“Carmichael and Kissinger Honored as 2025 University Professors: Celebrating Excellence in Academia”

Two remarkable faculty members at the University of Georgia have been named University Professors, a title given to those who have significantly contributed to the university while excelling in their academic roles.

The 2024–2025 University Professors are K. Paige Carmichael, a Meigs Distinguished Professor in the pathology department of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Jessica Kissinger, a Distinguished Research Professor in the genetics department of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs, praised both professors for their impactful work, saying, “They have made profound contributions to the University of Georgia.”

K. Paige Carmichael

K. Paige Carmichael sees herself primarily as a teacher. For over 20 years, she has been the course coordinator for a key pathology class for second-year veterinary students. Her colleagues consider her a pioneer in creating an interactive classroom that encourages critical thinking.

Carmichael has also played a vital role in developing one of the first undergraduate courses in the College of Veterinary Medicine, which covers the mechanisms of mammalian disease and has attracted many pre-health majors. Recently, she contributed to launching an undergraduate certificate in One Health. This unique program helps students understand the connections between human, animal, and environmental health—a crucial area for future professionals.

Beyond her teaching, Carmichael has shown strong leadership. She co-developed the Teaching Academy Early Career Fellows Program to mentor new faculty and serves as co-director of the Teaching Academy itself. Her involvement in various committees and boards has further enhanced the university community.

Margaret A. Amstutz, dean of the Jere W. Morehead Honors College, noted Carmichael’s deep commitment to making UGA a better place.

Jessica Kissinger

Jessica Kissinger is known for her strategic insights. She has been involved with the university’s strategic planning committees, focusing on elevating UGA to a top research university. Her efforts have led to significant faculty hiring initiatives and support for graduate programs.

Kissinger has actively participated in committees that select prestigious scholarships and has shared her expertise with university leadership as a member of crucial working groups. She played a founding role in the Institute of Bioinformatics, which promotes interdisciplinary research and has grown significantly under her guidance.

Her leadership also helped establish UGA’s Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center. She was instrumental in creating the university’s first centralized high-performance computing cluster, pushing for expanded resources to benefit researchers in various fields.

Kissinger’s excellence in research and leadership has earned her multiple awards, including the Creative Research Medal and the Faculty Excellence in Diversity Leadership Award. Recently, she received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to teach and research at Makerere University in Uganda.

University Professors receive a $10,000 permanent salary increase and an annual academic support of $5,000. Nominations come from deans and are reviewed by a committee before a recommendation is made to the provost. To explore more about this honor and past recipients, check out the University Professorships page.