LETTER FROM THE DEAN
DR. BRIAN NEWSOME
DEAN, JOHN E. SALLSTROM HONORS COLLEGE
For me, the highlight of this year was the New Orleans program. Alumni and friends donated nearly $14,000 to fund a fall break journey to Louisiana’s most iconic city. There we visited the World War II Museum and the Whitney Plantation, toured the Garden District and explored the French Quarter. The World War II Museum was especially meaningful for participating students who had taken the World War II course that I teach each fall. The exhibits and films did such a great job of engaging us, in a tactile manner, with the topics that we had explored through documentary analysis. The Whitney Plantation provided an excellent lens onto daily life among enslaved workers—the incredible challenges they faced cultivating sugar cane and the strategies they developed to establish community. Their story
is a testament to human resilience and ingenuity, such foundational components of the American spirit. My colleague Anna Whiteside designed a lovely tour of the Garden District, known for its stately mansions and famous residents such as novelist Anne Rice. We all enjoyed the delicious cuisine of the French Quarter. And independently, students engaged in optional activities like ghost tours. In retrospect, students have described our time in New Orleans as transformational. I am so grateful to the individuals whose generosity made the program possible, and I look forward to crafting similar experiences for the Honors community in the years to come.
KATHRYN BROOK
PRESIDENT, ETA SIGMA ALPHA
Three years ago, I entered GCSU with one goal in mind: to find a support system to help me survive college. By the end of my first semester, I found much more than a few friends or mentors through the Honors College. I discovered a supportive community of diverse perspectives and people all willing to learn and grow from one another.
This community—built on determination, perseverance and curiosity—became my home. Its students, faculty and alumni all strive to uphold its foundation of ambition, intelligence and initiative. The many kind-hearted individuals who cultivate the Honors community have allowed it to blossom into a thriving network of scholars and professionals. Over the last three years, I learned so much from the Honors community and created incredible memories.
During my final year, I had the privilege of serving as the president of Eta Sigma Alpha. I strived to foster an inclusive, welcoming environment for past, present and future members of the Honors College. I could not have done so without my incredible executive board. I know the Honors College will continue to thrive long after I graduate as the community continues to nurture an encouraging academic environment.
ANNA WHITESIDE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS COORDINATOR
In the 2024-2025 academic year, GCSU students and alumni continued to achieve significant national scholarship success, which I am very excited to share with you.
Nadya Gutierrez, a 2022 graduate of GCSU and the John E. Sallstrom Honors College, was named a Quad Fellow in the summer of 2024. The Quad Fellowship is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia, India, Japan and the United States that is designed to build ties among the next generation of STEM researchers and leaders. Nadya, currently a PhD student studying earth and marine sciences at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, received this award based on her work with the landscape ecology of seagrass meadows.
While a student at GCSU, Nadya was a recipient of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hollings Scholarship, which gave her the opportunity to conduct research on marsh crab community composition at the North Inlet – Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina.
The Quad Fellowship, worth $40,000 in academic and research funding, will allow Nadya to continue her very important environmental research!
In addition to Nadya’s success, we also have had GCSU students— including several GCSU Honors students—named as semi-finalists for the Fulbright and as recipients of the Critical Language Scholarship and the Gilman Scholarship, each of which is funded by the U.S. Department of State. You will read more about these recipients later in this newsletter.
If you are a recent alum who is interested in applying for a nationally competitive award, please reach out to me! Yes, there are post-graduate award opportunities, and I would love to help you learn more about them.
TWO GCSU STUDENTS STUDY MANDARIN CHINESE
Two GCSU students—senior nursing major and Honors student Ama Kpoyizoun and junior political science major Matthew Malena—earned prestigious Critical Language Scholarships to study Mandarin Chinese in summer 2025. Kpoyizoun traveled to Taiwan, and Malena participated in the CLS online program.
This scholarship is extremely competitive. Last summer, both students earned spots in CLS Spark intensive language classes to get the language credits needed to apply for this year’s CLS.
Kpoyizoun and Malena were selected because of their commitment to learning another language and their plans to apply their language skills to their future academic or professional pursuits.
The CLS program is part of a larger U.S. government effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages which are critical to our
national security, economic prosperity and engagement with individuals worldwide.
“It’s one thing to learn through the internet and books,” Kpoyizoun said, “but I’m a physical learner so I prefer being taught by teachers and the local environment, too.”
“I really can’t wait to study a language I otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn,” Malena said.
BLAZING TRAILS AND BUILDING BONDS: AMY NEWMAN’S HONORS ADVENTURE IN NORTH GEORGIA
Environmental sciences major Amy Newman (’25) spent part of spring 2024 deep in the trails of North Georgia. Through the the National Collegiate Honors Council’s Partners in the Parks program, Newman dedicated seven days to hiking and educational activities along the Appalachian Trail. The close quarters and the collaborative work brought together students from around the country. “There were students from Texas, students from Pennsylvania and Virginia, from all over,” Newman explained. “And I was just sitting with these people who were strangers two days ago, and now we’re like a ‘Tramily’ — a little trail family.” This “Tramily” found themselves learning, in beautiful locations like Amicalola Falls, about how to engage mindfully with the outdoors. Their learning included ethics such as hiking etiquette, “leave-no-trace" principles and the importance of net-zero food waste. These lessons are ones that are shaping Newman’s academic and professional trajectory as she pursues career options that reflect her enthusiasm for the outdoors. “It was so nice to connect my major to what I was seeing, and the whole experience really was about opening myself up to how much I love being in the outdoor community.”
