Connection Winter 2025

100 YEARS OF STUDENT MEDIA

Also inside THREE MILLION DOLLAR MAN • VOICE OF THE BOBCATS

FIND OUT HOW COLLABORATE. EXPLORE. LEARN BY DOING.

www.gcsu.edu

From the Vice President O F U N I V E R S I T Y A DVA N C E M E N T

TRANSCENDING TRADITIONS My love for newspapers goes back to childhood. In fact, the accompanying picture shows me at 4 or 5 years old, sitting in my dad’s chair, “reading” The Savannah Morning News, our local paper. To this day, I still start my mornings with the Atlanta JournalConstitution and never miss an edition of The UnionRecorder or The Baldwin Bulletin.

from disciplines far beyond journalism or communications.

Students from across the academic spectrum have learned to write compelling stories, think critically, speak confidently and engage with diverse audiences — skills that transcend any single career path — by working on The Colonnade and at WGUR.

It’s no accident that state legislators and members of the Board of Seth Walker, age 4-5 Regents frequently remark that GCSU I also have a deep students have an exceptional affection for “terrestrial” radio ability to communicate in — the kind that comes over dynamic, thoughtful ways. the airwaves, no subscription That is the liberal arts in action: required. There’s something preparing graduates to think special about the accessibility deeply, listen carefully and and community connection express themselves clearly — of free radio. I especially enjoy whether they are producing a tuning in to our local 104.5 WMVG here in Milledgeville, where our very own Voice of the Bobcats, Scott MacLeod, delivers local news and sports each morning.

radio segment, interviewing for a job, leading a community meeting or serving on a board.

Beyond the technical skills these hands-on experiences provide, The Colonnade and WGUR also help our students live out one of Georgia College’s core values: living purposeful lives.

Being purposeful means being engaged in your community — staying informed, contributing to the conversation and understanding the issues that shape our shared future.

Reading the paper, tuning in to local radio and participating in meaningful dialogue are all part of that engagement.

As alumni, I hope you take pride in knowing that these two unique and important Georgia College traditions are not only alive and well here in Milledgeville but thriving — continuing to prepare our students to lead, serve and communicate with clarity and purpose.

“

This year, we are proud to celebrate two longstanding GCSU institutions: The Colonnade, marking its 100th anniversary, and 95.3 WGUR, celebrating 50 years on the air.

These organizations embody the heart of Georgia College’s liberal arts mission. While our mass communication major is strong and vibrant, the majority of students who have worked at The Colonnade and WGUR over the years have come

This year, we are proud to celebrate two longstanding GCSU institutions: The Colonnade, marking its 100th anniversary, and 95.3 WGUR, celebrating 50 years on the air.

B. Seth Walker Vice President, University Advancement

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SERVICE IS DIFFERENT HERE

Through its unique liberal arts mission — which encourages students to collaborate across disciplines in a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, including community service — GCSU is training the next generation of leaders to create a better world. Bobcats are introduced to service opportunities at GCSU Gives Day, which boasts a 95% participation rate among firstyear students. Scan the QR code to read about recent projects and successes.

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CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

CONNECTION Winter 2025 Vol. XV, No. 2 Copyright 2025 All rights reserved Published by University Communications 231 W. Hancock St. Milledgeville, GA 31061

WINTER 2025

G E O R G I A C O L L E G E & S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

CONNECTION

F E AT U R E S

President Cathy Cox Vice President of University Advancement Seth Walker Assistant Vice President of University Communications and Chief Communications Officer Mike Cavaliere Editorial Ansley Kate Allen (’25) Michelle Aquino (’19) Mike Cavaliere Maggie Forrester (’25) Anna Gay Leavitt Michael MacEachern Nadirah Mayweather (’08, ’10) Gil Pound Amanda Respess Kylie Rowe (’24) Margaret Schell (’19) Al Weston Photography Savannah Greene (’25) Anna Gay Leavitt Gil Pound Design Brooks Hinton Bailey Wilson (’12) Cover Photography Anna Gay Leavitt Please send change of address and class notes to: Campus Box 96 Milledgeville, GA 31061 Email: connection@gcsu.edu

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24 ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Front Porch..............................................7 Help is on the Way.................................18 Alumni Summer Photos.........................22 Enduring Bobcats...................................26 Three Million Dollar Man......................28 Trailblazer..............................................29 Leaders Shaping Leaders.........................30 Foundational Support............................32 A Capital Idea........................................33 Global Impact........................................34 Voice of the Bobcats...............................36 Headed for the Hall...............................37 Class Notes............................................38 In Memoriam.........................................42

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

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FrontPORCH GCSU NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS

‘FORMATIVE’ GCSU EXPERIENCE PAVES WAY TO PRESTIGIOUS GRAD PROGRAM Unparalleled access to experiential learning and mentorship makes Georgia College different from other universities, and Brigitte Rivard (’25) took advantage of every opportunity.

Ivan Chu (’25) (Photo: University of Notre Dame)

CANCER RESEARCHER BOUND FOR RENOWNED PH.D. TRACK After conducting research for three years at GCSU, Kun Yuan “Ivan” Chu (’25) is continuing his work at the competitive University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Chu is pursuing a doctorate in cancer biology.

At Georgia College, Chu earned a National Science Foundation fellowship and studied at the University of Notre Dame, where

he researched pancreatic cancer treatments.

“I want to better understand the fundamental causes of cancer and identify ways to target them to develop improved therapies,” Chu said. “I also want to mentor the next generation of scientists and physicians, just like I was mentored at GCSU.”

A mass communication major, she traveled to Switzerland and France for study abroad trips, earned a leadership certificate, was active in honor societies and the Georgia Education Mentorship program.

Those hands-on experiences helped earn her a scholarship to pursue a master’s in global affairs from the prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

“The faculty at Georgia College is so special because they’re so willing to support and communicate and connect with you on a personal level, which honestly is really hard to find at other universities,” Rivard said.

“That’s helped me feel seen and heard and given me the room to explore the things that I wondered about. It’s … been very formative for me.”

Brigitte Rivard (’25)

OF STUDENTS CONDUCT UNDERGRAD RESEARCH

LEARNING

BY DOING

Early access to undergraduate research opportunities gives GCSU students a unique advantage over their peers at much larger institutions. In fact, 68% of all 2024 graduates participated in undergraduate research, some in their first year.

READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE LEARN MORE ABOUT IVAN’S RESEARCH CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025 7

BOBCAT NAMED U.K.’S

‘GODFATHER’ OF 3X3 HOOPS

Referred to as the United Kingdom’s “Godfather of 3x3 basketball” by British sports publication HoopsFix, Julius Joseph (’00) was awarded the title of Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for popularizing three-player-versus-three-player hoops in his home country.

“It’s an amazing recognition of all the work and effort I’ve put into basketball over the years,” Joseph said. “It’s something that doesn’t happen without the great people that I’ve got around me.”

A Bobcat men’s basketball Hall of Famer, Joseph launched the Ball Out 3x3 tournament in 2014, which grew into a national tour. Then in 2022, he coached England’s 3x3 men’s national team to a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.

THERE SHE IS, MRS. AMERICA Paige Armstrong Ewing (’05) was crowned Mrs. America Aug. 27 in Las Vegas. Next, she will represent the nation at the Mrs. World pageant in January.

“My platform is giving hope and healing to grieving families,” Ewing said. “It’s my passion to share with other people how to live through loss and still carry the duality of joy and grief.”

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VOLLEYBALL ALUMNA EARNS M.D. Former Georgia College volleyball star Libby Bochniak (’21) earned her medical degree this year and is now in residency in neurology at the University of AlabamaBirmingham Hospital.

As a student, Bochniak exemplified GCSU’s scholarathlete model. She earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, was a twotime All-Peach Belt Conference selection and stands as the lone Academic All-American in program history.

DO THE ‘WRITE’ THING:

AUTHOR-ALUMNUS GIVES BACK A writer of military thrillers, Harrison Kone (’13) creates characters who make the world a better place — and now he’s following suit.

The author of five published books, Kone donates over 10% of his royalties to charities like the International Justice Mission and Save the Storks.

Writing about military figures has also allowed Kone to meet some of his heroes from Delta Force, Army Rangers, Black Ops and the CIA. “I hope readers become inspired to do good in the world,” Kone said, “just like [my] characters.”

GCSU’S OWN: GEORGIA AUTHOR OF THE YEAR

HAIL TO THE CHIEF (OF STAFF) Abby Stout (’16) was promoted to chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Division, where she supervises around 1,400 employees and works on what she calls “the frontlines, defending the federal government.”

Newbern called the recognition “personally meaningful, because I’ve lived in Georgia a long time, as did ancestors on both sides of my family.”

“We work long, hard hours because we love the cause we’re fighting for,” Stout said. “It’s so meaningful and humbling to represent the United States of America.”

Stout credits two Georgia College professors with inspiring her career mission: the late Jennifer Hammack, J.D., former associate professor of justice studies, and Dr. Jerry Herbel, former assistant professor of political science and public administration.

