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An interview with Intel CTO Greg Lavender (BS ’83)

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This story was originally published on the Franklin College website on Nov. 20, 2024.

While on campus in November, UGA School of Computing students had the opportunity to network with distinguished alumnus Greg Lavender (BS ’83). Lavender’s Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith Undergraduate Scholarship recipient Hannah Le conducted a one-on-one interview with Lavender.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from your time at the University of Georgia?
A: Oh, that’s a good question! I actually never went to a single football game while I was at UGA. I was always in the computer labs — very geeky, you know? My favorite memory would be a pretty funny one. I had this huge final exam in a computer science class, and it was during the winter semester. It was freezing cold, and I was studying late, wrapped up in my electric blanket, just sleeping away.

Then my phone rang — this buzzing sound that annoyed me, so I ignored it at first. Finally, I woke up and answered it. It was one of my friends calling to ask if I was going to make it to the exam. I looked at my watch, and it was already 8:15 a.m.! The exam had started at 8:00, and I had overslept by three hours! I panicked, threw some water on my face, got dressed, and rushed to campus. I couldn’t find a parking spot, so I parked in the faculty lot and ran into the exam room. I told the proctor I had a flat tire — he believed me — and then I took the exam. I finished in 35 minutes, scored a perfect 100, and passed the course. It was a moment of pure panic followed by relief. I still look back at it as one of my favorite memories because it was such an intense experience, and I never overslept for an exam again!

Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
A: I think I’m most proud of my time as a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. I supervised a lot of students over the years, and many of them have gone on to do amazing things in the tech industry. Some of them are now making more money than I ever will! But the real pride comes from seeing them succeed. I always say that while I’m proud of my own accomplishments, I’m even prouder of the accomplishments of my students.

Q: What advice would you give to current students?
A: My advice is simple: Don’t be afraid to take risks, but make sure they are calculated risks. A lot of people play it safe, but if you’re passionate about something, you have to commit to it fully — even if that means sacrificing other things for a while. Focus on becoming an expert in one area that truly excites you. In computer science, you get the chance to dive deep into certain technologies or fields. Who knows, maybe that focus will put you at the forefront of the next big thing. Just don’t waste time on easy problems — take on the hard ones. Those are the ones that push you to grow.

Q: You mentioned taking a big risk in your career. Can you elaborate?
A: Sure! One of the biggest risks I took was leaving a well-paying job to go back to school for my Ph.D. I had a great career going, and I was well-established, but I felt like I needed more advanced knowledge. I wanted to be the person who didn’t have to say much, but when I did speak, it was something important. People with Ph.D.s were the ones being respected in academic and professional circles, so I decided to go back to school. It wasn’t easy — I had three years of work experience under my belt, but I finished my master’s in just a year and then my Ph.D. after that. And I haven’t looked back since.

Q: You’ve been in the tech industry for a long time. How did you end up in Silicon Valley?
A: I never really planned it, but it happened. After I finished my Ph.D., I ended up in Silicon Valley because I sold the company I had started. That move felt like going to the “new Rome” — the center of innovation at the time, just like ancient Rome was for culture and knowledge. Silicon Valley was (and still is) a place where you have a front-row seat to the cutting edge of technology, and I wanted to be part of that. It was a wealth of opportunity, and being there opened doors I never imagined.

Q: You’re clearly passionate about technology and innovation. How do you keep yourself grounded and manage stress?
A: I’ve always been someone who needs an outlet to clear my head. Back when I was at UGA, I’d go hiking or just walk by the river. I wasn’t into football or the typical college stuff — I was always in the labs. But getting out in nature helped me reset and focus. Now, I travel a lot for work, and I still try to do the same thing. Whether I’m in Tokyo or Singapore, I take time to explore the local culture and clear my mind. It’s important to step away from work and recharge.

I get to meet interesting people from around the world. Plus, it helps me think creatively by experiencing new perspectives.

Q: You’ve lived in many places around the world. What’s your favorite travel destination?
A: Athens, Greece, holds a special place in my heart. I’m on the board of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, and for the past 30 years, I’ve been combining my love for technology and archaeology. I bring tech tools like drones and 3D mapping to archaeological sites to help preserve them. Greece is an amazing place to visit — great food, history, and culture. I’ve traveled to many Greek islands and explored places like Santorini, Mykonos, and Delos. I’m actually planning a trip next year to Turkey and Greece for an ancient history tour that includes stops in Troy and Ephesus.

