Issue 4: December 2015

View this issue in its original PDF form.

Jenkins elected president of Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

David Jenkins, assistant director of admissions for Georgia Southwestern State University, is the new president of the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (GACRAO) for 2015-2016. He was elected during the association’s 62nd annual meeting held at the UGA Hotel
and Conference Center in Athens, Ga., Oct. 31-Nov. 3.

GACRAO is composed of higher education professionals from more than 100 admissions and records
departments at public and private colleges and universities located throughout the state of Georgia. The
association works to advance the professional goals of its members through the dissemination of information and the interchange of ideas on problems of common interest to higher education.

In addition to Jenkins, the newly-elected executive committee of GACRAO consists of President-Elect Selena Magnusson, registrar and director of admissions at Georgia Northwestern Technical College; Immediate Past-President Donna Webb, director of enrollment management at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; Treasurer Melody Kesler, senior assistant registrar at the University of Georgia; and Secretary Natasha Talreja, assistant director of transfer recruitment at Kennesaw State University.

Members at Large are Amy Clines, director of undergraduate recruitment at Columbus State University; Luis Ocasio, assistant registrar at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Erin Chadwick, assistant director of admissions at Augusta University; and Christine Ball, director of admissions at Augusta Technical College. The local arrangements chair is Brian Dawsey, assistant director of admissions at Savannah State University.

Additional information about the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers may be found at www.gacrao.org.

Pictured left to right: Luis Ocasio, Erin Chadwick, Brian Dawsey, Amy Clines, Melody Kesler, Natasha Talreja, Donna Webb, David Jenkins and Selena Magnusson

Champion completes Ironman 70.3 Miami

Anna Champion, assistant director of Campus Recreation and director of Fitness and Wellness, recently completed Ironman 70.3 Miami on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015.

Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is a triathlon race consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run, totaling 70.3 miles. The mileage for each segment of the Ironman 70.3 is equal to half the mileage of the same segment in a full Ironman.

Champion completed the swim in just over 35 minutes, the bike ride in roughly 2 hours 49 minutes and the run in about 2 hours 28 minutes. She completed the entire triathlon in just over 6 hours.

Ironman 70.3 Miami was Champion’s third Half Ironman. Though she previously completed Ironman 70.3 Augusta in 2013 and 2014, Champion said this is the toughest Half Ironman, both physically and mentally, that she has ever experienced.

"Miami was very different than anything I have ever endured. I was stung by jellyfish during the swim, witnessed three bike crashes while I was on the bike course and tackled a bridge four times
for a 6-mile loop we did twice," she said. "I would say it was an emotionally challenging race. I overcame many mental obstacles during the entire time I was out on the course. When I reached the finish line, I sobbed when I found my husband. I was emotional about the difficulty of the race and I was so thankful to be done safely."

In preparation for the Ironman, Champion went through extensive training. She swims, bikes and runs 3 days a week and does strength training twice a week. She also attends Power Yoga, one of GSW’s weekly group exercise courses.

Champion was supported and helped along the way by her husband and friends in Americus and the Leesburg/Albany area, who train along with her, and by Tim DeMott, coach of the local swim team Americus Blue Tide.

Champion participated in Ironman 70.3 Miami along with two fellow members of Flint River Triathletes in Albany. The three were the only members of the group to participate in the Miami event.
Champion sees a full Ironman in her future after completing a few more goals. She plans to train and race a full marathon as well as ride a 100-mile century bike ride.

SGA sponsors Women’s Self-Defense Class

Mark Laughlin, associate professor of music, conducted a free women’s self-defense class for the Student Government Association’s "It’s On Us" week that was held Nov. 8-12.

"It’s On Us" is a campaign to bring awareness to sexual assault and sexual assault on college campuses.

Pictured are are participants in the class Ellie Cook, Madison Teel, JoLee Henson, Emily Schuler and Catelyn Peterson and instructor Mark Laughlin.

Humphrey publishes article in vascular access journal

Joy Humphrey, D.N.P., R.N., assistant professor in the School of Nursing, had an article published in the Fall 2015 edition of "The Journal of the Association for Vascular Access." The article is entitled "Improving
Registered Nurses' Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines to Decrease the Incidence of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections: An Educational Intervention." Congratulations to Dr. Humphrey for this honor.

Shown in the photo are Sandra Daniel Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing, and Humphrey reviewing the article.

Journal of Third World Studies releases latest issue

The final issue of the Journal of Third World Studies (spring 2015, Vol. XXXII, No. 1) edited by the late Dr. Harold Isaacs has been published and mailed out. Hundreds of subscribers have received it, including the
libraries at Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and others in Europe, Asia and Africa.

The journal will continue. Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 are in preparation. Gary Kline, Ph.D., professor of political science, is serving as the interim editor.

Department of Music holds Fall Concert

The Department of Music presented a Fall Concert on Nov. 12 featuring the GSW Chamber Singers; Concert Choir; Southwest Civic Chorus (pictured), directed by Julie Megginson, D.M.A.; the GSW Concert Band, directed by Robert Bryant, Ph.D.; and the GSW Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mark Laughlin, D.M.A.

