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GSW celebrated its most successful Day of Giving yet, raising a record-breaking $165,685 during its sixth annual event on Thursday, September 19. The University exceeded its ambitious goals of securing 500 donors and receiving contributions from all 50 states.
A total of 580 donors from across the U.S. and three additional countries rallied to support key areas such as scholarships, athletics, program enhancements, campus facilities, and student leadership. This year’s Day of Giving marked a 32 percent increase in donors, a 40 percent jump in total gifts, and a 50 percent increase in dollars raised compared to last year.
“The Georgia Southwestern family is special,” said Stephen Snyder, executive director of the GSW Foundation and assistant vice president for Advancement. “Their increasing engagement in the Day of Giving each year speaks volumes about their dedication. This year, we surpassed previous milestones by raising more funds, securing more donors, and welcoming even more local business partners. Our donors, volunteers, faculty and staff truly make this a wonderful day for the University and the Americus community.”
One of the day’s standout achievements was turning the map gold as GSW successfully gained donors from all 50 states—a long-standing goal of the event. This was the fourth attempt to "turn the map gold," a fun and engaging challenge that motivates the GSW community to reach family and friends across the country to participate. The initiative, aimed at boosting donor participation, helped make this year's event a true nationwide success.
Read more about the 2024 Day of Giving results here.
GSW has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report in multiple categories, including #51 in the Top Public Universities in the South, in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News Media Group.
Serving as a guide for prospective students and their families, the national rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures, including graduation and retention rates, class sizes, average federal loan debt of graduates, and academic reputation.
“Being ranked #51 as a Top Public University in the South is a remarkable achievement for Georgia Southwestern,” said GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. “This ranking highlights our commitment to academic excellence and serves as a testament to the enriching experience that awaits prospective students. I am pleased by this recognition, but not surprised. Our dedicated faculty and staff, supportive community, and innovative programs consistently position GSW among the best universities in the South.”
Read more about GSW's rankings here.
Professor of History Glenn Robins, Ph.D., recently published "Jimmy Carter, Vietnam, and the Rhetoric of Gratitude: Antecedents to the Noble Cause" in the journal Rhetoric and Public Affairs. The article abstract reads:
The study of the Vietnam War and American presidential discourse has followed a somewhat meandering path. The Vietnam discourse of Jimmy Carter remains the most poorly understood of the late Cold War presidents. Throughout the 1970s, Carter participated in, and at times led, the national debate over the federal government’s responsibility to Vietnam veterans. He spoke of a debt of gratitude that the American people owed to the war’s veterans. As president, parts of his domestic agenda prioritized Vietnam veterans, leading him to preside over commemorative events for the war’s veterans on several occasions. During his time in elective office, he alternatingly defined the purpose of the war in Southeast Asia as preserving the American way of life, promoting democracy, or defending liberty and freedom. Carter practiced an ethics of remembering that sought to redeem the American soldier, to erase the divisiveness of the past, and to “delegitimize and marginalize anti-war opinions.” Despite the obvious importance of both his discourse and his actions, Carter’s Vietnam War rhetoric has received very little attention.
Professor of English Anish Dave, Ph.D., has published a co-authored article in Business Horizons, a peer-reviewed journal. The article, titled "Pursuit of Peace by Business Leaders: Frontiers of International Relations" will appear in the next issue of the journal but has already been published online here.
Aller and Perry present at distance learning conferenceAssociate Professor of Human Resources Management Jim Aller, Ph.D., and Assistant Dean of Online Learning and Assistant Professor Shannon Perry, Ed.D., presented at the Distance Learning Administration Conference.
Their "Fishbowl" session was titled "Exploring the Impact of Videos on the Psychological Contract of Students in Online Classes."
This research explores the experiences and perceptions of students engaged in online education. The findings reveal that online education videos are vital to the student’s psychological contract and performance within the online setting and highlights the importance of using personal videos for engagement.
The Department of Human Resources has launched an Employee of the Month program with the purpose of encouraging recognition of GSW faculty and staff who have significantly benefited the University and made contributions beyond the usual expectations of their employment.
Nominations can be made online each month here.
The August 2024 Employees of the Month were (pictured L to R)
Professor of Education and Dean of the College of Education, Rachel Abbott, Ph.D., was selected to serve as a member of the Evaluation Review Panel (ERP) for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). The ERP is a ten-member panel of trained Reviewers selected by the GaPSC staff. The panel consists of individuals from higher education faculty (from private and public institutions), higher education administration, RESAs, and P-12 educators. Its purpose is to review evidence obtained during an approval review (or gathered as a result of a progress report), and to recommend decisions to the Educator Preparation and Certification Committee of the GaPSC Commission. Abbott will serve on the Panel for a three-year term, 2024-2027.
Assistant Professor and Assessment Director Michele McKie, Ed.D. was selected to serve on the DKG International Editorial Board for the 2024-2028 biennium. DKG International is a society for women educators. The editorial board peer reviews articles for two publications: Bulletin Journal and Bulletin Magazine. McKie is also serving as the DKG Alpha Epsilon Chapter President in Americus, Ga. for the 2024-2026 biennium.
Barron promoted to SergeantOfficer Maurice Barron was promoted to Sergeant on Sept. 1. He began working with the Office of Public Safety in May 2018 after retiring from the State of Georgia following 30 years of service working with the Georgia Department of Corrections, South Georgia Technical College, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. He also worked as an officer with the Americus Police Department during those years.
