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Our College, Our Commitment

Our College, Our Commitment

From the Office of Dean Charles Davis

Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, one of the nation’s leading schools of its kind, views faculty, staff, and student diversity and inclusion to be core values of our work and learning environments. Diversity creates opportunities for intellectual stimulation, tough conversations, learning, growth and innovation that subsequently enable our students to become effective leaders and well-rounded citizens. The College counts among its alumni Charlayne Hunter-Gault (ABJ ’63), the first Black woman to attend the University of Georgia.  We know our history and we know that at Grady College, diversity, intersectionality and inclusion make us stronger.

Being a state institution we aim to serve the population of all corners of our state. We look forward to your partnership to create opportunities and to build an inclusive culture for our College and, as a result, for our professions and industries.

The Grady College Inclusive Excellence Committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, guides the college in its diversity initiatives through programming and long-term planning. A diversity director helps implement the diversity committee’s initiatives while focusing on recruiting a diverse student body.

Grady College maintains a comprehensive, college-wide diversity and inclusive excellence plan.

Grady College’s Diversity and Inclusive Excellence plan

Diversity includes, but is not limited to, groups defined by race, nationality, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, disability and/or health status, gender identity/expression, veteran status, geographic origins and socioeconomic status. (p. 5)

The College’s Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Plan was created in 2000 and is regularly updated and approved by full faculty, most recently in 2023.

A headshot of Janice Hume.

Dr. Janice Hume

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism, Professor

jhume@uga.edu706-542-5980
Journalism Bldg, room 207
Learn More Read more about Janice

Janice Hume, chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee

Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Ron Gault have generously created a new endowment at the University of Georgia to inspire and support students in projects that give voice to the voiceless, the charting light of the life and work of Charlayne Hunter-Gault.

This fund will provide grants to students from all disciplines across the university. It is fueled by the spirit of Charlayne’s career as a journalist and her journeys to the horizon that intellectually and geographically give voice, in Charlayne’s own words, “to people whose voices are needed—to help them realize their dreams for themselves and their communities, to help contribute to human understanding and to enlarge our capacity for empathy.”

Additional Resources at UGA

There are several additional UGA resources available for our diverse student population including:

Additional Organizations

  • The 3% Conference

  • Broadcast Education Association

  • National Association of Hispanic Journalists

  • American Advertising Federation

  • Geena Davis Institute

  • Native American Journalists Association

  • News Leaders Association

  • Journalism & Women’s Symposium

  • The Poynter Institute

  • Asian American Journalists Association

  • The LAGRANT Foundation

  • Public Relations Society of America

  • The Association of LBGTQ Journalists (NLGJA Stylebook)

  • National Association of Black Journalists

  • Society of Professional Journalists

The Latest

Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.

Shanylah Sainvil touring a recording studio in Los Angeles during summer 2024 (Photo/Shanylah Sainvil).

Profiles of Tenacity: Shanylah Sainvil

Shanylah Sainvil is an entertainment and media studies major from McDonough, Georgia, expected to graduate in spring 2025. She is also pursuing a minor in design and media and a […]

Grady College names 2025 fellowship inductees

Grady College is proud to announce the class of 2025 Fellowship inductees: Malena Cunningham Anderson (ABJ ’80), David Chandley (ABJ ’84), Bill Crane (ABJ ’84), Sanders Hickey and Parker Middleton […]

Header reading Faculty research

Research finds influencers effective in delivering sunscreen messaging

Health communicators are frequently tasked with creating clear, effective messaging that persuade people to protect their health. Researchers at the University of Georgia studied messaging aimed at Black audiences that […]

Baker, Hennink-Kaminski, Lidey and Noland named Grady Alumni Award honorees

Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Awards, recognizing alumni who have established a tradition of service and achievement in […]

Latria Graham making a point at a lecturn.

MFA Narrative Nonfiction mentor receives 2025 American Mosaic Journalism Prize

Latria Graham, a mentor in the Masters of Fine Arts Narrative Nonfiction program at Grady College, is one of two recipients of the prestigious American Mosaic Journalism Prize. Graham will […]

Profiles of Tenacity: Nigel Whittington

Nigel Whittington is a fourth-year journalism major from Cartersville, GA set to graduate in May 2025. Along with his journalism degree, Whittington is pursuing a certificate in sports media. He […]

Group in front of a step and repeat.

Grady AdPR students recognized with prestigious national awards for research excellence

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations is proud to announce that two of its graduate students have received distinguished honors for their research in public relations and […]

Understanding fans and cultural dynamics: “Korean Pop Culture beyond Asia”

Korean media has exploded in popularity across the globe in the past decade. “Korean Pop Culture beyond Asia,” edited by Benjamin Min Han, associate professor in Entertainment and Media Studies at […]

Ph.D. Profile – Ja Kyung Seo

Ja Kyung Seo is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations at the University of Georgia. Her research seeks to understand how emerging technologies, including interactive […]

Profiles of Tenacity: Gabriana Carisma

Gabriana Carisma is a third-year Advertising major with a Business minor from Smyrna, GA, set to graduate in May 2025. She is the treasurer of Sigma Alpha Omega sorority and […]

Ph.D. Profile – Karen Robayo-Sánchez

Karen Andrea Robayo-Sanchez is a Ph.D. student in mass communication and public relations studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are international communication, leadership, gender equality and intersectionality. […]

Headshot of Wenqing Zhao with headline Ph.D. Profile

Ph.D. Profile: Wenqing Zhao

Wenqing Zhao is a doctoral student in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations at UGA. Her research focuses on health, crisis and conflict communication. She is a lab manager […]

Profiles of Tenacity: De’Ondre Harris

De’Ondre Harris is a fourth-year journalism major in the public relations Double Dawgs program. He is a Grady College ambassador, studio intern for The Bert Show and a student bus […]

The cover of the "You Go, Girl" script and a headshot of Tyra Hill.

