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    Brendyn Melugin

    Brendyn Melugin dreamed of serving his country. For 3 1/2 years, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native did just that as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army Airborne.

    Then an accident derailed his plan and Melugin was medically discharged from the Army. He searched for a new dream and found the Army Research Institute hires civilians. But Melugin needed a degree.

    He enrolled at the University of North Georgia (UNG), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology in December 2019. Once he stepped foot on UNG's Dahlonega Campus in 2016, Melugin worked with determination as a leader on campus.

    His work in and out of the classroom along with extracurricular activities resulted in a national award. He was named the 2018 American Council on Education Student of the Year, which is presented annually to an adult learner who has benefited from the use of ACE credit recommendations to earn a college degree or advance a career.

    "It was really surprising to me," Melugin said. "I applied for it as a shot in the dark. I didn't think I would be a finalist, let alone win it."

    This is the first ACE award a UNG student has received. Melugin hopes it won't be the last.

    "I think my award will show the rest of the veterans that we can win scholarships," he said.

    Melugin is a project delivery analyst for Deloitte.

    Melugin became eligible for the ACE award after utilizing its Military Evaluations program to earn credits for some of his military training.

    "Their program helped me receive between 12 and 16 college credits based on my military experience and training," Melugin said. The credits counted toward his elective courses. "This saved me at least a semester of time."

    With those credits secured, Melugin focused on other academic pursuits. He participated in undergraduate research projects such as Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE).

    "Because I received a FUSE grant and one-on-one mentorship with a faculty member, I decided to pursue graduate school," Melugin said. "It helped me find a new passion."

    His passion has led to other research opportunities. He conducted independent research for UNG's Psychological Science department. He also presented research with UNG student Faith Rankin at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference in November 2018 on UNG's Gainesville Campus. Their poster presentation was titled "Who Should Lead: How Cognitive Ability and Personality Predict Leadership."

    Melugin did not limit himself to the field of psychological science. He connected with his fellow veterans by serving in a leadership role with the Student Veterans of America.

    Melugin also worked for the BB&T Center for Ethical Leadership in the Mike Cottrell College of Business.

    "I gained experience and income while I've been a student," he said.

    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.
    Katayoun  Mobasher

    Katayoun Mobasher

    Dr. Katayoun Mobasher enjoys interdisciplinary studies where she can combine her background and knowledge of geology, GIS, and remote sensing technologies in health-related fields.
    Maryna Murdock

    Maryna Murdock

    A native of Ukraine, Maryna Murdock first taught elementary English, then moved into the banking industry. Now, she wants to share her finance knowledge with her students.
    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.
    Mike Ryan

    Mike Ryan

    Mike Ryan, who teaches microeconomics and macroeconomics and is the head of the Department of Economics and Finance in the Mike Cottrell College of Business at UNG, has been recognized for teaching excellence by state and national organizations.
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