BASIL COOPER (’25) EXPLORES
EMOTIONAL POWER OF INDIAN ARCHITECTURE THROUGH RASA THEORY
Basil Cooper (’25), a philosophy and liberal studies double major, applies Rasa Theory, traditionally used to investigate transcendent emotionalism in Indian theatre and art, to study Indian architecture, marking a new direction to the field of study. Cooper likens the phenomenon to experiencing other forms of art: “It’s like when you hear a really good piece of instrumental music. And you know that the people around you are experiencing that same feeling you are. That it’s universal.” On a trip to Udaipur, India with Dr. Sunita Manian, Dr. Jim Winchester and
fellow student Liam Landry, Cooper visited stunning Jain temples that transformed the direction of their South Asian research. “Architecture can almost instill that same emotion [as theatre or art]... . There are the practical elements of it [too], the verticality, or whether it’s a religious space or not, if it’s highly decorated. So, I wanted to research what elements create Rasa emotion.” A MURACE summer research grant funded the project that Cooper aims to build on in graduate school, exploring Jainism and religious studies further.
I’ve had to fight for many opportunities in my life. Getting this scholarship is validating for the work I put into it.
— Caleb Rogers
GILMAN SCHOLAR DETERMINED TO EMBRACE A CHALLENGE
A double major in biology and Spanish, Caleb Rogers (’26) was awarded a U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Chile and intern in a Chilean clinic.
“It’ll be a great hands-on experience for me,” Rogers said. “My selfdetermination paid off.”
He has also found creative ways to work across disciplines to research complex questions. A member of Georgia College’s Pre-Med Mentoring Program, Rogers has spent time in a recent Spanish class, for example, exploring anti-Hispanic biases in international healthcare systems.
Now, Rogers will get to see firsthand what the healthcare system is like in Chile – and sharpen his Spanish-speaking skills while he’s at it.
“I pride myself in speaking Spanish, but getting out there speaking it socially is something I’ve not had an opportunity to do yet,” he said.
Ultimately, Rogers’ goal is to become a pediatric oncologist. “I put a lot of myself into the application and essays,” Rogers continued. “I’ve had to fight for many opportunities in my life. Getting this scholarship is validating for the work I put into it.”
Rogers also credits GCSU faculty and staff, including Anna Whiteside, assistant director of the John E. Sallstrom Honors College and coordinator of the National Scholarships Office, and Dr. Brantley Nicholson, coordinator of the Chile Study Abroad Program, as major contributors to his success.
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT MILLEDGEVILLE THROUGH ORAL HISTORIES
“What do you want people to remember about Milledgeville? What do you think people don’t know about the city?” As researchers for Dr. Stephanie Opperman’s Collecting the Past Initiative, and in affiliation with GCSU’s Flannery O’Connor Insitute for the Humanities, these are questions that Charlotte Aexel (’25) and Juliann Mackiewicz (’25), are interested in answering. As students incredibly fascinated with the literary and public history of Milledgeville, respectively, Aexel and Mackiewicz combined their interests to interview community members on their experiences over many decades. “We’ve had a person explain that Flannery wasn’t nearly as reclusive as people believed,” the two shared as they presented their research at the Old Governor’s Mansion last year. “We’ve also had a teacher describe the experience of teaching during desegregation. The amount of knowledge they have is so broad.” The oral histories that Aexel and Mackiewicz collected will serve as invaluable primary sources to scholars studying Flannery O’Connor, Georgia history and the national trends to which local experiences are connected.
CHELSEA LOSH NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE ROME CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
GCSU alumna Chelsea Losh was awarded Teacher of the Year for the Rome City School District. After being recognized both for her compassion and positive influence on her students as a STEAM specialized educator at Elm Street Elementary School, Losh immediately redirected her praise to her colleagues. “I wouldn't be here without all of the teachers and administration that I work with,” Losh shared. “It’s an incredible honor, but it’s also an honor that I share with the people who helped me get to this place.” This award put Losh in line to compete for Georgia’s Teacher of the Year, letting her represent her profession across the entire state. As a STEAM educator dedicated to instilling a love for learning through exploration and experimentation, Losh is continually invested in her students’ progress: “You’re always thinking about how to help students forward,” she said. “So, to be recognized for the work that you’re doing is so important, and so gratifying.”
You’re always thinking about how to help students forward.
— Chelsea Losh
GEORGIA COLLEGIATE HONORS CONFERENCE AT GEORGIA TECH AND SOUTHERN REGIONAL HONORS CONFERENCE IN CHATTANOOGA
In February 2025, 18 GCSU Honors students presented their scholarship at the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference, held at Georgia Tech, and in March, 16 traveled to the Southern Regional Honors Conference, held in Chattanooga, TN. At GCHC, Chloe Melton won first place in the Social Sciences category for her paper on the history of the Body Mass Index, a project mentored by Dr. Brian Newsome and Professor Helen DuPree. Melton, a sophomore history student, finds her love for the discipline in revealing the more difficult parts of the world’s past. “My big thing with history is uncovering and picking apart the way society views certain movements and events; I like exposing the hidden truths that aren’t as talked about,” she said. Her project shares the larger story of BMI’s development
as a health indicator, stemming from her passion for raising awareness for people struggling with eating disorders. “I know how difficult it can be dealing with those issues,” Melton said. “So, I really wanted to give people all the information about the BMI system, how it can be viewed as a symptom of health, rather than this end-all-be-all.” At SRHC, Melton was re-elected as the association’s student vice president, whose main responsibility is social media promotion for the conference. Her work has garnered recognition from SRHC board members, who are eager to collaborate with her in the coming year. Melton and her fellow GCSU presenters at these two events enjoyed the opportunity to share their scholarship with honors students and faculty from all over the southeast.
