James May-June 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 50
PK Can you describe for our readers
the relationship between UGA and
our state’s economic well-being?
JM The University of Georgia has over
an $8 billion economic impact on
the state of Georgia every year, and
it begins with the students that we
educate. But it also extends through
research and the new products that
we put into the marketplace, and then
through the various public service
and outreach efforts that we engage
in to build small businesses across
this entire state.
It gets back to where we started:
The University of Georgia has the
unique responsibility of serving the
entire state. Our work with the state
Department of Economic Development, the governor’s office and other
economic development entities has
been something that I have personally
enjoyed doing, but I think our faculty,
students and staff have also enjoyed
being a part of those efforts. We have
a unique responsibility at this institution to partner with the state on
economic development.
PK What is a good example of some
of these partnerships?
JM The Small Business Development Center is one example that I
would draw to your attention. We
have brought many businesses into
existence with the work our Small
Business Development Center does
through service and outreach every
year. That office has been particularly
beneficial in providing advice, counseling and support to businesses that
are getting off the ground. It’s something that has been very well received
throughout the state.
We also work very closely with
Georgia Economic Development
Commissioner Pat Wilson and his
office when they have new businesses thinking about coming to Georgia,
and we are often asked to showcase
the University of Georgia’s attributes
and how they can be helpful to those
new businesses.
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PK Tell us about UGA’s impressive
athletic program. There have been
some changes and some winning
streaks in recent years.
JM Let me start with our head baseball
coach, Wes Johnson. We hired him
from LSU after they won the national
championship, and he has been a tremendous addition. At this time, we’re
ranked No. 3 in the country, and we’ve
been on quite a winning streak. He
had an incredible start as a coach and
seems to be sustaining that start with
his second season. Another new coach
is Drake Bernstein of the women’s
tennis team, who led the team to the
national indoor championship title this
year. Our men’s basketball coach Mike
White broke a 10-year streak by getting to the NCAA men’s tournament
this year. He has set us on a pathway
for future success.
Then, regarding our football
program, everything starts and stops
with Kirby Smart. He’s been having an
extraordinary run as our head football
coach. I don’t have to tell you about
our two national championships and
now multiple Southeastern Conference
championships. He has set a new standard for excellence for our university.
As for our home winning streak
at Sanford Stadium, we extended the
record to 31 games this fall— that’s the
longest active home winning streak
in college football in the country. But I
think we’re going to be challenged next
year with the difficult schedule that we
have been given by the Southeastern
Conference. In any event, there’s going
to be some unbelievable games at Sanford Stadium this fall.
PK Student tuition and related
college costs present a big challenge for all too many parents and
students. What are your thoughts
on UGA providing an affordable,
high-quality education?
JM The Princeton Review recently
ranked UGA number 13 in the country
for best value among public institutions. Being number 13 nationwide for
best value says a lot about how our
students receive a world-class education without paying premium prices.
Our tuition increases have been
rare in recent years and very small in
measure. We have kept fees down to
make sure a UGA education remains
affordable. Probably the thing I’m most
proud of is that we have now received
support from our alumni and friends to
create over 1,000 need-based, endowed
scholarships that are going to be a
part of UGA forever. And those 1,000
need-based, endowed scholarships are
supporting students who would have
otherwise never been able to afford to
attend UGA. That was something that
we were in dire need of having at this
university: the ability to support students in need. We are fortunate to have
had so many individuals and friends of
the institution, led by our loyal alumni
base, that have helped us achieve that
goal through our Georgia Commitment
Scholarship Program.