Q: You mentioned that you were born in Panama and lived in Germany as a child. How has this international upbringing influenced your career?
A: I grew up in a military family, which meant I had the chance to live in different parts of the world. I was born in Panama, and we lived in West Germany for five years, so I was exposed to different cultures from a young age. That international experience has shaped how I view the world. It’s one of the reasons I love meeting new people from different countries and cultures. It gives you a broader perspective on life and work. Plus, I speak Spanish and German, which has helped me build connections globally.

Q: What’s the next big project you’re working on?
A: Right now, I’m managing a lot of the AI and generative AI work at Intel. We’re developing new chips and systems, and we’re also working on factory automation. I oversee a large team — around 15,000 people — so my time is spent managing research labs, where we have 700 people working on everything from semiconductor physics to software, AI, and graphics. I’m excited about the potential of generative AI, so I’m closely involved in shaping how we apply that technology to new areas.

Q: You’ve had a successful career in both academia and industry. What advice do you have for students aspiring to enter the tech field?
A: My advice is simple: stay curious and never stop learning. The tech industry evolves so quickly, and you need to be willing to take on new challenges and learn new things all the time. And remember, no matter how far you go in your career, always give back. Whether it’s mentoring students or helping others in the industry, the value of sharing knowledge and giving back to the community is immeasurable.

Q: You’ve stayed connected to the University of Georgia. Why did you create the Dr. Jeffrey W. Smith Undergraduate Scholarship?
A: Dr. Smith was my favorite professor at UGA. He inspired me a lot during my time there. He’s now retired, but I wanted to honor him by creating a scholarship in his name. It was a way to give back and show appreciation for the impact he had on my life. The funny thing is, I didn’t even realize how much of an impact I had on his life until I reconnected with his daughter years later. It was a full-circle moment, and I’m proud that I could do something to honor his legacy.

Q: What keeps you excited about your work today?
A: I’m still excited by the opportunity to solve difficult problems and push the boundaries of technology. Whether it’s working on AI, leading large teams, or creating new systems, I love being at the forefront of innovation. I’m also passionate about applying technology in areas like archaeology, which is one of my hobbies. I’ve been programming for fun — whether it’s automating my home or working on cool tech projects — and I’ll keep doing it as long as I can.

Bridal designer strengthens UGA historic clothing collection

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Service builds a vision for driving change

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This story, written by Alan Flurry, was originally published on the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences website on June 25, 2024. 

UGA Trustee Becky Winkler (AB ’98) believes everyone has a narrative. You just need to keep it pointed in the right direction.

“My dad was a Jamaican immigrant and he taught me the secret to the meaning of life is it’s all made up,” Winkler said. “Raised by an immigrant, I was taught to question things that other people consider normal.”

That cogent advice has led Winkler to chart her own circuitous path that, in retrospect, appears rather direct, if not deliberate. After graduating from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from DePaul University. While still attending graduate school, she coached mid-level managers at Advocate Healthcare, now the third-largest non-profit healthcare system in the U.S. After completing her Ph.D. in 2004, Winkler began coaching C-suite leaders.

“Not that I really knew what I was doing back then, I was 26 years old,” she said. “But it’s been 20 years that I’ve been coaching C-suite individuals. And I love it because I get to extend my dad’s wisdom to help other people – what is the narrative in your head that’s serving you? What is the narrative in your head that’s not serving you? Do you even realize you have a narrative? And that you can change it?”

Winkler’s narrative was influenced early by her parents and later by her exposure to a wide array of UGA experiences as an undergraduate. She earned a minor in Mandarin Chinese, a certificate in women’s studies, and spent time in the geology-anthropology summer field study program. Winkler says she would have added Classics to her psychology degree and fit right in with many double-majors in Franklin today.

Becky Winkler at the 2024 Tony Awards (PHOTO: Franklin College of Arts and Sciences)

“My first quarter, there was so much freedom and I could take whatever. Dr. Haas was my advisor, so I was just taking what I loved,” she said. “I signed up for astronomy, music, and then Chinese. And I was like, ‘what am I supposed to do with this?’ And he said, ‘sing Chinese to the stars, of course!’ and I was like ‘Oh, I’m going to like this place!'”

