Commit to your passion
Will Keyes
Will Keyes (BBA ’10, BS ’10, MA ’10, JD ’13) serves his country by promoting justice abroad.
At a glance
Captain Will Keyes serves as a judge advocate for the United States Army and is currently stationed in Kuwait.
Will gives back to UGA to improve the learning environment for future students.
He is one of 194 individuals in UGA’s history to earn four degrees — less than one percent of all graduates.
Will is engaged to fellow Bulldog Margaret Sullivan (BSFCS ’11, MA ’12), pictured above. The two look forward to their wedding in May 2018.
“Although this deployment has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, I enjoy the satisfaction of making an impact on something I care about.”
Will Keyes
As a judge advocate for the United States Army, Captain Will Keyes (BBA ’10, BS ’10, MA ’10, JD ’13) serves his country by putting his passion for law into action. Stationed in Kuwait, Will’s job is to advise a commander on issues relating to military justice, administrative law, international law, and fiscal law. He lives among soldiers from around the world, and describes his current base as “a mix of sand, military vehicles, tents, and more sand.”
“My experience at UGA opened doors for me,” Will said. “I hope by giving back, I can help to open doors for current and future students.”
A quadruple Dawg, Will is one of 194 individuals in the University of Georgia’s history to graduate with four degrees – less than one percent of all graduates. He attributes his ability to take on such challenging roles in his daily life to his well-rounded experience at UGA. Now, he donates to UGA so that younger Bulldogs can enjoy the same guidance he received.
Will gives to improve UGA’s learning environment for future students. He supports the Terry Excellence Fund, which helps attract outstanding faculty, provide scholarships and offer unique learning opportunities for the Terry College of Business’ students. He also supports the Law School Fund, which is the number one source of scholarship aid at UGA’s School of Law.
During the Building Terry fundraising initiative, Will also donated to the Terry Complex Building Fund, which funded the construction of the college’s new Business Learning Community. Thanks to generous donors like Will, the second phase of construction is complete.
“Top schools have smart professors with cutting edge technology and the infrastructure to support the student,” Will said. “I’m very proud of [UGA] and hope my gifts can make an impact in these areas.”
Will standing in front of an F-16 Fighting Falcon in Afghanistan.
Will representing the Dawgs in Kuwait during Christmas in 2016.
Will’s broad academic pursuits and campus involvement at UGA ultimately prepared him for life in the Army.
When Will arrived at UGA, he learned that the interplay between law, policy, and economics interested him. He discovered the AB/MA in economics program through Terry and realized that many of the leaders he respected had law degrees. By combining his coursework in economics and math, while also earning his degree in statistics from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Will was able to customize his academic degrees. Additionally, he realized that law was a path that could create many career opportunities. These reasons inspired him to attend UGA’s School of Law.
“UGA offers a very broad spectrum of subjects and activities. I think there is a lot of value in learning to process very different types of information,” Will said. “The range of issues that cross my desk as a judge advocate in the Army can be equally as diverse.”
Following graduation from UGA, Will entered a private practice law career in Atlanta. During this time, he considered how he could best utilize his UGA degrees and what accomplishments he would be most proud of at the end of his life. Will discovered the Army JAG Corps, which allowed him to serve his country while also developing his legal skills. He entered the JAG Corps as a reservist and soon after deployed to the Middle East. This role requires him to understand subjects ranging from patriot missile launching processes to courts-martial procedures.
Will is currently serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military’s campaign for intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The workload often requires Will and his fellow soldiers to work without time off, doing what it takes to accomplish the mission.
“Although this deployment has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life, I enjoy the satisfaction of making an impact on something I care about,” Will said. “We are so lucky to be Americans.”
-Written by Josh Mixon ’19
What’s your cause? 100 percent of undesignated gifts to the Georgia Fund go to scholarships, allowing talented students in your field to pursue their education and discover how they can make an impact on the world.
