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GSW has been awarded the Chancellor’s Cup by University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue, recognizing the institution’s outstanding 11.4 percent enrollment increase for the Summer 2024 semester. This marks the third consecutive semester that GSW has achieved the highest enrollment growth in its sector.
GSW’s total Summer 2024 enrollment reached 2,168 students, an increase of 223 students over the previous year. This achievement sets a new record for the university and marks the first time GSW’s summer enrollment has surpassed the 2,000-student threshold.
“Georgia Southwestern is honored to receive the Chancellor’s Cup for the third semester in a row,” said GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. “This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication of every GSW employee who works tirelessly to build a strong foundation for our students’ success. With a $100.8 million economic impact, GSW delivers exceptional value to our students and to our region. Our campus community remains laser-focused on fostering student success, enriching the campus experience, offering programs that align with the demands of our economy and graduating students who will make a meaningful and lasting impact on our region’s workforce.”
Read more about GSW's summer enrollment here.
On September 5, Americus Mayor Lee Kinnamon signed a proclamation announcing Thursday, September 19, 2024 as the sixth annual Day of Giving for GSW.
GSW faculty, staff, and students turned out on Gold Force Thursday to witness Mayor Kinnamon sign the proclamation for the upcoming Day of Giving alongside GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. Kinnamon also presented his own personal contribution and expressed his gratitude for GSW and the impact the University has on the community.
"Since its founding in 1906, Georgia Southwestern State University has been a vitally important institution serving Americus, Sumter County, and the entire state,” stated Mayor Kinnamon. “The City of Americus has always been and remains strongly committed to its collaborative partnership with GSW, a partnership spanning nearly 120 years. Our community is very proud to be the home of the Canes!"
Read more about the proclamation signing here.
GSW graduated the first cohort of students in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) since the program’s revival after a 22-year hiatus, marking a significant milestone in the history of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The first cohort of 32 students received their pins in a special Pinning Ceremony on July 29, 2024 in the Magnolia Manor Nursing Auditorium on campus. This time-honored tradition, celebrated upon the completion of nursing school, serves as an official welcome into the nursing profession following the successful passing of the NCLEX licensure exam.
The ASN program was reestablished in response to regional industry workforce needs and the critical nationwide nursing shortage, thanks to the financial support from Magnolia Manor and Phoebe Health System and the hard work from GSW administration and nursing faculty.
Read more about the ASN program and its newest graduates here.
GSW economic impact on the region was $100.8 million in fiscal year 2023, according to a new detailed report released by the University System of Georgia (USG). The report also revealed that GSW generated 1,127 full- and part-time jobs.
The USG and its 26 institutions served as a significant source of stability and played a critical role in the state’s recovery with a $21.9 billion total statewide economic impact, up 9 percent from the previous year.
A concurrent study found that 2023 graduates earning a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.4 million more during their lifetimes than they would have without their college degree.
“Over the past five years, Georgia Southwestern’s economic impact has been nearly $500 million total,” said GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. “We are proud that the financial effect is amplified by the direct impact of our phenomenal graduates and through the broad partnerships we have with business, industry, and non-profits; with health and medical centers, South Georgia Technical College, our regions’ school districts; with our city and county governments, Sumter County Development Authority, Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, and with the many organizations where our students complete internships and service projects. Together, we are shaping an incredibly bright future.”
Read more about GSW's economic impact and how a college degree increases lifetime earnings here.
GSW will host its sixth annual Day of Giving on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 with ambitious goals to rally at least 500 individual donors and secure contributions from all 50 states, in a quest to “turn the map gold.”
GSW’s Day of Giving is a significant annual event aimed at garnering essential funds and support for the University. This year, the focus will be on raising money for five key areas: Promise Scholarships, the Southwestern Annual Fund, General Athletics, the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program and the Griffin Bell Conference Center. Donors are also encouraged to contribute to any fund that resonates with them, allowing them to support the area of GSW they value most.