“I went as far as I could with these degrees, at the time,” Winkler added. “There was no major in Chinese, and the women’s studies program was only accredited as a certificate. It shows how UGA continues to evolve in the programs it offers.”

Winkler returned to UGA in 2024 to deliver the psychology department’s convocation address and serve as a judge for the Three-Minute Thesis competition.

Her company, Department 732c, named in homage to Winkler’s grandmother, Florence, a secretary for more than 20 years in an iconic retail corporation, reflects her own aspirations and resilience. Her experience, direct approach and humanistic outlook combine to guide clients, from the executives of corporate America to start-ups and nonprofits. The sense that Winkler’s skills, intuition and training created the conditions for her own dream job quickly becomes unmistakable.

“You can’t coach somebody unless they want to do it. One of the only things that coaching and therapy have in common is that importance of chemistry. I’m quite upfront about it – if you don’t think that you’ll have a good time working with me, I’m more than happy to refer them to someone else,” she said. “And by the way, if you’re too busy, then you’re not going to do the work and it’s going to be a waste of your time and your organization’s money.”

It’s a level of honesty and clarity that executives across the corporate world respond to, listen to, and learn from.

And when the chemistry is there and the client is willing, how does she know the process is working?

“It’s quantitative and qualitative and you pick your north star of where you want to be. I’m a big believer in measuring outcomes so generally, it’s a six-month engagement, sometimes people extend for different reasons,” she said.

Winkler has worked with one client for two years.

“On the day that we were finishing, I said ‘look at this great progress,’ because we measured that day against what we focused on at the start. I give people an online tool to say, here are the three factors that relate to their goals. How would you rate them now, and what’s your advice to this person, where have you seen him grow and change the most, what should they still focus on going forward? And from that you see the change scores, and that’s how you know it’s working.”

Winkler’s enthusiasm for the stages of improvement, increased competence and performance, stem from a simple but strident outlook. “I actually took a quote attributed to C.S. Lewis that comes back again and again in our work: ‘Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different.’ I love it because the work can be so incremental and you can get frustrated by the whole ‘levels of competence’ paradigm. But I love seeing people succeed, getting to know them and sharing these intimate experiences of personal growth.”

That love of shared success has become a driving force in Winkler’s activism and philanthropy. A veteran of the non-profit sector, she served on the Atlanta Beltline committee and on the board of EMBRACE (founded in 2018 to repurpose used medical equipment to people around the world).

“I’ve always been very active, but my time as KIPP board chair in Charlotte (Knowledge is Power Program), which focuses on kids in underserved communities who need better public schools, basically, really galvanized my vision to help see kids to and through college, career, and higher expectations,” she said.

“The Outsiders” producers and company (PHOTO: Getty Images)

Winkler’s philanthropic involvement with UGA began through Dorothé Otemann, director of development for the honors program, which is now known as the Morehead Honors College.

“I call her my umbilical cord to the university because she taught me how I can use my resources to drive change,” said Winkler, who created a scholarship at UGA in honor of her father, another at DePaul to honor her mother, and sponsored a room in the honors college named for Otemann. She’s currently on track to complete an endowed chair in the Institute of Women’s Studies in 2027.

In addition to her philanthropic efforts in higher education, Winkler’s support for the arts extends to investing in the Broadway play “The Outsiders,” winner of the 2024 Tony Award for Best New Musical.

“It’s exciting, trying to figure how to use your time, treasure, and power to drive the change you know is needed in the world,” she said.

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UGA’s Mariah Cady named a 2024 Rhodes Scholar

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On-campus festival celebrates the arts

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Three sisters united by a love of music

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Barbara Bennett (BMUS ’74, MFA ’76), Sally Bennett Fillebrown (BM ’71, DMA ’89) and Susan Bennett Gallimore (BMUS ’83, MM ’85) may live across the country, but their mutual love of music keeps the three sisters in perfect harmony.  

Barbara, Sally, Susan, and their late sister Carolyn (BMUS ’79) all graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in music performance, just a few years apart. Together, the Bennett women have earned eight total music degrees from UGA. 

When they were searching for colleges, the sisters hoped to stay in their home state of Georgia to pursue a music education. The Hugh Hodgson School of Music, then just a single department, was considered the best college music program in the state. Sally, the eldest, was the first of the sisters to attend UGA. The rest soon followed suit. 

