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GSW honored the life and legacy of the late Brenton Truitt of Americus, Georgia, by awarding him a posthumous Bachelor of Business Administration in Management degree during GSW’s Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 17. His parents, Charles (’90, ’95) and Floria Truitt (’06), both GSW alumni, accepted the degree on his behalf before the Homecoming soccer game.
A management major in GSW's College of Business and Computing and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Brenton was remembered as a dedicated student and respected campus leader whose impact extended beyond the classroom. His determination to complete his education was deeply rooted in his family's longstanding connection to GSW and his desire to honor the memory of his older brother, Brandon, who passed away in January 2022.
“Brenton's story is one of perseverance, family and the lasting impact of a Georgia Southwestern education,” said GSW President Kerry J. Palmer, Ph.D. “Despite tremendous personal loss, he remained committed to completing his degree and honoring his brother's memory. We are proud to recognize his accomplishments and hope this degree serves as a lasting tribute to Brenton and the remarkable legacy the Truitt family has built at GSW.”
Read more about Brenton and his family.
GSW has announced the establishment of the Laken Hope Memorial Nursing Scholarship within the GSW Foundation, an endowed scholarship honoring the life and legacy of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student whose life was tragically cut short in February 2024.
Made possible through the generosity of a group of donors, including GSW alumni Wes (’70) and Jean Wheeler, the scholarship will be awarded annually to support GSW nursing students as they pursue their education and prepare for careers in healthcare.
Kendall Hall, a senior nursing student from Leesburg, Ga., has been named the inaugural recipient of the scholarship.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be the first recipient of the Laken Hope Memorial Nursing Scholarship,” said Hall. “Knowing how passionate Laken was about helping others makes this scholarship especially meaningful. I hope to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion as I pursue my own dream of becoming a nurse. I am truly thankful to Laken’s family and the donors who made this opportunity possible.”
Read more about the Laken Hope Memorial Nursing Scholarship.
GSW and South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) have strengthened their longstanding partnership through a new articulation agreement designed to create a smoother transition for students pursuing bachelor's degrees and expand access to higher education in Southwest Georgia.
The agreement, signed on Oct. 26 by GSW President Kerry Palmer, Ph.D., and SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D., establishes clear transfer pathways for students completing eligible coursework or associate degree programs at SGTC who wish to continue their education at GSW. By identifying transferable courses and aligning academic requirements between the two institutions, the partnership helps students maximize previously earned credits, avoid unnecessary duplication of coursework and make continued progress toward their educational and career goals.
Read more about the expanded partnership with SGTC.
Georgia Southwestern celebrated Homecoming and Family Weekend the week of Oct. 11-17, bringing students, alumni, families and the community together for a week of activities and Hurricane spirit. Highlights included the Blue & Gold Picnic, GSW 101 tour, annual Homecoming Parade through Downtown Americus, Canes Brew Crew at IceHouse Beer Garden, the tailgate and Canes Chili Cook-Off The university also crowned its new Mr. and Miss GSW - JoJo Davis and Gabrielle Foster - during halftime of the men’s soccer game. Family Weekend events, including brunch and bingo, gave students and their loved ones opportunities to connect and celebrate GSW traditions.
Find more photos on GSW's Facebook page.
More than 130 area high school students visited GSW on Oct. 2, 2026 for GSW’s eighth annual Science Day, exploring a variety of STEM fields through hands-on experiments and interactive demonstrations.
A total of 137 students and 12 teachers from six high schools participated, including Terrell Academy, Sumter County High School, Furlow Charter School, Southland Academy, Webster County High School, and Chattahoochee County High School.
"GSW annual Science Day gives high school students from neighboring counties an opportunity to explore STEM and STEM-related programs at GSW through interactive demonstrations and hands-on learning," said Nedialka Iordanova, Ph.D. professor of physical chemistry. "The event also allows GSW faculty and students to showcase their knowledge and skills, serving as a valuable student learning experience and recruitment opportunity for our various STEM programs."
Read more about this year's Science Day.
Staff Senate recently awarded Christi Kendrick and Angela Jenkins the Chief Oris Bryant, Jr. Learning Materials Incentive, a $50 award to assist with the cost of required books and academic materials.
The purpose of the incentive is to support currently employed GSW staff members in their pursuit of higher education. Any single recipient is allowed to receive the incentive a maximum of two times. This program is named in honor of the late Oris W. Bryant, Jr., affectionately known as Chief. Oris Bryant was an active member of the GSW community where he served as the Director of Public Safety.
