Staff

Dr. Suzanne Smith

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Smith received a Ph.D. in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia in 1996; an M.S. in Family and Child Development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1992; and a B.A. from Erskine College in Behavior Science in 1990. She also completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Smith is a tenured Professor in GSW’s Department of Psychology and Sociology. She has over 25 years of experience teaching sociology and human development at the university level. She has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching and has written numerous journal articles and books, including her latest textbook, Exploring Family Theories (4th Ed), published in 2017. Smith is an active member of the National Council of Family Relations and the Family Science Association.

Dr. Bryan Davis

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison

Dr. Davis received his Ph.D in Medieval British Literature from Ohio State University in 1997, and came to GSW as an assistant professor in August 1998. He was promoted to associate professor in 2003 and professor in 2008. While at GSW, he has been Chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, and most recently, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning. He has also been GSW’s SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison since 2009. Dr. Davis believes in challenging students to exceed their own expectations for themselves, but only while providing support to insure their success.

Cheri Paradise

Executive Assistant to the Provost and MFE Coordinator

Cheri Paradise joined GSW in 2000 as an Accounting Assistant in the Business and Finance department. She was promoted to Executive Assistant to the Provost and MFE Coordinator in 2010. Cheri is a fourth generation Sumter County citizen. She graduated from Americus High School and attended Georgia Southwestern State University, majoring in English. While at GSW, she has served on the University Wide Grievance Panel, the GSW Human Relations Council, and the GSW Staff Senate as the Academic Affairs representative. She is a member of the American Society of Administrative Professionals. Cheri is dedicated to serving the faculty, staff, and student body of the campus and loves the challenges and the rewards of working in higher education.

George Banketas

Reporting and Data Management Specialist, Institutional Research

Dr. Lisa A. Cooper

Director of Institutional Research and Assistant Professor Institutional Research