The Pulse – March 2026

Hello, team! 

It has been an exciting start to 2026 for DAR – from regional events and Signature Programs to Career Fairs and board meetings, everyone has been hard at work. I am grateful for your continued commitment to excellence in your role and proud of how we are all DARing to Level Up!

As you are aware, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted the University of Georgia School of Medicine preliminary accreditation on February 13. This milestone allows the university to recruit and admit its inaugural class, a landmark achievement for public medical education in Georgia. This is a very special time for UGA, and I’m proud of how our division has collaborated to raise funds to support the Medical Education and Research Building and student scholarships.

Last month, I had the chance to attend the CASE District III Conference in Nashville and enjoyed spending time with our team, watching team members present and learning from other universities. As you travel to conferences this year, remember that you’re doing so as an ambassador for UGA. Conferences provide a valuable opportunity for you to network with peers from other universities who might be interested in joining our UGA team one day.

If you haven’t already done so, mark your calendars for our half-day AdvanceUGA Conference for DAR staff on March 23. I look forward to spending time together as a division hearing from three inspiring alumni and honoring this year’s Level Up award winners.

In an effort to make The Pulse a more helpful resource for you, you’ll notice a new format below. Be sure to visit the link to the blog post to read all the relevant content for this month that you are used to seeing in The Pulse.

With Gratitude,

Bulldog 100

The ranked 2026 Bulldog 100 was announced at the annual celebration in the West End Zone on February 7. Thank you to everyone who joined us and honored this group well. Photos from the event are available here.

Alumni Awards

The 2026 Alumni Awards were announced last month. The honorees will be welcomed to Athens on Thursday, April 2 for a luncheon to celebrate their dedication to the University. More about these distinguished members of the UGA community will be available following the luncheon in April at alumni.uga.edu/alumniawards.

Parents Leadership Council Weekend

The Parents Leadership Council gathered on campus February 6 and 7 for their bi-annual PLC Weekend. Events included a grants committee meeting, engagement events featuring Athletics, School of Medicine and Student Affairs, an evening reception in the West End Zone, and more. Stephanie and Fielder Shurling were announced as the 2026-2027 PLC Chairs. You can learn more about their family in this blog.

Senior Signature

The Senior Signature deadline for all students who graduate in May, August and December of 2026 is March 31. Learn more at https://alumni.uga.edu/seniorsignature/.

Dawg Day of Giving 

On Thursday, March 26, we’re Calling the Dawgs to support the university. Dawg Day of Giving is a unified, all-day fundraising effort and our goal is 12,000 gifts. 

A few items to help you prepare for Dawg Day of Giving:  

1. Save the date for Thursday, March 26! The Dawg Day of Giving site at givingday.uga.edu is live and is ready for early giving.  
2. Share with your Bulldog networks. The digital toolkit (dar.uga.edu/givingday) has social media resources and so much more for you to use – and share with your leadership, boards, volunteers, student groups, faculty/staff, etc. 
3. Development Officers. As you receive commitments from donors, send donor name, GAIL lookup ID, amount and site/fund to Sherry Abrams (ude.agu@smarbaws). Commitments can be received up to 11:59 Pacific Time on March 26. Payments should ideally be expected to be received in FY26. 
4. Challenges and Power Hours. There are numerous ways for you to connect your donors with a variety of impactful giving challenges. Full list is on the Dawg Day of Giving site.  

One day. One Bulldog Nation. Endless potential.

A Sweet Reminder of How Much You’re Appreciated

The Employee Engagement Committee and Talent Management delivered cupcakes to DAR team members across 1PP, Waddel Hall (Special Events), and Clark Howell Hall (Career Center) on February, Friday the 13th. It was a small gesture, but it came with a big message: we see you! We see the dedication you bring to supporting our students, staff, faculty, and donors. We see the commitment, teamwork and the heart you put into everything you do. Thank you for showing up every day with a hard work ethic and care for your work. You make a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for you. 

Security Awareness Training Compliance 

DAR achieved 100% compliance of the Security Awareness Training in October 2025, and we are the first department to do so in the 12 years that the IT auditor has been working with UGA! Congratulations to Juan Machado, Scarlett Hart and Abbie Jones for their dedication to this project.  

Mentor Program Update

Since July 1:

# of mentors – 6,588 (565 new registrations)

# of mentees – 7,419 (2,374 new registrations)

# of connections – 2,584 (includes 16-week, quick chats, and circles)

Check out the latest blog post “Mentorship that Builds Futures” celebrating the power of a mentor partnership and the calendar of events for the latest Mentor Program webinars.

Kudos to our amazing campus partners and UGA Mentors who joined us for lunch with our Beyond the Arch Career Readiness Bootcamp Scholars! Thank you, Jill Walton, Ray Clere, and Courtney Ayers for your support of this program and our students. Also, shoutout to Kyle Tschepikow for leading a session with the students on professional appreciation and gratitude and to Logan Lewis for joining us to take pictures of the event!

Mentor Skills: Coaching for Confidence and Resilience (virtual) 

Date: Friday, March 6th, 2026, 12:00-1:00pm  

Mentor Guest Speaker: Mel Baxter  

Description: Engaging in a mentorship relationship is one of the most powerful ways to help emerging professionals build confidence and resilience. While celebrating achievements is important, the true value of mentorship often lies in guiding mentees through challenges and uncertainty. This workshop will explore how mentors can effectively coach their mentees to develop self-assurance, recover from setbacks, and approach obstacles as opportunities for growth. Through strategies that emphasize reflection, reframing, and constructive feedback, mentors will learn how to foster a mindset of confidence and perseverance that empowers their mentees to thrive in any stage of their career.

Register here – https://gail.uga.edu/events/cctr/mentor-skills-mar-2026 

Dawgs in the Workplace Mentorship Dinner: March 20th from 6-9pm in the Magnolia Ballroom

Our mentor panel will be moderated by Dean Charles Davis. This event is designed to bring mentors and mentees in the UGA Mentor Program together for a night of community and connection. 

Donor Spotlight & Story Recommendations

Help elevate meaningful donor stories throughout the year by recommending individuals in your portfolio. This will help streamline communication with central DAR teams and ensure every unit has an opportunity to participate in division-wide storytelling.