Faculty and students in the Department of Visual Arts are joining forces with Harvest of Hope Food Pantry and local restaurants for the 13th annual Empty Bowls event on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The annual fundraiser brings together art, food and community generosity to help fight hunger in the Americus area.
The event will take place at Harvest of Hope Food Pantry, located at 606 McGarrah St. in Americus, Ga. and is organized by GSW's ceramics program and Artists United, the department's student organization.
More than 200 handcrafted ceramic bowls will be available for $25 each. Each purchase includes a soup voucher, while supplies last, redeemable at one of three participating local restaurants: Pat's Place, Little Brothers Bistro & Cafe, and Sweet Georgia.
Read more about Empty Bowls.
The Give Southwestern faculty and staff fundraiser, which runs each September, closed with 181 donors. GSW's 58% campus participation rate that continues to outpace other Georgia universities in the area of employee giving.
During Give Southwestern, faculty and staff donated over $16,800 in gifts and September payroll deductions. In fact, this year’s total payroll deduction amount will be over $40,000.
The following departments recorded 100% participation: Academic Affairs, Accounting Services, Admissions, Advancement, Alumni Affairs, Annual Giving, Biology, Computing, Early Childhood Education, Economics, Experiential Learning, First-Year Experience, GSW Foundation, Health & Human Performance, Human Resources Program, Human Resources Department, Information Technology, Institutional Research, Management, Marketing, Middle Grades Education, President’s Office, Special Education/Reading, Student Accounts, Student Health & Counseling, and University Relations.
Faculty members from Georgia Southwestern's Department of Visual Arts are showcasing their creative talents in Collegium, a group exhibition on display at the Albany Area Arts Council through Oct. 30, 2026.
The exhibition features works by four GSW faculty members: Laurel Robinson, professor of painting and drawing; Keaton Wynn, professor of art history and ceramics and department chair; Charles Wells, professor of sculpture, glass and printmaking; and Justin Hodges, assistant professor of photography and digital arts. Following an opening reception on Sept. 3, the exhibition continues to offer visitors an opportunity to explore the diverse artistic styles, media and creative approaches of GSW's Visual Arts faculty.
"This exhibition highlights the diverse creative talents of our faculty,” the faculty shared in a joint artists' statement. “The title of this show describes the community and culture of our program. We see each other more as family than colleagues. We’re able to nurture, challenge, and encourage each other in both the classroom and studio. As professional exhibiting artists, we share a philosophy that values skill development, conceptual curiosity, and a profound respect for the mystery and meaning of the materials we explore."
Read more about the Collegium exhibition.
The men's golf team has climbed to the top of NCAA Division II, taking over the No. 1 position in the latest Scoreboard powered by Clippd national computer rankings released Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The Hurricanes moved up from No. 2 following a dominant performance at The Parris Island Legends Collegiate, where they closed their fall schedule with a 35-stroke victory and swept the top three individual positions.
The ranking marks the third season in program history that Georgia Southwestern has reached No. 1 in a national computer ranking system. The Hurricanes previously held the top spot in the Golfstat rankings during the 2011-12 and 2019-20 seasons, making the 2026-27 campaign their first return to No. 1 since the 2019-20 season.
Read more about the rankings.
Faculty and staff across campus wore pink on Thursday, Oct. 29 in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
(This story originally appeared in the Canes Corner section of the Americus Times-Recorder newspaper.)
September has been an extraordinary month of generosity at Georgia Southwestern, and as we close it out, I am reminded of just how fortunate we are to have a community that believes so deeply in GSW and our students.
On Sept. 17, our eighth annual Day of Giving brought together an incredible 668 donors from all 50 states. Seeing support reach across the entire country is a powerful reminder that the GSW community extends far beyond Americus. Every gift, regardless of size, represents someone choosing to invest in our students and the future of this University.
That same spirit of generosity is evident right here on campus. Through our annual Give Southwestern faculty and staff campaign, more than half of GSW employees have already made a gift. Our faculty and staff give so much to this institution every day through their work, and their willingness to personally invest in GSW speaks volumes about their belief in our mission.
Read Snyder's full message.
Junior Juan Velásquez (left) was named the Peach Belt Conference Men's Golfer of the Week twice in the month of October.
On Oct. 5, he received the recognition following a fourth-place finish at The National Preview, where he led the Hurricanes for a combined program-record 19-under-par 269, helping GSW secure second place in the team standings.
