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Mission Statement

The UGA Alumni Association proudly supports the academic excellence, best interests and traditions of Georgia’s flagship University and its alumni worldwide.

History

The [University of Georgia Alumni Association] was founded in 1834 as the Alumni Society and was the fourth organization of former students to be created by any institution of higher learning in America. It was the first Alumni Society in the South.

It began on July 26, 1834, when a small group of graduated met in the University Chapel to organize an alumni society. A.S. Clayton, an 1804 graduate, was chairman of the gathering. A special meeting to elect officers and adopt a constitution occurred on August 5. Seventy-one alumni were present with at least one representative from each graduation class of 1804-1834. A constitution was adopted and officers were elected.

A.S. Clayton was named president; Jeptha V. Harris, David Chandler and William C. Dawson, vice presidents; William L. Mitchell, recording secretary; William E. Jones, corresponding secretary, and Elizur L. Newton, treasurer.

One of the first services performed by the Society at the second meeting in 1835 was the approval of a letter to be sent to all University alumni on record requesting their aid in collecting and forwarding to the school specimens of animals, birds, small insects, plants, flowers and mineral. Alumni were also asked to assist in procuring books, old and new editions, manuscripts, letters, autographs, facsimiles, and all other things “curious and rare.”

At the meeting of the Alumni Society in 1836, members voted to establish and support the publication of a journal “to enhance the literary character of our alma mater.” Subscriptions were sought for the journal to be called “The Athenian” but the effort failed.

Meetings were held each year in conjunction with commencement week until the outbreak of The War Between the States when a lapse of six years occurred. In 1886, the first issue of The Pandora (University yearbook) devoted a full page of its 100-page edition to listing the officers of the Society and to report on activities of former Georgia students.

The highlight of each annual meeting of the Society was and address given by some prominent person, usually a politician, government official, or educator.

Dr. R. P. Brooks, later Dean of the School of Commerce and then Dean of the Graduate School, was named secretary of the society and editor of The Alumni Record. The publication was started principally to support the first major alumni fund-raising effort, the War Memorial Fund. This campaign led to the completion of the building now known as Memorial Hall. Dr. Brooks, the first paid part-time professional, served until 1926.

Dr. Brooks was followed in his position by E. A. “Rastus” Lowe who served from February 1926 through July 1926. John D. Allen then became alumni secretary, editor of The Record and business manager for the Society from July 1926 through August 1927.

Tom S. Gray, Jr. held the position from August 1927 until May 1925. Col. A. T. Colley served from 1925 through 1929 when Dyar Massey, director of public relations for the University, took on the additional duties of alumni secretary. Massey served until 1941.

One of the most important accomplishments of the alumni Society during Colley’s tenure was the establishment of the University of Georgia Foundation – a separate organization to receive major gifts to e used for the betterment of the educational programs at UGA. The Foundation was officially established and incorporated in 1937.

The first full-time alumni secretary was William M. Crane who took over in 1941. Under his direction, special emphasis was placed on keeping more complete alumni records and in establishing alumni chapters. One of the most important efforts of Mr. Crane was the absorption of the State Normal School – Georgia State Teachers College into the records and programs of the Georgia Alumni Society.

In 1956, the Alumni Society, working with the University of Georgia Foundation and school administration, established the new position of director of alumni relations. Tyus Butler ’35, a member of the Grady School of Journalism faculty, who had edited the Alumni Record for several years prior, was named to this position. His main task was to create closer ties between the Alumni Society, the UGA Foundation, and the University faculty and administration. He served until his retirement in December 1982. Under Butler’s leadership, new chapters were established, the staff was expanded and numerous programs and activities undertaken including nationally recognized alumni seminar and alumni tours program.

Gordon Bradwell ’65, who joined the Alumni Society in 1971, succeeded Butler and continued expanding the outreach and programs of the society with special attention given to young alumni and enhancement of the seminar and tour programs. He served until 1989.

Dave Muia ’74, who began his UGA career in the alumni relations office in 1975 and also worked in the development office, succeeded Bradwell and served as Executive Director until his retirement in January 2004. Notable changed occurred during Muia’s years including the society becoming a dues paying organization, a change of name for the Society and the magazine, realignment of staff, development of an off-campus alumni center in Atlanta, establishment of an association for retired faculty and staff, the beginning of a Student Alumni Association, the offering of an affinity card, and a revised program or regional programming.

Upon the institution of annual dues, the organization’s name was changed from Alumni Society to the National Alumni Association in 1996 and the Association became a dues paying organization. The “National” was later dropped in 1999 The Alumni Record became the Georgia Magazine in 1999 as well.

By 2004, there were 21,800 dues paying members of the Association and a dues-paying Student Alumni Association. The Association provides assistance to more than 90 regional contacts throughout the country and in several foreign areas.

