Connection Summer 2015 by Georgia College & State University

CONTENTS 4

Up Front News and notes around campus

Homecoming In pictures

10 Cover Story One Day at Georgia College

17 Closing the 125th 18 Turning Pages 22 Faculty ProďŹ le Newell Scholar Dr. Mab Segrest

25 Featured Alumni A feature on alumna Helen Matthews Lewis

26 Class Notes

Alumni Weekend Moves to November Please save the date for Alumni Weekend Nov. 12-15, 2015. We will celebrate with reunion groups and there will be numerous events taking place on campus. More information about this event will be featured in our fall issue of Connection.

Homecoming

President Steve Dorman Vice President for University Advancement Monica Delisa Interim Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications Kyle Cullars, ‘10 Editor/Director of Marketing and Publications Victoria Fowler, ‘12 Writers Brittiny Johnson, ‘15 Margaret Morris Aubrie L. Sofala, ‘12 Al Weston Design Jon Scott, ‘83 Brooks Hinton Photography Tim Vacula, ‘86

Please send change of address and class notes to: University Advancement Campus Box 113 Milledgeville, GA 31061 connection@gcsu.edu

No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the beneﬁts of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity conducted by Georgia College.

Student’s artwork lands limited-edition merchandise An opportunity to create a piece for an alumni art exhibit at Georgia College opened up doors that art therapy graduate student Kelly Self,’13, never could have imagined.

merchandise at Barnes & Noble at Georgia College. The "Artsy Bobcat" is available in T-shirts, prints and coﬀee mugs at the university’s bookstore.

“I only had a couple of weeks notice for the art show and was starting my graduate program, so I knew I had to create something quickly,” said Self. “I wanted to do something abstract and was inspired by the Georgia College Bobcat.”

“I am so excited about this opportunity,” she said. “This is going to be a big part of my resume moving forward. I never could have imagined my artwork being used in this way, but I’m feeling great about it.”

From that, "Artsy Bobcat" was born. Her artwork on display for the alumni exhibit caused quite a buzz on campus, which led to her art being featured as limited-edition

For more information on the special edition merchandise with Self’s artwork, call Barnes & Noble at Georgia College at 478-445-8398.

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Old Governor’s Mansion

becomes first Smithsonian affiliate in central Georgia

The Old Governor’s Mansion at Georgia College has been named a Smithsonian affiliate, becoming the ninth in the state and the first in central Georgia to receive this recognition. “The opportunity to be an affiliate of the Smithsonian is a great honor for the Old Governor's Mansion and Georgia College,” said Director Matt Davis. “We look forward to building partnerships for exhibitions, loans and the development of programming. This partnership will be a huge benefit to the Mansion as we continue to build our national profile within the museum field." The Old Governor’s Mansion is part of a select group of museums, cultural, educational and arts organizations that share the Smithsonian's resources with the nation. Smithsonian Affiliations are designed to facilitate a twoway relationship among Smithsonian Affiliates and the Smithsonian to increase discovery and inspire lifelong learning in communities across America. The program establishes long-term relationships with museums and education and cultural organizations to facilitate the loan of Smithsonian artifacts and traveling exhibitions, as well as develop innovative educational collaborations locally and nationally.

Former President Edwin Speir passes away Dr. Edwin G. Speir, Jr., former president of Georgia College, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014. He was 80 years old. During his time as president, Speir established international exchange programs with universities in several countries. His tenure also witnessed the revitalization and revision of many degree programs including the birth of the nursing program and the accreditation of the College of Business. Speir was a strong supporter of the college’s ﬁne arts programs. He was also at the helm when several multimillion-dollar projects were approved including the construction of a new Arts and Sciences building, the expansion of the library and the construction of the Centennial Center athletic complex. In 1996, also under Speir’s leadership, the Board of Regents oﬃcially charged the institution with its new mission as “Georgia’s Public Liberal Arts University.” President Speir retired in 1997. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sue Purvis Speir of Milledgeville and three daughters; Sarah Speir of Americus, Jennifer Speir-Hearn of Atlanta and Lynn Speir of Atlanta; three grandsons and one granddaughter; and a sister, Anne Speir Bruce of Greenville, S.C.

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Presidential Scholarship honors legacy of Regent’s grandmother Education is a powerful tool to not only build a career on, but also a legacy for future generations. That’s exactly what Annie Ola Bryan Waters personified. Whether she knew it or not, her graduation from Georgia State College for Women (GSCW), currently Georgia College, in 1914, left a lasting impression on her family and will now have benefits for future students. Annie Waters was the grandmother of Georgia Board of Regents member Don Waters. “My grandmother’s stepping out to further her education in a time when that was not typical, deserves to be honored. She took the normal track at GSCW and became a teacher,” said Don Waters. Although she died when Waters’ father was only 6 years old in 1925, the impact she had on her four children kept her memory alive as the family grew. “Her flame of life was passed to me by my father,” said Waters. “His pride in her had a huge impact on our family, and that’s why 90 years after her death, her family chose to honor her life.”

