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____________________________________________________________________________

May 5, 2009

GSW Foundation names Peterson

trustee, re-elects seven others

            AMERICUS—The Georgia Southwestern Foundation, Inc. held its spring full board meeting Friday, May 1. The Board of Trustees elected one new member and re-elected seven current members to the 36 member group. Nominated and elected by their peers, the trustees provide external oversight to the Foundation’s operations.

William J. “Will” Peterson, IV of Americus is the newest member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. A native of Soperton, Peterson’s three-year term is effective immediately.

Peterson is the human resource manager at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. He is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) Bachelor and Master of Business Administration programs, 2000 and 2003, respectively. Peterson’s professional and civic affiliations include the Dougherty Leadership Development Institute; the Society for Human Resource Management; the Human Resource Council of the Georgia Hospital Association; and the Georgia ADS, board of directors. Peterson also serves as the assistant alumni advisor for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity; he is a member of the South Georgia Technical College Booster Club; and he serves as the chair of the Personnel Committee at Central Baptist Church, where he is a member.

Peterson’s wife, Brook Hargrove Peterson, is a 2003 graduate of GSW’s early childhood education program, and she is a teacher at Southland Academy. They are expecting their first child, Jase, in June.

Trustees accepting additional three-year terms are Greg Austin, vice president of Austin Urethane; John Pate Bridges, Jr., retired, Department of Natural Resources; J. Michael Greene, attorney and municipal court judge, Americus; Sam Hunter, vice president of SB&T Bank; Dr. Greg Slappey, orthopedic surgeon, Carrollton; Ginger Starlin, State Farm Insurance agent; and Tom Weiland, GSW professor of geology.

The Foundation provides funds for Georgia Southwestern and manages assets and gift accounts for the University. The Foundation’s purpose is to promote in various ways the cause of higher education in the state of Georgia, with particular emphasis on the development of Georgia Southwestern State University.

New trustee--Will Peterson is elected as the GSW Foundation's newest trustee.

 Returning trustees--Greg Austin, Tom Weiland, Pate Bridges and Greg Slappey were re-elected as GSW Foundation trustees. Not pictured are Michael Greene, Sam Hunter and Ginger Starlin.