On Oct. 26, the Bucaramanga, Colombia native once again earned the award following his individual championship at The Parris Island Legends Collegiate. Velásquez helped propel the Hurricanes to the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division II national rankings.
This marked Velásquez's third top-10 finish in four tournaments this fall and vaulted him 14 spots in the NCAA Division II individual Scoreboard rankings, climbing from No. 18 to No. 4 nationally.
Junior Jordan Jones (right) was named the Peach Belt Conference Men's Golfer of the Week on Oct. 12 following his individual championship at the Hurricane Invitational.
The Auckland, New Zealand native captured medalist honors with an 8-under-par 136 (70-66) to top the 81-player field and secure his second tournament victory in his last six regular-season starts. He is now a two-time recipient of the conference's weekly award.
Jones opened with a 2-under 70 before catching fire in the second round, carding seven birdies en route to a 6-under 66. His closing round included three consecutive birdies on Nos. 7-9 as he finished tied for the tournament lead with 10 birdies overall.
Between Velásquez and Jones, GSW saw a streak of three consecutive selections of PBC Golfer of the Week in the month of October.
Read more about Velásquez's Oct. 5 and Oct. 26 recognitions and Jones's recognition.
Solan claims GSW's first cross country individual title since 2012Freshman Haley Solan captured the women's individual championship at the CAU Panther Invitational on Oct. 24, becoming the first Lady Hurricane to win a cross country race in 14 years while leading GSW to a runner-up finish at Nash Farm Battlefield.
Solan completed the 5K course in 23:07.85, finishing more than a minute ahead of the 17-runner field to secure her first collegiate individual victory. The freshman has led GSW in all four meets this season, with Saturday's performance marking her fastest 5K time of the fall.
The victory marked the first individual win for the Georgia Southwestern women's cross country program since Sept. 29, 2012, when fellow freshman Jessi Young captured the Darton Invitational.
Read more about Solan's recognition.
Duo Fuerza is has released two songs: "Gottes Zeit Ist Die Allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 (Transcr. for Piano Four Hands by György Kurtàg)" and "Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben, Cantata BWV 147:10. Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Arr. Hess for Piano Four Hands)."
The music, collectively titled “Duo Fuerza Plays Bach," is available on Spotify, Amazon and other music-listening platforms. The duo extends a special thank you to GSW's Interim Chief Information Officer Bob Slenker for recording the singles.
Department Chair and Professor of Sociology Jamie MacLennan, Ph.D., published an article titled "Trail Names Among Appalachian Trail Long-Distance Hikers: Norms, Bases, and Functions of Hiker Nicknames" in the summer 2026 issue of the journal Names: A Journal of Onomastics.
Along with co-author Heather Childress, MacLennan describes subcultural practices surrounding hiker trail names. His research design consisted of interviews conducted with 107 Appalachian Trail long-distance hikers while hiking 425 miles of the trail in 2025.
Some of his findings include that there were virtually no rules for trail names, reflective of the "hike your own hike" philosophy on the trail, and that trail names were usually based on a personality quirk or a funny anecdote involving the hiker. The study also found that trail names functioned simultaneously as mechanisms of social solidarity and personal identity transformation.
MacLennan is currently working on a research article examining long-distance hiker motivations.
Assistant Professor of Information Technology Jonathan Hobbs, D.Sc., recently published “Detecting AI-Completable Assignments: An Explainable Generative AI Framework for Assessment Governance” in Issues in Information Systems. He also presented this work at the 2026 International Association for Computer Information Systems Conference this month.
The article examines how generative AI has changed what traditional assignments can demonstrate about student learning. It introduces the concept of an AI-completable assignment, which is a task that a general-purpose AI model can complete successfully without requiring the intended student reasoning, course-specific knowledge, or evidence of the learning process.
The study also presents a custom generative AI solution that allows faculty to evaluate assignment prompts, identify structural weaknesses, assign an AI-resistance score, and receive targeted redesign recommendations before releasing an assignment to students. The purpose of the research is to move AI governance beyond post-submission detection and toward proactive assessment design. Its potential impact includes helping faculty create assignments that provide stronger evidence of student learning while preserving course objectives, supporting appropriate uses of AI, and keeping final instructional decisions under faculty control.
GSW's first-ever Ensemble-in-Residence, Duo Fuerza—James D’León and GSW Senior Lecturer of Music Alwen Yeung—has been featured in The Boston Musical Intelligencer in the Aug. 15, 2026 article, “A 19th-Century Piano Invites Different Listening.”
