Suzette, her Jetts and her devotion to Grady
The first question Suzette Jett (ABJ ’71) asks upon meeting someone is “What is the first commercial you remember seeing on TV?”
Suzette attended the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication when advertising and public relations looked a lot different than it does today. Though her studies at UGA mostly consisted of print media, she nonetheless feels a kindred spirit with current students who study in the same building that first opened during her campus tenure.
“Yes, things are drastically different in the world of advertising compared to when I learned it at Grady, but what hasn’t changed is the emphasis on the consumer and what they are interested in buying,” she said.
Suzette’s experience as a student had such a profound impact on her life that she has chosen to give back and support Grady students during their time on campus, leaving a legacy that will assist students in the generations to come.
Her first class at Grady, Journalism 1001, was taught by former dean John Drewry and took place in Brooks Hall, the original building for commerce and journalism classes located on UGA’s North Campus, which UGA students casually called “the CJ Building.”
For current students taking Journalism 1001, major-specific classes beyond that and even into their graduate degrees, Suzette has made a point to support their academic journeys for more than 30 years through her giving. She has established funds through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship program, a fellowship for graduate students and a planned gift to be allocated to the university through her estate plan.
Many donors may not realize the capacity they have to positively impact the lives of students, faculty and the University of Georgia. At UGA, the evidence of planned giving and the effectiveness of such generosity permeates the institution. The university’s most thoughtful supporters have funded scholarships, chairs and professorships, campus infrastructure and many other areas of critical need.
“Here is my philosophy: I don’t have any children. I didn’t pay for braces. I didn’t pay for a car. I didn’t pay for insurance. I didn’t pay tuition,” Suzette said. “If I can give a student the ability to focus more on their coursework by removing some financial barriers, nothing could give me more pleasure.”
Along with her planned gift, Suzette has helped support experiential learning experiences for students by taking a trip to France through UGA’s Bulldog Adventures and recently connected with fellow alumni and interning Grady students on a trip to Los Angeles.
Ever a supportive Bulldog fan, Suzette returns to campus regularly to attend sporting events, often with her own dogs in tow. Suzette has owned, raised and showed generations of Weimaraners since she was a child, her love for the breed instilled by her mother. Each dog’s name has her last name incorporated into it, with her previous dog being called Denver, after John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” Her next puppy will be named Bennie, after Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets.”
“Denver came with me to visit Grady many times. Last fall before he passed, I brought him with me, and we sat at the windows watching the students walk by. It was so special seeing my two greatest passions come together,” she said.
The Office of Gift and Estate Planning helped Suzette translate her passion for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication into a planned giving legacy that will support students far into the future.
