Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us

Find the most up-to-date information on the Presidential Search site.

Where I Lead
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Current Students
  • Alumni
    1. UNG
    2. News & Events
    3. Where I Lead
    4. Alumni

    Samantha Ethridge

    For Samantha Ethridge, leadership was about mentoring those within her sphere of influence.

    A resident of Roswell, Georgia, who graduated in December 2020 with a degree in psychology, Ethridge honed those skills in the Corps of Cadets and the Honors Program.

    "Everyone tries to focus on setting the example and showing them what to do as a leader. But I believe mentorship is deeper than that," Ethridge said. "It's getting one-on-one with an individual, getting to know their name, where they're from, what their aspirations are, how you can help them with their aspirations. It's being able to know an individual well enough to know when something's off and getting them connected with someone who can help."

    Ethridge credited the influence of several mentors across UNG and a variety of leadership opportunities for her confidence in her abilities to lead.

    She said Dr. Stephen Smith, professor of psychological science and longtime adviser for the Honors Program, was her greatest mentor at UNG. He encouraged her to start Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) at UNG right after returning from basic training and advanced individual training (AIT) with the Georgia Army National Guard. He also was part of the reason she changed to her current major.

    She also appreciated the encouragement of Capt. Elijah Carroll, an assistant professor of military science at UNG and commander for the National Guard detachment based on the Dahlonega Campus.

    Ethridge said she picked up leadership skills from Logan Young, a platoon sergeant who picked her as his first squad leader and recommended her to be platoon sergeant the next year. He was her team leader her first semester at UNG.

    Ethridge also helped match incoming Honors Program students with student mentors, getting to help lead an element of the Honors Program that was especially helpful in her early days at UNG.

    Each leadership role helped Ethridge determine her own leadership style.

    "I started learning more about myself and how I wanted to lead," she said.

    Ethridge began her journey at UNG when she received a University of North Georgia Military Scholarship. The state offers 42 of these scholarships each year to Georgia high school seniors to attend UNG, graduate with a bachelor's degree and commission as officers in the Georgia Army National Guard. The scholarship pays for room, meals, tuition, books, uniforms, and fees. They must be enlisted in the National Guard while in the Corps of Cadets.

    Ethridge won the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Month in October 2017 as a female cadet in a competition usually won by the males in the Corps. And she was delighted that her assertive personality and success as a female cadet served as an example to others in the Corps.

    "I've made it acting the way I am and not pretending to be someone else," Ethridge said.

    She hoped to receive an education delay to take a one-year Master of Business Administration program in the United Kingdom on a Fulbright scholarship before commissioning in the Army National Guard.

    She also desired to attend law school. Ethridge would like to either work as an advocate for victims or an environmental lawyer.

    "I've always had a passion for justice and fairness," Ethridge said.

    Chase Strickland

    Chase Strickland

    2nd Lt. Chase Strickland, who commissioned and graduated from UNG in May 2015, was ranked the top ROTC cadet in the nation his senior year.
    Courtney Hall

    Courtney Hall

    Courtney Hall helped new students love UNG through orientation and now assists them through her work in Academic Advising.
    Rosaria Meek

    Rosaria Meek

    As a teacher of Spanish at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Dr. Rosaria Meek likes to blend compassion and a joy of learning into the classroom and in leadership.
    Bryan Dawson

    Bryan Dawson

    Bryan Dawson enjoys using data to investigate topics like diversity perceptions of video games. but he also enjoys helping his undergraduate students develop their research into graduate-level work.
    Dan Emmett

    Dan Emmett

    UNG alumnus Dan Emmett, '78, said UNG re-emphasized his parents' teachings of honor, discipline, service to one's country, and trying to do your best at everything you attempt.
    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment/HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2023 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    Establishing Connection...
    AskNigel