Vice President Juanita Hicks Remarks | May 13, 2026
Welcome from Dr. Juanita Hicks, Vice President for University Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
Thank you, Ryan and good morning, everyone.
It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you today as we come together to celebrate the people who make the University of Georgia such an extraordinary place to work, learn, and serve.
Whether that is helping someone navigate a new family member and worklife, learning a skill, or cheering on our teams while working at an event.
This is one of my favorite occasions each year because it gives us a chance to pause and recognize the dedication, talent, and commitment that power our institution every single day.
Today is about more than milestones—it’s about the collective impact each of you has on our university community.
At University Human Resources, our work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: that people are at the heart of everything we do. Over the past year, that belief has guided us as we’ve continued to strengthen how we support faculty and staff across campus.
Through our Advancing UGA Together initiative we’ve focused on building stronger connections, enhancing the employee experience, and ensuring that every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.
This campaign is more than a message—it reflects our shared commitment to progress, partnership, and purpose.
This past year has been one of great change, momentum, and evolution for UHR and for the university as a whole.
The University of Georgia continues to reach new heights in academic excellence—through the achievements of our students, the impact of groundbreaking research, and the dedication of faculty and staff who make it all possible.
From expanding opportunities for learning and discovery to the launch of the new School of Medicine and School of Nursing, UGA is boldly advancing its mission in ways that will shape the future of our state and beyond.
And behind each of these milestones are US—the people who support them every step of the way.
UHR is proud to play a role in that success—supporting the recruitment, development, and well-being of the faculty and staff who drive this institution forward.
Over the past year, we’ve advanced several key initiatives that reflect this commitment.
We celebrated our workforce in new and meaningful ways through events like the Staff Appreciation Celebration and the Tuition Assistance Program celebration, recognizing the invaluable contributions of staff across the university.
We also took an important step forward in supporting career growth with the launch of the UGA Journeys Career Progression project phase—an initiative designed to create clearer pathways for development and advancement for our employees.
While this effort has not been easy and is still in development, the engagement with our community is alive and filled with potential.
And with the inaugural Well-Being Fair, we brought together resources, programming, and community to emphasize the importance of supporting the whole employee—recognizing that well-being is essential to both personal and organizational success.
These efforts, along with enhancements to recruitment, onboarding, and professional development, reflect our ongoing commitment to building a workplace where people can thrive.
None of this work happens in isolation. It is made possible through strong partnerships—with leaders and teams across the university—who share our commitment to creating a supportive and engaging work environment.
Together, we are strengthening our institution and ensuring that UGA remains a place where people want to build meaningful careers.
We are here to recognize years of service, outstanding achievements, and the many ways our colleagues contribute to UGA’s mission. Each milestone represents dedication, perseverance, and a deep commitment to excellence.
It is also a privilege to gather in the presence of leaders who champion that mission and support the people behind it.
At this time, I am honored to introduce someone whose leadership has guided the University of Georgia with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence for 13 years and 40 years as a member of the UGA community.
Please join me in welcoming our President, Dr. Jere W. Morehead.
Thank you, President Morehead, for your inspiring words and for your continued leadership and support of our university community.
As we move forward in today’s program, we now turn our focus fully to the purpose of this gathering—celebrating you, our colleagues, and the many contributions you make to UGA.
It is my pleasure to welcome Nancy Ingram, who will lead us into the recognition portion of today’s ceremony.
Thank you again for being here, and for all that you do to help us continue Advancing UGA Together.