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“The law school I chose was due to Hammack’s mentorship,” Stout said.

“She even went to visit it with me.”

We work long, hard hours because we love the cause we’re fighting for.

- ABBY STOUT (’16)

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Associate professor of English Laura Newbern was named a 2025 Georgia Author of the Year for her book of poetry, titled “A Night in the Country,” which won first place in the Georgia Writers Association’s full-length poetry category.

ALUMNA NAMED GCSU PROVOST Dr. Holley Roberts (’93, ’96) was appointed in August as GCSU’s new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, a role she has filled in an interim capacity since August 2024.

To fellow alumni, Roberts said, “Success is about taking a chance and being confident in the knowledge and co-curricular experiences you’ve gained from Georgia College. ... Focus on making an impact.”

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FrontPORCH

INTERPRETIVE EXHIBIT TO BREAK GROUND THIS WINTER A former train station, The Depot building on GCSU’s campus bears marks of the segregated South, with exterior lintels that read “Colored Waiting Room” and “White Waiting Room.” A shared reminder of Georgia’s complicated past, the lintels will soon be explored in an outdoor interpretive exhibit, providing space for education and reflection.

“We are proud to create a dedicated space on our campus that acknowledges the historic struggles faced by members of our community,” said Seth Walker, vice president of University Advancement. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are excited to bring this meaningful vision to life.”

GCSU, GEORGIA TECH LAUNCH DUAL-DEGREE TRACK Students who begin their bachelor’s studies in physics, math, chemistry, computer science or data science at GCSU can now pursue a dual degree in engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The GCSU-GT Dual-Degree Program provides a new pathway for high-achieving STEM majors who complete their first three years at GCSU to transfer into one of 11 undergraduate engineering programs at Georgia Tech, resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree earned from each institution.

Currently in development, the project is supported by The Knight Foundation, The Community Foundation of Central Georgia, Georgia Power and Exchange Bank.

Developed in partnership with Dr. Bob Wilson, university historian, the project will break ground this winter.

LEARN MORE

BOBCAT GRADS BOAST $1.4 MILLION ROI Degrees from Georgia College power economic gains for both graduates and the broader Middle Georgia region, according to a recent study.

Students who earn a bachelor’s degree from GCSU, or any other University System of Georgia institution, earn $1.4 million more on average over their lifetimes than those without a college degree, according to the report, which was conducted on behalf of the USG. Georgia College generated over $333 million in total economic impact last year — accounting for an 8.1%, or $25 million, increase over its reported impact in 2023 — the study showed. The university also supported 3,102 jobs on and off campus in the same timeframe.

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BUSINESS LAW PROFESSOR BOUND FOR FACULTY HALL OF FAME Dr. Jehan El-Jourbagy, associate professor of business law and ethics, is the most recent Georgia College faculty member to earn the Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award, bestowed by the University System of Georgia.

El-Jourbagy has created transformative experiences that promote civic engagment for Bobcat students through study abroad programs, leadership tours and more. GCSU has had seven faculty members earn this distinction since 2001, including six in the past eight years.

SERIOUS BUSINESS: TRAINING TOMORROW’S LEADERS Aspiring business moguls, barons and tycoons jumpstarted their future careers this year thanks to two business camps hosted by Georgia College.

For one whirlwind week in May, 10 Bobcats from the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology traveled Georgia, touring 15 businesses across six cities in five days. Their goal: Learn what industries, companies and people power the state’s economy.

“The absolute highlight for me was getting a behind-the-scenes tour and witnessing firsthand how these corporations operate,” said Jasmine Smith, a computer science junior.

Six Georgia high school students also pitched business ideas at a weeklong summer bootcamp sponsored by GCSU’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The Rural Youth in Business program introduced students to the basics of starting a business, including market research, strategy and financial projections.

Cristalei Polk (’16), left, celebrates with project co-lead Rachel Auyer.

ALUMNA-LED PROSTHETICS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Cristalei Polk (’16) co-led the writing of new legislation to expand access to prosthetic and orthotic care, which was signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in May. Polk and fellow co-lead Rachael Auyer worked with So Every BODY Can Move, a national nonprofit focused on disability rights, on the proposal to expand insurance coverage for activity-specific devices — those meant for exercise, play or bathing. Their hope is to help people with limb impairment remain physically active.

Business student Jasmine Smith toured the flight deck of a Delta aircraft during a behind-the-scenes visit to the company’s Atlanta headquarters.

“I never could have imagined doing something like this in the legislative world, but I do think that GCSU helped prepare me,” said Polk, a licensed prosthetist-orthotist who was tapped by colleagues in the Georgia Society of Orthotics and Prosthetics to lead this initiative. “I was able to go in with confidence, knowing I have a learning mindset. I could work hard and create relationships, all skills I was able to learn at Georgia College.”

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100 YEARS OF STUDENT MEDIA GCSU’S student newspaper, The Colonnade, celebrates its centennial this year, while 95.3 WGUR-FM marks 50 years.

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Read All About It

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eorgia College & State University’s student newspaper, The Colonnade debuted July 20, 1925, when Georgia College was known as Georgia State College for Women. Led by Editor-in-Chief Anna Elizabeth Branch, who earned degrees in 1924 and 1926, the paper’s first edition was a print run of 1,000 copies.

Regarding its name, the first issue explained that The Colonnade comes from “the number and beauty of the columns which are so characteristic of campus.”

Even literary icon Flannery O’Connor (’45) contributed to The Colonnade

during her time as a student, creating linocut cartoons featured in early editions of the publication.

Since its inception, the newspaper has been known as the university’s watchdog, maintaining a commitment to investigative journalism in service to students. Its staff is divided into four sections: news, arts & life, sports and opinion. Each section editor is responsible for pitching stories to their staff of writers weekly.

Mary Ciucevich, who began as assistant arts & life editor, currently leads the publication as editor-in-chief, a role she stepped into this fall.

“Through working at The Colonnade, I have met so many great people and refined my writing,” said Ciucevich. “It has also really challenged me to stay informed about campus events and introduced me to so many student organizations.”

STUDENT MEDIA THROUGH THE DECADES 1920s 1940s 1950s 1970s 1980s JULY 20, 1925

The first issue of The Colonnade is distributed on the campus of what was then Georgia State College for Women.

The Colonnade shifts to biweekly publication.

1942-1945

Alumna Mary Flannery O’Connor publishes handmade linocut cartoons in The Colonnade.

The Colonnade shifts to weekly publication.

1960s

1972

The Maxwell Student Union opens, becomes the headquarters for The Colonnade.

1967

1982

The Colonnade is named the “Most Improved College Paper” by the Georgia College Press Association.

Georgia College at Milledgeville becomes coed.

SEPT. 18, 1975

WGUR launches as WXGC 88.9 FM, broadcasting from Mayfair Hall as a 10-watt noncommercial station.

1984

The English Department adds the journalism major, led by professor Mary Jean Land.

1989

1979

WXGC radio station staff reaches 80 students

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Journalism students are enrolled in practicum programs for the first time at all campus media outlets: WGUR-FM, The Colonnade and the campus television studio.

Listen Up

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ifty years after The Colonnade debuted, students Frank Howell (’75) and Gregg Duckworth (’75, ’79) founded WGUR-FM. Originally launched with the call letters WXGC, the station began broadcasting at 10 watts from Mayfair Hall.

“I had been tuned into broadcast stations from Georgia Tech, Valdosta State University and Georgia State University,” said Howell. “Seeing their success, we decided Georgia College needed to get onboard with a campus radio station.”

Howell recruited his friend and roommate Duckworth, and together they pioneered 88.9 WXGC-FM. Duckworth took the lead as the station’s first general manager.

The goal for WXGC was simple: Represent the student body. The duo modeled their format after 96 Rock WKLS-FM in Atlanta. At the time, what is now considered classic rock was emerging WXGC became the only rock-format station in the Middle Georgia region.

Most surrounding stations focused on gospel or country music.

WXGC went on air after receiving its licensing in the late summer of 1975.

Upon returning to school, students would soon have a new form of communication that reflected who they were as a group.

“The first song we played was by the British band The Who,” said Duckworth.

“We played the track ‘Baba O’Riley.’”

As the station continues today as WGUR, Howell shared advice for current students.

“Pledge a fraternity or sorority, join a student group … play sports,” said Howell. “In college, there’s a lot you can do. … Those groups were there before you, and they will be there after you.”

Today, WGUR is operated by over 50 students. The station is known not only for playing music, but also for organizing events like Sounds of the Spring and Couch Concerts, where students gather to

enjoy performances by local and student musicians. These events both give artists a platform and provide WGUR staff with hands-on experience in event planning and production.

The authors of this piece, Kylie Rowe and Ansley Allen, both graduated from the Department of Communication in 2025.

