A Fellowship Takes Root
Ambitious doctoral student Joaquin Arellanes ’29 turned his dreams into reality when he took a chance at an institution 2,000 miles away.
Originally from California, Joaquin had a passion for health policy that led him to seek out a school with exceptional mentorship and opportunities for innovation. Upon his acceptance into the School of Public and International Affair’s Public Administration and Policy PhD program, Joaquin was connected with distinguished faculty members who would provide unwavering support throughout his journey.
Valerie Hepburn (PHD ’06) was looking for a way to give back while pushing the boundaries of public health policy. As an alumna of SPIA’s public administration and policy doctoral program, she understood the challenges and financial obstacles that students like Joaquin can face. As she reflected on her own experiences, she realized the time was right to create a legacy that could spark change across the world.
Joaquin and Valerie are engaged in conversation in the School of Public and International Affairs. (Photo by Edwin Hammond)
During a formative time in Australia, Valerie immersed herself in health policy and research. Her experience inspired her to plant a seed through philanthropy at UGA, encouraging students to pursue innovative and transformative health policy research using the Acacia Fellowship Fund. Much like the native acacia tree in Australia from which the fellowship draws its name, the fellowship was created for students who, like Valerie, have a passion for research and a desire to improve health policy.
“The name of the fellowship is a nod to my time spent in Australia researching health programs,” said Valerie. “They take the best of every developed country’s system and implement it beautifully, so I hope people will think about all the progress that other countries are making.”
Making a Difference
As Joaquin began his Bulldog journey, receiving the Acacia Fellowship filled him with energy and confidence, knowing he had the support of alumni like Valerie behind him.
“To know that there is trust in me and I’ve been awarded this opportunity, I use that as motivation to fully immerse myself in what I’m learning and really take everything to heart,” Joaquin said.
The fellowship has given Joaquin not only the opportunity to attend a leading public administration program at UGA, but also the freedom to prioritize cutting-edge research. Those research opportunities strengthen UGA as a whole and can lead to real-world solutions and policy changes. Philanthropic support for endowments like the Acacia Fellowship allows UGA to recruit and retain outstanding graduate students who deeply contribute to the teaching, research and service mission of UGA.
“I would love to see the fellowship grow to attract more students interested in health policy research,” said Joaquin.
Joaquin talks animatedly and passionately about his fellowship. (Photo by Edwin Hammond)
At SPIA, Joaquin has an engaged community to lean on. The school’s faculty bring a wide array of perspectives, and mentorship remains an integral part of its educational approach. Donors like Valerie play an important role in not only encouraging students to flourish academically and professionally, but also in advancing groundbreaking research that impacts communities and systems around the world.
Valerie embodies the kind of leadership that offers students like Joaquin guidance and empowers them to commit themselves fully to their research, their work, and the opportunities ahead of them at UGA.
The Future
For many students, life beyond an undergraduate degree can be daunting, but graduate programs at UGA offer students a path forward for those pursuing advanced degrees in some of the most challenging and rewarding areas of study.
“We need to place some emphasis on the graduate level because it allows us to attract people like Joaquin, who come all the way across the country to a different environment,” said Valerie. “These kinds of investments are the next big thing for UGA.”
Students like Joaquin embody the promise of this investment: motivated individuals bringing new ideas and perspectives to fields like public administration and health policy. As one of those students, Joaquin encourages others benefiting from donor-funded graduate scholarships and fellowships to strive for excellence.
“Take the fellowship as a jumping-off point to really sink your teeth into whatever you’re passionate about and use it to make a difference in this country,” said Joaquin.
Valerie and Joaquin walk outside of the School of Public and International Affairs. (Photo by Edwin Hammond)
Through philanthropic support, graduate students are empowered to reach their full potential, while UGA can attract and retain the bright minds who will go on to make a difference in critical areas like health policy.
“UGA has all of the attributes to be one of the best places to do health policy,” said Valerie. “The fellowship is a little seed, but hopefully that seed continues to grow like the acacia.”
Want to join dedicated alumni like Valerie in investing in a better future? Give today to help graduate students like Joaquin pursue their passions and turn their research into meaningful change.
