Virginia Macagnoni, a Louisiana native, has a long history of supporting the University of Georgia, the Athens community, education and the arts. She has supported the university through private giving for more than 30 years and is a member of both the Heritage Society and of the Founding Presidents Club. Her story did not begin at UGA, though she now considers it home.

Virginia earned her bachelor’s degree from H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College and her doctoral degree from Florida State University in 1959. She taught around the world, connecting with others to bring creativity to curricula and educational policy. She traveled to and worked in several cities across South America and elsewhere to develop graduate programs with the United States Department of Education, later using these experiences to develop a doctoral program with the Alabama State Department of Education for implementation in South America. It was this passion for curriculum, policy, and leadership that led her to the University of Georgia.

Virginia arrived at UGA in 1967 as a faculty member. She was one of the first women hired as a full-time professor to teach leadership and develop curriculum and policy courses in what is now the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Beginning with small, recurring gifts, Virginia began loyally supporting many College of Education initiatives and scholarships during her time as a faculty member. In 2004, on her mother’s 100^th birthday, she established The Mary Sartalamacchia Macagnoni Qualitative Research Award in her honor. The College of Education celebrated Mary with an honorary degree in that same year.

Virginia’s enthusiasm for UGA didn’t stop with the College of Education. The Willson Center for Humanities and Arts and the UGA Performing Arts Center have both benefited from her generosity and involvement. She attended the opening of the Performing Arts Center in 1996 and has spent countless hours since then enjoying its programming. Virginia has both given to and established lectureships, graduate awards, and scholarships to support students who enrich their education through travel and participation in conferences. She champions student aid, particularly the purchase of necessary equipment for students to succeed in their programs of study, showing that she values the critical role that the humanities play in education and global competency. Her planned gifts support professional orchestral performance, scholarship and awards, all of which expand the future for cultural education and academic success at UGA.

Known for her engaging personality and spirited fashion style, Virginia is one of a kind. She inspires everyone she meets to invest in the future of our world. Believing we are all connected in some way, Virginia calls on us to be the best we can be for humanity.

Hats off to you, Virginia! The University of Georgia is proud to call you family.