This Week Prepared by the Office of University Communications
Educator makes specialist degree a reality By Judy Bailey Georgia College
Commencement 2011
Kelly Dean rises before dawn. She laces her running shoes for her daily race against time. The Georgia College graduate-elect serves as assistant principal of East Laurens Primary School in Dublin. She runs 10 hours a day — visiting classrooms, encouraging students and digging through mounds of paperwork. “I wear a lot of shoes here,” Dean said. “But I’m always focused on the students and their educational opportunities.” She also cares for her daughters — a 3 year old and a third-grader. She is a single parent during the week. Her husband is a traveling professional golfer. And she values education for herself, her children, students and colleagues. She shuffled her whirlwind lifestyle last year and returned to the university classroom, earning a specialist degree in education leadership. “I will march proudly across that stage Friday night to receive my diploma,” said the non-traditional student. “I’ve earned it.” Dean meets her 643 pre-kindergarten
•Graduate Commencement: Front lawn, 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 • Undergraduate Commencement: Front lawn, 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 7 • Overflow areas: Air-conditioned Russell Auditorium, Magnolia Ballroom • Visit gcsu.edu/live to watch commencements streamed online
Assistant Principal Kelly Dean spends one-on-one time with a pre-kindergarten student as school dismisses.
Dean reviews the day’s lessons with a student: “A little positive attention will turn students around.”
through second-grade students each morning at the front door with a smile and contagious enthusiasm. Throughout the day she listens to their stories and celebrates their victories. The 16-year education veteran also encourages difficult students to reach for the stars. During afternoon announcements she prompts first-graders as they read their stories and brags about their creativity. She reviews daily lessons with another student before spending one-onone time with an impaired pre-kindergartener, putting her school shoes away at 5 p.m. each day. “A little positive attention will turn students around,” Dean said. “They will rise to the expectation. I treat each child like I do my own.” Dean earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at sister universities. Last year she began a search for the best op-
Graduate School: 521
Photos by Tim Vacula/Georgia College
portunity to earn her specialist degree. Through online research, Dean discovered Georgia College’s Graduate and Professional Learning Center in Macon. The center’s flexible, non-traditional scheduling allowed Dean to partner her daily responsibilities with her desire to earn a specialist degree. “It’s doable,” she said. “It’s not always easy, but it is doable.” Dean traveled one Saturday a month to Macon for class. “Those Saturdays offered great opportunities to compare notes with other professionals,” she said. “We all had the same goals.” Through the program’s blended model she completed the remainder of the requirements online and through her daily experiences with her students. “I could not have achieved this goal without Georgia College,” Dean said. “Now I’m able to advance my career,
• ARTS AND SCIENCES: 124 Master of Arts: 18 Master of Fine Arts: 8 Master of Music Education: 8 Master of Public Administration: 37 Master of Science: 18 Master of Science in Administration: 30 Master of Criminal Justice: 5 • EDUCATION: 237 Specialist in Education: 74 Master of Arts in Teaching: 115 Master of Education: 48 • BUSINESS: 107 Master of Accountancy: 24 Master of Business Administration: 72 Master of Management Information Systems: 11 •HEALTH SCIENCES: 53 Master of Arts in Teaching: 7 Master of Education: 23 Master of Music Therapy: 7 Master of Science in Nursing: 16
Undergraduate School: 1,237 •ARTS AND SCIENCES: 644 Bachelor of Arts: 407 Bachelor of Music Education: 3 Bachelor of Science: 238 • EDUCATION: 73 Bachelor of Science: 73 • BUSINESS: 314 Bachelor of Arts: 9 Bachelor of Business Administration: 276 Bachelor of Science: 30 • HEALTH SCIENCES: 206 Bachelor of Music Therapy: 5 Bachelor of Science: 100 Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 101
increase our family income and make myself more marketable. And don’t forget the students: It’s all about educating the students.” For more information about Georgia College’s graduate programs, visit www.gcsu.edu/graduate.
Art major earns degree despite physical hardships By Candace Morrow Georgia College
Georgia College graduating senior Melissa Wilburn has an imagination that magically comes to life in vibrant colors. The art major paints, draws and photographs in a way that commands attention. “I really enjoy the creative process of art,” said Wilburn, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in art. “I’ve had extensive medical testing and realized that art makes a big difference in a hospital. You have something pretty to focus on.” In 2007 Wilburn was diagnosed with celiac disease, a digestive disorder damaging the small intestine and interfering with absorption of nutrients from food. She cannot tolerate foods containing gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley or rye. “At times the disease has left me anemic and fatigued,” said the Dacula, Ga., native. “Walking to class was challenging. After 100 feet I would have to rest.” Her art offers a distraction and escape. Wilburn also seeks support from university disability services.
4Think Green
Tim Vacula/Georgia College
Graduating art major Melissa Wilburn created the designs for the murals at Milledgeville’s Farmer’s Market.
“That was a huge help,” she said. “When needed they helped me get to class by golf cart; linked me up with a dining hall chef to create gluten-free meals; and even assisted with contacting my professors whenever I was too sick to make it to class or had a doctor’s appointment.”
Wilburn consulted with Disability Services Director Mike Chambers to ensure she stayed on target to graduate with the 2011 class. “Melissa’s physical struggles forced her to take her studies day by day,” Chambers said. “At times being physically able to go to class proved to be
Conserve water — American public water and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt hours per year — enough electricity to power more than five million homes for an entire year.
problematic, but she persevered. She never gave up, and we made sure she had in place the accommodations needed to complete her coursework.” The highlight of Wilburn’s tenure at Georgia College came spring 2009 when she created the designs for murals at the Milledgeville Farmer’s Market. “The project enlightened me because I got to work with our community and learn about what they wanted to see through art,” she said. Wilburn will march across the stage Saturday morning among the 1,237 members of the Class of 2011 to receive her Bachelor of Arts. She is considering graduate school and would love to work in a studio environment. “I can see myself creating artwork for hospitals, too,” she said. “I don’t think I could have made it this far without the help of Mike Chambers and our art chair Bill Fisher who helped me fulfill my degree requirements. I consider them my friends.” Wilburn’s post-graduation plan also includes raising awareness about celiac disease. “The celiac disease community is growing,” Wilburn said. “Being on a gluten-free diet is tough, but it’s worth it to maintain your health after diagnosis and achieve your goals.”
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