After serving for seven years as Associate Director/COO, Deborah Dietzler, was named Executive Director in December 2004. At this time, the Association operates with a staff of 14 and headquarters is located in the historic Wray-Nicholson House, 298 South Hull Street in Athens. However, plans for a new state-of-the-art alumni center are underway.

A Board of Directors meets twice annually and advises the Association staff. There are 80 Board members, an Executive Committee of eight and five officers. Vic Sullivan ‘’ is the current Alumni Association President.

Through the years, prominent politicians, business and professional persons and other former students have provided leadership for the Association

Presidents of the alumni organization have included:

Year	Name/Hometown	Year	Name/Hometown
-1839	Augustin Clayton, Athens	1950-1951	A.O.B. Sparks, Macon
1839-1855	J.V. Harris, Columbus	1951-1953	William Hartman, Jr., Athens
1855-1872	William Jackson, Athens	1953-1954	Abit Nix, Athens
1872-1878	William Mitchell, Athens	1954-1955	Eugene Baker, LaGrange
1878-1881	Joseph Ganahl, Augusta	1955-1956	Herman E. Talmadge, Lovejoy
1881-1884	Benjamin Yancey, Rome	1956-1957	J. Phil Campbell, Watkinsville
1884-1890	Joel Billups, Madison	1957-1958	B. Sanders Walker, Macon
1890-1905	Peter Meldrim, Savannah	1958-1959	James W. Woodruff, Columbus
1905-1914	Enoch H. Callaway, Augusta	1959-1960	John A. Sibley, Atlanta
1914-1917	Clark Howell, Sr., Atlanta	1961-1961	Marvin B. Perry, Athens
1917-1923	Charles Candler, Decatur	1962-1963	Julian Quattlebaum, Savannah
1923-1924	Alexander Lawton, Savannah	1964-1965	Philip H. Alston, Jr., Atlanta
1924-1925	Samuel Sibley, Atlanta	1965-1967	Clarke Duncan, Buena Vista
1925-1926	Walter A. Harris, Macon	1967-1969	Jasper Dorsey III, Atlanta
1926-1927	William Barrett, Augusta	1969-1970	Carl Sanders, Augusta
1927-1928	Dr. Frank D. Boland, Atlanta	1970-1973	Monroe Kimbrel, Atlanta
1928-1929	Harold Hirsch, Atlanta	1973-1975	Rawson Haverty, Atlanta
1929-1930	Craig Barrow, Savannah	1975-1977	McCarthy Crenshaw, Jacksonville, Fla.
1930-1931	Phinizy Calhoun, Atlanta	1977-1979	W. Thomas Johnson, Jr., Los Angeles, Cal.
1931-1932	Pope F. Brock, Atlanta	1979-1981	Robert E. Argo, Jr., Athens
1932-1933	Daniel McDougald, Atlanta	1981-1983	Dr. Irvin M. Wofford, Savannah
1933-1934	William L. Erwin, Athens	1983-1985	Earl T. Leonard, Jr. Atlanta
1934-1935	Harrison Jones, Atlanta	1985-1987	Kirby R. Moore, Macon
1935-1936	A. Pratt Adams, Savannah	1987-1989	Clifford S. Campbell, Thomasville
1936-1937	W.D. Anderson, Macon	1989-1991	Louis S. Sohn, Jr., Marietta
1937-1938	Hughes Spalding, Atlanta	1991-1993	Abit Massey, Gainesville
1938-1939	James W. Hull, Augusta	1993-1995	C. Richard Yarbrough, Atlanta
1939-1940	Hatton Lovejoy, LaGrange	1995-1997	Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler, Savannah
1941-1942	Lucien P. Goodrich, Griffin	1997-1999	Carl E. Swearingen, Atlanta
1942-1943	Cam D. Dorsey, Atlanta	1999-2001	Hilton E. Young, Athens
1943-1945	Frank D. Foley, Columbus	2001-2003	Carlton L. Curtis, Atlanta
1945-1947	Robert Troutman, Atlanta	2003-2005	W. H. Dink NeSmith, Jr., Athens
1947-1948	Robert O. Arnold, Covington	2005-2007	Swann Seiler, Savannah
1948-1949	Francis M. Bird, Atlanta	2007-2009	Trey Paris, Gainesville
1949-1950	M.W.H. Collins, Cartersville	2009-	Vic Sullivan, Albany

Membership

The UGA Alumni Association became a dues paying organization in 1996. Unlike many of the organizations on campus, the Alumni Association is self-supporting for operating costs and programming and relies on your support to fund all Alumni Association sponsored campus activities, chapter events, and student programs. Membership dues help to strengthen and support a growing list of exceptional UGA student and alumni programs.

Membership allows the Association to provide academic support to the University through its campus support fund for student organizations, an Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund, a summer fellowship program through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO), and a Study Abroad fellowship.

Several membership options are available including life, annual and student membership. Anyone is welcome to join the UGA Alumni Association.

Members are eligible for a wide array of exclusive social, professional, and financial benefits both locally and nationally, as well as receive the University’s feature quarterly magazine, Georgia Magazine.

Student Alumni Association
The Student Alumni Association, formally Nexus, was created in 1999 to include Students who were interested in becoming active while in school and to continue to be connected after graduation. Student members receive the same benefits as alumni members.

Student Alumni Council
Student Alumni Council members enhance the relationship between the students of the University of Georgia and its alumni by promoting University traditions, instilling pride, bolstering spirit, fostering community and educating leaders on and off campus. The Student Alumni Council will create and promote programs aimed at furthering interaction between alumni and students while also acting as a liaison between the two bodies.

Members are expected to participate and represent the Alumni Association in the activities and functions of the Student Alumni Council, which include but are not limited to: Founder’s Day, Ring Weeks, Ring Ceremony, Graduation Celebrations, First Friday Pep Rally, UGA Six Flags Alumni Night, the SAC orientation retreat, and Alumni Association events on and off campus. Members will also be expected to follow meeting requirements and serve on one of the SAC committees.

The term of membership is for one year and begins during the semester the student is chosen for membership. Current members are reviewed at the end of each term based on their performance by the President, Vice President, and Secretary.

Programs

Athens Program
The Athens Program was set in place to connect alumni and friends in the Athens area to the University through networking opportunities and events that help instill their pride in their University.

Atlanta Program
The Atlanta Program was created to help instill a connection between alumni and friends in the Atlanta area and the University. An Atlanta Alumni Center was established to house staffs that are in charge of Atlanta Programs. These staff members create networking opportunities and events in the Atlanta Metro Area to engage the area alumni and friends of the University.

Regional Program
With alumni spanning all across the nation and the world, Regional Programs was created to keep alumni informed and connected to the University through networking opportunities and events in Chapter and Club Areas. Chapters are set up in areas containing 1,000 or more alumni and Clubs are set up in areas with less than 1,000 alumni. There are now about 95 Chapters and Clubs worldwide.

Young Alumni Program
The Young Alumni Program began in 2008 to keep recent graduates connected to their alma mater, the Young Alumni Program was created. The program provides opportunities to gather together to network or just have fun with fellow alumni and friends.

Young Alumni Council
The UGA Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council represents a diverse group of 30 UGA graduates from the last decade. Representing different degrees and backgrounds, the YAC supports the UGA Alumni Association’s mission through events, programs and community service in the Metro-Atlanta area.

Multicultural Program
Multicultural Programs was incepted in 2005 to provide minority alumni opportunities to be involved and stay connected with the Association and University while networking with and enjoying fellow UGA alumni and friends. The program focuses on outreach to minority and under-represented groups, including African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and bi-racial alumni through specially designed, culturally sensitive events. In addition, the Association strives to create a comfortable environment for networking and social interaction through the many events it co-sponsors with other organizations. A volunteer Steering Committee provides excellent feedback on the best ways to serve UGA's diverse alumni population. In addition to providing special events, Multicultural Programs also works with minority alumni to assist the University with student recruitment. By participating in both Minority Admitted Student Receptions and Call-Outs, multicultural alumni helped the University obtain its most diverse freshman class in the school's history.

Tours Program
The UGA Alumni Association provides a wide range of safe and enjoyable trips all over the world for alumni and friends. Association-endorsed trips include informative educational programs, the services of a professional tour director and expert local guides. Schedule your Bulldog adventure today! In order to participate in an Alumni Tour, at least one family member must have active Alumni Association membership.

Women Of UGA Program
Women of UGA started in 2007 as a growing community of women affiliated with the University of Georgia. The Women of UGA are connected to each other and to the University's schools, colleges, and the UGA Alumni Association by their commitment to and participation in professional development, community service, and personal empowerment. The Mission of the Women of UGA Program is to provide a forum for women of UGA to connect with one another for personal and professional growth. The goals are to create a sense of community for women across UGA to connect with one another and build relationships, provide programming for women across UGA that develops their skills and empowers them to achieve their professional goals, coordinate and support volunteer initiatives geared towards women and girls. Programming is in place for professional development, service and community involvement, and social activities.

Student Program
Student Programs was put into place along with the Student Alumni Association to provide programming such as events and socials for networking and engagement of students and alumni.

SoloSeniors Program
The UGA Alumni Association and a group of seniors formed SoloSENIORS in 2006 to foster interaction and networking among mature single professionals. The group is open to unmarried men and women at least 50 years of age who are members of the UGA Alumni Association.

Annual Events

Founders’ Day Lecture
Dawg Trot 5K Run/Walk
Workin’ Like a Dawg Employee Breakfast
Alumni Awards Luncheon
UGA Night at Six Flags
Bulldog Breakfast Club with Coach Mark Richt
Lunch with Katharyn Richt and the Coaches’ Wives
Homecoming BBQ
Faculty and Staff Authors’ Reception
Member Discount Night at the Bookstore
Holiday Open House and Toy and Food Drive