Donations can be made on Sept. 19 using GSW’s online fundraising platform, Give Campus, at gsw.edu/DayOfGiving. Gifts can also be dropped off at the Newman Alumni Center on GSW’s campus or mailed ahead of time to the GSW Foundation. Checks should be made out to the GSW Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 926, Americus, GA 31709.
Donors who make a gift of $200 or more will receive an exclusive GSW garden flag, a perfect way to showcase Hurricane spirit in yards, porches and patios across the state and country.
Read more about this year's Day of Giving here.
Georgia Southwestern led all NCAA Division II institutions in documented community service hours generated during the 2023-24 academic year according to the NCAA TeamWorks competition reported by Helper Helper. It's the second time in four years the Hurricanes have finished atop the national standings.
Georgia Southwestern had eight of its 10 programs finish in the Top 10 of the rankings for their respective sports. GSW led all women's cross country and track programs in D-II. The GSW women's soccer program ranked third, women's tennis ranked fourth, softball ranked fourth, men's basketball finished third, men's soccer ranked third, men's golf was fifth and men's cross country finished 10th. With only 10 sports programs and without the benefit of a large roster, such as football, the Hurricanes continued their commitment to elite service throughout the department.
Volunteer opportunities included multiple events with Special Olympics Georgia, Operation Christmas Child Pack-a-Shoebox, Salvation Army bell ringing, assisting with local canned food drives, a partnership with Magnolia Manor Senior Living, reading in local schools, being part of a home building project with The Fuller Center for Housing, managing setup and activities at the annual Cowpoke event by the Americus Junior Service League, gardening at the Phoebe Healthy Garden project offered by Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and participating in the local Night to Shine in conjunction with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Read more about the Hurricanes' volunteer work here.
GSW is excited to announce the launch of a revamped curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (IT), designed to meet the evolving needs of the tech industry and provide students with targeted skills for today’s job market. This new curriculum aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and expertise to excel in a competitive and rapidly changing technological landscape.
The updated IT curriculum includes four specialized concentrations, allowing students to tailor their education to align with their career goals and interests. The concentrations are structured to provide both a strong foundational knowledge in IT and specialized training in key areas of the field.
Read more about the new concentrations here.
The Georgia Southwestern Foundation Board of Trustees held its spring full board meeting May 16. This served as Americus native Ricky Arnold’s last meeting as chairman. Jeff Benton of Senoia, vice president for Operations at Eaton Corporation, was voted the new chair and will serve a two-year term.
During the meeting, five current members were re-elected: Ginger Starlin (’72), Will Peterson (’00, ’04), Lee Pinnell, Mary Marshall (’75), and Jeff Benton (’92, ’96); and two members were newly elected: Robyn Chesnut (’04) and William ‘Chip’ Hammack Jr. (’92). Nominated and elected by their peers, the 43-member group provides external oversight to the GSW Foundation's operations.
Read more about the Foundation and donor reception here.
GSW head men's soccer coach Eric Crawford, entering his sixth season at the helm, has finalized the Hurricanes' 2024 schedule to include 15 matches with eight taking place at Hurricane Field.
Men's soccer will begin their season at home "Under the Lights" on Thursday, Sept. 5 against Middle Georgia with the annual kick-off celebration that culminates with a post-match fireworks extravaganza.
The team has 15 returning players, which includes five seniors. Check out the full men's soccer schedule for a full look at the upcoming season.
For the women's soccer team, first-year head coach Jacob Crawford has finalized the a schedule with 16 matches, eight of them to be played at Hurricane Field.
The Lady Hurricanes will begin the season on the road, returning for their first home game on Sept. 12.
The team has 10 returning players, which includes only three seniors. Check ouf the full women's soccer schedule for a full look at the upcoming season.
GSW alumni Doug (’97) and Yolanda Sims (’01) Moses, of Locust Grove, established a scholarship aimed at supporting students from their hometowns of Ocilla and Oakfield, Ga. The Doug and Yolanda Sims Moses Accounting and Computer Science Scholarship became fully endowed at $25,000 last month, and earnings from the fund will be available for use in Fall 2025. When the Moses’ pledge commitment is complete, the scholarship will be worth $100,000 in principal.