Rowe started as a contributing writer at The Colonnade, moving up to assistant editor and then head editor of arts & life for the paper. Allen was a radio DJ for three years, becoming the public relations manager then general manager of the station.

COMM THEN & NOW

FEB. 20-21, 2026 • TERRELL HALL The Communication Department welcomes graduates to a weekend dedicated to alumni.

Whether you graduated five years ago or 50, this is a great opportunity to gather with old friends and see how the unit has changed.

RSVP TODAY

1990s 2010s 2020s 1996

GCSU is named Georgia’s designated public liberal arts university.

2000s 2009

Journalism separates from the English Department, which becomes the Department of Mass Communication, under the leadership of Dr. Mary Jean Land as chair.

2012

WGUR changes to its current frequency of 95.3 FM.

2018

The Rhetoric major joins the Department of Mass Communication, which is renamed the Department of Communication.

2019

With renovations complete, Terrell Hall becomes home to the Department of Communication and all student media outlets: WGUR, The Colonnade and GC360 TV newscast.

2020

The Colonnade transitions to a mostly digital publication format.

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Through working at The Colonnade, I have met so many great people and refined my writing. It has also really challenged me to stay informed about campus events and introduced me to so many student organizations.

– MARY CIUCEVICH, CURRENT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE COLONNADE

IN FULL VIE

Chris Greer (left) with his co-host Paul Daniel, in Wyoming

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Professor Chris Greer’s PBS travel show, “View Finders,” has gone national.

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urrently in its fourth season, “View Finders” — a travelmeets-photography program created by Georgia College professor Chris Greer — is now on the air in more than 55 million homes nationwide.

Twice nominated for a Southeast Emmy Award, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) show is about two photographers — Greer and co-host Paul Daniel — who capture amazing imagery of iconic locations. Seasons one and two featured Georgia’s abundant natural wonders, including Cumberland Island, Amicalola Falls, Cloudland Canyon, Sapelo Island and Tallulah Gorge. Season three went wider, with Greer and Daniel traveling the U.S., from Maine to Wyoming.

Now in season four, Greer, a professor of instructional technology, and Daniel are going international, traveling to locations including Iceland and the Virgin Islands.

“There has never been a show that mixes photography, travel, adventure

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

and music,” Greer said. “Plus, the educational component of every episode aligns nicely with my role as a professor.”

Working with colleagues from the College of Education, Greer is embarking on a new project meant for younger audiences. The goal: Make shortform videos to air on PBS Learning Media and Georgia Public Broadcasting Kids, to be used by educators as supplemental learning materials for K-12 students.

“This content is going to be accessible to students across the country, engaging them about nature and conservation,” Greer said.

“It’s so gratifying to think that our college students who are helping me create these videos and materials might be using them as teaching tools in their own classrooms over the coming years.”

Greer’s team plans to have at least six learning modules produced

by December.

Grand Tetons, New England

A rural road with canopy of fall trees, in New England

SCAN to watch the show

A beautiful sunset on a cliffside in Iceland (Photos by Chris Greer)

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Help is ON THE WAY

Madelyn Taylor, Allie Baggett, Abi Bragg, Eden Frayne, Taylor Watford, Sarah Hawkins and Jade Stephens are 2025 recipients of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Nursing Scholars Program.

Seven students earned full-ride scholarships this year to fill Georgia’s nursing workforce shortage.

PROJECTED NEED

S

even incoming nursing and pre-nursing students at GCSU earned full academic scholarships this year, benefiting from a $400,000 grant that has funded a total of 27 Bobcats since 2022 – all of whom aspire to help fill Georgia’s nursing workforce shortage.

The incoming scholarship class became the fourth group of its kind to be named Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Nursing Scholars.

“These students have chosen to meet the calling to become nurses with dedication and with heart,” said GCSU President Cathy Cox. “We are really grateful to the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation for its steadfast commitment to supporting our nursing program and the cohort model we have developed.”

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation aids college students at some 200 schools across nine southeastern states.

Members of GCSU’s cohort model — which aims to unlock

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larger, recurring benefits for its students — must reside in one of 15 Central Georgia counties.

More Than Money “[The program’s] impact goes far beyond tuition assistance,” said Dr. Jennifer Goldsberry, interim director of the GCSU School of Nursing. “Scholars benefit from a unique mentorship experience within a close-knit cohort of aspiring nurses, living and learning together throughout their academic journey. The program fosters leadership, service and personal growth, requiring each scholar to complete volunteer service hours each month and lead a philanthropic project each semester. It’s a transformative experience that shapes not only exceptional nurses, but compassionate leaders committed to giving back.”

Senior Madison Townsend, who has been in the program since its launch, says that membership also fosters motivation.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

Georgia is projected to face one of the nation’s largest nursing shortages.

18,000 Nurses needed in Georgia by 2037*

*according to the National Center for Health Workforce

“[Our advisors] keep you pushing forward and remind you why we’re here,” she said.

She and fellow senior Hannah Pelt are on track to graduate in December and enter a healthcare field where nurses are sorely needed. According to a 2024 report from the federal Health Resources Service Administration, Georgia is among the top-10 states projected to be most affected by a nursing shortage between now and 2037.

“I wouldn’t have the opportunity to graduate from nursing school if I didn’t have this scholarship,” said Pelt, who serves as president of the

GCSU nursing scholars group.

“It has really opened doors for me.”

Qualifying scholars are also guaranteed admission into the School of Nursing’s competitive Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a benefit the seven incoming freshmen are looking forward to realizing.

One of the incoming scholars, Taylor Watford, chose nursing because she has seen firsthand, through her grandfather’s hospital stays, the difference nurses can make in a hospital experience.

“It was always the nurses that made his stays feel more welcoming and comfortable,” Watford said. “I’m blessed to be able to ... go forth and be the light in other peoples’ hospital visits.”

Other first-year students new to the program are Allie Baggett, Abi Bragg, Eden Frayne, Sarah Hawkins, Jade Stephens and Madelyn Taylor.

C O N T I N U I N G & P R O F E S S I O N A L E D U C AT I O N

EMPLOYER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS Recruiting and retaining top talent is more challenging than ever. Partner with Georgia College & State University to strengthen your workforce through accredited programs and professional certificates designed to meet regional employer needs, from the education and healthcare industries to business and government.

478-445-5277 • continuingeducation@gcsu.edu • www.gcsu.edu/eep

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

Susan Daniels has designed and maintained the grounds at GCSU for over 30 years.

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usan Daniels knows plants — which ones grow best in what climates, as well as their diverse soil acidity and fertilizer preferences — and for the past 31 years, she’s used that knowledge as Georgia College & State University’s grounds director to keep all 180 acres of campus beautiful.

The daughter of an elementary school teacher mother and soil conservationist father, Daniels spent part of her youth in Puerto Rico, for her father’s work. “He’d take us out in the field to show us the force of water and how to fix drainage,” she remembers.

“The whole purpose of horticulture is to create an environment that’s restful and soothing,” she said.

Susan has been the driving force behind the look and feel of our campus for decades.

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In that way, she sees the science of seeds, leaves and soil as secondary.

Amidst a bustling college campus, her work invites us all to slow down. Smell the flowers.

“Susan has been the driving force behind the look and feel of our campus for decades,” said Frank Baugh, GCSU assistant vice president for Facilities Management. “Her dedication and leadership in the grounds department have inspired intense loyalty from her staff and high esteem across campus.”

– FRANK BAUGH, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Daniels eventually majored in horticulture at the University of Georgia, where she worked for 10 years after graduation. Then in 1994, she came to Georgia College, where

she has defined the look of campus for over three decades, passing her understanding of plant life on to crewmembers along the way.

“What good were those four or five years getting through chemistry if I don’t share [what I know]?” Daniels said. “Knowledge is to be shared.”

Whether it’s for executive ceremonies or local high school proms, GCSU is a destination for photographers seeking picturesque scenery. Each snapshot of campus is a compliment to the thoughtful horticultural decisions made

by Daniels.

Susan and her team have elevated our campus landscapes to a standard of excellence that’s the envy of our peer institutions,” Baugh said. “We’re grateful to have a professional of her caliber at Georgia College, and her mark on our institution will endure for many years to come.”

Helping to keep the grounds at Georgia College beautifulfor the past 16 years is Jennifer Ray (left), a trusted collaborator to Susan Daniels (right).

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FY25

QUICK FACTS $810,649

Invested into literacy projects

$448,000+

Awarded in competitive grants to literacy-focused organizations

Empowering Every Child to Read R oughly 70% of Georgia’s children are not reading proficiently in fourth grade, a critical time when young learners transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” If children can’t read successfully by third grade, they’re more likely to drop out of school, become functionally illiterate and end up incarcerated.

So, there’s an urgency to changing the literacy statistics in the state of Georgia.

Organizations and government institutions are working together to make an impact on the life of every child who is struggling to read, including the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy.

The Deal Center is at the core of funding, translating, and deploying evidence-based language and literacy practices to childfacing spaces in Georgia — teachers, administrators, parents, and healthcare

professionals — giving everyone the tools to support children on the path to literacy.

