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Nearly 100 TEDx enthusiasts gathered for GSW's third annual TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU event on Friday, October 10, for an evening of thought-provoking talks and community connection.
The independently organized event by GSW faculty and staff, held under a license from TED, brought together faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members to share ideas that embody the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of small-town communities. The theme, “Small Town, Big Vision,” highlighted how creativity, collaboration and determination can thrive beyond urban centers, proving that transformative ideas are not limited by geography.
“This year’s theme really captured what makes Americus and other small towns so special,” said Chelsea Collins, organizer of TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU. “Our speakers reminded us that visionaries live right here among us. They’re our neighbors, our colleagues and our friends - people who turn challenges into opportunities and prove that big achievements can grow from small beginnings. Their passion and purpose are what build stronger, more connected communities.”
Lear more about the event.
GSW celebrated a major milestone on Friday, October 17, with a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for the newly renovated James Earl Carter Library.
The event drew a crowd of campus and community members, including University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue, DVM, State Senator Freddie Powell Sims, State Representative Mike Cheokas, Kim and Jana Carter — granddaughters of the library’s namesake — and hundreds of GSW faculty, staff and students.
Constructed in 1971 and dedicated in 1973, the James Earl Carter Library was named in honor of the father of former President Jimmy Carter, who was then Governor of Georgia.
"Today, we celebrate the next chapter in that legacy," said GSW President Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. "This transformation breathes new life into a space that has long been at the heart of our campus. With state-of-the-art technology, open and collaborative study areas, and resources designed to foster student success, this modernized library will once again become a destination for all GSW students."
Read more about the event.
Faculty and students in the Department of Visual Arts at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), along with Harvest of Hope and local restaurants, are coming together for the 12th annual Empty Bowls event to help local families by selling hand-crafted ceramic bowls and soup on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. This year, there will be additional ceramic art for sale to support the work of Harvest of Hope.
The event is sponsored by the GSW Department of Visual Art’s ceramics program and Artists United, the department’s student organization. Empty Bowls will be held at the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry at 606 McGarrah St., Americus, GA 31709.
Read more about Empty Bowls.
Homecoming events began on Monday, October 13 with Rep Your SET, hosted by the Student Engagement Team in The Pods. Students gathered to make signs for the week and meet the Mr. and Miss GSW candidates. Teams then faced off in the Flag Football Semi-Finals that evening.
On Tuesday, students gathered in front of Canes Central for SAAC's Make a Splash, Grant a Wish dunk tank fundraiser for the Make A Wish Foundation. Nearby, the Shirt Studio allowed students to design their own shirts. That evening, team competed in the Flag Football Championship.
Faculty, staff and students enjoyed lunch together on the Common at Wednesday's Blue and Gold Picnic. The men's soccer team won their match against Middle Georgia State University 2-1.
Campus was decked in gold on Thursday. After Feel the Surge group fit attendees completed a workout in the IM Gym, all eyes were on Downtown Americus for the Homecoming Parade. For the first time in years, the Hurricanes rode through Downtown with cars decorated by student organizations and teams. The parade by was by the Americus Police Department and featured an Americus Fire Department with Dr. Michelle Johnston, Gene Pierce and Surge riding atop a fire truck.
Friday events began early with the Ribbon Cutting of the newly renovated James Earl Carter Library followed by both softball and baseball scrimmages. The Department of First-Year Experience welcomed GSW families to town at the Windsor Hotel, where attendees had the chance to win vouchers for local restaurants or tour the historic hotel. The evening end with the Silent Headphone Party on Sanford Lawn.
Saturday morning began with Canes Family Brunch and Canes Bingo, both Family Weekend favorites. The Homecoming Tailgate was in full swing by 3pm, with alumni groups, student organizations, community groups and faculty and staff setting up tents and food.
At the Alumni Association tent, seven chefs competed in the Canes Chili Cook-Off. The overall winner was Web Content Strategist and GSW alumna Krystal Whittaker while the People's Choice Award went to Professor of Chemistry Nellie Iordanova, Ph.D. The Alumni Association also hosted the Y2Canes Reunion for the Class of 2000 and streamed SEC football.
Joseph McKeller and Trinity Daniels McNear were named the 2025-2026 Mr. and Miss GSW during halftime of the men's soccer match.
The men's soccer team ultimately lost their match against Lander University 2-1.
Check out photos from the week and the recap video!
The 2025 Give Southwestern faculty and staff fundraiser, which ran throughout September, saw 211 donors participate through donations and payroll deductions. This means a record-breaking 70% of employees gave during the campaign, outpacing all previous GSW faculty and staff giving numbers.
