Transfer Advocates

First Place Winner

Ryan Smith – Academic Advisor, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Ryan Smith is an Academic Advisor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Since joining Franklin in 2021, he has advised students majoring in Interior Design, Photography, Printmaking, Geography, and Atmospheric Sciences.

In every transfer student’s first advising appointment, Ryan shares with them that he also transferred to UGA. Right away, he aims to connect with the student by telling them he felt just as overwhelmed, excited, and nervous as they do. His goal is for the student to leave that first appointment with their mind at ease knowing someone at their new school has their back. Behind the scenes he relies heavily on the exceptional folks in Franklin’s Office of Transfer Academic Services to help make the logistics of each student’s transition to UGA as smooth as possible.

In 2024, Ryan won the UGA Outstanding New Advisor Award, and later that year received the NACADA Global Award for Outstanding New Advisor.
Ryan was previously nominated for the Transfer Advocate Award in 2023 and 2024 as well as the Franklin College Outstanding Academic Advisor Award (2023 and 2024). He serves as a mentor in the UGA MAP Program and has earned certificates in Academic Advising and Diversity and Inclusion.

Second Place Winner

Lauren Walker – Senior Academic Advisor, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Lauren is the Senior Academic Advisor in Kinesiology for the Mary Frances Early College of Education. She advises Exercise and Sport Science and Sport Management students and has been advising since 2019.

As a transfer student to UGA herself, Lauren understands first-hand the challenges and rewards of being a transfer student. She believes that each transfer student has the unique opportunity to find a home at UGA and to make their experience their own. She takes a strengths-based approach to working with transfer students and helps them explore their personal, professional, and academic interests. Lauren believes that each student brings something vital to the UGA community. It is her joy to assist transfer students in finding the place where they can shine and bring their authentic selves! Through a combination of supporting, teaching, and empowering-Lauren aims to guide her students through their transition to UGA and genuinely find a place of acceptance and community.

Lauren received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from UGA in 2013, and graduated with her Masters of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development from UGA in 2023. Lauren is passionate about professional development, and she has earned UGA’s Advising Certificate, UGA’s Advanced Advising Certificate, UGA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate, and has completed NACADA’s Advising Student Athletes certification course. She was a 2020 nominee for UGA’s Outstanding New Advisor award. Lauren has served as a professional mentor with the Mentoring Advising Professionals (MAP) program offered through UGA and currently serves on the MAP committee. She has also served as a mentor for undergraduate students via the UGA Mentor Program. Additionally, she participates in the Advising Student Athletes Discussion Group for academic advisors. Lauren also enjoys teaching courses through UGA’s Learning and Development Office. She continues to learn, grow, and find new ways to support and guide transfer students and looks forward to always becoming better at her practice.

Third Place Winner

Emily Robinson – Academic Advisor & Transfer Specialist, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Emily Robinson is an academic advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, where she also serves as the College’s Transfer Specialist. She advises students pursuing majors in Special Education, Elementary Education, and TESOL World Language Education.

Since beginning her role in August 2020, Emily has received several honors and certificates, including first place in the Transfer Advocate Award and two subsequent honorable mentions, and a nomination for the 2020–2021 Outstanding New Advisor Award. Most recently, she was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Advising Special Populations Award.

Emily is deeply committed to supporting transfer students and ensuring that no student falls through the cracks. She dedicates time to maintaining detailed records, educating her colleagues, and staying informed about the challenges transfer students face at UGA. Her efforts are focused on sharing resources and fostering cross-campus collaboration to implement meaningful changes that better serve this student population.

Her advising philosophy is grounded in student development theory, with an emphasis on helping students cultivate a sense of belonging. Emily also advises students enrolled in UGA’s only fully online bachelor’s degree program—comprised primarily of transfer students—and teaches EDUC 4200, the College of Education’s Transfer Seminar.

A proud UGA alumna, Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in 2017 and went on to complete her M.Ed. in Professional Counseling: College Student Affairs at the University of West Georgia in 2020.

First place winner

Misha Boyd – Academic Advisor, Odum School of Ecology

Misha Boyd advises a student in her office.

Misha Boyd is the Academic Advisor for the Odum School of Ecology, with over 23 years of experience in this role. When she first began advising students, the undergraduate ecology program had just under 100 Ecology majors. Her dedication and expertise have contributed to the program’s growth, which now has over 200 A.B. and B.S. Ecology majors.

