UGA News

Scott Cuppari honored as 2026 Seawell Faculty Award recipient 

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The award recognizes a UGA faculty and staff member for excellence in career mentorship. 

Scott Cuppari, lecturer in the department of marketing at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, is the 2026 recipient of UGA’s Lee Anne Seawell Faculty Recognition Award.  

Faculty and staff who receive this honor, given annually by the UGA Career Center, are selected via feedback from the Career Center’s annual Career Outcomes Survey. The survey gave members of the Class of 2025 the opportunity to identify a faculty or staff member who had a positive influence on their career development.  

Cuppari earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from West Virginia University. He then moved to Atlanta to start his career in advertising and shifted into broader marketing roles at Earthlink and Coca-Cola Co. After more than a decade of work in the industry, he went back to West Virginia University and earned his Master of Science in integrated marketing communications.  

Cuppari is focused on sharing his industry experience and supporting his students, regardless of whether they are pursuing a degree in marketing.  

“My goal every single day is to bring the real world into the classroom,” Cuppari said. “My courses aren’t about memorization and theory. It’s more geared toward application and building those real-world skills.”  

During his time at Coca-Cola, he was the client for the Terry College’s Digital Marketing Competition in 2016. Through that experience he was introduced to Terry College’s Jennifer Osbon and was inspired to pursue a career in academia. Five years later, he had the opportunity to start teaching part-time.   

He now he teaches two courses on social media strategy and marketing principles as well a master-level course in the Terry College’s Master of Marketing Research program. He will also teach a new course in fall 2026 within the Terry Executive MBA program at the college’s Buckhead campus. 

Cuppari credits his time as a youth soccer coach to helping him find success in academia.  

“Coaching taught me how to be a leader to young adults, how I could be a mentor, how I could be that figure in the lives of a lot of players and how that coaching mentality translates directly into the teaching and mentorship in the classroom,” he said.   

He finds satisfaction in helping students accomplish something they originally thought would not be possible.   

“I’m a firm believer it’s never ‘I can’t,’” he said. “It’s just I have not done it yet.”  

The late Lee Anne Seawell endowed this faculty recognition award, which has been presented annually since 2017. Seawell joined UGA in 1947 as one of the university’s first female administrators, and she worked in career services and student financial aid until her retirement in 1987.  

“I’m humbled and very grateful that the students in the Class of 2025 thought of me and the relationships that I built in and out of the classroom,” Cuppari said. “Certainly, my primary job is to build their capability and teach, but I found more joy in the mentorship, the career coaching, the career advice, the resume skills workshops — some of the other things that I do outside of my normal teaching responsibility.”  

For more information on career outcomes for the Class of 2025, visit https://career.uga.edu/outcomes. 

UGA Career Caravan takes students to Norfolk Southern and Microsoft

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The University of Georgia Career Center provides students with invaluable opportunities to explore diverse career paths. On November 7, the Career Center organized a “Career Caravan” to the Atlanta headquarters of two industry-leading companies: Norfolk Southern and Microsoft. This immersive experience aimed to give UGA students firsthand connectivity to recruiters and UGA alumni.

At Norfolk Southern, participants were provided with a closer look at the significant role railroad operations play in the state and national supply chain, as well as the logistical undertakings and technological innovations necessary to maintain and operate such a vast network. The day featured a tour of the Atlanta headquarters, showcasing the Network Operations Center which manages rail activity around the country. A panel of UGA alumni from various parts of the company shared their personal journeys and offered insights into their career paths, expectations and advancement opportunities.
UGA Career Caravan students at Norfolk Southern
At Microsoft, students engaged in a networking lunch that facilitated connections with Microsoft representatives, many of whom were UGA alumni, and provided high-level industry insights including Microsoft’s position in the artificial intelligence space. These alumni addressed student questions, offering firsthand perspectives on their professional journeys and industry expectations. The visit concluded with a tour of Microsoft’s Atlantic Station campus, highlighting its various maker spaces and host sites of university hackathons and coding competitions.

The Career Caravan exemplifies the UGA Career Center’s commitment to equipping students with the tools and experiences necessary for successful career journeys.