At GCHC, Chloe Melton won first place in the Social Sciences category for her paper on the history of the Body Mass Index, a project mentored by Dr. Brian Newsome and Professor Helen DuPree.
Chloe Melton
Claire Kosobud
Kathryn Brook
Shani Thompson
Morgan Collins
Sofie Legoff Flores
Kassie Arps
Drew Rice
Daniel Hastings Juliann Mackiewicz
HONORS SUCCESS
KATHRYN BROOK SELECTED AS GCSU’S 2024-2025
ACADEMIC RECOGNITION DAY REPRESENTATIVE
Psychology major Kathryn Brook (’25) is Georgia College & State University’s 2025 Academic Recognition Day representative.
The University System of Georgia’s Academic Recognition Day is an annual event that honors outstanding students from the state’s public colleges and universities. Each USG institution selects one student who has demonstrated exceptional academic excellence as its representative. The honorees receive a signed resolution from the Georgia General Assembly and a letter of commendation from USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue.
“It means the world to me to be representing Georgia College,” Brook said. “I had an extremely difficult high school experience where it felt like I had to fight to survive and thrive. Since the moment I arrived on campus, I have felt so accepted by the GCSU community and supported by my friends, mentors and professors.”
Brook cites the liberal arts experience at Georgia College, as well as her faculty and staff mentors, as significant factors in her success. She is also the president of Eta Sigma Alpha and a member of the Psychology Club, Psi Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa. Brook has been a statistics tutor at the Learning Center for three years and a supplemental instruction coach – mentoring the supplemental instruction leaders – for two years.
“I am so honored to represent Georgia College in this light, and it feels like all my hard work over the last few years is finally paying off,” said Brook.
PSYCH MAJOR TEACHES CHILDREN
In summer 2024, Brook participated in an REU at the Michigan Summer Program in Cognition and Early Development, where she completed research on child language acquisition—specifically, how children react to language “generics.” “If I say sharks have teeth, and technically not all of them do, we just expect that to be true, right?” Brook explains.
“So, we looked at that and how kids use what we call counterexamples, which are things that falsify generics.
If I say lions have manes, a kid’s counterexample could be female lions.” Building on previous scholarship with GCSU’s Dr. Ashley Taylor, Brook worked directly with children in Ann Arbor, helping faculty and graduate students conduct interviews and analyze data. Brook will continue researching child development in graduate school at the University of Louisville, as she pursues her interests in identity development for children and adolescents, especially in the context of the growing influence of online spaces. “How do we form our ideas of who we are, who we will be, especially in our teenage years, which are so important to everything else?” she said.
“I shoved it to the back of my mind, but here they told me ‘No, 100%. You can totally do that.’” Brook’s scholarship also played a key role in her selection as the Honors College’s Sallstrom Award recipient and as GCSU’s Academic Recognition Day representative—the highest honors bestowed on a graduating senior by the college and the university, respectively!
GCSU DESIGN STUDENT WINS STATEWIDE LOGO
The Paris Business Center of Hiawassee, Georgia found themselves in need of a new logo this year, a challenge that Maryellen Hagberg (’25), an art student at GCSU with a focus in graphic design, took up eagerly. Through a statewide competition, Hagberg’s design stood out to the small business for both its simplicity and its careful decision-making. Her professor and mentor Abraham Abebe has praised her work: “Hagberg’s was particularly good,” Abebe stated, “because she referenced the historical, geographical and cultural significance of the region. People living
in Hiawassee want to preserve the area’s charm and values.” The competition was designed to help build up community businesses, as well as offer students realworld experience for their portfolios. This win will help Hagberg move forward into a successful design career, since she has already learned how to work with professional companies and meet their expectations. “This is the first logo I’ve ever done,” Hagberg said. “I’ve never actually had anything commercially reproduced. The fact that it’s going to be used by a real company — it’s pretty exciting.”
GUTIERREZ EARNS A QUAD FELLOWSHIP
As an undergraduate, environmental sciences major Nadya Gutierrez (’22) studied marine science with Dr. Kristine White and earned a Hollings Scholarship that funded an internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences, Gutierrez studies seagrass meadows, which are vital for fisheries and protection of coastal shorelines. Mentored by GCSU National Scholarships Coordinator Anna Whiteside, Gutierrez earned a 2024 Quad Fellowship (a $40,000 award) to fund her research. She was one of only ten US citizens and only fifty people worldwide chosen for this prestigious program, which is funded collaboratively by the governments of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HONORS CONFERENCE IN KANSAS
CITY
In November 2024, Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower, Bethany Tapee and Kayley Owens–coordinator and veterans of Bell Hall’s Global Civic Literacy Residential Learning Community (RLC)–led an NCHC roundtable discussion on RLCs and helped faculty and students from other universities brainstorm ideas for creating their own programs.
“I highlighted how Dr. Gower’s real-world simulations helped me retain course content outside the classroom,” Tapee explained. Kayley shared that hearing from influential guest speakers had a lasting impact on her understanding of the world. In a separate session, Dr. Brian Newsome joined Dr. Christian Rubio of Bentley University and Dr. Katherine Bouman of Binghamton University to lead a roundtable discussion on innovations in Honors advising.
Chloe Melton (’27) also presented her research on the Body Mass Index. “I really enjoy poster presentations, because you get to speak with a lot of different people and hear a lot of new perspectives. It helps me think about my research more deeply,” Melton said. As student vice president of the Southern Regional Honors Council, Melton also participated in an Executive Committee meeting and a Business meeting held at NCHC.
While in Kansas City, conference participants had a lot of fun exploring downtown museums and restaurants.