Keeping her legacy alive, the Waters Foundation gave a gift of $100,000 to the Georgia College & State University Foundation to create the Annie Ola Bryan Waters Scholarship. “My family and I wanted to create this scholarship to help further students’ education while also recognizing my grandmother’s achievements during her life,” said Waters. “It’s important to us to make opportunities available to future students, just like Annie was given at her alma mater.” The Annie Ola Bryan Waters Scholarship is a Presidential Scholarship, which is awarded to incoming ﬁrst-year students with superior academic accomplishments. Highachieving high school seniors from across the country compete for Georgia College’s most prestigious scholarships. “Our goal through this scholarship is to honor my grandmother’s legacy by supporting higher education,” said Waters. “The key to success is knowledge, and higher education is a pathway for that. This scholarship will help provide those opportunities for future Georgia College students.”

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Student research leads to accreditation of Georgia College Pohl Observatory Two undergraduate physics majors spent countless hours during the last few months capturing photos of the heavens through the Pohl Observatory’s high-powered telescope. Thanks to their work and analysis, the observatory is now accredited by the International

Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC). Located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, MPC is the official organization that computes, publicizes and catalogs the data concerning asteroids, known as minor planets, comets and irregular natural satellites. “Basically this project used the telescope to prove to the Minor Planet Center that our telescope is capable of tracking objects accurately,” said junior physics major Joey Ronca. Ronca and senior physics major Ben Crawley spent their independent research credit hours taking multiple photos of asteroids as they moved across the night sky. Once they submitted that data to the Minor Planet Center, it was compared to the center’s data for accuracy. “The quickest and most efficient way is with asteroids because they’re near home and move a lot. For us, it became a process of finding asteroids with the right magnitude and luminosity,” said Crawley. The designation marks the Pohl Observatory as a trusted site, which means it is able to gather precise measurements, known as astrometry, to update the position and brightness of known and newly discovered asteroids and comets.

Georgia College receives Carnegie 2015 Community Engagement Classification Georgia College has been selected by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as one of the 240 U.S. colleges and universities to receive its 2015 Community Engagement Classification. GC is one of the 83 institutions receiving the classification for the first time and was recognized along with 47 other public universities in the country and five in the state of Georgia. The Carnegie Foundation's Classification for Community Engagement is an elective classification based on voluntary participation by institutions. The elective classification involves data

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collection and documentation of important aspects of institutional mission, identity and commitments. The classification is not an award. It is an evidence-based documentation of institutional practice. “This classification allows us to say that we have been assessed by an outside group that has verified our commitment to fulfilling our mission and focusing on community based learning opportunities,” said Dr. Steven Jones, director of the Center for Faculty Development. The classification is active for 10 years.

Georgia College president delivers State of the University address President Dr. Steve Dorman recounted achievements and accolades from the last year, as well as set forth transformational ideas for the future, in his 2015 State of the University address. Dorman highlighted the reopening of Ennis Hall, the opening of Barnes & Noble at Georgia College, new building signage throughout campus, the transition to a smoke-free campus and the quasquicentennial celebration eﬀorts. The president also cited that Georgia College received the highest number of freshman applications in its history for fall 2014, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. The university’s enrollment of freshman from underrepresented populations increased by 24 percent for that same semester. He also outlined future goals including: • Focusing on faculty development at all levels including new faculty orientation, innovative pedagogy and the scholarship of teaching and learning by forming a Center for Faculty Development. • Expanding the staﬀ, resources and impact of the Career Center to provide an array of key career planning preparation experiences for each graduate of Georgia College over the next three years. • Facilitating campuswide conversations about what it means to be a public liberal arts university, reviewing and making recommendations regarding tenure and promotion guidelines at the university level, reviewing core courses within the context of the mission and investigating the possibility of hosting a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Georgia College. • Working to develop regionally and nationally recognized programs building on the strengths of our writing and literary studies and health, economic, environmental and education programs.

Miller named Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Mindy Miller, ’10, became director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at Georgia College in February 2015. She was previously an assistant director of Alumni Relations at High Point University in High Point, N.C. Miller holds a bachelor of business administration in management from Georgia College and a master of education degree in student affairs higher education administration from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Miller was involved during her time at Georgia College as a student ambassador and a member of Sigma Alpha Omega. She also participated in the Leadership Certiﬁcate connection magazine | 8 | gcsu.edu

program and the Georgia Educational Mentor program. “Choosing to come back to Georgia College was a decision to come home,” says Miller. “Milledgeville and Georgia College hold a special place in my heart from my time here as a student, so the opportunity to be a part of this transformational university under the leadership of Dr. Dorman was an easy decision.” In her new role at Georgia College, Miller aims to strengthen the presence of the alumni association through engagement, support and overall pride in her alma mater.