“The driving force for establishing this scholarship stems from our deep commitment to education and desire to give back to our hometown communities (Irwin County and Worth County) and to our alma mater, Georgia Southwestern State University,” said Doug and Yolanda. “We have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education in our own lives, and we want to create opportunities for deserving students to pursue their passions in the rewarding fields of accounting and computer science.
“We are grateful to be in a position to do our small part in continuing to support the pipeline of future accountants and software engineers. We hope to empower the next generation of these professionals to innovate, excel, and make meaningful contributions to society.”
Learn more about the Moses scholarship here.
Canes Spotlight announced for JuneCanes Spotlights highlight Georgia Southwestern students who hold leadership roles, are involved in extracurricular activities and/or excel academically in their degree programs.
The June Canes Spotlight was recent information technology graduate Shiann Smith.
Shiann chose to pursue IT after discovered a love for problem solving in high school. "In high school, I worked for the technology team at Schley County fixing laptops, printers and projectors," she said. "I had lots of fun fixing technical issues and have chosen to make a career out of it."
Shiann expressed gratitude to GSW's faculty and all she learned in the IT program, including database construction, web design, JavaScript, and node.js.
GSW named 19 freshmen to the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program, established to honor the legacy of GSW alumnus and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. These students are the sixth cohort to enter the program since its creation in 2019.
The newest cohort members were selected through a competitive application and interview process. The group commits to program requirements that include a 3.0 GPA, two-year residency, organization involvement, 240 service hours minimum, a 12-credit hour academic leadership certificate, and a senior research/service project.
Find the full list of 2024-2025 members here.
Accounting faculty in the College of Business and Computing, nominated Nicholas Cunningham (left) and Stephen Hester (right), for a scholarship from the Institute of Management Accountants. Both have been awarded the scholarship.
Cunningham is an MBA student and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at the National Policing Institute, having previously served as the Senior Director of Finance. He completed his undergraduate studies at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where he met his wife, Shelby, of seven years. The Cunninghams have a son, Nathan. After receiving his MBA from GSW, Cunningham plans to continue to use the knowledge to better the National Policing Institute and perhaps teach business courses as an instructor, should the opportunity arise.
Hester is a full-time senior in the College of Business and Computing. He is graduating with his bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in human resource management in Fall 2024. He plans to explore his career options after graduation and take advantage of the CMA scholarship.
The scholarship includes 3 years of student Membership to the IMA, the fee for the Certified Management Accountant Exam, and the student’s choice of the Gleim Traditional Review course or the Wiley CMA Essentials course for them to prepare for the CMA Exam.
Several GSW student-athletes were namde to the Peach Belt Conference Teams of Academic Distinction for 2024
Baseball: Daniel Barcena
Softball: Savana Bradford, Natalia Herrera, Jacie Johns, Kimmy Singer, and Graceanne Spears
Women's Tennis: Madeline Barnes and Shy'Neshia Salter
To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee the program.
Alexander earns ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove AwardCatcher Kalvin Alexander has been named one of nine NCAA Division II recipients of a 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Award. In addition, Alexander was named to the 2024 ABCA NCAA Division II All-Defensive Team for the Southeast Region.
Alexander, a redshirt-junior from Lakeland, Fla., started 36 games behind the plate this spring in his second season with the Hurricanes. He did not commit an error with 377 total chances, made 39 assists and threw out 19 runners attempting to steal. His caught stealing percentage was 36.5 percent, which would rank second among the career numbers of all active Major League Baseball catchers according to Baseball-Reference.com. Alexander becomes GSW's second Gold Glove Award winner. The Hurricanes have had a recipient in each of the past two seasons.
The 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were released by ABCA and Rawlings Sporting Goods in all eight divisions of collegiate baseball and high school. A Gold Glove Award is presented to nine players at each level with each representing a defensive position on the field. Alexander is the NCAA Division II catcher award recipient. The Rawlings Gold Glove winners have been selected since 2007 in the collegiate and high school ranks, featuring many future Major League Baseball players.
Read more here.
