Author will speak at Hoag Lecture Series
Author Stacia Pelletier will serve as a keynote speaker for this year's Hoag Lecture Series at the University of North Georgia (UNG). Her theme is "Bringing the Georgia gold rush to life: History and fiction in 'The Deliverance of Barker McRae,'" and she will speak at noon March 5 in the Cottrell Center Ballroom at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.
Pelletier has been nominated twice for the Townsend Prize in Fiction, Georgia's highest literary honor.
Her third historical novel, "The Deliverance of Barker McRae," was released in September 2025. It follows the 14-year-old title character through north Georgia during the Cherokee land lottery and the gold rush. Though Barker is fictional, her journey unfolds amid real events and the rise of Methodist circuit riders.
The author will talk about researching the region, the mix of faith and fortune-seeking, and how she builds a writing life alongside a full-time job. Her talk ties in well with UNG's literacy initiatives.
"Stacia is going to be talking about how to have a regular job and be a writer at the same time," said Dr. Laura Getty, professor of English and Hoag Lecture Series committee member. "Her practical advice should be very helpful for our students, as well as for anyone interested in writing a book, since most of us need a full-time job to pay the bills."
Pelletier will also speak in history and English classes while visiting UNG, then be part of a session at the March 7 Dahlonega Literary Festival.
She has been a Robert W. Woodruff Fellow and a W.M. Keck Foundation Fellow, and she was awarded a 2025 Hearst Foundation Fellowship at the American Antiquarian Society. A writer with a day job, Pelletier serves as executive director of corporate and foundation relations at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was previously the speechwriter for the president of Emory University. She holds a Master of Divinity and a Ph.D. in the history of religion from Emory University.
Music alumnae on path to music Ph.Ds. from Yale
Alumnae Lily Hammond and Danni Ingram are on the path toward doctoral degrees at Yale University, citing strong support from UNG’s Department of Music as inspiration.
Yeager takes second in solo artist competition
UNG Department of Music student CJ Yeager placed second in the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Young Artist Solo Competition.
Students present research, help host conference
Students presented research and helped UNG host the Conference on the Americas from Feb. 20-21 at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.
Senior embraces new experience in play
The Gainesville Theatre Alliance will close its 2025-26 season with Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods,' running April 10-18 in the Ed Cabell Theatre at UNG's Gainesville Campus.