Housed at Georgia College & State University, the Deal Center is a special funding initiative created by the Office of the Governor in 2017. Its goal is to improve reading outcomes for Georgia’s children.

But the Deal Center needs you to make the statewide, systemic change it is working toward. Get involved in your young learners’ lives, engage with the Deal Center or provide financial support. It takes everyone to build children’s brains, and together we can make a difference.

71% increase in Community Coalition grant applications 5 research teams funded to study adoption and scaling of evidence-based practices Universal Literacy Screeners: Topranked screener recommended by the DC, approved by the GA State Board of Education for statewide use — free to all schools 343+ literacy coaches trained through the Literacy Coach Network 8 virtual learning sessions delivered by national experts 136 CEUs/GaPDS credits issued

SCAN TO SEE OUR IMPACT

www.galiteracycenter.org CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

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CAPTURED: SUMMER WITH ALUMNI 22

Newlyweds Shanaysia Sanders (’23) and Jeff Kemp enjoying alumni event at Braves Game

Kristin Baugh (’17) with family, Justin (center) and Liam (right)

Nadirah Mayweather (’08, ’10), Jacquelyn Riddle, Danielle Massey (’14), Janai Starr (’15), Christy Broxton (’93); back: Dennis Riddle, Jalen Smith (’15, ’17), Hampton Pelton (’14) and Earl Brown (’16) at a Falcons game

SCAN FOR UPCOMING EVENTS NEAR YOU

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

Alumni Hampton Pelton (’14, front), Nadirah Mayweather (’08, ‘10, back left) and Christy Braxton (’93, middle) carry the U.S. flag at an Atlanta Falcons game.

Ginnene (’99) and Kenneth (’97) Hall with their daughter, Nylah Hall, at the Alumni Parent Move In Tent

MacKenzie Michels (’22, ’25) checks in two seniors.

Members of Zeta Phi Beta at Tent City

Members of the class of 2025 at Senior Send-off

Loren Simmons, member of the Sassy Cats dance team

Members of the class of 2025 at Senior Send-off

Class of 2025 senior in front of Big Thunder

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Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee (’70), alumnus and current master’s student, advises senior Olivia Crawford at the county’s new Real Time Crime Center.

BEHIND THE

BADGE Baldwin County’s long-serving sheriff Bill Massee (’70) is leveling up his law enforcement skills in GCSU’s criminal justice master’s program — and giving students major career opportunities in the process.

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“I told her I’m going to start an intelligence program, and I would like to sit down and talk,” he said.

Johnson now serves as the center’s director.

“We started an intelligence initiative from scratch,” Massee added. “What we’re running at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is state of the art. We are running programs that nobody else in the state is looking at.”

Staff at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Real Time Crime Center include Bobcat senior Olivia Crawford, alumna Maddie Brown (’25), Real Time Crime Center Director Evelyn Johnson (’24), Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee (’70), alumna Skye Mears (’25), senior Wesley Whitehead and junior Ezra Ryall.

B

ill Massee (’70) may seem like a traditional Southern sheriff, with his easy smile, strong handshake and deep drawl, but looks can be deceiving.

Leading the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office since 1989, Massee is committed to running a 21st Century operation.

He constantly seeks out innovative technologies and new ideas — most recently, he became a student in GCSU’s criminal justice online master’s program.

“People will say, ‘We didn’t used to do it this way, so why change?’” Massee said.

“But change is not our enemy.”

Born and raised in Milledgeville, a graduate of Baldwin High School and a Georgia College alumnus, Massee’s first job was with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation after graduation. Now serving his 10th term as county sheriff, he continues to seek out opportunities to recruit college graduates onto the force.

Over the decades, in fact, he has given dozens of Bobcats their first jobs in law enforcement.

“I look at Georgia College as, honestly, the most unbelievable recruiting grounds in the world,” Massee said. “We’ve got smart young people who it doesn’t take a seasoned investigator to realize have an interest in law enforcement.”

With the recent launch of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office’s new Real Time

Crime Center — which employs six student interns who range in degree focus from management information systems to math and liberal studies — a new avenue for career opportunity, and industry innovation, has emerged.

“”

Those programs tap into big data.

The center interprets enormous amounts of information from sources including social media, facial recognition software, state and federal databases, jail logs and dozens of high-tech security cameras installed across Baldwin County.

“I hope to light a spark in young adults for law enforcement again,” Lt. Johnson said. “There is a whole world behind the badge and gun. … I want to give them the opportunity to see all of it.”

That’s why she makes sure that the work her interns do matters. No gofer tasks here. Only real cases, real police work.

“I look at Georgia College as, honestly, the most unbelievable recruiting grounds in the world.”

Now a full-time analyst, Skye Mears (’25) began interning at the Sheriff’s Office in 2024, as a biology and chemistry major.

“Working here helped me [in school], especially in my chemistry classes,” said Mears. “[The internship] just angled my brain in a different way.”

Massee credits close relationships with Georgia College faculty with helping him prepare the next generation of tech-savvy law enforcers.

– BILL MASSEE (’70), BALDWIN COUNTY SHERIFF

Future Crimefighters The roots of the Real Time Crime Center can be traced back to Georgia College.

Through the criminal justice graduate program, Massee met Evelyn Johnson (’24), who mentioned in a class introduction that she was interested in analytics and had interned with the GBI. Massee messaged her right away.

“I’ve not only helped Baldwin County and Georgia College, but our entire profession,” Massee said. “We run these students through the same hiring process that we do our employees. They are totally vetted — polygraphed, psych tested, drug tested. They’ve completed training and are certified. I will call any sheriff or any chief in the state of Georgia, and we will try to place them anywhere they want to go.”

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Enduring

BOBCATS A multi-generation Bobcat, Abi Bragg was recently crowned the 2025 Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia.

T

he sixth in her family to attend GCSU, first-year student Abi Bragg began her college career this fall as the 2025 Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia.

After winning the statewide crown, the nursing major went on to compete at the national level this past summer in Mobile, Alabama — an experience she’ll never forget.

“Being in Mobile felt like I’ve already won 10 times over because of every person I’ve met and story I’ve heard,” she said. “While just a few walk away with a medal, each of us becomes someone who changes lives by making a positive impact on the world.”

Abi’s mother, alumna April Bragg (’00), supported her every step of the way.

“It’s been a lifelong journey for her,” April said. “Abi grew up understanding how this competition is rooted in being the best version of

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yourself. Representing that on a statewide platform then participating with other winners from across the U.S. was her dream come true.”

Family Ties Georgia College has been central to the Bragg family’s story for decades.

April and her husband, Terry Bragg (’95), met as Bobcat students and have since been married for 25 years. For a time, the family also lived in Milledgeville, where Abi performed in youth dance recitals on campus.

Terry — a middle school band director for the past 29 years — recalls the impact his professors had on him as a student. Former professor Dr. Todd Shiver, for example, gave him his first job in music: pep band director for basketball games.

“Dr. Shiver changed my life,” Terry said.

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Terry, Abi, April and Drew Bragg at the GCSU Trustee Scholarship presentation

April credits professors, too, specificially Drs. Amy Burt, Robin Harris, Chris Hendley, Scott Dillard and Jan Hoffmann for bringing out her talents for public speaking and motivating others.

As president and CEO of Robins Regional Chamber, April uses those skills today, facilitating business growth to encourage economic development in the area.

Many of April’s aunts and uncles also attended GCSU, and her great uncle, Horace Sanders, oversaw the renovation of Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, a National Historic Landmark.

Abi Bragg performs at the 2025 Distinguished Young Women National Finals.

Next, Abi is eager to start her journey to become a nurse anesthetist.

“I want to work with kids through surgery, explain the procedure and how they can have more autonomy over their body in that difficult time,” she said. “I also want patients’ stories to continue, because you’re not just saving lives, you’re saving a lifetime of experiences.”

Ready to elevate your career?

A graduate degree from GCSU will propel you toward your goals. Pursue your master’s, doctorate or add a specialist certification.

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

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THREE MILLION DOLLAR MAN

Alumnus Houston Chandler has earned over $3 million in grant funding to study and protect critical wetlands in South Georgia.

projects he conducts with partners across the Southeast.

G

rowing up on Georgia’s coastal plain, Houston Chandler (’12) spent his childhood summers surrounded by wildlife, while his parents — both biologists — studied birds and mammals. Chandler, however, preferred cold-blooded creatures: salamanders, snakes.

He’d fill his time searching for any he could find.

As the science director for The Orianne Society, a nonprofit working to conserve imperiled reptiles and amphibians, Chandler’s methods have grown more sophisticated over the years, but his goal remains the same: Learn as much as possible about these animals.

His work has paid off. Since 2023, he has earned over $3 million in grant funding for the research and conservation

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“During my time at GCSU, I began to turn my love for nature … into a career in research and conservation,” said Chandler, who double majored in biology and environmental science.