Euson named All-American by ABCA & RawlingsThe 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings announced their NCAA Division II All-America Teams on Friday and GSW pitcher Rijnaldo Euson was named to the second team. Euson adds the accolade to a list of awards received this spring, including Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, All-Conference first team, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-Southeast Region first team and ABCA/Rawlings All-Southeast Region first team.
Euson, a redshirt-junior from Haines City, Fla., posted a 7-2 record this spring with a 2.87 earned run average over 84 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .205 batting average, which was lowest in the PBC for pitchers with at least eight starts, and had the lowest ERA while ranking second for fewest hits allowed. Euson ranked fourth in NCAA Division II with 105 strikeouts.
He becomes the second Hurricane to earn All-America honors since the program joined NCAA DII in 2006-07.
Read more here.
Georgia Southwestern placed a school-record 111 student-athletes on the 2023-24 Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll released this afternoon by the league office, eclipsing the previous high of 102 set in 2017-18.
The Georgia Southwestern men's and women's soccer programs tied for the most Hurricanes on the list with 23 apiece. The GSW baseball team followed with 18 honorees. Over half of the department's honor roll recipients (50.45 percent) reached either the gold or silver level, which is the third highest mark in school history and the best since 2018-19. The 22 Gold Scholars are the second most in school history.
The men's golf team led all GSW sports with the highest percentage of its roster on the Honor Roll as eight of the nine members earned distinction.
Read more about the PBC Honor Roll here.
Georgia Southwestern State University men's golfers Joao Costa, Mateo Quiroga and Payne Sells have been named Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars for the 2023-24 season by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Each of the Hurricanes are receiving their first All-America honor.
To be eligible for the GCAA All-America Scholar status an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior academically. In addition, they must have participated in 50 percent of their team's competitive rounds for the 2023-24 season, have a stroke-average under 78.0 (NCAA Division II) and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2. A recipient must also be of high moral character and be in good standing at his college or university.
The GSW trio were amongst the 227 student-athletes to earn the award in NCAA Division II.
Read more about the players and their achievements this season here.
The Georgia Southwestern baseball team was named a recipient on Wednesday of the 2023-24 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award presented by Sports Attack. Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this year's award, which highlights programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the cumulative 2023-24 academic year.
GSW earned the award for the fifth consecutive year. Read more here.
GSW golf player and 2024 PING All-Region selection Payne Sells competed in the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at the 7,599-yard, par-72 Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., after tying for seventh place at his final United States Golf Association qualifying event at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club on July 17 with a 3-under par 68.
Read more here.
Johnson named Preseason All-PBCGeorgia Southwestern State University sophomore midfielder Dante Johnson has been named to the 2024 Preseason Peach Belt All-Conference Men's Soccer Team as announced by the league office this afternoon.
Johnson becomes the second soccer player in school history to receive preseason accolades from the Peach Belt.
A native of Columbus, Ga., Johnson finished his freshman season on a high note as he was named to the 2023 PBC All-Tournament Team.
He started all 16 matches for the Hurricanes last fall and led the team with four assists.
Read more here.
Glass earns scholarships to attend ceramics symposiumLexi Glass, visual art major with a concentration in ceramics, was awarded a full scholarship to attend the "Women Working in Clay Symposium" hosted by Hollins University in Roanoe, Va. During this symposium, she was able to learn from well known women artists working in clay from around the United States.
The event, which spanned four days, included lectures, studio demonstrations and informal discussions about current concerns in the field of ceramics and the role of women in contemporary art.
Lexi was selected from amongst numerous applicants for this opportunity. Images show a studio demonstration in progress and Lexi with a work from one of the presenting artists she was able to bring home.
ASN student Jordan Mizell has been awarded the The Glenda Battle Nursing Leadership Scholarship from the Southwest Georgia Area Health Education Center Board of Directors.
The scholarship was created to honor Glenda Battles' accomplished nursing career and service to the SOWEGA-AHEC Board of Directors. As a nurse, community advocate, and AHEC board member, Battle exemplified excellence in nursing, community engagement, health advocacy, and the pursuit of diversity and equity in nursing education.
