“The hands-on work, without a doubt, has been my favorite part of my education,” Phillips says, referencing her time in the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s Semester at Skidaway program. “I’ve always been a physical learner, and I thrive when I can get my hands a little dirty.”
For Macie Phillips, choosing the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia felt like destiny. As the youngest of four siblings who graduated from UGA, she was ready to complete the family tradition. But it was the university’s marine science program and the Semester at Skidaway program that truly sealed the deal.
As a Double Dawg in ocean sciences and geology, Phillips took advantage of the many multidisciplinary opportunities available through Franklin. She studied marine ecosystems and infectious marine diseases and viruses. She loved getting her hands dirty while studying geology. She became open-water scuba certified through her scientific diving course, an experience that quite literally immersed her in her field. And then there was Semester at Skidaway through the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, which transformed her understanding of ocean science. There, she conducted coastal erosion research on Tybee Island. From traversing beach transects to analyzing sediment through wet and dry sieving techniques, she gained firsthand experience in the geochemical processes shaping Georgia’s coastline. By graphing sand-to-silt ratios and interpreting her findings, Phillips saw science come alive beyond textbooks.
“The hands-on work, without a doubt, has been my favorite part of my education,” Phillips says. “I’ve always been a physical learner, and I thrive when I can get my hands a little dirty.”
Mentorship also played a vital role in her journey. Professors like Patricia Medeiros, professor of aquatic organic geochemistry, and Renato Castelao, professor of physical oceanography, not only guided her academically but helped her feel seen and supported in a field where she once questioned her place. Along with Kennedy Ingram, Macie is one of two Black women who are the first to graduate from Franklin’s marine sciences program this year. Having professors who were people of color reassured her that she could find her place and succeed in the field of ocean sciences. But that path hasn’t always felt certain.
“I wasn’t sure I would make it to this point,” she reflects. “There aren’t many Black students in the marine sciences, and there were times when I felt that my fellow students were ignoring me because I was the only Black girl there. It was tiring, but I was here to get an education and letting my passions guide my education helped me stay optimistic.”
That passion now fuels her future goals: advocating for coastal policy that protects marginalized communities disproportionately affected by sea-level rise.
As she approaches commencement, Phillips hopes her journey shows others that it’s possible to stay excited and engaged in your field.
“If you keep your mind open and explore everything Franklin has to offer,” she says, “you’re always going to find something that inspires you.”
This article first appeared on the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences website. It was written by Joy Pope. It has been lightly edited for republication on the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography website.
About SkIO
The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) is a multidisciplinary research and education institution located on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia. The Institute was founded in 1967 with a mission to conduct research in all fields of oceanography. In 2013, SkIO was merged with the University of Georgia. The campus serves as a gateway to coastal and marine environments for programs throughout the University System. The Institute’s primary goals are to further the understanding of marine and environmental processes, conduct leading-edge research on coastal and marine systems, and train tomorrow’s scientists. For more information, visit www.skio.uga.edu.