“My favorite moment was getting caught in the rain on our way to dinner the first night!” Owens shared. But the team didn’t let the weather stop them. Tapee joined an NCHC choral group and performed on Friday evening! The group also ventured to the SeaLife Aquarium, just in time for the start of its new Animal Crossing exhibit.
KINNEY RECIPIENT OF A GCSU MURACE SUMMER GRANT
Junior economics major Samuel Kinney, a recipient of a GCSU MURACE summer grant, worked with Dr. Brooke Conaway on research for “The Unintended Consequences of Divorce Waiting Periods,” which they had the opportunity to share at multiple conferences. Kinney’s contributions were crucial. “I did a ton of the data entry,” Kinney shared. “So, what data I could find determined what we were able to actually write, and what I found in the literature review determined what we actually had to add to the discussion.” They discovered that state-imposed waiting periods did not meaningfully affect the number of divorces and put significant strain on individuals in terms of personal debt. This project has inspired Kinney to explore additional avenues of research he has long been interested in. “I want to research how different prisons have better or worse access to education for prisoners, and how that affects the likelihood of those individuals to recommit crime once they're out,” he said. “This is stuff that I’ve thought about since high school, and I never thought I’d get the opportunity to study it as an undergrad.”
Samuel Kinney makes a presentation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SYDNEY IRONS
Environmental science student Sydney Irons (’25) spent her second summer working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, using her expertise and her love of “creepy crawlies” in her new position as a Naturalist Intern at Red Top Mountain State Park. Her role was to organize and hold community programs and outreach, working with the public to show them that the natural world isn’t all that scary. “There was this one woman,” she shared, “asking me everything she could about snakes. ‘Should I be worried? What do I do if I come across one? What if I get bit?’ and I feel like my job helped
PATON TAKES THE STAGE AT TEDX GEORGIA COLLEGE
Samantha Paton (’26) jumped on a unique GCSU opportunity, taking the stage at this year’s TEDx Georgia College to share her commitment to political education and literacy. Paton, a political science and criminal justice double major, is a part of the GCSU Leadership Program, led by Honors alumnus Dr. Harold Mock, and which spearheads the event annually. This year, however, she participated in a new way, as a presenter.
“It was really interesting to have the experience on both sides,” Paton said. “We even got to carry the big letters across campus.” During her short talk, “Democracy is More than a Trend,” she offered perspective on the use of social media and the effects that it can have on real political action. “Our generation is the most politically aware generation,” she said, “but it’s the one I think is the most disengaged. Because of social media, we develop this illusion of political participation.” She encourages students to engage in meaningful and real-world political action. “It’s more than we think it is,” she added. “It’s bigger than this. And we’ve spent a good portion of our lives just making it smaller and smaller.”
her become more comfortable with them.” Irons’ time at Red Top Mountain cemented her love of education, sending her on the path to one day becoming a professor of entomology. Her fire for teaching is obvious. “It’s so cool when people are curious, and you get to answer those questions,” Irons said. “And when you can’t answer them – then oh, well – I guess I need to learn myself.”
Sydney Irons, Naturalist Intern, showing off a "creepy crawly".
CONFERENCES
Academy of Economics and Finance (Pensacola)
Samuel Kinney
Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists
Ivan Chu
Cold Harbor Spring Laboratory Conference
Crystabel Kwarteng
Decision Sciences Institute
Annual Conference
Pouriya Mosayebi
GCSU Sustainability Symposium
Bethany Tapee
Georgia Academy of Science
Sydney Irons
Heather Vincent
Sarah West
Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference
Kassie Arps
Kathryn Brook
Kathryn Cooper
Tommy Creekmore
Allison Decker
Morgan Gosdin
Maryellen Hagberg
Daniel Hastings
Claire Kosobud
Jayden Kypri
Sofie Legoff-Flores
Juliann Mackiewicz
Jack McKinney
Chloe Melton
Kayley Owens
Sam Paton
Bethany Tapee
Shani Thompson
Georgia Political Science Association
Kathryn Cooper
Derek Kim
Sam Paton
Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference
Ivan Chu
Morgan Collins
Raven Glover
Maryellen Hagberg
Sam Kinney
Crystabel Kwarteng
Juliann Mackiewicz
Sarah West
National Collegiate Honors Conference
Chloe Melton
Kayley Owens
Bethany Tapee
National Council of Undergraduate Research
Kathryn Cooper
Pittcon
Morgan Collins
Raven Glover
Carson Griffeth
Rebecca Huisman
Thomas Rice
Posters at the Capitol
Raven Glover
Crystabel Kwarteng
Research Day
Charlotte Aexel
Eowyn Agullo
Lucy Artime
Asher Balmes
Ashley Beaty
Jessica Berry
Halle Bergstrom
Christina Bonacci
Courtney Brandon
Emily Brown
Emma Brunner
Tyson Butler
Sherlyn Camacho Bustamante
Sarah Carter
Diana Cazacu
Ivan Chu
Morgan Collins
Basil Cooper
Lily Cox
Tommy Creekmore
Amelia Daws
Allison Decker
Rebecca DeRoth
Taylor Doyle
Riya Dua
Elizabeth Dyal
Madison Floyd
Victoriyah Friend
Caitlyn Gailey
Lily Gauntt
Morgan Gosdin
Mason Grant
Riley Greer
Avery Halseth
Daniel Hastings
Chad Helton
Kali Holierhoek
Rebecca Huisman
Sydney Irons
Katherine Jenkins
Julia Jensen
Grant Jones
Samuel Kinney
Claire Kosobud
Jayden Kypri
Liam Landry
Sofie Legoff-Flores
River MacIntyre
Juliann Mackiewicz
Bridget Mainor
Jack McKinney
Chloe Melton
Emma Paliotta
Ren Peribonio
Skylar Reid
Thomas Rice
Joel Saucedo
Josephine Stephens
Addy Strickland
Bethany Tapee
Shani Thompson
Heather Vincent
Abigail Watkins
Wesley Whitehead
Emily Wright
Anna Yoder
GCSU STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL HONORS CONFERENCE IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
Southeast Undergraduate Research Conference
Thomas Rice
Southeastern Psychological Association
Jessica Berry
Kathryn Brook
Annalise Cefaratti
Nathalie Clark
Madison Floyd
Morgan Gosdin
Evelyn Lessl
Ella Martin
Carly Walker
Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society
Thomas Rice
Southern Regional Honors Conference
Kassie Arps