Homecoming Snapshots of this year's festivities

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COVER STORY

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ONE DAy Follow seven students on a typical day on Georgia Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus

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It’s 8:30 a.m. on a Monday morning and Julie Coppedge is already hard at work in the Learning Center before her tutoring shift begins downstairs in the Math Lab. “I started tutoring during my sophomore year because I had such a great experience with an economics tutor when I was a freshman,” says Coppedge. “I love being able to help students get to that next letter grade and hearing their success stories. In a sense, it’s all come full circle for me.” Coppedge works morning shifts on the first floor of the Ina Dillard Russell Library in the Math Lab, which was built in 2011 as a dedicated space for a more personalized approach to tutoring. For Coppedge, an accounting major who is also taking courses toward a masters in accounting, tutoring has allowed her to combine her service-oriented mindset with her academic skills. She also has that same opportunity at her current internship with Howard Moore & McDuffie, a tax preparation business in Macon, Ga. As 9 a.m. rolls around, Coppedge makes her trip down to the lab, passing the already bustling Books & Brew and Innovation Station— when she finally gets to her destination, there are more than 20 students already in the lab. “In the future I’m definitely looking into going into public accounting,” says Coppedge as she settles down with a student who is in need of assistance. “It goes back to serving the public, which is what I feel I’ve done with everything I’ve been involved with at Georgia College— it feels nice knowing I’ll continue what I’ve started here.”

Life downtown As Coppedge gets to her morning tutoring, junior Elaine Friend is on the other side of campus dabbing a wet sponge into a makeup palette. The theatre major has had her share of experience on and off stage. Friend was the assistant stage manager for the play “Anything Goes,” acted in plays such as “Willy Wonka” and “Miss Nelson is Missing,” is an active member of the improvisation troupe the Armed Farces and she’s a camp counselor at the annual summer theatre camp— which has influenced her future plans of working with children. “I found myself really drawn to teaching children,” says Friend. “There’s something very liberating in seeing them express themselves and grow and come out of their shell— and knowing you’re playing a part in that development.” Friend is learning the ins and outs of wound makeup on this Monday morning and with her faux bruises in tow, she says she’s had the opportunity to learn all aspects of the theatre profession. “I’ve gotten a great mix of the technical aspects and the art of theatre,” says Friend. “On one hand, I’ve learned the intricacies of set design and stage management, but I’ve also been able to hone my skills as an actress. All of these skills will eventually help me in teaching the art of theatre to others.” Many of Friend’s experiences have taken place in the downtown Black Box Theatre, which has become her second home these past three years. Renovated in 2008 and transformed into a modern space with offices and classrooms, the theatre has become a staple of campus and downtown Milledgeville. Across the street from the Black Box Theatre, junior Julia Fox hops off her blue and white beach cruiser bike— equipped with a rear basket— for her morning shift at Blackbird Coffee. Quick with the daily influx of morning orders, Fox is already thinking about her afternoon speech

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presentation in a rhetoric class with Dr. Jan Clark, associate professor of rhetoric. It seems like she’s a pro at juggling the two aspects of her life, and it’s no wonder since the barista has been working since she was 16years-old. “I’ve loved working at Blackbird these past few years,” says Fox. “It’s been so much easier balancing classes and this job than I ever imagined.” Fox also has a minor in Spanish and economics, which has helped round out her education. But going forward, Fox sees herself in the fast-paced world of advertising. “Right now I just applied for an internship with BBDO, which is an advertising firm—it’s definitely the type of place I see myself working. I’ve always envisioned my dream job would be similar to ‘Mad Men,’ of course without all the drinking,” says Fox as she slides the next order of black coffee across the counter.

Making a diﬀerence “Dance Marathon has been my life,” David Dietz says as he takes a break around 11 a.m. from the grind of planning the 11th annual marathon fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital Navicent Health in Macon, Ga.

Campus, with the backdrop of Atkinson, Terrell and Parks Halls behind her. The freshman is decked out in her student ambassador pullover and jeans, complete with an enthusiastic grin. And if the grin seems genuine— it’s because it is. Lowe came to Georgia College with the intent to become involved and has had a stellar ﬁrst year doing just that. “I came in knowing I wanted to be really involved on campus,” says Lowe, who is currently a member of Collegiate 4-H, secretary-elect for SGA, a member of the Student Ambassador Team and member of Gamma Sigma Sigma. “I fell in love with the sense of community I had in high school, and I wanted to continue that here. It’s made me feel more at home and a much easier transition into my ﬁrst year of college.”