The $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a student who, like Battle, exemplifies a commitment to community service, health advocacy, and the pursuit of equity in nursing.
Senior psychology major Madelyn Dunston is directing the current Sumter Players show, Harvey, at the Rylander Theatre. Several other members of the GSW community, including faculty and alumni, are involved in the production that will run Oct. 3-6.
Associate Professor Qian "Maggie" Wang, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor Mohammad Dehzooei, Ph.D., were recently featured on the credit and personal finance website WalletHub. Wang's expertise on savings account for kids and Dehzooei's advice on car insurance were featured in an “Ask the Experts” column.
Assistant Professor Rhonda Slocumb, Ph.D., co-authored an article in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing in July 2024. "Relationships of Psychosocial Factors to Diabetes Self-efficacy: A Cross-sectional, Correlational Study" was conducted to examine the relationships of depressive symptoms, diabetes distress, age, sex, self-compassion, resilience, self-esteem, and social support to diabetes self-efficacy and the mediating roles of diabetes distress and depressive symptoms in the relationships among people with diabetes. Conclusions: Negative psychological factors were directly and indirectly associated with diabetes self-efficacy. Depressive symptoms, diabetes distress, self-esteem, and resilience can be important targets of interventions to improve diabetes self-efficacy.
Senior Lecturer of nursing Bonnie Gary was a textbook reviewer for the third edition of Pathophysiology: Introductory Concepts and Clinical Perspectives, published in 2024.
In an August 2024 Science Direct article, Assistant Professor Mohammad Dehzooei, Ph.D., explores the impact of Lesotho's Child Grants Program, a large-scale unconditional cash transfer initiative, on farmers' use of agricultural inputs. The study finds that cash transfers increase the likelihood of farmers using pesticides, with part of this effect explained by changes in time discounting behavior—specifically, increased patience among recipients. This research sheds light on the behavioral mechanisms behind cash transfers and how they can promote more patient financial behavior among agricultural households, leading to the adoption of productive farming inputs. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers in developing regions, emphasizing the importance of considering behavioral traits like patience when designing and evaluating cash transfer programs.
"Cash Transfers, Time Discounting, and Agricultural Inputs Utilization in Lesotho" is available here.
Professor of Management Mark Grimes, D.B.A., and Associate Professor of Psychology Judy Orton Grissett, Ph.D., published a case study in the Review of Management and Economic Engineering. "Managing Volunteers in Civic Organizations Using Their Level of Religiosity: A Case Study" explores the challenges many civic organizations face due to stagnant membership. There is often no real leverage to get members to participate actively. As such, clubs which are formed to serve local communities have searched for new members who will become active in the affairs of those clubs, making it easier on leaders to effectively run these organizations. This study hypothesizes that an individual’s level of religiosity, as measured by a developed scale, can be used, with expectations related to opportunities for service, to predict his or her level of participation. A questionnaire administered by online or paper survey to 17 Georgia (USA) Kiwanis clubs produced 313 usable responses, and analysis of these data indicate that higher levels of religiosity can predict better meeting attendance and higher participation in club service projects. These data also show that highly religious individuals join Kiwanis clubs expecting a variety of service opportunities and seem to find opportunities more appealing than they had anticipated. These findings suggest that clubs seeking new members who will be active might invite individuals in the local community who live out their religious beliefs in observable ways.
Michael A. Moir, Jr., Professor and Chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for Irish Studies titled 'The Borderlands of Faerie: Time and Space in Lord Dunsany's 'The King of Elfland's Daughter.' This year's conference took place at the University of Galway in Ireland from June 5-7.
Professor of Computer Science Alexander Yemelyanov, Ph.D., D.Sc. in the College of Business and Computing chaired the 15th International Conference on Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering in Nice, France, from July 24-27, 2024, where he presented his recently published research paper "Decision-Making Augmentation System for Solving the Problem of Risk Reduction."
Yemelyanov also served as a co-editor for the Proceedings "AHFE International: Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering."
