Tags: General News

Professor Timothy R. Cain co-authored Academic Freedom & Collective Bargaining, a joint report recently published by the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions and the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom (CDAF). The report is designed to demonstrate the range of ways that academic freedom is being addressed in collectively…

At the end of February, the Louise McBee Institute for Higher Education hosted a Faculty–Student Research Showcase for prospective PhD students, highlighting the collaborative research that defines the McBee Institute’s scholarly community. The event featured four research teams, each presenting ongoing projects and offering insights into their conceptual framing, research design, and emerging findings.  Beyond showcasing scholarship,…

Dr. Meseret F. Hailu recently received tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor of Higher Education, effective August 1, 2026. Dr. Hailu began her faculty role at the University of Georgia in July of 2024, coming from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Her research agenda investigates how articulations of identity shape educational retention and reflect institutional culture. Methodologically,…

On February 6, 2026, the McBee Institute welcomed Jonathan Smith, Associate Professor of Economics at Georgia State University, the W.J. Usery Chair of the American Workplace, and a faculty director with the Georgia Policy Labs to deliver an educational policy seminar to McBee students and faculty. Smith’s talk presented findings from his recent study that examines how colleges influence their students’ voting behavior—both during their…

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education proudly continued its tradition of active participation at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 50th Annual Conference, held November 12–15 in Denver, Colorado.  This year, the McBee community was represented by 7 faculty members, 8 current students, 1 postdoc, 15 alumni, and 3 former postdocs. Together, they contributed to an impressive 50 sessions across the…

Dr. Christian Smith, assistant professor of higher education at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, is serving as the principal investigator on two new research grants from the William T. Grant Foundation and the Lumina Foundation to examine how wealth shapes college affordability and student debt. Smith was awarded $50,000 through the William T. Grant Foundation’s Research Grants on Reducing Inequality program to support his…

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is excited to continue our tradition of active participation at the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s (ASHE) 50th Annual Conference, happening November 12 – 15, 2025.   The McBee Institute community at ASHE will include 7 faculty, 8 current students, 1 postdoc, 15 alumni, and 3 former postdocs. In total, …

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education is excited to announce that Sierra Kraynak recently joined the Institute as the director of the Georgia College Advising Corps (GCAC). Kraynak brings a deep commitment to expanding educational opportunities and a strong background in student-centered program leadership to this role.  “I’m thrilled to join UGA as GCAC’s new director and look forward to building upon the strong foundation here…

The Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education launched its new online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration program this August, marking an expansion to its graduate offerings. Building on the foundation of the Institute’s traditional in-person master's program, the McBee Institute worked with UGA’s Office of Online Learning to develop the online asynchronous format of the program, with an aim to support a broader…

This summer, the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education’s eighth cohort of the Executive Doctorate (Ed.D.) program embarked on a week-long study away experience in Washington, D.C., focused on exploring higher education policy at the national level. The immersive trip offered students the opportunity to engage with leaders and experts who are shaping the future of post-secondary education.Over the course of their visit, the cohort heard from…