Their mother, Betty Bennett (MFA ’74), encouraged them to attend UGA because she studied music there as well. She was a part-time flute teacher for the department and impressed upon her daughters an appreciation for UGA and music performance. 

Sally said that one of the faculty members, Professor Egbert Ennulat, jokingly called the Bennett women “the dynasty” because for 20 consecutive years, at least one Bennett woman was involved in the Hodgson School as either a teacher or student. 

(From left) Carolyn, Barbara, Sally, Betty and Susan pose after performing at a concert at the University of California, Riverside in 1998. (Photo: Steve Walag)

Because they all majored in music performance, the sisters had the unique opportunity of navigating their time at UGA as a family. During the times that more than one of the sisters was at UGA, they would be roommates. Barbara said that living together during college helped bring them closer together. 

“When we got to Georgia, we became best friends,” Barbara said. 

The Bennett sisters’ long history with the Hugh Hodgson School of Music means that they’ve watched it grow from a fledgling program to its own school, rich with opportunities for students and faculty.  

“We contributed at least to the beginnings of that,” Sally said of the school’s growth. “It’s an honor to say I was there.” 

Barbara said that the music program’s small community felt like a second family. Because it didn’t have a dedicated building yet, music students would gather in buildings across campus to practice and perform.  

Sally said that performing in ensembles with other music students helped contribute to the school’s supportive, tight-knit environment. 

“It’s kind of the nature of musicians to build a family,” she said, remembering her close friendships with fellow music students. 

Inspired by their family’s connections to the Hodgson School, the sisters donated to establish a merit-based scholarship called the Bennett Family Scholarship for Orchestral Performance.  

Barbara led the sisters’ efforts to create the scholarship. She said that although their father wasn’t a professional musician like their mother, he was extremely supportive of the sisters’ music education and was at every one of their concerts he could manage to attend. Barbara chose to name the scholarship after the whole family rather than just the Bennett women so that he would also be recognized in their gift. 

They had the opportunity to meet one of their scholarship recipients on a video call and were delighted to see that their gift had made an impact on a student. 

“I’m proud to have Georgia in my background,” Barbara said. “I’m glad to be able to give back to the university.” 

GIVE TO THE HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Dawg-gone good gifts: Biolyte

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For the health-conscious people in your life—or the ones who struggle to kick those holiday hangovers—fuel their fun with Biolyte, the IV in a bottle. 

Biolyte’s electrolytes match that of a 500mL IV, plus additional vitamins and minerals. It was formulated by Dr. Luther “Trey” Rollins, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain specialist in Atlanta, GA. One bottle of Biolyte offers the fuel of 6.5 sports drinks to fight dehydration, fatigue, stomach illness, cramps or overindulgence.  

CEO and UGA alumna Jesslyn Rollins (BA ’15) partnered with Dr. Rollins, her father, to bring his product to the masses. After selling Biolyte out of the back of her car, she advanced to director of sales, chief sales and marketing officer and then CEO. Under her guidance, Biolyte has grown into a multimillion-dollar business. It’s no surprise that the 2022 Bulldog 100 recognized Biolyte as one of the fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA Alumni.

Biolyte offers three flavors—berry, citrus and tropical—to help your friends and family quench their thirst, snap out of a funk or reenergize.  

You can purchase Biolyte at select retail locations or on Amazon.  

The holidays have arrived! As you finish up your holiday shopping, we’re featuring UGA alumni-owned businesses that we can’t stop barking about. Give uniquely and support a Bulldog this holiday season with a Dawg-gone good gift.     

Want more Dawg-gone good gift ideas?

Where commitment meets community: Jack Hartpence (AB ’15) pairs passion with community empowerment

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On August 23, 2017, University of Georgia alumnus and 40 Under 40 honoree Jack Hartpence (AB ’15) was driving from Jackson, Wyoming, to Aspen, Colorado, on a business trip. As he attempted a U-turn in the large van he rented for the trip – the only vehicle the rental company had available – he was T-boned by a tractor-trailer.

“As I saw the truck coming and realized I was going to die, the only thing that came to my mind was one question: What have I done positively for the world and other people?” Hartpence said.

Walking away from the accident unscathed, Hartpence felt that he had been given a second chance to answer that question.

After graduating from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2015, Hartpence worked in politics, with think tanks and for campaigns. He used his previous experience with research and data to determine where the world struggled most.