Barron supervises the performance of officers under his command. He is responsible for overseeing, organizing, training, and directing the activities of the officers. Barron is a dedicated law enforcement professional with a passion for fostering a positive campus community and facilitating employee development. With over 20 years of supervisor experience, he’s played a key role in building high-performing teams. He’s known for his strong interpersonal skills and ability to create inclusive and supportive work environments.
Barron is married and has two daughters and two granddaughters. He obtained a Bachelor of Science/Criminal Justice degree from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Lance Alday '23, previously a computer technician, is now the Network Technician in the Office of Information and Instructional Technology.
Police officer in the Office of Public Safety Timothy Allen left that position on Sept. 4.
Part-time instructor in the Department of English and Modern Languages Laurene Owens left that role on Sept. 4.
Brittany McKenzie '15, CRM & Communication Administrator in the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, and her husband Matt proudly welcomed a baby girl into the world on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Margot Alice arrived weighing 4 lbs. 13 oz. and measuring 18 inches long.
Congratulations to the McKenzie family!
Krystal (Morris) Whittaker, Web Content Strategist in the Department of University Relations, married Micah Whittaker on Saturday, Sept. 28, in a ceremony held in Perry, Ga. Morris earned her bachelor's degree in information technology from GSW in 2022 and previously worked in the Office of Information and Instructional Technology on campus. The couple resides in Americus, Ga.
The College of Education, in collaboration with DKG Alpha Epsilon, commenced the third year of their induction support program on Thursday, Sept. 12. They hosted 20 new teachers and 18 interns who are serving as teachers of record while completing their undergraduate degrees.
The event was organized by Assistant Professor and Assessment Director Michele McKie, Ed.D. Faculty and staff from the College of Education, veteran teachers, and DKG educators were present to support the new teachers. The College hosted a total of 56 participants during the first event of the year. During the event, Assistant Professor Mike Crosby, Ph.D., facilitated a discussion on “Conquering Challenges and Tackling Tasks.”
Students visit TCIOn Sept. 18, Professor of Chemistry N. Iordanova, Ph.D., led a trip to TCI Powder Coatings company in Americus, Ga. with two GSW students.
The trip included touring the TCI chemical lab and testing facility, where the students were able to learn about the chemistry behind powder coatings and what type of job opportunities the company offers.
The trip also had the purpose of establish closer relationships between the GSW chemistry program and TCI, where a former GSW chemistry graduate Stephanie Ashley Taunton Whittaker now works.
On Sept. 22, the Office of Alumni Affairs hosted to first of several meet and greet events to introduce alumni across the state to GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. This first event was held at Line Creek Brewery in Peachtree City, Ga. Several area alumni attended and enjoyed fellowship and meeting Johnston.
The next events are planned for Thomasville on Oct. 17 and Macon on Nov. 3. Learn more about these and other alumni-centered events at gsw.edu/AlumniEvents.
On Sept. 3, President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D., (left) spoke to members of GSW's African American Male Initiative (AAMI) during one of their scheduled meetings. Johnston engaged the members on the objectives of the program and how the program has and will benefit each individual member. She followed with an activity that showed how each member can be given the same instructions but all of their outcomes will not be the same. “This is how your education will blend in all of the individual ideas and perspectives and produce a well-rounded group of individuals,” she expressed. The members engaged the President in a question and answer session and were excited about her answers.
On Sept. 17, Rodney Shelton, a GSW alumnus and Assistant Principal at Sumter County Intermediate School, (right) presented at an AAMI Manhood Mindset event. His presentation was titled “Successfully Graduating from College.” Shelton used his own experience and education to show how coming from such humble beginnings you can succeed in education and life. He expressed that you need to surround yourself with individuals with the same goals, same aspirations and the same drives. He pointed out everything you do in acquiring an education will not be easy. He emphasized that is the point in getting your education that you must not quit. “Refocusing is vital to whether you will succeed or not at this juncture,” he said. He engaged the members in a question and answer session that produced some very informative answers.
Professor of Chemistry N. Iordanova, Ph.D., invited former chemistry students Landon Hobgood and Clint Faircloth to present a talk "Careers in the Field of Chemistry - How the Education at GSW Helped Us Land Our Dream Job" for chemistry students and faculty. The event was attended by 28 students and four faculty, including GSW President Michelle Johnston.
The event also included a dinner and a social hour with the speakers and was sponsored by the Southwest Georgia American Chemical Society local section (SOWEGA ACS). The presentation represented the effort of the chemistry program to expose current students to former members of the program who successfully practice a job that they landed as a result of the rigorous chemistry education at GSW.
On Sept. 18, the College of Education hosted Physical Science Day, a workshop for teachers in GSW's partner districts to learn about physical science demonstrations and laboratory investigations to engage their students. GSW students in Instructional Methods for Elementary Science also had the opportunity to interview attending teachers about their experiences in the classroom.
Teachers from 14 different schools representing nine different school districts participated in the workshop, and all left with demonstrations they could immediately use in their own classrooms. The participants have requested similar days for life science and earth science in 2025.
Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Chris Pritchett, Ed.D., worked with Heidi Goodin from the Chattahoochee-Flint RESA to organize this event.
Find more events on the GSW academic calendar, on CanesConnect, and on the Events Open to the Community webpage.