Misha sees her job as much more than guiding students toward courses to be taken each semester. Advising is about building relationships, and through these relationships, she is able to participate in molding an academic mind. Every student who comes through her door is welcomed as an individual, bringing their unique history, beliefs, interests, and talents to college. Building the advising relationship within the context of students’ needs and circumstances is essential. This comprehensive approach to advising allows for maximal rapport with each student over time, inviting trust, free-flowing dialogue, and honest communication. She is able to encourage students beyond their academics and to guide them in a fashion that defines both short-term and long-term goals and optimizes chances of success in pursuit of their goals.

As an academic advisor, there’s nothing more rewarding than when former students reach out to share their accomplishments and successes after graduation, reinforcing Misha’s meaningful role in shaping their futures.

Second place winner

Lauren Flowers – Academic Advisor, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Lauren Flowers

Lauren is the Senior Academic Advisor in Kinesiology for the Mary Frances Early College of Education. She advises Exercise and Sport Science and Sport Management students and has been advising since 2019.

As a transfer student to UGA herself, Lauren understands first-hand the challenges and rewards of being a transfer student. She believes that each transfer student has the unique opportunity to find a home at UGA and to make their experience their own. She takes a strengths-based approach to working with transfer students and helps them explore their personal, professional, and academic interests. Lauren believes that each student brings something vital to the UGA community. It is her joy to assist transfer students in finding the place where they can shine and bring their authentic selves! Through a combination of supporting, teaching, and empowering-Lauren aims to guide her students through their transition to UGA and genuinely find a place of acceptance and community.

Lauren received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from UGA in 2013, and graduated with her Masters of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development from UGA in 2023. Lauren is passionate about professional development, and she has earned UGA’s Advising Certificate, UGA’s Advanced Advising Certificate, UGA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate, and has completed NACADA’s Advising Student Athletes certification course. She was a 2020 nominee for UGA’s Outstanding New Advisor award. Lauren has served as a professional mentor with the Mentoring Advising Professionals (MAP) program offered through UGA and currently serves on the MAP committee. She has also served as a mentor for undergraduate students via the UGA Mentor Program. Additionally, she participates in the Advising Student Athletes Discussion Group for academic advisors. Lauren also enjoys teaching courses through UGA’s Learning and Development Office. She continues to learn, grow, and find new ways to support and guide transfer students and looks forward to always becoming better at her practice.

Third place winner

Whitney Jones – Academic Advisor, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Whitney Jones

Whitney Jones is an Academic Advisor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She advises students in the Agribusiness, Agricultural & Applied Economics, Environmental Economics & Management and Hospitality & Food Industry Management majors. Whitney enjoys advocating for transfer students at UGA by creating tailored graduation plans and providing them with resources from the CAES Transfer Student Support team, Office of Transfer Services, Career Center, and Office for Student Success and Achievement.

She has earned certificates in Academic Advising, Advanced Academic Advising, and Diversity & Inclusion throughout her nearly 10 years at UGA and she is working toward her Diversity & Inclusion in Academic Advising Certificate. She was also recently certified through InsideTrack for Foundational Academic Coaching.

Whitney was selected as the Outstanding Academic Advisor in CAES 2021-2022 and went on to win the UGA Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award 2022-2023. She has also been recognized by the Career Center as a Student Career Success Influencer since 2020. She recently completed her tenure as Chair of the Academic Coordinating Council for the 2023-2024 academic year and she is eager to return as Chair of the AACC Communications subcommittee in January 2025 after becoming a first-time mom to her son that is due in July 2024.

Whitney was the third-place winner of the Transfer Advocate award 2023-2024 and is incredibly grateful to receive recognition for the second year in a row for the 2024-2025 academic year. She looks forward to continuing to support transfer students through building long-term relationships and serving as a trusted resource at UGA for students, staff and faculty.

Debbie Hargrave

First place winner

Debbie Hargrave – Senior Academic Advisor, Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Debbie Hargrave is a Senior Academic Advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Her programs include Elementary Education and Science Education. She joined the college’s Office of Undergraduate Advising in October 2018. Debbie is passionate about developing relationships and guiding students through their academic journey.

It’s Debbie’s belief that students transferring to UGA should feel welcome and accepted on day one.  As one of the student’s first contacts at the University, Debbie has that opportunity to provide that feeling of acceptance. Connecting with students is vital to building a relationship that allows her to nurture, support, teach and challenge them.