“Water is the world’s most pressing problem,” Hartpence said. “Sustainable access to safe drinking water is the foundation for quality of life on earth today. With access to safe drinking communities can move to address secondary and tertiary quality of life indicators such as gender equality, economic opportunity, education, and health.”

In 2018, he co-founded Powwater, public benefit corporation that builds transparent technology and makes impact investments to improve access to clean water in East Africa and South Asia and empower the communities which they serve.

“A marathon, not a sprint”

As Hartpence explored how to address access to clean water, he noticed that many wells drilled by Western organizations provided only temporary solutions across Africa, Asia, and South America. With an average shelf life of only 18 months, donated wells weren’t a sustainable solution, the key problem being that they weren’t engaging the communities they affected.

Hartpence contacted Nobel laureate and professor Muhammed Yunus, the founder of microfinance. Through the mentorship of Yunus, Powwater established itself as a social business. Funding is reinvested into communities that lack access to clean water, allowing those communities to establish their own water systems that enhance their economy.

With this model, Powwater doesn’t have to rely on donations or outside funding. Instead, Powwater can “make money to do good for the world,” Hartpence said. By doing so, Powwater has brought sustainable drinking water to over 80,000 people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Jack Hartpence (AB ’15) gives a thumbs up with the Powwater team in Mombasa, Kenya.

Fueled by passion

Hartpence’s experience at UGA showed him the importance of doing what you love. He wasn’t fulfilled by what he was learning as an economics major, so he became an English major during his sophomore year. That program gave him a sense of purpose and creativity. .

“There were students who were far better writers than me, but I was passionate. I loved it,” Hartpence said about a senior class project that was recognized at graduation as the English department’s best work in digital humanities. “That lesson has played through my life. Passion is everything.”

After his accident in 2017, Hartpence found a renewed passion for life and improving the world. That commitment fuels Hartpence and his team as they consider the future of clean water across the globe.

Jack Hartpence (AB ’15) spoke on behalf of Powwater at the 2019 United Nations Global Assembly. Hartpence poses for a photo with Nobel laureate and professor Muhammed Yunus, a mentor of the company.

The future of clean water

As Powwater looks to the future, the company is using technology to create transparency around water, and better serve communities around the world with safe drinking water.

This spring, Powwater will launch the Powwater app, a mobile marketplace for water. The app will provide transparency around the quality of water, cost and timing of delivery from the thousands of private water suppliers that exist across the globe today. By creating transparency and empowering consumers, Hartpence believes Powwater can lead the way for higher quality and more affordable water globally.

With this app, Hartpence aims to optimize the private water market for the 2 billion people in the world relying on it today.

“We want to be a company that shares ideas and works with partners to get the job done,” Hartpence said. “I’m committed to empowering communities around the world with sustainable access to safe drinking water. I’m committed to doing everything I can do to be better tomorrow than I was today.”

A day in the life

In September 2020, we invited Jack to host an Instagram story takeover as a member of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2020. Watch the video below to check out a day in the life of operating Powwater:

WHERE COMMITMENT MEETS COMMUNITY

Whether life takes them to new cities or to the neighborhoods where they grew up, Georgia Bulldogs do more than get jobs – they elevate their communities. Bulldogs lead nonprofits, effect change and create opportunities for others. Wherever people are suffering, wherever communities are looking for effective leaders and whenever the world cries out for better solutions, Bulldogs are there to answer the call to service. It’s more than our passion. It’s our commitment.

Caroline Odom, an intern with UGA’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations, brings you a spring blog series that celebrates Bulldogs who embrace that commitment to helping others in their communities thrive.

Want to read about other Bulldogs impacting their communities?

A Bulldog on Netflix: Q&A with comedy creator Waco O’Guin (BFA ’00)

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From the stage of the Georgia Theater to the streaming screen, writers and producers Waco O’Guin (BFA ’00) and Roger Black  recently signed a deal with Netflix to produce a new 10-episode animated sci-fi comedy, “Farzar.” The pair will continue airing their show “Paradise PD” on the platform with season three releasing on March 12.

O’Guin and Black met in the Classic City in 1999 while O’Guin studied art with an emphasis on digital media and Black was working toward his master’s degree. After their Athens comedy show, “The DAMN! Show,” made it to MTV2 as “Stankervision,” the pair began writing and producing an animated series, “Brickleberry.”

We caught up with Waco to learn about his career in comedy and the creative process, and to ask for show recommendations to make a Bulldog laugh.