In July 2024, Professor of political science Jason Berggren, Ph.D., presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Global South Studies. The three-day conference was held at the Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria. He presented as part of a panel entitled, “Jimmy Carter and the Global South." Berggren presented on Carter’s relations with El Salvador and the challenges of mixing religion and foreign policy. The title of his paper was “‘Because You Are a Christian’: Jimmy Carter, El Salvador, and Archbishop Oscar Romero.”
Watson and Pritchett present in DenverAssistant Professor Jessica Watson, Ph.D., and Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Chris Pritchett, Ed.D., presented at the 2024 Association of Teacher Educators' Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado on July 28, 2024.
The title of their presentation was "Practicing Educators' Perceptions on Classroom Management: Implications for Change."
The three-day conference provided meaningful professional development and an opportunity to network with other teacher educators from across the United States. The conference theme was "Advocacy: Advancing, Transforming, and Energizing our Commitments to Education."
Professor of Music and Dean of the College and Arts and Sciences, Mark Laughlin, D.M.A., recently received the Steinway Top Teacher Award 2024 from Steinway & Sons (NY), which recognizes dedication to music education. Laughlin received a letter from Steinway & Sons President Gavin English of New York, N.Y. that read, in part: "You were nominated for this award by Steinway Piano Gallery Spanish Fort, who has observed first-hand the care and commitment with which you approach your piano students. The young people who develop their craft under your guiding hand will be the artists who fill our future with music, and for this we are most grateful. Steinway & Sons is a name synonymous with artistry, quality, and exquisite musical expression. The Steinway Top Teacher Award demonstrates your commitment to the same ideals. Once again, congratulations and best wishes for another inspiring and musical year." Dr. Laughlin has received this award an incredible four times (2017, 2022, 2023, and 2024).
Assistant Professor Michele McKie, Ed.D., was nominated to serve on the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Editorial Board. The Editorial Board, comprising four appointed members, the editor, and the assigned professional staff (ex officio, with vote), is appointed by the international president based on recommendations from the assigned professional staff and the editor. The Board collaborates with the editor to select manuscripts, develop editorial policies, choose style guidelines, and establish themes for The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, in partnership with the Communications and Marketing Committee. McKie will serve from 2024-2028.
Assistant Professor of Accounting Sondra Smith, D.B.A., was recently elected as a member of the Board of Directors for the Educational Foundation of the Georgia Society of CPAs. The mission of this foundation is to encourage the best and the brightest individuals in Georgia to become Certified Public Accountants by providing financial incentives and support to students seeking to enter the CPA profession. Additionally, Smith was elected to the Board of Directors of the Sumter Family Connection, and is now Treasurer of the Books for Sumter.
Emma Johansen leads GSW softballIn June 2024, Emma Johansen joined GSW as head softball coach. She came to GSW from Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., where she led the NCAA Division II Aggies softball program as head coach the past two seasons.
"It's an honor to be chosen to lead the Georgia Southwestern softball program," Johansen said. "I'd like to thank Mike Leeder for this tremendous opportunity. After meeting with many of the people that make up the GSW Athletic Department my immediate sense was that this is a community with a thriving athletic department that is on an incredible trajectory. I am eager to get on campus to meet with our players and to build on the great tradition of excellence at Georgia Southwestern State University."
Read more about Johansen here or watch her introductory press conference here.
Dr. Zhanxin Sha, Ph.D., joined the College of Nursing and Health Sciences on July 15, 2024 as an assistant professor of exercise science. Sha holds a Ph.D. in Sport Physiology and Performance from East Tennessee State University with a concentration in biomechanics.
On August 1, 2024, the Department of Psychology and Sociology welcomed two psychology faculty members.
Dr. Judy Orton Grissett rejoined the department. She previously served as Assistant and Associate Professor at Georgia Southwestern State University for eight years and as Director of Experiential Learning for two years. She has also served as the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at GSW.
She attended GSW, where she received a B.S. in psychology with a minor in sociology. She earned her Master of Science and Ph.D. in educational psychology and certificates in qualitative and quantitative research from Georgia State University.
