni chapters worldwide, so there’s almost always an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni through them. Stephen Scates, Charleston Chapter president, says, “There is a huge Dawg presence here in the low country, and we are blessed to never have to bark alone while so far away from Athens.”

Check out our photo gallery of this year’s Welcome to the City events: