Letter from the President

As I reflect on all the University of Georgia has accomplished in the past year and look toward the infinite possibilities ahead, I can say with confidence that the future of UGA has never been brighter. From our growing research enterprise and burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem to our pioneering instruction and valuable public service, this institution is reaching unprecedented heights, thanks to our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends.

University of Georgia students are succeeding at record levels, and we are constantly striving to maximize their educational experience. Facilities such as the Business Learning Community and Studio 225 are providing spaces for students and faculty to interact in new, meaningful ways. We continue to incorporate real-world skills and cutting-edge instructional methods to promote active learning, while also expanding support for first-generation, rural, and other underserved students.

We have greatly increased our institution’s capacity for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in recent years, and even more is planned for the near future. Initiatives such as the Entrepreneurship Program and I-Corps are helping faculty and students turn their research and ideas into commercial products, and the Innovation District will further support these efforts. The new Interdisciplinary STEM Research Building promises new opportunities for scientific breakthroughs.

I can say with confidence that the future of UGA has never been brighter.

President Jere W. Morehead

UGA’s public service and outreach made significant impacts on our home state and beyond over the past year. From Cooperative Extension’s work to help Georgia farmers recover from Hurricane Michael to the Small Business Development Center’s assistance with creating jobs and expanding markets, we helped to develop the economy and improve our quality of life in a variety of ways.

With generous support from our alumni and friends, UGA has surpassed the $1.2 billion goal of the Commit to Georgia Campaign well ahead of schedule. This ongoing campaign is about more than a number, however. It is about amplifying the positive impact of our faculty, staff, and students. Several months remain in the campaign, and I look forward to seeing how many more Georgia Commitment Scholarships, endowed faculty positions, and other life-changing and world-changing opportunities can be created by our supporters before the campaign ends on June 30, 2020.

I am pleased to share this annual report of our achievements with you and look forward to reporting next year on the milestones we will have marked together at the conclusion of the Commit to Georgia Campaign. Thank you for all you are doing to help the University of Georgia open doors for our students, enhance our learning environment, and solve grand challenges for our state and the world.

Sincerely,

Jere W. Morehead