Dietz, now a senior, got involved with GC Miracle and the GIVE Center his sophomore year. As he sorts through balloons and a string of lights to be used for the upcoming fundraiser, Dietz says the experiences, friends and skills he’s gained from both organizations are immeasurable. “I’ve learned how to work with clients, how to be a leader and how to apply what I’ve learned in my courses into action,” says Dietz. “I wouldn’t trade this for the world. Even the stress of planning the fundraiser is rewarding— it’s just I’m part of something so much larger than myself.” As Dietz heads back into the GIVE Center, freshman Altimease Lowe leads a group of visitors on a campus tour, circling around the famous Bobcat head on Front connection magazine | 13 | gcsu.edu

“ASAP (Aspiring Student Affairs Professionals) really came out of my own experiences with finding my passion in student affairs,” says Espinosa. “No one comes to college knowing they want to pursue student affairs— this group will give students information about the field and advice on how to move forward if you are interested.” Espinosa knows from first-hand experience how complicated the process can be. After applying to graduate school, he was recently accepted to the University of Georgia’s College Student Affairs Administration master’s program, where he’ll be attending in the fall. The senior business management major has built his experience at Georgia College through his time serving as treasurer of SGA, working in Campus Life and the GIVE Center, being a student ambassador and even being a founding father of the Theta Chi chapter on campus. “People have supported me all along my journey here at the university and gotten me to the point where I am right now,” says Espinosa. “I can’t thank people enough

The extra mile In the late afternoon, senior David Robeson finishes up lunch at the Max and he heads over to work on his research in Herty Hall, home to biologists, chemists, physicists and astronomers alike. Robeson is a chemistry major, and has a minor in business, which means he spends his time split between Herty and Atkinson Halls. “I knew I wanted a smaller college that also had an emphasis on research,” says Robeson, who’s currently finishing up his research testing the advertised nutritional benefits of cereal and comparing those to the actual, tested results. “Georgia College was the right fit, and it wasn’t until I got here and spent my first night in Bell Hall that I saw what a great decision I had made.” The sense of community Robeson felt his first night at the university has led him to a busy four years including being a community advisor for Bell Hall, member of the Chemistry Club and president of Thunder Crew. “Thunder Crew came about from my love of sports. It eventually turned into my love of sports and Georgia College — from golf to tennis to basketball — I love the chance to be there, see our teams in action and motivate them in the process.” Robeson’s spirit also lead him to be crowned Homecoming King in spring 2015. His friendly demeanor has influenced many and as he leaves in May, he’ll be pursuing his Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Auburn University. “I’m not afraid to meet new people,” says Robeson. “I came into college with the mindset that I could be anybody and do anything, and it’s given me a chance to have an unbelievable experience in the process.” By late afternoon, while others are getting out of their evening classes and Robeson runs analytics on the last sample for the day, senior Sean Espinosa is just getting things in order for an interest meeting for a new Registered Student Organization he’s founding.

like Dr. Tom Miles and Dr. Paul Jahr who have guided me along the way and given me opportunities that allowed me to gain experience in student aﬀairs.” As he watches the sun go down through the windows of the Student Activities Center and students continue playing pool and foosball in the background— it’s clear that campus is winding down for the evening. Students begin their retreat to Russell Library, moving to the Arts and Sciences building for club meetings or begin making their way downtown to grab a slice of pizza at Amici’s. The sentiment that is shared by Espinosa and other students is that time at Georgia College has the ability to move slow, and yet at the same time, tremendously fast. “One of the most valuable things I’ve learned here is that you can truly be successful,” says Espinosa. “Georgia College has a way of molding you into a better person. These years you spend here don’t just end after the four or ﬁve years you are enrolled… they last forever and shape you into the person you become.” ■

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STUDENT PROFILE

Zimbabwean native ﬁnds success, community at Georgia College

t’s been four years since Nicole Moyo ﬁrst stepped foot on Georgia College’s campus— since then the Zimbabwe native has developed a love for all things country music, traveled the streets of New Orleans and landed an internship that has shaped her future in business. But Moyo’s story began in her small town of Mvurwi in Zimbabwe, where education was a priority for her and her two sisters. “My parents are both high school principals,” said Moyo. “So education was seen as very much an important aspect of my and my sister’s lives. My parents taught me to work hard and don’t compare yourself to others— compare yourself to the best.” Moyo was selected to participate in the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) in high school, which helped her apply for scholarships and study in the U.S. It was a USAP advisor who suggested Georgia College to Moyo, who wanted a close knit community that reminded her of Mvurwi. “I wanted the small town feel, close relationships with professors and a university with a good business program,” said Moyo. “In that sense, Georgia College ﬁt the mold and I knew it was perfect for me.” Transitioning to life in the U.S. came with its hurdles for the newly-minted freshman in 2011. However, she came in knowing she wanted to pick up a major in management with a minor in economics. “Starting out, the differences were once so profound for me just because of the structure of society,” said Moyo. “One of the largest differences was the fact that everything in Zimbabwe is very much communal, where making decisions is a family affair. In the U.S. the way of thinking is individualized and really living for yourself. What I’ve found is my life here is really a mixture of the two.” During her time at Georgia College, she has served as

