Twenty-nine University of Georgia students, faculty and staff members who have died since April 2024 will be honored at the university’s annual candlelight memorial service on April 23 at 7 p.m. at the UGA Chapel.
President Jere W. Morehead will lead the service. Names of each of the 12 students and 17 faculty and staff members will be read aloud, followed by a toll of the Chapel bell and the lighting of a candle.
Names will be read by Rebecca Mayo, president of the UGA Staff Council; John Neely, president of the Student Government Association; and Eric Rubenstein, chair of the University Council Executive Committee. Members of the Arch Society will light candles as each name is read.
Members of the university community and the public are invited to attend.
Students whose names will be read, along with their hometowns and the areas of study they were pursuing, are:
- Sofia Araujo, a fourth-year undergraduate from Wallington, New Jersey, majoring in psychology
- Sriya Avasarala, a second-year undergraduate from Alpharetta, intended major in biological engineering
- Zach Brown, a fourth-year undergraduate from Suwanee majoring in management
- Jackson Dodgen, a third-year undergraduate from Brunswick majoring in biomedical physiology
- Gleaton Jones, a fourth-year undergraduate from Albany majoring in marketing
- Mary Joy Moosman, an incoming first-year undergraduate from West Point, intended major in history
- David Mullins, an incoming first-year undergraduate from Albany, intended major in political science
- Bibek Pangeni, a doctoral student from Bardiya, Nepal, majoring in physics
- Muhammad Sakhi, a second-year undergraduate student from Lilburn, intended major in risk management and insurance
- Anvi Sharma, a second-year undergraduate from Alpharetta, intended major in management information systems
- Pete Thangtaveekool, a third-year undergraduate from Richmond Hill majoring in psychology
- Jaeho Yoon, a doctoral student from Seoul, South Korea, majoring in kinesiology
Faculty and staff whose names will be read, along with the positions they held, are:
- Chris Alexander, lecturer, Department of English
- Justin Barnett, business operations professional, Mary Frances Early College of Education
- Mike Bilbow, assistant athletic director — digital and production, UGA Athletic Association
- Bill Brewster, adjunct instructor, School of Law
- Shu-mei Chang, professor, Department of Plant Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Mark Delafchell, senior director of facilities and capital projects, UGA Athletic Association
- Allie Griner, extension agent-youth development, Gordon County 4-H
- Will Hubbard, building services worker, Facilities Management Division
- Kristin Kundert, professor, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- James Pasztor, lecturer, Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
- Bob Pinckney, director of the UGA entrepreneurship program, Terry College of Business
- Karen Rapp, administrative assistant, Northwest Georgia Research and Education Center
- Nichole Ray, lecturer, Institute of Women’s Studies
- David Shields, telecommunications installation professional associate, Enterprise Information Technology Services
- Ronald Simons, Regents’ professor, Department of Sociology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Larry Smith, skilled trades worker, University Housing
- Jan Westpheling, professor, Department of Genetics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
The candlelight memorial service is coordinated by UGA Well-being Resources, a campus-wide initiative led by UGA Student Affairs.
