Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Introduction
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations is responsible for building and coordinating connections with donors, alumni and friends to promote the College and its mission.Section 2
Alumni Spotlight: Laurie Barron
With three decades of experience in education, Laurie Barron (B.S.Ed. ’96) is the current superintendent of Evergreen School District in Kalispell, Montana. After graduating from UGA, she spent 17 years in Georgia—six years as a high school English teacher, two years as a middle school assistant principal, and nine years as a middle school principal—before beginning her current role in Montana. Her work and collaboration with local boards, staff, students, parents, and communities have earned her numerous awards, including Montana Superintendent of the Year (2021, 2026) and the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award (2022).
As a student, Barron was active in organizations including Phi Kappa Phi, Blue Key, SPAGE, and Kappa Delta Epsilon, helping host college events, meeting with the dean, and connecting with educators beyond her major. She also studied abroad at Oxford University through UGA, an impactful experience that later inspired her to backpack through Europe while reinforcing the importance of involvement and collaboration.
A proud Georgia Bulldog, Barron rarely missed any football games as a student, and nearly 30 years later, still holds season tickets and returns for at least one game each year. She remains connected to the College of Education through her service on the Alumni Awards Committee and the Board of Visitors/Alumni Board. Barron makes yearly financial contributions to the College of Education Fund and is passionate about encouraging current students to get involved and find their place at UGA. She lives part time in an off-grid cabin in northwest Montana, sharing the woods with grizzly bears, mountain lions, moose, and wolves.