“I developed a better understanding of what it takes to conduct high-quality research while completing undergraduate research projects.”

Chandler then earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in fish and wildlife conservation from Virginia Tech.

Running The Orianne Society’s science division, Chandler researches a wide variety of species, including Eastern Indigo Snakes, Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders, Spotted Turtles, Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes and Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtles.

He said his current role “feels like coming full circle.” He often finds himself back in his hometown of Statesboro, which is located near many field research sites.

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“The Southeast is such a special place to learn about herpetology, because it’s really a biodiversity hotspot for both reptiles and amphibians,” Chandler said. “At Georgia College, as an undergrad, I had the ability to be outside in the field as a biology major. …

We weren’t in the lab or in the classroom the whole time.”

Through those real-world experiences, he made connections and learned tools he later used in graduate study.

Current Projects One of Chandler’s current projects is to research the behavior of spotted turtles, one of the smallest turtle species in North America. The turtles’ size make them a popular pet, thus removing them from their natural habitat and potentially threatening their population.

Chandler and his team are also studying eDNA, the trace environmental DNA left behind by animals like snakes. “[Snakes] are hard to find,” Chandler said. To track them down, his team analyzes soil samples for traces of their DNA. The Eastern Indigo Snake is a non-venomous apex predator that is critical to the longleaf pine ecosystems of the Southeast. A threatened species, their presence in particular areas marks that habitat for conservation. “[Animals] shed skin cells and saliva, so you can actually detect that DNA in the environment,” Chandler said. “We were able to detect snake presence just from looking for their DNA in the sand.”

In fact, as an undergrad, Chandler recorded the first spotted turtle found in Baldwin County history.

“I would have never guessed that, this many years later, I would still be working with that species, doing research,” he said.

Watch Houston Chandler in the field with imperiled spotted turtles

Spencer Kirkley walked the commencement stage in May. He is pictured here with Dr. Joanne Previts, College of Education interim dean.

TRAIL Spencer Kirkley became the first graduate of GC Thrive, a unique post-secondary program for students with intellectual disabilities.

M

iddle Georgia’s first and only post-secondary education program enabling students with intellectual disabilities to attend college with their peers celebrated its first graduate this year.

Meet Spencer Kirkley.

Kirkley took courses in media literacy, theater appreciation, world languages and cultures, outdoor education and creative writing through GC Thrive. He also interned with Georgia College Athletics, the Milledgeville Fire Department and Wolf Country radio 97.5 FM. Now armed with a certificate of completion, he’s looking for full-time work in his hometown of Eastman, Georgia, ideally a position connected to a police or fire department.

“He wants to find a job that makes him happy,” said Kirkley’s sister, Dr. Alexandra Burglund. “He wants to help people and be a part of a welcoming and supportive community, like the one he found at GCSU.”

“”

He wants to help people and be a part of a welcoming and supportive community, like the one he found at GCSU. – DR. ALEXANDRA BURGLUND, SPENCER KIRKLEY’S SISTER

Spencer Kirkley interned with the Milledgeville Fire Department, as well as with Georgia College Athletics, during his time in the Thrive program.

of special education; and Dr. Nicole DeClouette, professor of education.

Program Origins

While all three still serve as co-directors, Heather Cox, lecturer of special education, runs the day-to-day operations as the program’s academic coordinator.

Thrive was founded by faculty members Dr. Rob Sumowski, professor of special education; Dr. Stephen Wills, professor

Cox helps modify the courses to each student to help them develop the skills they need to be employable. Students

are also assigned peer mentors: fellow Bobcat students who assist with classroom support, social interactions and more.

“That’s our culture here. It’s who we are,” Sumowski said. “We share a bond and pride in this community we all have built together.”

A non-degree program, GC Thrive graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in Liberal Arts Education by completing two courses each semester, in addition to internships and student activities.

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LEADERS

SHAPING LEADERS

F

or the past 25 years, Georgia Education Mentorship — more commonly known as the GEM program — has defined leadership in action.

Nearly 800 Georgia College students have completed the one-of-a-kind program, which pairs undergraduates with state changemakers from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for a yearlong partnership that benefits mentees and mentors alike.

“Georgia College and the Georgia Chamber are two institutions uniquely positioned to shape the future of Georgia — to build the kind of state we want to have and the communities in which we want to live,” said Dr. Harold Mock (’06), director of Leadership Programs at Georgia College. “We’re thinking about the next generation of leaders and, through GEM, making a direct investment in their ability to provide leadership on behalf of others.”

Georgia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Clark (’96)

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Program graduates agree.

“I had a fantastic experience,” said program alumna Sarah Rose Harrill (’14, ’18). “[My mentor and I] still keep in touch to this day.

GEM was a win-win. It’s two people helping one another to learn and grow.”

Another GEM alumna, Nancy Leslie Griffin (’19), currently works as the executive office and special projects director for the Georgia Chamber, helping to manage the program she took part in as a Mass Communication major at GCSU. “I think that our members love to see how we’re doing things that really further the students’ education outside of the classroom,” Griffin said. “This partnership with Georgia College ... is exactly what [new mentors] are looking for.”

Georgia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Clark (’96) agreed, touting the program’s focus on addressing a critical state need.

“The No. 1 issue for Georgia business leaders is workforce development,” he said.

“A lot of our public policy work, our event programming, 90% of the work that we do with local chambers is all [about helping] the next generation to have the skills that they need to kind of AI-proof their careers.”

Experiences that Matter The key to developing young people into impactful leaders, according to Clark, is access. Ensuring that mentees leave the GEM program with hands-on experience in executive spaces opens doors they otherwise might not have known existed.

“It’s not just theoretical,” Clark added of the work mentees do in the program. “We’re actually on the ground with students. … I think that’s really where it happens. GEM fits in perfectly with our long-term strategy for growing that next generation of Georgia leaders and career-minded professionals.”

After students are accepted into GEM, they are paired with a mentor from the Chamber’s board of directors then set goals for what they want to accomplish during their year together. Mentees have both individual and group site visits with their mentor and other Chamber partners.

Mentees have toured agricultural producers

Nancy Leslie Griffin (’19), executive office and special projects director for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, stands with attorney/GCSU Foundation Board member Stan Wilson (’77) and psychology senior/GEM participant Evelyn Lessl.

in rural Georgia, traveled to Georgia’s coastal ports to learn about logistics and supply chains, and to countless businesses in the greater Atlanta area.

“GEM students and mentors see the full range of Georgia’s politics, free enterprise and public service,” Mock said. “But the nature of GEM is that no two student experiences are the same. They are all surrounded by a team of committed supporters that include me, our public service coordinator, their mentor, the staff at the Georgia Chamber, their cohort and our alumni.”

Central to the GEM program’s success is the belief that effective leadership must come from all sectors of society — spanning private enterprise, public affairs, nonprofit and civic life. Another key to the program’s success is a 50/50 partnership between the university and the Chamber.

Georgia College is the only university in the state to have this type of partnership with the Georgia Chamber, and the program’s longevity can be attributed to “the DNA of the university,” Clark said.

“When it’s seen as a priority from the very top — from the president all the way down — and you have enthusiastic leaders like Harold [Mock], I think it’s kind of infectious,” Clark said. “Some of the mentors have been there since the beginning, and if they weren’t getting something out of it, they wouldn’t be doing it. What I hear from them consistently is that they feel like they learn more from the students than the students maybe learn from them at the end of the day.”

LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP The Georgia Education Mentorship program made a lasting impression on Dilanka Seimon (’03), chief commercial officer at BKV Corporation, a top U.S. natural Dilanka Seimon (’03) gas producer.

In fact, it was his GEM mentor, Paula Rosput Reynolds, former CEO and president of Atlanta Gas Light Company, who convinced Seimon to pursue a career in the energy business.

“She facilitated my first job in Houston,” Seimon said. “Paula was amazing, allowing me to go to Atlanta to shadow her in meetings. The company flew me to Houston to talk to energy professionals at its subsidiary. A year later, they hired me.”

To honor his mentor and support the next generation of leaders, Seimon recently launched a GEM Scholarship in Reynolds’ name.

KEEP THE LEGACY GOING Make a gift to GCSU’s leadership programs.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025 31

Foundational

SUPPORT RANKING REPORT Georgia College earned three Top 10 regional rankings — including being named No. 5 among all public colleges and universities in the South — in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges list, released in September.

A sampling of the university’s rankings are listed as follows:

No. 5

To kick off the new academic year, the GCSU Foundation welcomed five new trustees and made two new leadership appointments.

T

he Georgia College & State University Foundation welcomed new members and appointed new leadership at the start of the fall 2025 term. Its aim is to support students by generating private gifts to fund scholarships, academic programs, campus buildings and more.

The new chair of the GCSU Foundation Board is Derek Chitwood (’07), from Greensboro, Georgia, founder/owner of Peach State Pride.

“Georgia College is a place that never leaves you, and my education there has propelled me and shaped my life,” Chitwood said.