Departments and divisions with 100% participation were:
Associate Professor of Accounting Sondra Smith, D.B.A., was inducted as president of the Georgia Association of Accounting Educators (GAAE) earlier this year. As president, she will host the annual GAAE conference in Americus on February 6-7, 2026 for all the accounting educators in higher education in the state of Georgia. The keynote speaker for this conference is international speaker Cynthia Cooper. Ms. Cooper was the whistleblower for the fraud at WorldCom in 2002 and was co-person of the year for Time Magazine in 2002.
Associate Professor Qian "Maggie" Wang, Ph.D., was recently featured on the credit and personal finance website WalletHub. Wang's expertise on comprehensive insurance was featured in an "Ask the Experts" column.
Jonathan Carter recently co-wrote an essay titled "'A Cesspool of Toxicity, Hatred, and Discrimination': Twitter, Free Speech Absolutism, and Adoxastic Enshittification" for the Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric. Co-written with a colleague at Virginia Commonwealth University, this essay explores changing views of free speech on Twitter/X and the impacts this has on public discourse. It considers new ideologies of speech to make the platform function better for society.
Lecturer of Music Lenard Martin Jr. performed at the 26th Annual Fletcher Henderson Jazz Festival in Cuthbert, Georgia. He also served on the festivals' board of directors and served as Master of Ceremonies.
Martin’s performance centered around Fletcher Henderson’s performances of the 1920s and 1930s stride piano style, giving audience members the opportunity to hear his music in its original context.
Associate Professor of Accounting Sondra Smith, D.B.A.,was the guest speaker at Clayton State University on September 29, 2025. Her presentation was titled "Redesign of Principles of Accounting."
As of October 1, Tracy Taylor has been promoted from accountant to senior accountant for the GSW Foundation.
Kearston Holtzclaw, aadvancement services and operations manager for the GSW Foundation and Division of University Advancement, left that role on October 15.
John F. Henry, Ph.D., passed away on x. He retired as a professor and chair in the School of Business on June 30, 1996.
Over 120 area students visited campus on October 3 for GSW’s Science Day. Students from Crisp County High, Southland Academy, Sumter County High, Terrell Academy, and Webster County High explored a variety of science disciplines through hands-on experiments. This annual event is designed to engage high school students in the sciences and teach them about the opportunities these disciplines offer for their futures.
GSW faculty and students led the demonstrations, which included interacting with snakes and iguanas, igniting gas-filled bubbles in their hands, exploring chemical reactions, and liquid nitrogen explosions! Participating disciplines included chemistry, biology, computer science, physics, mathematics, and exercise science.
Check out more photos from the day and the recap video.
The GSW Computer Club, led by their advisor Karen Cook, Ed.D., recently visited Magnolia Manor to assist residents with their technology needs. Students helped troubleshoot devices, answered questions, and provided hands-on support to improve digital access and confidence among residents. This activity reflects our ongoing commitment to community engagement and experiential learning, giving students the opportunity to apply their skills while making a positive impact beyond the classroom.
The College of Business and Computing (COBAC) recently held its Fall 2025 Advisory Council meeting, led by Chair Mark Blalock. The meeting provided an opportunity to share important updates, hear directly from students about their experiences at GSW, and discuss strategic challenges facing the College. Advisory Council members offered valuable feedback as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen COBAC programs and ensure students continue to receive a high-quality education that prepares them for the future. The College also welcomed three new members to the Advisory Council, whose expertise and perspectives will further enhance collaboration between the University and its business and community partners.
GSW alumni shared their professional expertise with our current students in programming classes taught by Satyaki Nan, Ph.D.. Sophia Aparicio-Malacara, a computing graduate and now Reporting and Data Management Specialist at GSW, spoke to students in CSCI 1301 – Introduction to Programming I, where she discussed Python implementation with APIs. Joshua Gilmon, also a computing graduate and currently an Information Technology Analyst/Programmer at GSW, joined CSCI 1302 – Introduction to Programming II to share his knowledge on Java implementation.
The College of Business and Computing hosted its Fall 2025 Meet the Firms event on October 22 in Canes Central. The event provided an opportunity for students to connect with industry professionals, learn about internship and career opportunities, and explore potential career paths in business and accounting.
Participating firms included Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Draffin Tucker, Mauldin & Jenkins, McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks, and Co., Nichols Cauley, Georgia Department of Audits, CKH Group, Robert Baker & Associates, Becker CPA Review, and Dougherty McKinnon & Luby. COBAC extends its appreciation to all participating firms for their continued partnership and support in preparing students for successful careers.
Donovan Maulden from TCI Powder Coating was a guest speaker in the Operations Management course taught by Allen Brown, Ph.D. Maulden shared his academic journey at GSW, where he received his BBA, which lead to his career at TCI in human resources that then led to his MBA at GSW. Students were intrigued by his career advice and job opportunities at the local manufacturing company. Thank you to Maulden for his willingness to participate in the impromptu "Lessons in Ambiguity" that highlighted the application of education in his profession.
Find more events on the GSW academic calendar, on Canes Connect, and on the Events Open to the Community webpage.