Grant recipient produces film empowering Black women

Tyra Hill knew when she heard Charlayne Hunter-Gault (ABJ ’63) talk about the Giving Voice to the Voiceless grant last year, she had to apply. Hill had attended the Holmes-Hunter […]

Profiles of Tenacity: Woody Lofton

Woody Lofton is a master’s candidate in Journalism and Mass Communications from Albany, Georgia. He is actively involved in Graduate and Professional Scholarships (GAPS) and serves as a member of […]

Grady InternViews: Libby Hobbs

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their internship experience.   Libby Hobbs is a fourth-year journalism major and reporter with Atlanta Civic Circle […]

Events

Negotiating Salary and Benefits

Join us on Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Zoom to get advice and tips about negotiating salary and benefits in an ask me anything (AMA)-style panel. Come with questions – great for seniors entering these conversations or any students wondering how to approach these topics. Hear from these Grady College alumni and industry professionals:

  • Savannah Levins (ABJ ’14), 3x Emmy and 2x Edward R Murrow Award winning Investigative Reporter, 11Alive News (NBC) Atlanta (moderator)
  • Shari Hope (ABJ ’13), Sr. Manager, HR Enablement for Global Talent Organization at LinkedIn
  • Austin Hope, People Partner, GSRS & Economics
  • Daryan Rahimzadeh (AB ’12), Career Coach & Former Google Recruiter

Register here to attend: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/V9ZsLladQCGtiaut0BauNw

PAW Coffee Bar

Grady students are welcome to enjoy a coffee bar presented by the Grady College Propelling Achievement for the Workplace (PAW) Program. Stop by the PAF starting at 9:30 a.m. for a treat and to learn about the program. (While supplies last)

Women in Media – A Seat at the Table 2025

UGA Women in Media hosts its Seat at the Table event. More information coming soon.

Dawg Day of Giving

For 24 hours, we’re #CallingAllDawgs to make a gift of any size to any area of UGA. The collective generosity of thousands of Bulldogs during Dawg Day of Giving supports scholarships and resources for students, enables innovative research, and helps the University of Georgia build a better tomorrow. For more information, please visit this site.

Cox Institute Dinner

This event is invite only. Location and other details will be provided on the invitation.

TEDxUGA 2025 – Destination

Our journeys are shaped by the people we meet and the places we explore. When we pursue new ideas, forge connections, and embrace new experiences, we deepen our understanding of one another and the world. The University of Georgia is a place where many paths cross for the first time, where ideas converge and new possibilities emerge. These moments of connection – on campus and beyond – remind us that the journey is as impactful as the destination. And now you’ve arrived at your next Destination: TEDxUGA 2025. For more information about the event, presenters, and more, please visit the 2025 event page. Learn more & Register: https://tedxuga.com/register/

Summer Media Academies

Our Summer Media Academies are an intensive, residential one-week program open to rising high school sophomores to seniors interested in the mass communication field. Students take classes at Grady College in tracks including Journalism, Advertising & Public Relations or Entertainment. Click below for details about this summer program.

Headshot of Jimena Somilleda

Perspectives

Growing up as a first-generation Mexican-American, I always valued the sacrifices my parents made to get my younger brother and me at UGA. From a young age, they’ve instilled a passion for breaking generational cycles and being a voice for my community.

Jimena Somilleda

AdPR Student

Perspectives

“AdPR Academy was such a fun and insightful experience. It was a pleasure being in a room filled with diverse students from different universities. Being able to incorporate my ideas in the rebranding of an organization gave me a glimpse of what the public relations industry will be like. I am overly thankful to Grady College for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing program.”

Joyce Bell

University of Georgia, 2023 AdPR Academy cohort

Perspectives

“Through AdPR Academy, I got to build crazy skills within advertising since it is a lot workshops and networking with people from Warner Brothers, Google, a bunch of ad agencies and they exposed you to completely new things. I had a job offer after sitting down during the networking hour and that is something I wouldn’t have gotten if I didn’t go.”

Jonina Bullock

advertising student

Perspectives

“This is one of the biggest honors I’ve received thus far because it represents everything I have been striving for: increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in the media industry.” —

Alise Crittendon

(AB ’22), 2022 MAIP Fellow, creative copywriter, Edelman

Perspectives

“I have gained a knowledge of what DEI and cultural relevancy are and how a brand like Delta applies it to every team they have. Outside the DEI space, I have learned a lot about the brand campaign process and am familiar with the client/agency relationship and ecosystem.”

Deborah Yoon

advertising student

Perspectives

“I didn’t have a lot of people who were like me in the classroom, so now I am able to be an example for students in the classroom to see that there is excellence at every level from a person who is a first gen student.”

Denetra Walker

assistant professor, journalism

Perspectives

“Having a progressive disability and being categorized as a minority has shaped me to be an outsider of the world. Never fitting in and not having a seat at the dinner party has motivated me to constantly push others to be more inclusive whether it’s at the workplace or in my personal life.”

Marcella Genut

(AB 18), recipient of 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Award

Perspectives

“I don’t really have a professional hero, but I love seeing Black women paving the way for us, such as Issa Rae, Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes and Rihanna.”

Kacie Geter

Journalism Student