The article explores the unique experience of hearing music by Schubert, Schumann, and Mendelssohn performed on a 19th-century piano—an instrument from the composers’ own musical world—and considers how its distinctive sound invites a different way of listening.
Associate Professor of English and Modern Languages Jesse Russell, Ph.D., published "Stripping of the Altars: The Altar and Catholic Liturgy in The Faerie Queene" in the journal Renaissance Studies.
Assistant Professor of Photography and Digital Arts Justin Hodges exhibited his recent body of work, a multimedia installation titled Gallery Furniture, at the Carnegie Art Center in Covington, Ky. alongside other artists from across the United States. He also presented in artist lecture at the Carnegie on April 4. On June 3, Hodges's work was further highlighted in Carney's reflection on the exhibition, published by Kudzu Jelly, a nonprofit arts and culture publication based in Kentucky.
Hodges began developing the new body of work in fall of 2025 for the Carnegie's group exhibition titled The Body Isn't a Battery that Discharges upon Death, which was on view from April 3 to Aug. 8, 2026. Utilizing the Carnegie's 6,000 square feet of gallery space, curator Sean J. Patrick Carney collaborated with the artists to create a sprawling exhibition that explored time as both metaphor and remnant. Located just miles from the Ohio River, it reflected a shared engagement with the landscapes, histories, and cultural legacy of the American Rust Belt.
A new iteration of Gallery Furniture was included in Collegium, a recent exhibition featuring GSW Visual Arts faculty on view at the Albany Area Arts Council in Albany, Ga. from Sept. 3 until Oct. 31. Beginning Nov. 2, Collegium will be available for viewing at GSW's Fine Arts Gallery.
Duo Fuerza, the Ensemble-in-Residence at Georgia Southwestern State University, has launched its 2026–27 season with a vibrant series of performances and educational programs.
The duo, consisting of Senior Lecturer of Music Alwen Yeung and James D’León, opened the season with a performance as part of the Frederick Collection Concert Series in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, followed by an appearance in the Victorian Music Parlor Series at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At GSW, Duo Fuerza presented an engaging lecture-recital for University 1000 faculty and students. The duo then performed as part of the GSW Chamber Concert Series, where a great turnout made for an especially exciting evening of music and celebration.
Nan presents research at military communications conferenceAssistant Professor of Computer Science Satyaki Nan, Ph.D., presented his research, N-Channel Deception-Based Anti-Jamming Against Strategic Sensing Jammers, at the IEEE Military Communications Conference (MILCOM) on October 15.
The presentation presented an N-channel deception-based anti-jamming framework for wireless systems operating under sensing jamming attacks.
Because the real/decoy partition is combinatorial, the proposed approach evaluates explicit candidate designs through a follower oracle rather than claiming a global bilevel optimum. Monte Carlo results under both non-strategic and strategic sensing jammers show that decoys can improve defender utility, but the optimal decoy region depends on the jammer budget. Stronger jammers generally shift the useful decoy region upward, while strategic jammers reduce the deception gain by concentrating power on high-impact transmissions.
These results provide a scalable water-filling-based framework for deception-enabled anti-jamming with a clearly delimited leader-side search.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) hosted its Doctor for a Day conference in Macon, Ga. The free program, organized through the Young Physician’s Initiative, was designed to encourage rural high school and college students to explore careers in medicine and other health-care professions. GSW Biology majors (pictured right to left) Nicholas Wood, Amelia Gillam, Camille Deans, Demijanae Aguilar, Claudine Rodriguez and Noah Bridges, accompanied by Assistant Professor Surya Amarachintha, Ph.D., attended the conference and toured the Mercer School of Medicine campus.
Participants engaged in hands-on medical activities, heard from medical professionals, and had opportunities to network with medical students and mentors. GSW students had the opportunity to meet current Mercer medical students, members of the admissions team, and faculty while participating in activities that provided insight into the daily life of a physician. Students gained first-hand information about effective study strategies, medical school course requirements, MCAT preparation, interview techniques, and the medical school application process. Funding for the trip was provided through Thomas Chair Foundation grants.
Lecturer of Accounting Danielle Taylor's Data Analytics in Accounting course was visited by Chase Burnfin '15 as a guest lecturer. Burnfin, director of portfolio finance at Canopy Capital Partners and chair of COBAC Advisory Council, gave a presentation demonstrating advanced, real-world Excel models built with and without AI assistance.