Grissett lives in Americus with her husband, Robert Grissett, who is also a GSW alum (Fine Arts '09 and Computer Science '22), and four children.
Dr. Yongwon Cho grew up in South Korea, earned his B.A. in philosophy from Korea University (2014), M.A. in general psychology from New York University (2015), and Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Irvine (2023). His research explores motivational self-regulation processes across the lifespan, with a focus on challenging developmental goals, such as academic achievement in late adolescence and health management in older adulthood.
He currently teaches Introduction to Psychology, Human Growth and Development, and Experimental Psychology. In his free time, Cho enjoys DAW music production.
The Department of Psychology and Sociology faculty and staff are pictured below, with Cho second from right and Grissett far right.
New hires from June, July, and August included:
New hires from June, July, and August included:
Farewells from June, July, and August included:
Dr. Gary Kline, former Professor of Political Science, passed away on July 30, 2024. He joined GSW's faculty in 1990 and retired in 2016 after 26 years of service here that included chairing the Department of History and Political Science, leading the Faculty Senate, and overseeing the student newspaper. He was very active in his field and was involved with the Association of Global South Studies as its board president and editor of its journal. Dr. Jeff Waldrop shared this about Dr. Kline: “He was beloved by his students, even those who disagreed with his views or ideas. He was always challenging those around him to think of the disadvantaged, whether it be circumstances, resources, health, etc. And he strove to convert these sentiments into policies. He had a great sense of humor…[and] he was the consummate family man.”
Dr. Frank M. Lowrey III, Professor Emeritus of History, passed away on July 22, 2024 at age 73. He joined GSW's faculty in 1968 and retired in 2001 after 33 years of impacting many, many lives in the classroom and in the community. Many have shared stories of Dr. Lowrey’s musical talents – of times he would bring his guitar to class and teach history through song, of times he would brighten the lives of those in need with music, and of times he shared his talents from the choir loft at church. Among so many other things, he is remembered for being a scholar and a lifelong learner, for challenging his students while being there for them every step of the way, for being a kind and encouraging person, and for loving his family deeply. Dr. Lowrey will be missed dearly.
Christa Faison, Director of Residential and Campus Life, and Marcus Faison, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, proudly welcomed a baby boy into the world on Friday, July 12, 2024. Jameson Bruce arrived weighing 6 lbs. 6 oz. and measuring 20” long.
He joins big brother, Alston (5). Congratulations to the Faison family!
Assistant Director of Residential Life Lorenzo Johnson recently earned his Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Walden University.
Professor of Music and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Mark Laughlin earned a Master of Business in Professional Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Business Communication from Middle Georgia State University. Dr. Laughlin holds seven graduate credentials, including five master’s degrees, one graduate certificate, and a doctorate.
Robert Hughey, a part-time instructor in the Department of English and Modern Languages, earned his Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing from Southern New Hampshire University on June 1, 2024. He is also a GSW graduate from the Class of 2021.
"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you who contributed to the success of Southwestern Week. To those who led sessions, your expertise, and dedication in sharing your knowledge and insights were invaluable. Your efforts helped enrich our campus community by providing engaging experience for all involved.
For those who made time in your busy schedules to attend the sessions, thank you for your commitment to professional development and to the success of our students. I hope you found your time well spent and that the sessions provided valuable takeaways to enhance your work and our collective mission.
Thank you once again for making Southwestern Week a success. Your involvement and enthusiasm are what make our the Canes’ community truly special."
- Dr. Jill Drake, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
"This orientation season was filled with community support and Hurricane Pride as we welcomed another record breaking first-year cohort to Southwestern. FYE, and me, are thankful for our campus partners that provide endless support of all orientation and transition effort. GO CANES!"
- Courtney Ellis, Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Student Success
"I would like to express a big 'thank you' to all who supported and made [the MBA program] such a prosperous experience. I am thankful for the excellent teaching from the professors, the great support from the GSW administration for me as an overseas student, and the great collaboration with my classmates. In particular I would like to thank Dr. Aller, who supported me from the first day through the whole study. I'm overly excited to meet him and the rest of the GSW team during the graduation ceremony in December 2024. Go Canes. Thank you."