Anresa Davis (’75) — a retired registered nurse from Savannah, Georgia — is incoming vice chair.

Top Public Schools (Regional – South)

No. 5

Best Undergraduate Teaching

(Regional – South, among public and private schools)

No. 9

Most Innovative Schools (Regional – South, among public and private schools)

No. 12

Regional Universities (South – among 133 public and private universities from Virginia to Arkansas)

“Fifty years ago, I received an excellent education and cultivated a wonderful circle of friends, making my time at GCSU a lifelong highlight,” Davis said. “I hope to make that same experience the norm for future generations.”

“Derek and Anresa represent the passion and dedication of two highly engaged GCSU alumni,” said Seth Walker, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the GCSU Foundation. “I’m confident their leadership will ensure the Foundation continues to serve our students,

faculty and staff with excellence.”

The five new members of the GCSU Foundation Board of Trustees are listed as follows:

Melanie Biersmith (’96) From Madison, Georgia, Biersmith is the State 4-H Leader for UGA Cooperative Extension.

April Bragg (’00) From Bonaire, Georgia, Bragg is president and CEO of the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Zach Mullins (’11) From Milton, Georgia, Mullins is chief strategy officer for Locality.

Larry Edwards From Milledgeville, Georgia, Edwards returns to the board after previously serving nine years. as treasurer.

Ted Smith From Milledgeville, Georgia, Smith previously served 17 years as a trustee, including as board chair.

– DEREK CHITWOOD (’07), FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR

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“”

Georgia College is a place that never leaves you, and my education there has propelled me and shaped my life.

In response to a recent boom in student demand, GCSU made a significant investment into its campus esports lab this year.

A CAPITAL

IDEA Georgia College launched a series of major renovation projects this summer to improve the campus experience for students, staff and visitors.

ESPORTS LAB A new Esports Lab opened this spring on campus, following significant growth in interest among students. From 2021 to 2025, the GCSU Esports team jumped from six players to 60, and the team became Peach Belt Conference Champions in Overwatch in 2023. The new center is double the size of the team’s previous space and boasts modern gaming systems, chairs and more.

UNIVERSITY INVESTMENT:

$58,000

NURSING SIMULATION CENTER

INTRAMURAL FIELDS

The new Simulation and Translational Research Center completed renovations in July and is now fully operational.

One of just two centers of its kind within the 26-institution University System of Georgia to be accredited through the Society for Simulation Healthcare, the 13,000-squarefoot facility provides nursing students with controlled training and lab spaces: Rooms mimic those found in hospitals and doctor’s offices, and students practice procedures on robotic manikins and standardized patients.

The 10.5 acres of intramural fields on West Campus had a major facelift this summer, complete with new playing surfaces, lighting, fencing and drainage improvements.

GCSU intramurals is among the national leaders in participation rate: 2,100 students participated last year, with a female participation rate three times higher than the national average for women.

UNIVERSITY INVESTMENT:

$630,000

+ assistance from the lessor

UNIVERSITY INVESTMENT:

$1 million +

WATCH a virtual tour of the SIM Center.

CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025 33

Alexa Allen and Brenna Gallman administered free health assessments to San Ignacio residents while working in Belize earlier this year.

GLOBAL IMPACT

Students administered free healthcare in Belize this summer, gaining “life-changing” work experience in the process.

E

ighteen Georgia College students spent over two weeks administering free healthcare to approximately 1,000 residents of San Ignacio, Belize, this past summer — and gaining life-changing experience in the process.

Through a unique study abroad program, students provided free health assessments, dental care, workshops on teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease-prevention, as well as First Aid, CPR and physical therapy clinics.

“Many of the residents hadn’t received any healthcare until [this program],” said exercise science junior Alexa Allen.

“It was eye-opening to see the small things we take for granted — like checking blood pressure — which was a big deal for them.”

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Students lead a local resident through a physical therapy session.

Another exercise science junior, Brenna Gallman, noted the opportunity afforded by the program to help Belizeans better understand their bodies.

“I got to interpret [their vitals] data then educate residents on their results,” she said. “They were so grateful.”

Perfect Placement Rate Dr. Kevin Hunt, program coordinator for MAT Kinesiology at GCSU, developed the Belize Study Abroad Program in 2015.

“Advanced degree programs are very competitive,” he said. “I wanted to give our students the experiences these competitive programs seek in applicants.”

The approach worked: For the past 10 years, Georgia College graduates of the Belize Study Abroad Program have a 100% acceptance rate into medical, occupational therapy, physician assistant and physical therapy school.

“Every student says their entire in-person interview for grad schools centered on their Belize experience,” Hunt said. “They believe that was the factor that got them into their school of choice.”

Students to Practitioners

“I’ll bring this experience into my profession,” she said.

“This knowledge will help me with my duties, allowing me to give the best care possible to my patients while taking care of myself.”

Both students refer to the Belize Study Abroad Program as a “life-changing experience.”

Through the Belize Study Abroad Program, Hunt aims to prepare students to become real-world healthcare providers.

“I hope they learn independence, initiative and selfconfidence,” he said, adding that the cultural context they receive is also invaluable. “I’d like to think the students learn more about who they are and want to be through this experience.”

“”

Allen, who challenged herself in Belize to take on tasks that took her out of her comfort zone, is on the preprofessional track to become an occupational therapist.

Gallman, who is on the sports medicine track, said that working in a bilingual country taught her adaptability.

“I gained valuable hands-on experience that’s not available in the classroom,” Allen said. “This program was full of many amazing experiences and memories I’ll never forget.”

“I saw the impact I made on these people,” Gallman added. “This experience helped me grow as a person and future healthcare professional. Our work truly changed the residents’ lives.”

LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE GCSU is training the next generation of leaders to create a better world by solving the systemic challenges that cause societal pains.

READ ABOUT RECENT SUCCESS STORIES ONLINE.

Every student says their entire in-person interview for grad schools centered on their Belize experience.

They believe that was the factor that got them into their school of choice.

– DR. KEVIN HUNT, PROFESSOR OF KINESIOLOGY

BOBCATS ABROAD 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

291 6

BOBCATS STUDIED ABROAD CONTINENTS TRAVELED

31

COLLEGE MAJORS REPRESENTED

21

NATIONS TRAVELED

25

STUDENTS WORKED INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

Employers are

71% MORE LIKELY TO HIRE

applicants who have participated in experiential learning activities, including study abroad, according to a recent study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. That’s good news for well-rounded GCSU grads, who pursued more international education opportunities last school year than any class before them in university history.

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Voice of the

Bobcats Georgia College sports broadcaster Scott MacLeod was inducted into his second radio hall of fame this fall — and he has the glass microphone to prove it.

W

ith over 50 years in the radio industry, voice of the Bobcats Scott MacLeod was inducted into the Friends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in August.

announcer for his high school’s marching band and basketball teams. That led to a local radio gig in 1973; then, four years later, he found an ad in Broadcasting Magazine for a job in Georgia.

“It means a lot to me,” said MacLeod, also a 2011 Georgia College Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. “Being recognized by your peers is indescribable. Looking at the resumés of the people I’m going in with, I’m thinking, ‘I don’t belong here. I’m just a little ol’ guy from Milledgeville, who’s hanging out and having fun every day.’”

Sports director for WMVG/WKZR and the voice behind the online Bobcat Broadcast Network, MacLeod has endeared himself to listening audiences with his consistency, deep knowledge of local sports history and rich descriptions.

He paints pictures with words, his steady tone occasionally elevating into an excited growl during game-changing moments.

What people aren’t privy to are the off-air moments: the way he deftly coordinates commercial breaks, or how he’s known, at 71 years old, to stand on press box tables to mount microphones on upper windows to capture crowd noise.

It’s all about making his broadcast stronger, and he does it all out of love — both for the game and for broadcasting.

Humble Beginnings Raised in Plainwell, Michigan, MacLeod’s first radio job was as a public address

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Mr. Dependable From the Colonials to the Bobcats, MacLeod has documented the university’s biggest sports moments. Highlights include the baseball team making the NCAA Division II College World Series finals in 1995, and witnessing the greatest season in GCSU men’s basketball history: when the squad became Peach Belt Conference champs in 2000.

“I’ll never forget those days,” said MacLeod. “That’s the only time we’ve been [to the Elite Eight], so that makes it even more special.”

Scott MacLeod interviews Lottie “Breane” Haggard Bulger (’04, ’05), circa 2004.

“WXLX, the daytime radio station in Milledgeville, needed a sports guy to take over John Milledge Academy sports and Georgia College baseball,” MacLeod said.

He started calling the action for John Milledge football games in 1977 then set up shop at GCSU’s John Kurtz Field for spring baseball in 1978.

“When I first started, I was broadcasting from behind the backstop just like a high school game, because that’s where they had the phone line,” MacLeod said.

The booth has changed over the years, but the baseball field remained MacLeod’s second home for the next five decades.

