Taylor Mullikin
Taylor Mullikin avoided politics when she was younger, but eventually, the fact that her birthday was on Inauguration Day made an impact.
"My birthday being on that day made me acknowledge the world around me was a lot bigger than me and I needed to get involved," Mullikin said.
She has certainly taken that to heart as a 91ÁÔÆæ student. She is president of the 91ÁÔÆæ Speech and Debate Club, vice president of the Political Science Student Association, and secretary of 91ÁÔÆæ's Model United Nations.
A Jefferson, Georgia, native pursuing a degree in international affairs, Mullikin was one of four 91ÁÔÆæ students to participate in the summer 2021 Washington Program on National Security.
The Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization organizes the program, which was held in June in the nation's capital. The two-week program covered all costs except the students' travel to and from Washington, D.C. Speakers included current and former officials in the White House, intelligence community, the Pentagon, Congress, and think tanks. Mullikin appreciated the perspective the program provided.
"I really enjoyed that because so many times we get stuck in echo chambers," Mullikin, who is scheduled to graduate in May 2023, said. "We forget that the people who disagree with us are still people."
As a leader of multiple student groups, Mullikin ensures that being task-oriented doesn't come at the expense of relationships.
"Empathy and the ability to communicate are really important. You can get caught up in needing people to do things," she said. "Those personal relationships keep people wanting to come back."
In her role with the Speech and Debate Club, she works to help others develop their knowledge, skills and abilities.
"We should reward and encourage personal growth," Mullikin said. "Competition should revolve around how we can improve ourselves, not just how can we win."
She credits her student leadership roles as integral in her own growth, as well.
"If anybody wants to learn leadership skills, they should join clubs at the university," Mullikin said.
Rosaria Meek
As a teacher of Spanish at the University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ), Dr. Rosaria Meek likes to blend compassion and a joy of learning into the classroom and in leadership.
Larry Cook
Theater professor Larry Cook throws himself into researching all aspects of his projects, and encourages his students to see how every subject they study at 91ÁÔÆæ can relate to their creative work.
Bryan Dawson
Bryan Dawson enjoys using data to investigate topics like diversity perceptions of video games. but he also enjoys helping his undergraduate students develop their research into graduate-level work.
Margaret Williamson
91ÁÔÆæ sociology professor Dr. Margaret Williamson aims to empower her students to learn about themselves through service learning.