“While we regularly welcome employers to Athens, it’s just as important for our students to step into these workplaces themselves, to get a feel for the environment and connect with our alumni and their colleagues on their own turf,” said Will Lewis, Associate Director of Employer Relations & Communications of the UGA Career Center. “Getting our students in front of companies like Norfolk Southern and Microsoft gives them a real feel for company culture, hiring practices, and possible career paths. It’s the kind of hands-on exposure that really bridges the gap between what they learn in class and what it’s like to work in the real world.”

The Career Caravan exemplifies the UGA Career Center’s commitment to equipping students with the tools and experiences necessary for successful career journeys. Other recent Career Caravan corporate site visits have included Delta Air Lines, IHG Hotels & Resorts, the Atlanta Braves, Google-Midtown, Boston Scientific and Insight Global.

“Building and maintaining partnerships is mutually beneficial, enabling us to support students while giving companies a direct connection to UGA’s exceptional talent,” said Holly Getchell, Director of Employer Relations at the UGA Career Center. “We’re grateful to have partners like Norfolk Southern and Microsoft who help us elevate the student experience and foster professional growth.”

Host a UGA Career Caravan

Career Caravans take place every semester. Companies interested in hosting UGA students for a future Career Caravan should contact Will Lewis at wal24@uga.edu.

Daniel Brown honored as 2025 Seawell Faculty Award recipient  

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Daniel Brown (BBA ’02), senior lecturer in the Risk Management and Insurance program at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, is the 2025 recipient of UGA’s Lee Anne Seawell Faculty Recognition Award.   

Faculty who receive this honor, given annually by the UGA Career Center, are selected via feedback from the Career Center’s annual Career Outcomes Survey. The survey gave members of the Class of 2024 the opportunity to identify a faculty or staff member who had a positive influence on their career development.    

Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia and his master’s in business administration from Georgia College and State University. After spending 15 years in the insurance industry, he transitioned to education. Now, with seven years of experience as a professor at UGA, Brown teaches four courses each fall and spring semester. Brown is a career champion for students, consistently going the extra mile to support them in their career journeys.   

“I feel lucky to have a job that I love — a ‘get to’ job. I get to go to work every day, and I want to help students find their own ‘get to’ job,” said Brown. “To do that, I need to connect with students. I share a lot of personal stories in the classroom, both wins and failures, and my hope is that this helps them see me as a person they can relate to. From there, I hope it can help them find careers that will become their own ‘get to’ job.”   

Daniel Brown holding the Seawell Faculty Recognition Award plaque. (Submitted photo)

In recent years, Brown has supported the Risk Management and Insurance department in organizing their own career fair. The RMI Careers Day brings together over 80 employers and more than 400 RMI students, offering a platform for employers to connect with and interview students seeking both internship opportunities and full-time positions.    

Brown credits much of his teaching style to the professors who were role models during his time as a student at UGA. He remembers Kevin Ellis, whose personable approach and impactful advice have stayed with him over the years, as well as Mark Huber (PHD ’98), whose lessons continue to shape Brown’s approach to navigating careers today.   

“I looked up to them, and part of me aspired to be like them, which I think played a big role in leading me to this position,” said Brown. “I’ve tried to model my approach in the classroom after theirs because it resonated with me at the time. Based on feedback from students today, it seems to connect with them as well.”   

The late Lee Anne Seawell endowed this faculty recognition award, which has been presented annually since 2017. Seawell joined UGA in 1947 as one of the university’s first female administrators, and she worked in career services and student financial aid until her retirement in 1987.   

“Since becoming UGA faculty, one of my primary goals has been to engage with students,” said Brown. “This award recognizes connecting with students and helping them find careers. I am very honored to receive this award and appreciative to Lee Anne Seawell for endowing this award.”  

For more information on the career outcomes of UGA’s Class of 2024, visit https://career.uga.edu/outcomes.   

Bulldogs contribute 13,026 gifts in 24 hours

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UGA Class of 2024 achieves 95% career outcomes rate

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New data released by the University of Georgia Career Center shows that 95% of UGA’s Class of 2024 were employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

The Class of 2024 is the 8th class of the last 10 to post a career outcomes rate of 95% or higher.

“Year after year, the success of our students demonstrates the remarkable value of a UGA education,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our faculty and staff, our hardworking graduates are well prepared to launch their careers and embrace their role as the next generation of leaders.”

Among the graduates in the Class of 2024, 61% were employed full-time, 25% were continuing their education and 9% were engaged in post-graduate internships, fellowships, residencies, postdoctoral research, part-time jobs or said they were not currently seeking employment.