- Thomas Koch, MBA graduate
In July, GSW hosted a welcome reception for its 12th president Dr. Michelle Johnston and her husband Gene. A large crowd of faculty, staff, and community members came out to welcome her to campus and to Americus. During her remarks, Dr. Johnston spoke passionately about continuing to build on GSW's momentum and highlighted all the great things happening here.
Find more photos on GSW's Facebook page.
There were 33 GSW alumni and friends who departed for Alaska on June 26. The group experienced amazing weather while they explored Alaska by land, rail, air, and water on this trip of a lifetime. They visited Fairbanks, enjoyed a sternwheeler trip up the Tanana River on the Riverboat Discovery III, traveled deep into the Denali National Park on a Tundra Wildlife Tour, took a glass-domed train from McKinley to Talkeetna where the views of Denali were majestic, visited a Wildlife Refuge Center near Anchorage and boarded the Holland America ship Noordam after driving through the infamous Whittier tunnel. The ship took passengers to the Hubbard Glacier, through Glacier Bay, stopped in the ports of Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan. Noordam meandered through the Inside Passage where travelers spotted humpback whales bubble feeding and breaching the waters, Dall's porpoises swam alongside the ship, sea otters popped by, and seals hung out around the shorelines. The cruise ended in Vancouver and from there, the group made their way back home with thousands of photos, suitcases full of souvenirs and wonderful memories that will last a lifetime!
GSW delegation travels to China: Strengthening Educational Ties and Exploring Cultural LandmarksWith a focus on bolstering international partnerships, a delegation from Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) recently visited China. The delegation included Dr. Jill Drake, Dr. Nedialka Iordanova, Dr. Benjamin Meador, and alumnus Yukun Chen. Their mission was to engage with university administrators and faculty at institutions with which GSW has existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements and to begin the planning of study abroad and student exchange programs.
The delegation's itinerary featured productive meetings at Zhoukou Normal University and Henan Institute of Science and Technology. Our conversations affirmed the value of our current agreements and revealed opportunities for refinement, while also presenting opportunities for new and expanded collaborations. The delegation had the honor of dedicating a new laboratory established for the ZKNU-GSW Network Engineering program during their visit. The delegation also toured the campus of Eurasia University, an institution with partnership with other USG institution, further broadening their understanding of China's educational landscape.
Beyond the academic engagements, the delegation immersed themselves in China's rich cultural heritage. They visited several of the country's most notable historical sites, including the Ming Dynasty section of the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Huang He (Yellow River) Valley, downtown Beijing, and Millennium City Park in Kaifeng.
The trip not only solidified existing relationships but also provided new insights and perspectives on potential future collaborations. The GSW delegation's visit to China marks a promising step towards deeper international cooperation and cultural exchange.
The James Earl Carter Library was proud to host a Thunder Camp laser tag event in the library Sunday evening, August 4th. Thunder Camp is Georgia Southwestern State University’s extended orientation program designed to assist incoming freshmen with their transition into college. Hosted August 4 - 6, 2024, this three-day, two-night experience establishes an opportunity for the students to engage and connect with their peers, faculty, and campus leaders through entertaining activities that create bonds with their fellow Thunder Campers. These new Canes are mentored by Thunder Camp Counselors (TCCs) - GSW student leaders who are involved in campus life. These hand-selected counselors are well-trained and eager to help these students find their place at GSW so they can thrive in their first year and beyond! The GSW Library is committed to student success and is always available for your research needs. We also provide private study rooms, group study rooms, academic and leisure reading materials, and assistance in helping you find what you need to succeed. Instructors, if you need a customized library guide for your students, complete with links to eBooks in our databases, the Library is happy to help. We also offer customized classroom sessions on library resources and how to find the appropriate sources for assignments. The Library wishes all our incoming Freshmen all the best this Fall semester. Go Canes!
Find more events on the GSW academic calendar, on CanesConnect, and on the Events Open to the Community webpage.