president of the International Club, member of the Honors Program, participated in Model African Union, served on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board in the College of Business, participated in the Leadership Certificate Program and participated in the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) program—serving as mentee to university President Dr. Steve Dorman. “Being Nicole’s mentor has given me an opportunity to see the level of determination and academic accomplishments our students acquire at Georgia College,” said Dorman. “Getting to witness firsthand her success in her program of study and in leadership opportunities has been remarkable. As she graduates in May, I am confident she will build upon the successes she has earned here at Georgia College.” Although she’s always been an involved student, Moyo says being active early on in her college career helped her adapt to life in the U.S. “My work with the International Club has been influential to my time at Georgia College,” she said. “Having a network of people that are rooting for you and who support you throughout your journey here has made all the difference in my experience.” Among Moyo’s many accolades, she cites her internship at Compliance Point, a consulting firm in Duluth Ga., as the highlight of her experience at Georgia College. “It was such a great stepping-stone to my future career. That experience at the consulting company gave me hands-on experience and prepared me for that next step after graduation,” said Moyo. Moyo plans on staying in the U.S. and entering the workforce, hopefully in the field of consulting. She also sees herself eventually going back to graduate school. “At this point I’m open to all opportunities and looking forward to my future, whatever that holds” said Moyo. “I think what my story has been about so far is defying all odds and not doubting yourself—and I plan on continuing that.” ■

Zimbabwe Capital: Harare Area: 150,871 sq mi Population: 13,061,239 Drives on the left side of the road

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Closing the 125th year: Recap of the Quasquicentennial anniversary at Georgia College

rom the start, Georgia College celebrated its Quasquicentennial in a big way with the 125 freshman class photo on the front lawn. Decked out in GC blue, 1,400 freshmen took to front campus for the photo during the Week of Welcome.

“I was amazed by how deeply everyone saw their part in this project,” said university photographer Tim Vacula about the various departments involved. “This was truly a situation where the kitchen needed more cooks.” From the class photo to Trivia Night at Amici’s, a jazz concert to Social Media Day — the university continued to celebrate throughout the fall semester. “For me, the highpoint of our celebrations was Charter Week, which included historic lectures and commemorations, a community event and our Scholarship Gala,” said Registrar and 125 Anniversary Committee Chair A. Kay Anderson. “I was grateful to see so many members of our campus and local community come together for our Charter Day Community Fair and celebrate the many ways GC contributes to our local area. I was also thrilled that we could dedicate the gala celebration to raising scholarships to support the next generation of GC students.” The Scholarship Gala rounded out the fall semester and launched a yearlong effort to raise 125 new scholarships for Georgia College including a 1:1 match of endowed scholarship donations by the GC&SU Foundation. At publication, 1.34 million dollars have been raised, which is the equivalent of 134 new scholarships for Georgia College students. The matching program will be active until this November’s Alumni Weekend or until matching funds are depleted. The spring semester kicked off with Homecoming week — bringing together current students and alumni to take in the annual festivities including the Bobcat Ramble, Tent City, basketball games and the Homecoming concert. Anderson says celebrations like the quasquicentennial give the campus community time to reﬂect on our past, but also our future. “They give us an opportunity to recognize the many individuals whose contributions have made Georgia College the institution it is today and help us recommit to continuing that tradition of excellence for generations to come.” ■

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

Ina Dillard Russell Library stands the test of time in providing resources for innovative teaching, learning

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

t’s an average Wednesday afternoon in the Ina Dillard Russell Library and to the untrained eye it looks to be a refuge for students escaping to study for that next big exam, but you’re also likely to hear the gentle hum of student collaboration and the mechanical whiz of the 3D printer hard at work.

“What we’ve excelled at is learning how to adapt to a changing academic atmosphere,” said Jenny Harris, user engagement and assessment librarian. “That has been key to the library and the college’s success so far.” Harris also says the library continuously monitors today’s academic landscape to be aware of changes, ensuring to adopt emerging technologies in order to serve students in a constantly changing and diverse society. And although its been more than 100 years since its inception, Archivist Joshua Kitchens says this emphasis on collaborative and engaged learning— is a return to the original. “What we saw in the 1930s was a very open, collaborative space,” said Kitchens. “In that sense, we’re going back to that golden era were we had a strong liberal arts focus.”

