Rachel Voges

Human Development and Family Science

HDFS major grateful she found her way to Dawson Hall

Hometown

Lookout Mountain, Ga.

Major

Human Development and Family Science

Activities and Honors

Zell Miller Scholarship recipient; Presidential Scholar; Dean’s List; Graduating Summa Cum Laude; Patient Advocate at Athens Pregnancy Center; Intern at Holy Family Counseling Center; Missionary with Life Teen International; Mentor with CrossTrainers

Why I chose my major

As a young high schooler, I looked at the list of majors UGA offered while visiting my sister and could not believe there was a major called Human Development and Family Science. It sounded right up my alley! However, as I started school my freshman year, I was a Psychology and Communications Studies double major. I quickly found the focus of these studies was narrower than I wanted, and I remembered my initial excitement about HDFS many years prior! I have found HDFS to be the more holistic, broad scope of study that I desired as I prepared to go into a helping profession.

What I like most about FACS

What highlights the college for me are the professors and advisors who care about their students as individuals. When I started at UGA, I was concerned about being lost in the crowd at a large school. However, through FACS' smaller class sizes, familiar faces around Dawson, and an advisor and faculty who knew me, I have felt seen and cared for during my undergraduate career. I am especially grateful for the enthusiasm of Dr. Gonyea and Ahmaud Templeton!

Post-graduation plans

I hope to continue to work in upholding the inherent dignity of every human person through service to families, particularly expectant mothers, the unborn, the homeless, and the elderly!