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Previous Leadership Award Recipients

2024 Leadership Award Recipients

Emerging Leader Award

Erin Bush, History

Kelly McFaden, Social Foundations and Leadership

Previous Leadership Award Recipients

2023 Leadership Award Recipients

Raluca Viman-Miller, Political Science & International Affairs

2022 Leadership Award Recipients

2022 Emerging Leader Award

Alexander, Wisnoski, History, Anthropology, and Philosophy

2021 Leadership Award Recipients

2021 Leadership Award Recipients

Esther Morgan-Ellis, Music

Sarah Young, Political Science

2020 Leadership Award Recipients

2020 Emerging Leader Award

Lauren Johnson, College of Education

Tamara Spike, History, Anthropology, and Philosophy

2019 Leadership Award Recipients

2019 Emerging Leader Award

Robin O'Day, History

Nathan Price, Political Science

2018 Leadership Award Recipients

2018 Emerging Leader Award

Dee Gillespie, History

Victoria Hightower, History

April Nelms, Teacher Education

2017 Leadership Award Recipients

2017 Emerging Leader Award

Sung Shin Kim, History, Anthropology, and Philosophy

Michael Rifenburg, English

Johanna Luthman, History

2016 Leadership Award Recipients

2016 Emerging Leader Award

Sheri Hardee, Education

Jeanelle Morgan, Biology

Jeff Turk, IESA

2015 Leadership Award Recipients

2015 Emerging Leader Award

Beth Rauhaus, Political Science & International Affairs

Eugene Van Sickle, History-Anthropology-Philosophy

Mike Ryan, Economics & Finance

2015 Teaching Excellence Non-Tenure Track

Maria Albo, Political Science & International Affairs

Barry Whittermore, history

Dawn Lubeski, Biology

2014 Leadership Award Recipients

2014 Emerging Leader Award

Anastasia Lin, English

Jeff Marker, Communications, Media, and Journalism

Matthew Horton, English and Learning Support

Statement on concerns about textbook

Recently, questions have been raised about a passage in a course textbook. After fully reviewing the concern, we want to be clear: the reference in question was not describing Christians or Christianity. The passage refers to an extremist group that misuses Christian symbols to promote hate.

In today’s world, misunderstandings can travel quickly. But our foundation at the University of North Georgia remains steady. We respect people of all beliefs. We reject hate. And we are committed to preparing students to think critically, lead with integrity, and serve in communities across our state, nation, and world.

Education is not about avoiding difficult words or ideas — it is about teaching students to navigate them with context, discernment, and respect. The world is complex, and we are developing students to lead in both these times and what lies ahead. That is what this course, and this university, are about.

We also recognize that learning and scholarship sometimes touch on sensitive, complex, or controversial ideas. That is not a weakness of higher education — it is its strength. Our responsibility is to provide the context, freedom, and support that allow both students and faculty to engage with these ideas thoughtfully. Academic freedom allows us to remain true to our values: protecting freedoms, honoring all beliefs, rejecting hate in every form, and preparing leaders who can meet a complex world with courage and integrity.

While one line in a textbook can get lost in translation, our values have never wavered. For 152 years, the University of North Georgia remains committed to building leaders through debate, dialogue, and learning. That is who we are. And that is what we will continue to do.