Snyder awarded GEAC "Excellence in Communications and Marketing"

Stephen Snyder, director of University Relations, was awarded the Georgia Education Advancement Council (GEAC) "Excellence in Communications and Marketing" award on Nov. 19 at the council’s 2015
annual conference awards dinner.

GEAC is an organization for higher education employees in the areas of alumni, development, public relations and communications at public and private colleges and universities across the state.

Snyder is deeply involved in GEAC, serving on the board of directors and as secretary for the board. Recently, he was named president-elect for the board.

"I was surprised and extremely honored to be recognized for this award. I receive great joy in working for my alma mater and working alongside great people," said Snyder. "Being a part of a special organization like GEAC is truly icing on the cake."

Snyder is an alumnus of GSW and has worked in GSW University Relations for nearly nine years.

Iordanova, chemistry students visit Marcus Center for Nanotechnology at Georgia Tech

Nedialka Iordanova, Ph.D., and four chemistry major students visited the Marcus Center for anotechnology at the Georgia Institute of Technology on Nov. 20, 2015.

The GSW group was hosted by David Gottfried, Ph.D., who talked to the group about the latest achievements in nanotechnology and facilitated the tour of the latest state of the art equipment at Georgia Tech used to make devices based on nanotechnology. The students had an opportunity to perform hands-on experiments using some of this equipment, and they talked to graduate students and faculty from several research groups at Georgia Tech about life in graduate schools and research opportunities.

The trip was sponsored by the Student Success Fund, GSW Foundation.

Bennett invited to teach course as a visiting scholar at a French university

Robert Bennett, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Business Administration, has been invited to teach a one-week M.B.A. course entitled "Strategic Leadership in a Volatile World" this week at the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux, France.

Bennett departed on Thanksgiving morning and will return this Saturday.

The class runs from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day, and there are 54 students in the class. The course is part of the school’s International Seminar Week.

National Honor Society of Leadership and Success inducts new members, honors faculty members

The National Honor Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi) held its member induction ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.

The Society is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for
membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction.

The Society is an organization that helps people discover and achieve their goals. The Society offers life-changing lectures from the nation’s leading presenters and a community where like-minded, success-oriented individuals come together and help one another succeed. The Society also serves as a powerful force of good in the greater community by encouraging and organizing action to better the world. Sigma Alpha Pi is where leaders are built, and life-changing skills and lessons are learned.

Thirty-three new members were inducted during the member induction ceremony (pictured above).

Each semester, chapter awards are nominated by the society student members and presented to faculty.

This semester, the Honorary Membership Award went to (left to right) Mark Grimes, assistant professor in the School of Business Administration; Judy Orton Grissett, assistant professor of psychology; and Talisha Adams, general education advisor/retention specialist.

Excellence in Teaching awards were presented to Susan Bragg, assistant professor of history, and Otto Lorenz (not pictured), assistant professor of biology.

Excellence in Service awards went to Mark Grimes; Rhonda Slocumb (not pictured), lecturer in the School of Nursing; and Ellen Cotter (not pictured), professor of psychology.

Laughlin receives Georgia Music Teachers Association grant to fund community music program scholarship

Mark Laughlin, D.M.A., associate professor of music, received a $400 grant from the Georgia Music Teachers Association (GMTA). Laughlin was awarded with the grant at the GMTA State Conference at Agnes State College on Nov. 5, 2015.

The grant will fund a scholarship for the GSW Department of Music’s Community Music Program (CMP). The CMP provides music programs of study for children and adults in the community and offers private and group classes in piano, voice, winds and guitar.

"I was extremely excited to be one of four recipients out of over 40 applicants throughout Georgia to receive a GMTA grant," said Laughlin, who is also the coordinator of the Community Music Program. "I will use the grant as a piano scholarship for one of my students in the community music program."

The CMP scholarship recipient is Ginny Calhoun of Ellaville, Ga.

Calhoun is a sophomore at Schley County High School, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA while taking AP courses. She is extremely involved both in school as a member of the track team, student council and various other student organizations and in her community, which includes regular piano performances at
Magnolia Manor and activities with her church. Calhoun is also a student and competition team member at Titan Karate Academy in Americus, Ga.

Calhoun has been a student of the CMP for two and a half years and studies the piano.

"I am extremely honored that Dr. Laughlin nominated me for the GMTA grant, and I am so appreciative that I was chosen as the recipient," said Calhoun. "Playing the piano is an important part of my life, and I am thankful for the grant that will assist me in continuing my lessons."

The scholarship will allow Calhoun to continue her piano studies through CMP tuition free for 5 months.

For more information about the GSW Community Music Program, contact Mark Laughlin at mark.laughlin@gsw.edu

Senior biology student presents at American Society for Microbiology Conference

David Barron (left), a senior biology student, attended the American Society for Microbiology Conference held at Kennesaw State University Nov. 13-15, 2015.

His research work is entitled "The Impact of Chemicals on the Survival of Bacterial Endospores," which was performed in the lab of Anh-Hue Tu, Ph.D., professor of biology. Barron also received a Cofer Fund grant to support his travel to the meeting.

