Six University of Georgia undergraduate students gained valuable research skills last fall as Vinson Fellows with the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Paired with institute mentors, this year’s cohort researched topics relevant to communities across Georgia, including health care access, leadership program evaluation, workforce development and public art’s connection to economic development.

The Vinson Fellows program is an experiential learning opportunity for UGA undergraduates who are interested in state and local government. The goals are to inform students about the institute’s work, inspire them to engage in research projects and provide innovative opportunities to learn from the institute’s experts. The program is supported by the Parents Leadership Council.

“We always look forward to our Vinson Fellows’ research presentations,” said UGA Institute of Government Director Rob Gordon. “Each year, these exceptionally bright students apply their academic skills to public service research questions, learning how concepts they learn in the classroom can be used to explore and solve real-world challenges.”

Shriya Garg, a third-year genetics and economics double major with a minor in biology, researched value-based health care and fee-for-service delivery models in Georgia. She explored both models’ impacts on health care costs, rural access and patient outcomes. 

“As a pre-med student, it’s really important to think critically about the health care system and ways to improve it,” Garg said. “The Vinson Fellows program was a great opportunity to apply my skills to a project that could have a positive impact on real people.”

Institute of Government faculty Suzette Arnold and staff member Scott King served as Garg’s mentors for the project.

“I am proud of Shriya’s accomplishments. Her passion and dedication were truly commendable, and she delivered exceptional work” Arnold said. “I firmly believe that the Vinson Fellows program offers more than just a research opportunity. It equips students to envision the possibilities in public service, explore career paths, embrace the principles of servant leadership and cultivate a mindset of service. After collaborating with Shriya and hearing the other Fellows’ presentations, I am confident that our future is in capable hands.”

Claire Scafidi, a third-year student with majors in international affairs, Spanish, and Latin American and Caribbean studies as well as a minor in studio art, researched how cultural identity and art could be incorporated into a strategic vision plan for Gainesville’s Atlanta Highway corridor. Institute faculty Leigh Askew Elkins served as her mentor.

“When I came to UGA, I chose a studio art minor for fun. I never thought about doing something with public art. This project has taught me that I can combine my interests in so many ways for a future career path,” Scafidi said. “Also, I had such a good mentor in Leigh. That connection is awesome, and knowing what a great mentor-mentee relationship looks like is something I can carry forward.”

“Claire’s academic interests could not have been scripted to fit better with this project,” Elkins said. “She brought an important lens to this first step of our work by identifying information about the demographics, businesses and cultural clues that will be important as we move forward. I look forward to keeping her in the loop on where we go from here. It was a privilege to be part of Claire’s UGA experience.”

Students are selected as Vinson Fellows through a competitive application process. Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort will open this spring.

Four other Vinson Fellows recently completed research projects as well, including Thomas Griner, Nila Karunakaran, Abby Kirry, and Anna Rachwalski.

Griner, a second-year political science and philosophy double major and MPA Double Dawg, designed a pilot survey to help Certified Public Manager participants evaluate the program’s leadership component. Institute of Government staff members Erik Thompson and Linda Emanor served as Griner’s mentors.

Karunakaran created a dashboard to help the public and policymakers better understand health care access in rural Georgia. Karunakaran is a third-year international affairs and management information systems double major. She was mentored by institute staff members King and James Byars.

Kirry, a fourth-year economics and sociology major, was mentored by institute faculty Rebecca Hunt. Kirry studied skills-based hiring trends and best practices for K-12 schools in helping students become career-ready.

Rachwalski, a fourth-year political science and economics double major, studied Marion County’s industry landscape and labor market to help identify local labor force gaps and industry sectors with growth potential. Institute faculty Kristen Miller served as her mentor.

The Vinson Fellows program is supported by the Parents Leadership Council. The University of Georgia’s goal is to provide students with a safe and stimulating environment in which to grow academically, get involved and prepare for the future. Generosity from parents and families helps make this goal a reality. Read more about the Parents Leadership Council online.