Paige Blakemore
Kathryn Brook
Morgan Collins
Kathryn Cooper
Tommy Creekmore
Morgan Gosdin
Maryellen Hagberg
Daniel Hastings
Claire Kosobud
Sofie Legoff-Flores
Juliann Mackiewicz
Chloe Melton
Sam Paton
Drew Rice
Shani Thompson
STEM National Scholar and PI Meeting
Morgan Collins
MAKING THE PAST REAL: STUDENTS JOURNEY TO THROUGH THE GIVING CHALLENGE
Thanks to the support of donors to last year’s Giving Challenge, 43 students, including many from Dr. Newsome’s World War II class, traveled to New Orleans to explore the history and culture of the city. Their first stop was the National World War II Museum, where they encountered the haunting subject in a new and interactive way. Upon arrival, students picked up dog tags that could be scanned at various locations in the museum. Each dog tag corresponded with a real-life person who was involved in the war. Because of this innovative system, students could follow the journey of soldiers, nurses and war correspondents. Each stop featured archival letters and photographs that allowed them to get to know their individual. Students left the museum with a new, much more personal perspective on the war. “Even as someone who majors in history,” shared Drew Rice, “sometimes the past can feel like this far away thing that didn’t actually happen. And so, getting to go to New Orleans, and seeing this museum filled with actual physical things, makes it easier to make it real in your mind.”
The next day, students journeyed beyond New Orleans to visit the Whitney Plantation. Formerly a vast sugar cane farm, the plantation today stands as a memorial to the enslaved persons who once toiled there. In contrast to many museums focusing on the antebellum era, the interpretation at the Whitney Plantation focuses on the experiences of enslaved laborers rather than plantation owners. Filled with haunting, eyeless bronze statues of children and empty rooms meant to showcase “the things enslaved people built, rather than the things bought for it,” the plantation challenges visitors to reflect deeply on the daily struggles of the individuals who labored there for so long. Sophomore geography major Emily Fenstermaker found this part of the trip particularly engaging: “It was so interesting, especially when we got to look at all the memorials they had on the property. Even just the number of names that we saw was staggering. You can really tell how much love and passion the staff there puts into preserving this history.”
During their free afternoons in the city, students went on all kinds of adventures. They toured the French Quarter and Jackson Square and visited locations like the Audubon Aquarium. Many even found activities like the famous ghost tours or musical performances to attend!
This trip to New Orleans, made possible by the kindness and generosity of friends of the Honors College, provided students with renewed awareness of the often-overlooked stories of the past.
2023-2024 SALADIN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Named for Dr. Ken Saladin, Saladin Scholarships provide $2,000 to support undergraduate research, internships, study abroad or community-based learning.
Hunter Pierce
Hunter Pierce (’26) spent both fall 2024 and spring 2025 jumping headfirst into the language and culture of the historic district of Carmen in Valencia, Spain. Pierce, an English and Spanish double major, took intensive courses at the Centre de Idiomes, where the rigorous academics and the constant practice that comes from immersion in a foreign country rapidly improved his Spanish skills. “While I still feel like a novice, I’ve noticed that all this influx of Spanish has had such an effect,” Pierce shared. “Comprehension and communication are starting to become second nature.” Pierce’s international experience is strategically shaping his future in education. Looking ahead, Pierce has clear goals: “On a personal level, I really would like to pursue a Fulbright scholarship and become an English teaching assistant in a Spanish-speaking country. Down the road, I’d love to pursue early childhood education.” The language skills and cross-cultural understanding he picked up in Valencia will lay a strong foundation for these pursuits.
Biology major Ivan Chu (’25) has spent the last few years of his college experience in the lab, doing intense research on the Sec6 protein alongside his mentor, Dr. Ellen France. Their exploration of vesicular trafficking within cells is part of “basic science research,” which studies the fundamentals that lay the foundations for practical clinical use. “It was one of the things that I realized,” Chu explained. “I thought that everything in research was directly correlating to something in human health. But it’s not, necessarily. To figure out what is actually happening there, you first need to know what all these other things do.” Nearing graduation, Chu has become responsible for training the next generation of students for the project. “I love working with the ]undergraduates,” Chu shared. “I like seeing them when things are starting to finally click, because I felt so stupid for the first year and a half, thinking ‘I have no idea what I’m doing, I'm just here running around.’” This teaching mindset is something Chu will utilize as he pursues cancer research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where he will begin working on his Ph.D. in fall 2025.
Ivan Chu
2023-2024 SALADIN SCHOLARSHIP
Kassie Arps
In summer 2024, mass communication major Kassie Arps (’26) traveled with GCSU’s Leadership Program to Strasbourg, France. Designed to foster international communication and leadership skills, the experience allowed Arps to explore international relations first-hand. “The work over there was intense, but we all learned so much,” she explained. “I’m always looking to be a better communicator and learn how to work with larger groups of people. For that, I think the trip was really effective.” Strasbourg’s location at the French border with Germany gave Arps the ability to travel all over the European continent during her free time, visiting locations like Switzerland, Luxembourg and Paris, trips that gave her a new perspective on her lifelong goals: “It’s always been a dream of mine to use my degree to work in public relations. I’d really love to one day work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. To be able to travel and see all this art and all these museums and cultures from all over, has only fed that dream.”