What led you to pursue comedy while at the University of Georgia and then after graduation?

I was a huge “Saturday Night Live” fan growing up, so starting a sketch comedy show was something I always wanted to do. I also loved “The Simpsons,” and my ultimate goal was having a primetime animated show on Fox. We got close!

What has been your career path since graduating from the University of Georgia?

While doing comedy on the side, I started a production company in Athens to produce local commercials and corporate videos. We were very lucky that our college comedy show got turned into a show on MTV2. That landed us an agent at WME in Los Angeles. We started pitching a bunch of shows and eventually sold “Brickleberry” to Fox. They did a pilot but decided not to take it to series. Instead, we were able to sell it to Comedy Central. After “Brickleberry” ended, we began working with Netflix.

two men pose in front of fountain

A 2011 portrait of alumnus Waco O’Guin (BFA ’00) and comedy partner Roger Black in front of the Herty Field Fountain. Photo taken by Peter Frey.

What class or professor positioned you for success?

I took animation under Prof. Mike Hussey [associate professor of dramatic media and interdisciplinary animation studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences]. I learned a lot, and he seemed to believe that I could reach my goals.

What’s it like to be developing a new series, “Farzar,” for Netflix? How does the process compare to your past shows?

Working on “Farzar” is a lot like “Paradise PD.” Most of the crew works on both shows. Finding talented people and convincing them to stick around is key to a smooth production.

two men pose for a photo

A recent image of Waco O’Guin (BFA ’00) and Roger Black.

What is your creative process?

We write for about eight weeks to plan out the season and get scripts before our first table read. After the read, we rewrite the script and record it. After editing the audio, we hand it off to one of our directors, who creates an animatic. That animatic [a preliminary sequence of shots, images or sketches, usually arranged with a soundtrack] is shipped to Bento Box Atlanta, the animation studio that does our color animation.

Does working with a streaming platform offer you more creative latitude? How does that change the relationship with your audience?

It’s definitely different. With streaming, we don’t have to hit a specific time length for the episodes. As long as they average around 25 minutes in length, we are good. Netflix also releases all the episodes at once rather than weekly. With “Brickleberry,” it took years for the episodes to be released in some countries. On Netflix they are released worldwide on day one.

two men stare at computer

Waco O’Guin (BFA ’00) and Roger Black work on their comedy through the night.

What are your all-time comedy favorites?

“Saturday Night Live,” “The Simpsons,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule.”

Learn more about the Lamar Dodd School of Art, where Waco began his journey to becoming a successful comedy creator.

UGA led Ben Desper (BS ’09) to experiences around the world

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Ben Desper (BS ‘09) is a fan of flexibility and sharks, two things he became well acquainted with as a result of his University of Georgia experience.

Desper knew that the rigor of the academics UGA provided coupled with the entertainment in the city of Athens was the ideal combination for him.

Additionally, majoring in biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences had him attending classes with a group of people from all over the world. He believes that the education he received, enhanced by those multicultural classroom experiences, prepared him for a 2012 internship in South Africa. While there, he studied, extracted DNA, and sometimes even swam with Great White Sharks.

“It was like shark week every day,” said Desper. “Living on another continent for that internship, in many ways, prepared me for working with people from other countries in my current role. Additionally, working with sharks taught me how to resist complacency, problem-solve, and handle stress.”

Although Desper focused on environmental pollutants and genetics while in school, his flexibility ultimately led him to Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Athens, a part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. Desper is a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist at Janssen and is currently on a developmental rotation that has him working closely with other small molecule cluster sites in Ireland, Belgium and Switzerland.

He enjoys working at Janssen because the company makes such a large impact on people’s lives by manufacturing life-saving drugs. He also appreciates the cutting-edge technology that is part of his everyday work.

His favorite memories at UGA come from gameday Saturdays, walking through North Campus and smelling the food cooking at the various tailgates. He laughingly admits to also occasionally missing late-night study sessions with friends.

Desper’s advice to UGA students centers around the flexibility he has come to prize in his own life: “Treat every experience like a classroom and always absorb everything you can because you never know where you will end up.”

Today, Desper keeps saltwater fish tanks in his home, he travels all over the world to scuba dive with and photograph sharks, and he works at a world-class pharmaceutical company: an example of what can happen when you stay flexible.

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