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Many in Bobcat Nation consider MacLeod a part of the team, according to GCSU Director of Athletics Wendell Staton.

“He is always prepared, always early and does whatever it takes to get the job done,” Staton said. “He knows the coaches and players and gets behind-the-scenes insight that allows him to tell an even better story. … A Scott MacLeod broadcast is about the players. It is about accuracy. … As good of a broadcaster as he is — and he is the best — he is a better person.”

Al Weston, former GCSU sports information director and a frequent broadcast partner to MacLeod, agreed.

“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone more deserving of this Hall of Fame honor,” Weston said. “I’m proud to call him a friend, and every broadcast I get to do with him is just pure fun.”

HEA

HEADED

FOR THE

HALL

Bobcat basketball star Shanteona Keys (’15) and softball’s Whitney Okvist Pape (’14) were enshrined this October in the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

“Success follows them throughout their lives,” said Wendell Staton, director of Athletics at Georgia College. “They are fantastic ambassadors for our university and represent the holistic experience that we provide at GCSU.”

SHANTEONA KEYS A standout guard for the Bobcats from 2011-2015, Shanteona Keys finished her career as GCSU’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,822 points. That total placed her 10th overall in the Peach Belt Conference.

She averaged 16.6 points, 5 rebounds and 33.3 minutes per game in 110 career contests.

Keys’ list of accolades is long. The second women’s basketball player to be inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame, she is one of only six players in the Peach Belt to join the all-conference team four times. She was named the league’s Freshman of the Year in 2011-2012, was twice named to the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-America® team and was a GCSU valedictorian in 2015, with a 4.0 GPA. A mass communications graduate, she also earned the PBC Elite 15 Award for women’s basketball twice and was named the league’s NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, as well as the Peach Belt Women’s ScholarAthlete of the Year, in 2014-2015.

Finally, Keys was named to the WBCA Allstate Good Works Team, was a finalist for the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award in 2014-2015 and was the Peach Belt’s representative on the NCAA Division II national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years, in addition to being the first Division II scholar-athlete named to the prestigious Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

WHITNEY OKVIST PAPE Whitney Okvist Pape patrolled the outfield for the Bobcats from 2011-2014. She finished her career with 163 stolen bases, which tops the all-time list at both GCSU and the Peach Belt, and ranks No. 11 in NCAA Division II history. Her 53 stolen bases in 2012 were third best in NCAA Division II that season.

She also recorded a .377 batting average in 195 career games, holds the No. 1 spot in Bobcat history in hits (244) and runs scored (174), and No. 2 in at-bats (648).

Pape was named to the All-Peach Belt team four times and helped the Bobcats advance to the NCAA Division II Regionals in 2013.

The sixth Bobcat softball player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s all-region team three times, as well as to the NFCA All-America team in 2012 and 2014.

An early childhood education graduate, Pape was also named to the NFCA All-Academic team in 2014.

STANDOUT STATS

Shanteona Keys is the top scorer in Bobcat women’s basketball history, with 1,822 points.

Whitney Okvist Pape set the all-time base stealing record for both the Bobcat women’s softball team and the Peach Belt Conference, at 163. She also holds the title for most hits (244) and runs scored (174) in Bobcats history.

Alumni

CLASS NOTES Sudy Vance Leavy (’64) is an undergraduate student at the University of Georgia currently engaged in a 10-month manuscript program with the Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop in Massachusetts. Sudy comes from a long line of GCSU alumnae.

Dr. Barbara Howard West (’88) earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia College, a master’s from Troy State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Mercer University. Over her 35year career, she served as operations analyst, microcomputer specialist, IT/ business instructor and a curriculum program specialist. She is an accomplished educator, certified life coach, motivational speaker and co-host of the “J&B Live Podcast.”

Jennie Lacey (’93) is a communications and talent coordinator with McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co. LLC, in Macon, Georgia.

Jennifer Ward Hollis (’97) and her husband, Jimmy, married 26 years, have two daughters — Hannah Grace and Ana Claire.

Jennifer has been teaching for the Bibb County School District for 28 years. She’s a kindergarten teacher at Vineville Academy of the Arts, where she earned Teacher of the Year for the 20252026 school year.

Roslyn Mayers Mullis (’99) attended one of the last classes held in Ennis Hall. She met her husband, Frank Mullis (’98), there. Their youngest child is currently a student in the GCSU Early College program.

Sarah Stemen Browning (’00, ’05) is in her 26th year of teaching. Her eldest daughter is a senior in Georgia College’s School of Nursing. In May, Sarah and her daughter will both be GCSU alumnae.

Ashley Cooper Quinn (’00, ’05) has served as founder and president of the Paleontology Association of Georgia since 2018, president of the Ocmulgee Archaeological Society since 2020 and chair of the Board of Directors for Fort Hawkins Foundation Inc. since 2023.

Dr. Jami Kuhns Hall (’02) was named the vice president for student enrollment and success at Dalton State College in July. She previously served as assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Dalton State.

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Charm Ellis Mapp (’03, ’06, ’10) was named the 2025 Jones County School System Teacher of the Year. She’s pursuing her doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from GCSU and is on track to graduate in 2027.

SCAN FOR MORE ABOUT CHARM Tamra Hellams Wright (’03) recently completed her Ph.D. in social work.

Teresa Pike Rhodes (’04) has been in the education field for almost 22 years. She’s an academic coach at Putnam County Middle School, received her master’s degree in adult education from Troy University and her specialist in educational psychology degree with a focus on gifted and creative education from the University of Georgia. She’s married with two boys, has three stepchildren and two grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Meredith Payne Channell (’05) and Keith Channell (’07) married in 2005.

Their children were born in 2007, 2008 and 2016. Their eldest son, Eli, graduated in GMC Prep School’s class of 2025.

Demetrius Nelson (’06) bought his first home in May. Dmetri Smith (’07) earned her Ed.D. in curriculum studies from Georgia Southern University in spring 2024.

Zach Taylor (’07) earned an education specialist degree in learning, design and technology from the University of Georgia.

Andrea Lowery Bowers (’10), Kirk Bowers (’10), Lyric Burnett Sprinkle (’10) and John Sprinkle met at GCSU and are still “rocking through life together.” They recently enjoyed Front Campus with their children: Ezra and Lily Rose Bowers, and Fox and Lex Sprinkle.

Abby Bryant (’11) is an assistant director of Donor Relations and Stewardship at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She lives with her dog, Bonnie.

Sarah Herring Carmona (’12, ’16) is in her 13th year in the education field. She taught in the classroom for 10 years in Georgia and Texas. She is now in her third year with Region 3 Education Service Center, where she’s a reading language arts specialist.

Benedict Esposito (’15) ran his first Publix Atlanta Marathon in March. He also won the Ultimate Peach Medal for running the 2024 Peachtree Road Race, participated in the PNC 10-miler and the Thanksgiving Day Half-Marathon.

Esposito started running in 2020.

Samantha Amtmann Galaviz (’16) said, “Thanks, GCSU, for giving me the opportunity to jumpstart my career — my own speech therapy practice. Thanks also for providing the opportunity for me to meet my now husband,” Schyler Galaviz (’16). The couple has been together for 11 years and is expecting a baby girl in December.

Brennan Cate (’18) proposed to Julia “Rie” Parker (’18) in July.

Matthew Aiken (’20), pictured left, misses Milledgeville. He’s been a mortgage banker/mortgage loan originator for five years. Both his parents have been in the industry for 40 years.

Cameron Shuler (’20) won Greene County Primary School and Greene County School District 2023 Teacher of the Year. She earned her specialist degree in curriculum/instruction from Piedmont University in 2025.

Jordan Butler Binder (’21) and Adam Binder (’18) met at GCSU in spring 2018 and got married in 2023. They live in Madison, Alabama, with their two cats, Sprout and Sunny.

Gracie Lingold (’22) received her master’s in health science with a nutrition concentration from Georgia State University.

Dr. Juawn Jackson (’16) is now the director of the Educational Opportunity Center at Mercer University Center.

Hannah Bowling Jennings (’16) said, “After graduation, I married the love of my life. We moved to Snellville, Georgia, then welcomed our beautiful daughters in 2019 and 2022.”

Jessica McQuain (’16, ’20) was named the 2025 Outstanding Student Paper Award winner by the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies. McQuain (pictured center) was recognized in Tuscaloosa with two other University System of Georgia employees who were named Outstanding Alumni at the Communication & Information Studies Honors Day in April.

Jennifer “Jen” Sokolow Langford (’17) and John “Jack” Langford (’17) have a 2-year-old son, Walden.

Robyn Meeks (’22, ’23) was the wind technician with the Braves Baldwin County Band, pictured here, for three years. During the 2024-2025 school year, the marching band received two grand champions awards from two marching band competitions. She transferred from music teacher at Midway Hills Academy to be the music teacher at Lakeview Primary in the 2025-2026 school year. Meeks also presented at the Georgia Music Educators Association in 2024.