Morgan Gosdin
Morgan Gosdin (’25) spent her summer studying and traveling in the small town of Cuenca, Spain, an experience that, as a psychology and Spanish double-major, inspired her post-graduation plans to provide bilingual mental health services. “I definitely believe that counseling and mental health-related services are something that should be given in someone’s first language,” she shared, “because a lot of times it’s this vulnerable thing.” Having lived in places like Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic for multiple years in her childhood, Gosdin already had a deep passion for the Spanish language. While in Cuenca, Gosdin spent her time in challenging and immersive language classes that pushed her fluency even further, giving her the confidence to fully commit to her plans for graduate school. “It was always this distant goal,” she added. “‘When I fix up my Spanish, then I’ll be a bilingual therapist.’ But now I’m so much more comfortable in my ability to communicate with people and to have these important conversations.”
I definitely believe that counseling and mental health-related services are something that should be given in someone’s first language.
— Morgan Gosdin
2024-2025 SALADIN, TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, STUDY ABROAD,
AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2024-2025 Saladin Scholarship Recipients: Named for Dr. Ken Saladin, Saladin Scholarships provide $2,000 to support undergraduate research, internships, study abroad or community-based learning.
Kathryn Cooper (’26 political science and philosophy) will be studying in The Netherlands.
Isabella Dattilio (’25 chemistry) will be studying in Belize.
Avery Halseth (’26 biology) will be studying in Belize.
Sydney Irons (’25 environmental science) will be participating in the 20th International Congress of Myriapodology in Serbia.
Samantha Paton (’26 political science & criminal justice) will be doing an internship in Washington, D.C.
Caleb Rogers (’26 biology and Spanish) will be studying abroad in Chile.
2024-2025 Transformative Experience Grant/Scholarship Recipients: Transformative Experience Grants/Scholarships provide up to $500 to support student endeavors.
Charlotte Aexel (’25 English and French)
Makayla Battle (’28 nursing track)
Kathryn Brook (’25 psychology)
Caroline Bruner (’27 history and liberal studies)
Ivan Chu (’25 biology)
Morgan Collins (’27 chemistry)
Taylor Doyle (’26 music)
Lilly Elsbernd (’27 education track)
Raven Glover (’25 chemistry)
Ariana Johns (’27 biology)
Elizabeth Kang (’28 art and philosophy)
Crystabel Kwarteng (’27 psychology)
Chloe Martin (’28 environmental science)
Pouriya Mosayebi (’28 physics)
Thomas Rice (’27 chemistry)
Josephine Stephens (’27 liberal studies and philosophy)
Jacob Thedford (’28 finance)
Shani Thompson (’25 music therapy)
Carly Walker (’26 psychology)
Erin Young (’27 economics)
2024-2025 Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients: Thanks to the generosity of dozens of alumni, friends, and students, the Honors College raised $10,000 to provide $1,000 scholarships to 10 students studying abroad in summer 2025.
Mia Baronne (’26 marketing): France
Peyton Burch (’27 physics and mathematics): Italy
Sarah Carter (’26 biology): Bahamas
Lily Cox (’26 biology and French): France
Brenna Gallman (’27 exercise science): Belize
Shelby Gowen (’27 elementary education track)*: Italy
Annabel Hirst (’26 Spanish): Spain
Allison Kakaty (’28 public health): France
Audrey Lesniak (’27 accounting): Ireland, England and France
Ethan Montgomery (’26 data science and economics)*: Italy
Carly Walker (’26 psychology): Spain
Kate Walker (’27 English): England
*Due to extenuating circumstances, was unable to participate in their planned study abroad program.
2025-2026 Endowed Scholarship Recipients
Doris C. Moody Endowed Honors Scholarship: Alexis Keeney (’26 sociology)
Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship: Eowyn Agullo (’27 history)
Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship: Taylor Doyle (’26 music)
JoAn and Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship: Josefa Tchamna Kouna (’28 biology)
Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship: Shani Thompson (’25 music therapy)
Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship: Samiya (’28 data science)
Plutarch-Stelios Spirou Endowed Honors Scholarship: Allison Kakaty (’28 public health)
Sapp Family Endowed Honors Scholarship: Ama Kpoyizoun (’25 nursing)
Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship: Julia Jensen (’26 art)
Lori M. and William A Westbrook Endowed Honors Scholarship: Eowyn Agullo (’27 history)
SCHOLARSHIPS
2024-2025 SALADIN, TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, STUDY ABROAD AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
HONORS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS GROUP PHOTO
Charlotte Aexel
Eowyn Agullo
Peyton Burch
Morgan Collins
Kathryn Cooper
Isabella Dattilio
Raven Glover
Avery Halseth
Julia Jensen
Ally Kakaty
Alexis Keeney
Ama Kpoyizoun
Caleb Rogers Samiya
Josephine Stephens
Josefa Tchamna-Kouna
Jake Thedford
Carly Walker
ENDOWED HONORS SCHOLARSHIPS
Baker Family Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Prof. Carol Dean Baker
Devlin and Ashley Cooper Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Mr. Devlin and Mrs. Ashley Cooper
Doris C. Moody Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Dr. John Sallstrom
Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Dr. Mike Riley
Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Dr. Mike Riley
JoAn and Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Mrs. Elizabeth Hines
Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak and Mrs. Jennifer Gorzelany
Lee & Holly Snelling First Generation Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Mr. Lee and Mrs. Holly Snelling
Lori M. and William A. Westbrook Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Mrs. Brandie Mock, Dr. Harold Mock, Dr. Doris Moody and Dr. John Sallstrom
Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Patricia Samprone
Mark and Martha Morris Family Endowed Scholarship Donors: Mr. Mark and Mrs. Martha Morris
Plutarch-Stelios Spirou Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Dr. Costas Spirou
Sapp Family Endowed Honors Scholarship Donor: Dr. Carol Cowart Sapp
Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship Donors: Dr. Doris Moody and Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower
Dr. Kenneth Saladin provided the matching gifts for the Honors College’s endowed scholarships.
ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAM
The Honors College’s Alumni Mentoring Program is dedicated to matching ambitious students with accomplished graduates who have pursued careers in line with their own goals. The students meet with their mentors regularly to establish connections, gain insights into their respective fields and seek guidance on how to navigate the professional world. If you are interested in becoming one of our mentors, please email honors@gcsu.edu
“It was so exciting meeting Ms. Presley because she was a history undergraduate at Georgia College. And then, after she graduated, she went to go get her Master of Education. I’m trying to go through that exact same process. I was just so fascinated with her story, and I was always thinking, ‘Well, I hope that will be me.’”
“Initially I was nervous to speak to her, but when you get into the groove of it, it’s just like a conversation with a friend. It was helpful to be open and prepared with the materials and questions that Dr. Newsome provided, as well as just being knowledgeable about what I wanted out of the mentorship program. It didn’t take long for us to really click!”
“It was really about getting that perspective from someone who's worked in schools for so long. The one big takeaway was that teaching is not for everyone, and you really have to love it. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and Ms. Presley helped me solidify that dream.”
“Eowyn really made the process so easy and fun. She was always prepared so we could have these smooth and friendly conversations.”
“We spoke about how important it was to us to have a liberal arts education. Eowyn was interested in the Master of Education program at Georgia College, and I told her that it's pretty wonderful to specialize at the graduate level, because you get to have a wide array of ideas and topics. Of course, it's great to major in education, but we really thought that her undergraduate courses in history were the right fit for her.”
“When I was at GCSU, we didn’t have this program. I had a wonderful faculty advisor, but I wish I could’ve had something like this, someone to guide me career-wise, and to help me get a bigger picture of my studies and my future. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of it.”
Susan Presley:
Eowyn Agullo:
Christopher Eby
Christopher Eby walked across the GCSU commencement stage in 2011 as a promising graduate of history and philosophy. In 2024, he returned to campus as GCSU’s Honors Alum of the Year. In his acceptance speech, Eby credited his success to the liberal arts education that his degree provided. “I cannot stress how vital it has been to me — and how vital it will be to nearly everyone who will graduate from this, and indeed any other college — to be able to read critically and speak thoughtfully,” he shared. The skills cultivated here provided him many opportunities, all the way from graduating law school at the University of Chicago to clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Today, he works for King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta, defending major businesses like Amazon and Coca Cola. However, his interests extend beyond corporate law, as he takes on pro bono cases to help underserved communities. His work reflects his passion for helping those usually forgotten in our legal system. “There is no guarantee that every professor or student will apply their liberal arts skills to what will be their lifelong passion or enlist it in the service of solving pressing social, economic, religious or academic problems,” he said. “But for every one that does, the value of an interdisciplinary liberal arts education is undeniable.”
Sean McAleer
Class of 2016 graduate Sean McAleer, recipient of the 2024 Honors Young Alum of the Year Award, started his career with “boots on the ground” in emergency management during devastating natural disasters like Hurricane Irma and the 2017 California wildfires. His transition from a GCSU history and political science student to a FEMA civil servant was facilitated by his time in the Honors program. “You wouldn’t necessarily think of someone with a history degree going into something like this,” McAleer reflected, “but it worked so well and gave me this leverage to connect with people and land me that first job at FEMA Corps.” Today, in Missouri, McAleer is a specialist in organizing human capital to better care for communities in crisis. The job has its challenges, but McAleer has found purpose in his work: “It takes a lot out of you, out of everyone, emotionally, when you’re interacting with these people who have just had the worst day of their lives. But it’s super fulfilling.”
FACULTY AWARDS
DR. SCOTT BUTLER
Eta Sigma Alpha has recognized Dr. Scott Butler, professor of public health in the School of Health & Human Performance, with the Honors Distinguished Faculty Award, an accolade accorded in recognition of his long and meaningful partnership with Honors. “I got here 18 years ago,” Butler shared, “and one of the first things that I gravitated toward was the Honors program because the students are just so smart and so excited and so passionate about being here.” Dr. Butler is deeply committed to sexual health awareness and education, and he loves teaching his Honors GC2Y on the AIDS Pandemic. “I’d been teaching AIDS Pandemic for about 12 years, and then one day, Dr. Newsome said, ‘Well, why don’t you just create an Honors version?’ I’ve been doing that for multiple years, and that course is one of my great joys,” he said. “So, when I found out I was receiving this award, I was so happy; it’s something I take so much pride in.”
DR. SCOTT BUCHANAN
Eta Sigma Alpha has recognized the contributions of Dr. Scott Buchanan, past chair of the Department of Government & Sociology and professor of political science, by awarding him an Honorary Membership. Dr. Buchanan has taught the Honors section of American government for many years, and he finds joy in mentoring Honors students on an individual level as well. “I love working closely with students,” he said. “For example, one student—Caroline Cole—took my upper-level class, and we worked together on a paper that she wound up presenting at the Georgia Political Science Association. It’s fun getting to see how their ideas evolve and watching them form all these connections. It was Caroline who told me I would be receiving this nomination, so I really am honored.” ESA’s honorary membership recognizes faculty who care about and work closely with the Honors College and its students. “When I was an undergraduate, I had a professor who really worked with me, and his direction really helped solidify the things I was passionate about and wanted to do,” he added. Dr. Buchanan’s commitment to Honors students reflects this legacy and his ongoing devotion to mentorship.