Over the course of its life, the Russell Library, named after the wife of Judge Richard B. Russell, has seen major renovations and restorations. The largest came in 2006 with the second addition that added the Instructional Technology Center. In 2012, the library became home to a new set of resources including the Learning Center, Writing Center and Research Center. The library has also been supported by the Watson-Brown Foundation through the largest endowment the college has ever seen. This gift has allowed the library to offer distinct resources and services over the years. It’s these types of resources that Director of Libraries Dr. Joe Mocnik says make all the difference. “Students differ in how they learn and Russell Library services are customized to serve all students’ needs,” said Mocnik. “There are many resources for students, faculty and staff to utilize— from poster printing, robotics, 3D printing to our expert research librarians in the Research Center.” Mocnik also says that being at a liberal arts college places the Russell Library at an advantage in providing engaged staff ready to help.

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Russell Library now oﬀers digital publications of The Spectrum online at http://kb.gcsu.edu/spectrum/. Relive history by ﬂipping through pages of the college’s yearbook— with publications ranging from 1910 to the 1980s.

“We have a team of highly-skilled professionals that have tools that work to not only encourage faculty and students in their work, but inspire them,” said Mocnik. “We’re also lucky that we have a fantastic space, centrally located, that celebrates the library and its collection.” Part of the new approach is the addition of the welcome desk on the first floor, which serves as the first point of reference for library visitors. Also, the library is adding more ways users can engage with content in the library and online. “Technology has made us curators of knowledge, and with that, we’ve made ourselves an essential player,” said Mocnik. “We’re also keeping our finger on the pulse of higher education so we can know what to add and what to phase out.” Although digital collections are vital to the library, other collections that have been acquired over the years include the Flannery O’Connor manuscripts, the Coverdell Collection and the Carl Vinson exhibit. These collections are kept in Special Collections, which dates back to the 1950s and emerged out of the general history museum. “you start to see the library transition once we receive the O’Connor papers,” said Kitchens.

“We begin to think beyond ourselves and start to not only look locally but on a global scale.” Thinking globally was put into motion with the Muslim Journeys project in 2013, which was a free ﬁve-part scholar-led reading and discussion series that explored the histories, faith and cultures of Muslims around the world and in the U.S. Mocnik says programs like these help get the library out into the community. “We take every opportunity to reach out to the community and engage them with our resources,” said Mocnik. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to achieve this and using previous projects as models moving forward.” Part of moving forward for the library includes designs to restore the entrance from Clarke street into the library— bringing together the past and present of the historical space. It’s a space that will continue to be used by alumni and current students alike to celebrate the institution of the library today and its core mission of identifying trends relevant to the community it serves, building connections with experts to help address emerging issues and promoting innovative methods to support teaching, learning and research. ■

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Faculty Profile

Genies out of the bottle: Newell Scholar explores stories of the past at Central State Hospital

uch of Dr. Mab Segrest’s life has been ventures into speaking for the voiceless. From her time with North Carolinians Against Racist and Religious Violence, an organization that eventually took down the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina, to her work with Feminary, a Southern lesbian writing collective— Segrest has worked tirelessly to exact social change. But over the past decade, Segrest has delved into telling the story of a local, age-old, voiceless community— and it’s the story of Central State Hospital (CSH.) “Many of the stories haven’t really been told publicly because they are hard to talk about, and there’s a lot of shame tied to the history surrounding Central State Hospital,” said Segrest. “The subject of human suffering can feel overwhelming, and you have to be able to go to that place to really feel it when you’re studying it. It’s not a fast or simple task. There was so much humanitarian work done here that is a part of a complex story that deserves to be honored, studied and preserved.” The Martha Daniel Newell Visiting Scholar began her residency at Georgia College in January, to finish out her research on the social history of CSH that has spanned 11 years. The task isn’t a simple one, telling a 170-year-old story, but Segrest says that her work with CSH comes at a critical time— when decisions about the future of the hospital are at a crossroads. “The question of what will happen with CSH is more than just what will happen to the buildings and landscape,” said Segrest. “There’s the history of the patients who came here and the people who worked here. People all over Georgia, and in Milledgeville itself, have been profoundly impacted by this institution.” During her time at Georgia College, Segrest has been active in sharing the story of CSH with the community and campus.