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Alumni

CLASS NOTES Emmaline “Emmy” Wellborn (’23) and Michael Marcinko (’23) live in Emmy’s hometown of Roswell, Georgia.

“Post-graduation has been a huge life adjustment,” she said. “I miss walking around campus, meeting my friends at Blackbird and staying up late to finish assignments in the library or Miller Annex. But real life also feels good.”

Madison Webb (’24) received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. She works as a medical assistant.

Teresa Cook Sitler (’25) has been married for 19 years and has four kids, the eldest of whom is 18 years old and the youngest is 9. Her eldest son, pictured here, started GCSU as a freshman this fall. “I am a brain tumor survivor and have had other medical obstacles,” Teresa said. “But that has only made me stronger and love life more!”

INSPIRED CHOICE:

BOBCAT PURSUES SPECIAL EDUCATION As Ethan Bearden (’25) considered his career options, he had inspiration all around him.

His two best friends have brothers with autism, which drew Bearden toward special education. He began bringing students with disabilities to work in the community as part of his student-teaching placement.

Bearden teaches science, math and life skills to 18 high schoolers with disabilities in Houston County, Georgia.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THINGS GCSU Get the stories, updates and fun moments you won’t want to miss.

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Alumni

WEDDINGS 1 - Heather Boyce Allison (’10) married Dustin Allison in February 2024. She’s the vice president of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.

2 - Macie Norris (’18) married Stephen Ansel (’18) in October 2024, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

3 - John “Tucker” O’Brien (’12, ’15) married his fiancé, Lukia, in January 2025, with their dog, Scout, in attendance. The couple met in Charleston, South Carolina, where they happily reside.

The wedding party included Stephen McCloskey (’11), Eugenio “Tripp” Seda (’13) and Emmanuel “Cap” Sosa (’13).

4 - Evan Karanovich (’12) married Mackenzie Potts in May 2025, on Saint Simons Island, Georgia, where Mackenzie serves as the local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A. A ceremony for family was held at Epworth by the Sea’s Lovely Lane Chapel. A celebration with friends will take place in 2026. Evan serves the Chick-fil-A Support Center as its principal lead to the chairman, and he is the U.S. Navy Reserve’s public affairs officer.

7 - Jenna Bryson (’21) married the “love of her life, Calvin Owens,” in November 2024. The couple moved to Athens, Georgia, but have since moved back to the “magical” town of Milledgeville.

8 - Sarah Cochrane Parrish (’23) recently got married to Trey Parrish. She also was promoted in her marketing job. “I met my spouse at Georgia College and majored in marketing, which provided me with experience in internships, then two different careers,” Sarah said. “It’s been fantastic since graduation. Keep working hard and keep your eyes on the prize.”

9 - Caroline Veal Newsome (’23) and Liam Newsome (’23) married. “It’s only been two years since graduation, but I miss the Georgia College campus and Milledgeville dearly,” Liam said. “My wife and I often stop by Blackbird if we’re in the area, traveling to and from Charleston. We are proud to be GCSU alumni! My experience at Georgia College prepared me for the pharmacy degree I’m pursuing at the Medical University of South Carolina. My wife works there [too].”

5 - Hannah Pasko (’18) married Dalton Quinlan in August 2024, at Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur, Colorado.

6 - Courtney Miotti (’19) and Jacob Aurand (’20) got married in March, at Cold Creek Farm in Dawsonville, Georgia. They’d been friends since high school and lived in the same neighborhood growing up. Their friendship strengthened while they were students at GCSU. They began dating in 2021. Their wedding party included Quinn Miotti (’21), Abigail Nearing Skoglind (’19), Rachel Jacobs Lane (’18), Lauren O’Donoghue (’19), Jenna Ebers Williams (’19), Riley Williams (’20), Lewis Barr (’21) and Sam Cusan (’21).

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Alumni

BABIES

1 - Anna Loudermilk Garrett (’10) and her husband, Matt, welcomed their first daughter, Aubree Kathryn, in April 2025.

Last year, Anna began her career as a children’s author and wrote a book, “While I Waited for You.” She is also a curriculum writer in Dahlonega, Georgia.

2 - Paige Cunico Burk (’12) and Ian Burk welcomed the birth of their daughter, Riley June Burk, in November 2024.

3 - Elizabeth “Beth” Renfrow Benson (’19) and Benjamin “Ben” Benson (’16, ’18, ’23) welcomed their new Bobcat, Paul, in March 2025. Beth and Ben work at Georgia College and enjoy taking their son to campus for frequent visits.

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4 - Harold Davis (’19) and Torrianna “Torri” Harris Davis (’22) were married in November 2022. Their son, Mason, was born in May 2024.

STAY IN TOUCH Class Notes are submitted by alumni. Scan the QR code to share your updates with Bobcat Nation!

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In

MEMORIAM

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of some of our esteemed alumni. We pay tribute to their journeys, honoring their memories and their profound impact on those around them.

1940s Gertrude Ehrlich Ehrlich (’43) Katie Thompson Walker (’44) Katherine Bittick Dozier (’46) June Jones Willis (’46) Lois Wilcox Williams (’47)

1950s Daisy Harvey Smith (’50) Virginia Hulsey Styles (’50) Frances “Clem” Webb Keaton (’50) Mildred “Midge” Smith Williams (’50) Mildred Center Gilmer (’50) Martha-Ann Morgan Wald (’50) Cordelia Vines Thomas (’50) Nancy Griffith Montgomery (’51) Agnes Cox Selman (’51) Mary “June” Rogers Roberts (’51) Leila Bradford Amason (’51) Ruby Drake Pace (’51) Olga Simmons Laramore (’51) Marian Chandler Bowen (’52) Lenda “Sis” Gay Reilly (’52) Virginia Burnley Griffin (’53) Lauratine Aiken Brannon (’53) Barbara Beasley LeCroy (’53) Harriet May Rich (’54) Martha Spell Lee (’55) Eleanor “Patsy” Orr Cox (’55) Helen Harrell Manry (’55) Saralyn Ivey Latham (’55) Dorothy Fordham Buffington (’55) Cornelia Land Williams (’55) Elinor “Jeanne” Williams Lofton (’56) Joan Williams Wilkins (’58) Virginia Yarbrough Stone (’59)

1960s June Allen Dellis (’60) Evelyn Timmons Knight (’61) Charlotte Thames Van Hoozier (’63) Mary Elizabeth Darden Phillips (’63) Mary “Peachie” Leard Ooley (’63)

Frances Lyle Thrailkill (’63)

Debbie Smith Sellers (’96)

Betty “Becky” Barfield Hemperley (’64)

Teri Kukows Walters (’97)

Mary Louise “Weezie” Schuyler Mullenix (’64)

Claribel F. McCrary (’97)

James L. Richardson (’66)

David M. Hawkins (’98)

Judith “Judy” Williams Thomas (’68)

Vera “Dianne” Seagraves-Kennedy Hawks (’98)

Edwina Bloodworth Wright (’68) Betty R. Colston (’68)**

2000s

Betty “Sue” Roberts Moore (’68)

Melissa “Lisa” Gandy Holton (’01)

Pauline Beasley Ingram (’68)

Laura “Cheryl” Mitchell (’04)

1970s

Barry R. Lung (’05)

Helen Burney Hall (’70)

2010s

Lucille Henderson Brannan (’71)

Seticia D. Smith (’10)

Beverly B. Knowles (’71)

Stephen M. Neil (’10)

Dorothy Sprouse McClain (’72)

William “Clay” Garland (’17)***

Nancy “Carol” Duncan McMillan (’74) Lewis Milligan (’74) Alvin Hooper (’74) Roy A. Russell (’75)

Peabody Alumni

Nancy M. McGlohon (’77)

Helen Smith Danuser*

Ann L. Champion (’77)

Julia Alford Duke (’52)*

Louis J. Kaduk (’77)

Bessie Leverette Tanner (’55)*

J. C. Coefield (’77)

Carole Carr Wright (’58)*

Kathleen M. Cooper (’78) Thomas “David” Walker (’78)

Faculty and Staff

Willie Goodman Hurse (’78)

We also remember non-alumni faculty and staff, whose death we were notified of since April 2025.

1980s

James “Jim” Wenthe**

Wendel N. Quon (’81)

Joel A. Stair Stair***

Keith S. Fuller Fuller (’81) William “Will” H. Greenwood (’82) Ada Rogers Hurt (’82) Cathleen McKeen (’82) Joy Gunby Young (’89)

1990s Margaret S. Karns (’90) Juanita Stewart Delbridge (’90)

* Alumni of Peabody Laboratory School ** Former Faculty *** Former Staff This list recognizes deceased alumni, faculty and staff of whom the university has been notified as of April 2025.

Deborah J. Clark (’92)** Bonnie R. Snow (’93) Sidney M. Elliott (’93) David A. Murray (’95) Shureka Bolden Gantt (’96) CONNECTION MAGAZINE • WINTER 2025

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