When I was an undergraduate, I had a professor who really worked with me, and his direction really helped solidify the things I was passionate about and wanted to do.
— Dr. Scott Buchanan
2024-2025 HONORS GIVING CHALLENGE DONORS TO GIVING CHALLENGE
Thanks to the generosity of more than 30 alumni, friends and students, the Honors College raised $6,298 during the 2025 Honors Giving Challenge, exceeding our goal of $4,000. Together with previous contributions by a number of donors, including members of the Honors Advisory Board, we raised a total of $19,118 to support students studying abroad and engaging in other high-impact practices, from undergraduate research and conference presentations to internships with major corporations. Thank you to the individuals who are making these amazing opportunities available to GCSU Honors students!
Thank You!
Ashley Banks
BCG Brighthouse
Ethel Beck
Dr. Roger Best
Jillian Bolak
Cammie Branan
James Branan
Prof. Nancy Bray
Renae Browning
Dr. Scott Butler
Jacob Carter
Prof. Holly Croft
Susan Daniels
Prof. Kendra Evans
Brian Freese
Dr. Sandra Ganstead
Christi Gowen
Dr. Jennifer Lauren Graham
Elizabeth Hines
Dr. Ernest T. Kaninjing
Julian Lopez-Hanson
Heidi Mead
Dr. Harold Mock
Dr. Doris Moddy
Kevin Morris
Amy Newman
Dr. Brian Newsome
Susan Presley
Dr. Del and Mrs. Beverly Presley
Haleigh Purser
Donald Rhodes
Dr. Brad and Mrs. Deneice Rice
Dr. Ken Saladin
Dr. John Sallstrom
Dr. David Snow
Dr. Elizabeth Speelman
Yvette & Wendell Staton
Haley B. Turner
Kristin Hall Villarreal
The Honorable Peggy H. Walker
Dr. Harriett Whipple
Anna Whiteside
Ruby Zimmerman
2024 DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT
Samuel Marcus Alarcon, accounting
Annalise Marie Cefaratti, psychology
Natalie Terese Clark, criminal justice, psychology*
Hunter Anderson Coates, history, philosophy
Aralyn Yvette Everett, criminal justice, philosophy
Victoriyah Chanel Leigh Friend, psychology
Helen Marie Garcia-Carreras, theatre
Sophia Lian Shiyu Hoffman, accounting
Emily Logan McCormick, marketing
Anna Marie Lynne Meer, nursing
Lydia Ruth Sammons, nursing
Colton Aron Samual Smith, biology
*Valedictorian
Charlotte Avery Aexel, English, French, liberal studies*
Hannah Euzelia Allen, biology
William James Anderson, biology
Grace Marie Arnold, art
Jordyn Louise Bausch, accounting*
Jessica Taylor Berry, psychology
Christine Elizabeth Blitch, exercise science
Kathryn A. Brook, psychology*
Kun Yuan Chu, biology
Basil Cooper, liberal studies, philosophy
Peyton Lin Cusick, computer science
Isabella Maria Dattilio, chemistry
Mia Catherine Davis, public health
Kaitlyn Nicole Donovan, biology
Madison Claire Floyd, psychology
Caitlyn Marie Gailey, liberal studies, Spanish
Lily Jane Gauntt, English, French*
Raven Aliyah Glover, chemistry
Riley Karis Greer, music
Phillip Carson Griffeth, chemistry
Kristin Michelle Gurley, nursing*
Maryellen Paige Hagberg, art, liberal studies
Daniel James Hastings, biology
Axel Cecilia Hawkins, history
Shiderica Tonaye Franstasia Hiers, management information systems
*Valedictorian
Kali McKenna Holierhoek, biology*
Claire Elizabeth Kosobud, rhetoric
Sydney Elizabeth Logan, management information systems
Juliann Marie Mackiewicz, history, philosophy
Ella Anne Martin, psychology
Skye Mears, biology
Kate Hunter Moore, biology
Jillian Olivia Muncus, marketing
Amy Marie Newman, environmental sciences
Joelle Mae Nicosia, marketing, data science
Katherine Shea O’Brien, elementary education
Davis Hall Pittard, management information systems
Jared Chimalsi Reese, computer science
Taylor Nicole Rhines, psychology
Peyton Leanne Rodgers, management
Nina Paige Schwelm, mass communications
Aubrie Lee Scruggs, biology
Avary Honor Simpson, nursing
Gray Sullivan, psychology
Jocelyn Joy Taylor, nursing
Caden Underwood, chemistry
Heather Renee Vincent, biology*
Abigail Brynn Watkins, mass communications
Sarah Jean West, biology
Erin Whitfield, accounting
Elizabeth Anne Williams, nursing*
Business Builders
Seminars
Tent City Tabling
CAT Crew
Fall Festival
Habitat for Humanity
Honors Team Building
John E. Sallstrom Honors College
CBX 029
231 W. Hancock Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061
478-445-4025
honors@gcsu.edu
linkedin.com/in/gchonorscollege/
The John E. Sallstrom Honors College relies on the generosity of faculty, alumni and friends to fund our book discussions, lunch/dinner seminars, undergraduate research, and other educational and cultural activities. Please contact Dr. Brian Newsome at honors@gcsu.edu or visit https://give. gcsu.edu/g/honors if you are interested in supporting us. We are keen to build our base of support with gifts of any amount. Thank you!