She kicked off her residency with the exhibit “Angels in Straight Jackets: Exalted on the Ward” in Ennis Hall Gallery, which was a collaboration between Segrest and mixed media artist Lynn Marshall-Linnemeir. “Lynn brought remarkable talents and insights to our attempt to honor the history of CSH,” said Segrest. Segrest also made it her task to inform the community about the history and stigmas surrounding mental health and southern psychiatry. In February, she hosted a Jim Crow Sanity film festival. In April, Segrest collaborated with the Department of Psychology to host a discussion “Aslyum Detective,” which focused on bringing historical research to the realm of modern day psychology. Segrest also taught a course entitled “Milledgeville and the Mind,” which provided an in-depth study of the history of the hospital and provided students with archival materials, such as hospital documents. “To teach on Central State Hospital in Milledgeville is really to speak about a local reality for so many,” said Segrest. “Students needed to know about this history of the town they are living in.” She concluded her residency with a symposium, “The Future of the Past at Central State Hospital” that drew on student and faculty work, conversations with townspeople,

and tours of the CSH ground. Department of Government and Sociology Chair Dr. Costas Spirou says Segrest’s residency was a success— combining community outreach and a unique mix of disciplines. “Dr. Segrest brought a strong interdisciplinary perspective which aptly complements the nature of our institution as a liberal arts college,” said Spirou. “Her outreach to the community contributed to our mission of collaborating beyond our campus and engaging with our community.” After leaving Georgia College, Segrest plans to tell the story of CSH in a book on the social history of the hospital, which has never been written before except for a self-published work in 1952 by Peter Cranford. It’s not a simple story, but Segrest says its one that’s waited a long time to be told. “There’s a story to be told, and it’s one that we can appreciate and learn from,” said Segrest. “And if you can tell that whole, twisted, complicated story—there’s something really freeing in that.” ■

sports DRIVEN BY COMPETITION

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eorgia College women’s basketball’s senior guard Kayla Upchurch has always been driven by competition. It’s that competitive spirit that has guided the former Region Player of the year at Chattahoochee High School past a major knee injury in her first season for the Bobcats, has helped the senior to a 4.0 grade point average and has helped her set the stage for her post-basketball career. Upchurch, a political science major with a pre-law focus, has plans of applying that competitive spirit to law school, with the eventual goal of a career as a lawyer or in government. The perfect GPA and interest in politics drew the eye of her professors when they decided the lucky few political science students chosen, along with the Student Government Association and Student Ambassadors, to represent Georgia College at the State Capitol in Atlanta for “Georgia College & State University Day” Feb. 10. Her invitation came from Assistant Professor Dr. Brandy Kennedy and Government and Sociology Chair Dr. Costas Spirou. At one point during the afternoon, Upchurch and the other students were sent out on their own to find their hometown legislators, and encourage legislative support of the Beeson Hall reconstructive project on the GC campus. “They gave us the room numbers, but I still got lost a couple of times,” revealed Upchurch. “There are so many offices, so many people going to and from meetings, and there is also a museum in the building. It’s a massive building, very exciting.” “I was impressed by the number of Georgia College alumni that work at the Capitol. I had no idea how many would be there. They talked to us about their path and how they could help us get positions there. I got to meet former Georgia College students that are already along the career I’d like to pursue, doing exactly what I want to do. I met a bunch of really impressive alumni there. It was inspiring.” To say Kayla Upchurch has been challenged during her basketball career at Georgia College would be putting it mildly. A sought-after recruit in high school, Upchurch spent her first semester at Georgia Southern University before transferring to Georgia College in the winter of 2011-12 for a better fit. She sat out the rest of that season under NCAA transfer guidelines, and was ready to roll for the 2012-13 season. In the first minute of the very first game that season, Upchurch tore her anterior cruciate ligament, also known as ACL, wiping out that season. After rehabbing the surgically-repaired joint and playing with a bulky brace, Upchurch was a valuable reserve on the 2013-14 GC Women’s Basketball team that took runner-up honors at the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament. A year later the brace was off, and Upchurch was starting every contest as shooting guard for the 16-win Bobcats. A CoSIDA Academic All-District selection this year, Upchurch led Georgia College to a 64-46 win at UNC Pembroke, hitting 5-of-6 threepointers and finishing with a career-high 21 points. The Bobcats again took PBC Tournament Runners-Up this past season, marking the first back-toback conference title games for GC Women’s Hoops since 1996-1997. Despite still having a year of basketball eligibility left, Upchurch graduated in May as a valedictorian and will move directly to law school. She’s most interested in contract law, sports entertainment law and family law in addition to the political field. ■

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sports

Where are they now?

hen Michelle Palethorpe got on a plane to take the lengthy flight from her native Australia to rural Georgia in the fall of 1992, little did she know she would become a key piece of the foundation for one of the top Division II Women’s Tennis programs in the nation. Palethorpe was the first two-time AllAmerican for Georgia College women’s tennis, taking honors in 1994 and 1996. She also joined GC Athletics Hall of Famer Nancy Groesch as the first three-time All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) selections in school history in 1996. Palethorpe earned All-PBC status in 1996, 1994 and 1993. A two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Scholar-Athlete, she also made three appearances on the Peach Belt Presidential Honor Roll. Palethorpe helped guide Colonial Women’s Tennis to its first PBC Championship in 1993, earning Co-Champion status with Armstrong Atlantic State University. Palethorpe made that lengthy flight once again this past February to help cap off Homecoming Week at Georgia College with the GC Athletics Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