Many of the employed graduates are applying their talents to the benefit of the Peach State: 70% took on positions based in Georgia.

In addition, Class of 2024 graduates accepted employment with companies representing a variety of industry sectors, from health care to business, finance to transportation, and all points in between.

“The University of Georgia continues to prepare outstanding graduates who leave this institution ready to lead and serve across industry sectors,” said Scott Williams, executive director of the UGA Career Center. “My thanks to all the campus partners who facilitate the career readiness of our students as well as our corporate partners who continue to look to UGA for top talent.”

The UGA Career Center calculates the career outcomes rate each January by collecting information from surveys, phone calls, employer reporting, UGA departments, the National Student Clearinghouse and social media websites such as LinkedIn. The current data is based on the known career outcomes of 8,498 graduates from the Class of 2024.

For more information about the Class of 2024 career outcomes, visit career.uga.edu/outcomes.

To learn about hiring UGA graduates, visit hireuga.com.

UGA dedicates Ralston Center for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

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This story, written by Cal Powell, was originally published on the FACS website on Dec. 9, 2024.

On the day he announced sweeping reforms to the failed healthcare delivery system for Georgians with mental health challenges, the late state representative David Ralston (JD ’80) simply said, “Hope won.”

The bill Ralston championed in 2022 addressed systemic barriers to the quality and delivery of behavioral health services and required insurance companies to cover mental health and substance abuse issues as they would physical illnesses.

“Countless Georgians will know we have heard their despair and frustration,” said Ralston, then speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives who died not long after the signing of the legislation.

The University of Georgia is building on Ralston’s legacy with the establishment of the David Ralston Center for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Housed in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), the Ralston Center will prepare future professionals for careers in the behavioral health and developmental and intellectual disabilities fields with the goal of creating a pipeline to provide a community-based system of care.

UGA President Jere Morehead (JD ’80) joined FACS Dean Anisa Zvonkovic and Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, at a dedication ceremony announcing the Ralston Center on Sunday. The state legislature allocated $1.5 million for the establishment of the Ralston Center in its 2025 budget.

Morehead acknowledged Ralston’s lasting impact on UGA and the state in remarks made during the dedication ceremony, which was hosted in conjunction with the Biennial Institute for Georgia Legislators, an orientation for new legislators sponsored by UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Morehead noted he and Ralston were classmates at the UGA School of Law and close friends.

“David was a person with the highest integrity, an inspiring work ethic and a tremendous concern for others,” Morehead said. “As a political leader, he worked across the aisle to pass measures that would benefit all Georgians, as he did for mental health care reform. I think he would be proud of the Ralston Center, and I appreciate every state leader who played a role in its creation.”

Both Morehead and Zvonkovic noted the university’s strengths in teaching, research and outreach and its ability to leverage an existing network of collaborators make it an ideal home for the new center.

“The center will reflect former speaker Ralston’s vision for a behavioral health system that provides sustained support based on the strengths, wellness and goals of the person and is built on existing networks, resources and treatment options throughout the state,” Zvonkovic said. “As we launch the center, we are eager to collaborate with faculty across the entire University System of Georgia to coordinate curriculum offerings and other trainings to assist the state to be able to establish the workforce for these issues.”

Tanner, who chaired the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation committee formed in 2019 to produce recommendations that led to the legislation, said addressing those workforce needs will be a priority for the center.

“Put simply, hiring and retaining top quality talent in the mental health care sector is the greatest challenge facing our system of care,” Tanner said. “We do not have enough trained, licensed clinicians to meet demand. As UGA’s faculty and administration stand up the Ralston Center, I am certain they will keep this fact top of mind and use the center to help us meet the extraordinary workforce demands we face.”

Tanner added that the establishment of the center at UGA is a fitting continuation of Ralston’s vision.

“Speaker Ralston knew this effort would take years to bring to complete fruition,” he said. “His vision went beyond the role of legislature – it extended to our university system and the pivotal role UGA will play in this work. Ultimately, I think he would see this center’s establishment as one more step toward success – a milestone on a long but worthwhile journey to improve the lives of Georgians.”

Donors set new UGA fundraising record

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Former dean establishes UGA college’s first chair

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UGA donors’ 11,711 gifts break single-day record

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UGA’s Mariah Cady named a 2024 Rhodes Scholar

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