After demonstrating the various models, he led students in an active discussion about the benefits and risks of using AI, including skepticism, data privacy, and AI-generated errors. Chase also shared stories from his days as a student at GSW, and he encouraged students to get involved on campus and to maintain relationships with each other and with professors long after graduation.
The GSW Computer Club and their advisor, Assistant Professor Satyaki Nan, Ph.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 the club's ongoing commitment to community engagement and experiential learning, allowing students to apply their skills while making a positive impact beyond the classroom.
GSW faculty and staff stepped away from campus and into the heart of Downtown Americus for our latest Break to Educate experience on Friday, Oct. 30. Hosted by GSW Staff Senate in partnership with Americus Main Street and Visit Americus, the guided walking tour gave employees an opportunity to explore downtown's rich history, architecture, local businesses and ongoing revitalization efforts while learning more about the community we call home. Participants also enjoyed a ride on the Americus Trolley and Downtown Dollars giveaways to encourage shopping local. This professional development experience supports GSW's strategic plan, The Hurricane Promise, by fostering employee engagement, community connections and a greater appreciation for the partnerships that make Americus special.
Information Security Officer Joshua Gilmon visited the Computer Club to speak with students about his experiences and insights into the cybersecurity field, including current industry trends and career opportunities. Students had the opportunity to gain insight into the field from someone with firsthand industry experience.
GSW Alumni & Friends toured America's cowboy country from Aug. 18–25, journeying 1,026 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The trip began at the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, where the group explored the Badlands, the Wall Drug, and the Wild West history of Deadwood. Highlights of the first leg included a bison jam at Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore (where the group donned special bandanas for Gold Force Thursday).
In Wyoming, they visited Yellowstone National Park, where they saw Yellowstone Lake, the stunning Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and a perfectly timed eruption of Old Faithful. Two nights at the Grand Tetons in Jackon Hole concluded the trip.
The College of Business and Computing recently held its Fall Advisory Council Meeting. Faculty, college leadership and Advisory Council members shared updates, discussed future opportunities, and explored ways to continue supporting COBAC students and programs.
On Oct. 9, students from the Department of Computing went on a field trip to Oak Ridge National Labs in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Accompanied by Associate Professor of Computer Science Sai Mukkavilli, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Computer Science Satyaki Nan, Ph.D., students toured the Spallation Neutron source, Frontier supercomputer, and Graphite Nuclear Reactor (now decommissioned). The trip gave them insight into how super computers work and help solve real world problems.
The Computer Club hosted a computer repair workshop on Oct. 8, providing students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with computer hardware. Led by Assistant Technology Services Director Anthony Lassiter, the workshop allowed students to explore the internal components of a computer by disassembling and reassembling it. Throughout the session, students gained a better understanding of how different hardware components work together while developing practical computer maintenance and troubleshooting skills.
Purchasing staff attend state workshopThe Department of Purchasing attended the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Georgia Procurement Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Columbus, Ga.
The purchasing team, Director Sierra Harvey and Procurement Specialist Latonya Ingram, networked with small businesses from across the state and connected with potential vendors offering products and services that could benefit GSW.
During the workshop, small businesses learned about Georgia’s procurement process, how to become a Georgia-certified business, where to find procurement opportunities under $25,000, and the many resources available to help them succeed.
Participating in events like these helps strengthen GSW's partnership with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services while expanding the network of potential vendors who may be able to support the needs of the university and local area.
Professor of Chemistry Nedialka Iordanova, Ph.D., took four GSW science students on a trip to an Auburn University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Preview Day. The students learned about research opportunities at Auburn and talked to different professors and graduate students.
"Many thanks to all of the adult and student volunteers who assisted the Office of Alumni Affairs at the Homecoming tailgate. Also, sending kudos to everyone who submitted a pot of chili into the 2nd Annual Canes Chili Cook-off! Congratulations to Grand Champion, chemistry professor Dr. Nelly Iordanova and her Chili Fusion, and to Brandy Pfeiffer (College of Nursing and Health Sciences) and The Pitts Stop Crew for taking People's Choice. Speaking of awards, sending a shout out to Robert Adams for creating the hand-blown glass peppers for our chili trophies."
- Angela Smith
"On behalf of the Homecoming Committee, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this year's Homecoming Week. From the creative office decorations and the Homecoming Parade to the Soccer Game and many other events throughout the week, your support, participation, and enthusiasm made each event truly memorable. We are grateful for the time and effort invested by each participant and campus partners who helped make Homecoming such a success. We are already looking forward to next year."
Find more events on the GSW academic calendar, on myGSW, and on the Events Open to the Community webpage.