Debbie is involved in the Mentoring Advising Professionals program and was a nominee for the 2022-2023 Outstanding Professional Advisor award. Last year she was the second place recipient of the Transfer Advocate Award.

She received her bachelor’s degree in health and physical Education from the University of Georgia. After graduation she returned to the Athens area to teach elementary and middle school for over ten years.

Jill Hopkins

Second place winner

Jill Hopkins – Academic Advisor, Terry College of Business

Jill Hopkins is an academic advisor in the Terry College of Business advising students pursuing Finance and Real Estate majors primarily although she has students in six majors in the college. She joined the Terry team in September of 2019.  Jill is keenly interested in the transfer population and is passionate about developing relationships and assisting students in reaching their full potential.

Since 2019, Jill has earned two advising related certificates and is currently working on two more. She is involved in the Mentoring Advising Professionals program as a mentor, the Athletic Advising and Transfer Student Advising committees, and the Leadership Dawgs program. She reads study abroad scholarship applications for the Office of Global Engagement as well. In 2021, she was selected as the Terry College of Business Advisor of the year and in 2023 her Leaderships Dawgs team won the Community Investment Project competition.

Jill received her Bachelor’s degree in Food Science Engineering and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Georgia. After graduation, she spent 35 years working in the financial sector prior to returning to Athens in retirement to work with UGA’s business students.

Whitney Jones

Third place winner

Whitney Jones – Academic Advisor, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Whitney Jones is an Academic Advisor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She advises students in the Agribusiness, Agricultural & Applied Economics, Environmental Economics & Management and Hospitality & Food Industry Management majors. Whitney began her journey in higher education in 2014 where she found a passion for working with non-traditional, underrepresented students. She prides herself in being an advocate for transfer students at UGA through supporting them with resources provided through the CAES Transfer Student Support team, Office of Transfer Services, Career Center, and Division of Academic Enhancement.

Whitney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language & Literature and minor in Creative Writing in May 2014. She has since earned certificates in Academic Advising, Advanced Academic Advising, Diversity & Inclusion, and she is working toward her Diversity & Inclusion in Academic Advising Certificate. She was selected as the Outstanding Academic Advisor in CAES 2021-2022 and went on to win the UGA Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award 2022-2023. She has been Chair of the Academic Advising Coordinating Council’s Communications Committee since 2019 where she worked with her team to develop a newsletter for Advisors across campus to share important updates and foster cross-campus collaboration.

She was recently selected as Chair of the Academic Advising Coordinating Council for the 2023-2024 academic year. Whitney is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with transfer students and for her recognition as the third place winner of the Transfer Advocate Award 2023-2024. She looks forward to continuing to support transfer students through building long-term relationships and utilizing new and innovative programs to guide them toward success at UGA.

The University of Georgia recognizes exemplary transfer advocates who are influencing policies, practices, and programs to benefit transfer students.

First place winner

Emily Robinson – Academic Advisor, Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Emily Robinson is an academic advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Emily advises students pursuing the Special Education and Intended Elementary Education majors.

Since starting her role in August 2020, Emily has earned two advising related certificates and is currently working on two more. She is involved in the Mentoring Advising Professionals program and AACC committee, Transfer Student discussion group, Let’s Talk Transfers, and the DEI Task Force. Emily was a nominee for the 2020-2021 Outstanding New Advisor award and was awarded Colleague of the Semester by her peers.

Helping students make the transition to UGA is a passion of hers and she is determined to not let any single student fall through the cracks. Therefore, she spends extra time keeping detailed records, educating her peers on Core to Core and Transfer Course Evaluations, and learning about the common issues transfer students face at UGA. Her goal is to share resources and engage in cross-campus collaboration to implement change to better serve this student population. Emily’s advising philosophy is based upon a student development theoretical framework and helping students find a sense of belonging. Emily has the opportunity to advise students pursuing UGA’s only fully online bachelor’s program, which primarily consists of transfer students.

Emily received her bachelor’s degree from UGA in 2017 and her M.Ed. in Professional Counseling: College Student Affairs from the University of West Georgia in 2020.

Second place winner

Debbie Hargrave – Senior Academic Advisor, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Debbie Hargrave is a Senior Academic Advisor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.

Her programs include Elementary Education and Science Education. She joined the college’s Office of Undergraduate Advising in October 2018. Debbie is passionate about developing relationships and guiding students through their academic journey.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of Georgia. After graduation she returned to the Athens area to teach elementary and middle school for over ten years.