Barron will be graduating from GSW on Dec. 12, 2015 and is currently applying for an internship program at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.

RCI honored by USG for 'Service Excellence'

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University was recognized as an “Outstanding Team” Oct. 21 at the annual Chancellor’s Service Excellence Award ceremony put on by the University System of Georgia. The event was hosted by Georgia Perimeter College this year. This was
the first USG Service Excellence Award for any division at Georgia Southwestern.

The Service Excellence Team Award recognizes teams who have demonstrated outstanding, "above and beyond" service to students, colleagues and other stakeholders of the University System of Georgia during the previous year. Nominee’s actions must reflect the following five attributes of service excellence: respectful, accessible, informed, supportive and responsive.

Last year, the RCI team collaborated with all 12 Georgia Area Agencies on Aging, the Georgia Department of Aging Services, the Georgia AARP and the Augusta Warrior Project to train individuals to administer and deliver a caregiver support program in their geographic location.

The purpose of Chancellor’s Annual Service Excellence Awards is to recognize and reward employees for demonstrating consistently high levels of performance while accomplishing normal job responsibilities as it relates to service. For more information, visit www.usg.edu/service_excellence.

Pictured Standing (l to r): Angela Foster, Cindy Holloway, Naomi Latini, Gayle Alston and Laura Bauer. Sitting (l to r): Chelsea Collins, Leisa Easom, holding the Service Excellence Award certificate, and
Christina Ta. Not pictured: Miranda Thomas.

Grimes receives Caught in the Act of Great Teaching Award

Mark Grimes, D.B.A., associate professor of management, was presented with Georgia Southwestern
State University’s “Caught in the Act of Great Teaching Award” by Lauren DiPaula, Ph.D., creator of the award; Samantha Price, president of the Student Government Association; and Surge, the GSW mascot, during one of his classes.

Students nominated professors within GeorgiaVIEW throughout the semester. A committee of students,
selected by the deans of individual schools and colleges, reviewed the award nominees and selected a winner.

The factors that influenced the committee to select Grimes reveal the effective strategies he uses in the classroom. The committee chose Grimes because he is able to relate topics to real-world situations, is accessible and approachable, responds quickly to questions and often reaches out to touch base with his students.

Grimes was presented with a custom travel coffee mug, displaying his name and the award’s slogan, "I’ve been caught in the act of great teaching!"

Robert L. Bryant, III, Ph.D., began working at GSW in August as director of bands/lecturer of music. He has degrees from Mercer University, Florida State University and Florida A&M University.

John Wilson began duties as reference librarian/government documents supervisor on Dec. 1, 2015. John has worked at the GSW Library since 2007 and received his M.L.S. from Valdosta State University. He is also a graduate of GSW with a degree in English.

Catherine McDonald is retiring this month after 40 years working on GSW’s campus. The Psychology/
Sociology Department recognized her service with a retirement party on Nov. 13.

Congratulations to Ian Brown, professor of biology, winner of the Soldier Marathon at Fort Benning on
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. Brown finished the full marathon (26.2 miles) with a time of 2 hours and 58 minutes and qualified for the Boston Marathon.

Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Graduation & Honors Convocation
Jackson Hall

Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Department of Visual Arts Annual Open House
Fine Arts Building
Glass, ceramics & more available to purchase for the holidays.

Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Annual Georgia Southwestern State University Holiday Party
Wheatley Administration Building
Business attire dress; Please bring an unwrapped toy to benefit SOWEGA Court Appointed Special Advocates

Dec. 10, 12:00 p.m.
Senior Grades Due by Noon

Dec. 12, 9:00 a.m.
Graduate School Hooding Ceremony
Jackson Hall

Dec. 12, 11:00 a.m.
Fall 2015 Commencement
Commencement Speaker: Senator Dean Burke
Student Success Center

Dec. 12, 2:00 p.m.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Carter I Lecture Hall; Followed by reception hosted by Phoebe Sumter Medical Center

Dec. 14, 8:00 a.m.
Grades Due in RAIN

Dec. 21-25
Holidays

There is no lack of activity at Georgia Southwestern State University! In the pages of "The Breeze" and just within the past few months, readers can see the flurry of activity and recognition of personal and professional successes. The activities and accomplishments of our faculty and staff, both on campus and in the community, exemplify the type of experienced professionals that attract students to attend Georgia Southwestern.

In the past few months, I have also had the pleasure of attending most of the University 1000 courses across campus. My time with the students has been spent in dialogue and not as a lecture. One of my goals, as it has been since I began in January, is to continue to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the University. Accordingly, our freshman provide a unique and personal perspective on the University’s strengths and weaknesses experienced during their first few months of the fall semester. When asked why they chose Georgia Southwestern over other institutions, the freshman consistently mention location, attractiveness of campus and, above all else, the close and personal relationships between the students and faculty. It is this bond that has always been a mainstay of the Georgia Southwestern brand and identity.

Moving forward, the University's brand as a high-touch institution where students can become engaged in scholarship and creative activity, service learning projects and community service will be a strong part of the overall mission of Georgia Southwestern. Our faculty and the activities that they are engaged in will certainly be key to furthering this brand, and it is clear that we are well on our way.