What was your career path after graduation? After graduation, I returned to Western Australia and attended law school at the University of Western Australia which I was lucky enough to be accepted into on the back of my academic results and experience at Georgia College. After graduating 3 years later, I started working as a lawyer at the law firm Freehills and I am still working for this firm (which has now merged to become the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills) as an executive counsel in the Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions area. I also worked for a large law firm in London for 3 years. How did your role as a student-athlete help shape you as a person in college? The role of a student-athlete was at times challenging to balance the academic demands of maintaining good grades and the physical and mental energy you need to apply to the athletic side. However, I believe this balancing skill was an excellent grounding to develop other life skills which I have needed to apply in my career as well as balancing family life. Also, the collegiate nature of being part of the tennis team really was instrumental in my experience at Georgia College. The friendships and support I received from my teammates and coaches, as well as the broader Athletic Department, meant that I rarely felt like I was very far from home (even though I was physically and culturally). What attracted you to Georgia College? Well, not knowing much about the U.S. at the time, the first thing that attracted me was its proximity on the map to Florida, which I knew from movies and television shows, was warm! But once I got to know a bit about the college, it was the friendly nature of the staff and the fact that it had a good business school and faculty which I was interested in. Once I arrived, what made me stay (I originally thought I might only stay a year), was the fun campus life, the excellent tennis program and the fact that I could receive an internationally recognized degree from a great school that I could springboard off of to develop my legal career back home. What was your favorite place on the Georgia College campus? The Georgia College campus really is a beautiful and historic campus and so different compared to the architecture back home in Australia. The tennis facility at the Centennial Center is really great (and I spent a lot of time there) and I really like the downtown area and how it has developed. But I think my favorite place was just sitting on the beautiful lawns in the main quad in the spring time watching all the student life go on all around.

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Featured Alumni

A Champion in the Fight for Rights P O L I T I C A L A C T I V I S T. A U T H O R . C O M M U N I T Y L E A D E R . T E A C H E R . For more than 70 years, Dr. Helen Matthews Lewis has been advocating for equality.

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ewis’ passion for equality began when she was a student at Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) from 1943 – 1946. During that time, the South and rest of the world were experiencing vast social changes. The women of GSCW embraced these changes with the help of the college’s President Guy Wells and faculty who encouraged students, known at the time as “Jessies”, to think about equality and to lead the charge against racial discrimination. “It was here that I was encouraged to read and think critically about social and economic problems including race relations in the South, to believe that women could be leaders, and to act on that understanding for equality, for democracy and social justice,” says Lewis. She participated in integrated meetings through the GSCW Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), which would feature speakers on current affairs and interracial efforts. While at GSCW, Lewis also joined the League of Women Voters. Upon graduation, she played a leading role in the 1946 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Considering Georgia became the first state to allow 18-year-olds to vote that same year, Lewis immersed herself in a statewide effort as co-director of the “Students for Good Government” campaign where she rallied young people to vote. Lewis wrote letters and distributed materials to students and alumni of various schools, organized young people to work on Election Day, made records for radio broadcasts and dropped leaflets from airplanes. Although a vowed segregationist won the election [though not the vote], Lewis wrote, “We must keep fighting in the battle for human rights.” She attended graduate school at Duke University studying anthropology and sociology. There she met her husband, Judd Lewis. They moved to Charlottesville, where both earned degrees from the University of Virginia, then on to Wise, Va., near the Appalachian coalfields, where Judd became a faculty member and Helen was librarian. Living in the Appalachian coalfields was shocking to Lewis and she became

interested in how coal mining changed the Appalachian culture. She began to see injustice and economic inequality in the area. “I became concerned about how the area of the state which produced the greatest wealth, could be the poorest part of the state,” says Lewis. She focused her research on understanding more about the Appalachian coal fields. In teaching at Clinch Valley College, she developed a rural social work program including the first Appalachian studies courses. Lewis’ material was distributed to teachers throughout the region. Soon, she had transformed students into leaders. Her Appalachian students would research local land records and contest the broad form deeds – allowing the owners of mineral rights to mine land even if the landowner objected. Lewis also testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on “Mines, Mining and Environment” in the region. Later, she became involved in a national debate about the causes of poverty in Appalachia, where coal mining had removed billions of tons of coal with little return to the area, co-edited “Colonialism in Modern America: The Appalachian Case.” (1978). In 1970, Lewis earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Kentucky. She then worked with health programs and community clinics in Central Appalachia through Highlander Research and Education Center [New Market, Tenn.], where she became director and reached out to global movements, such as the International Council on Adult Education. She took the knowledge of ordinary people, documented their experiences and used it for positive social change. Lewis taught economics to empower members of the community in Ivanhoe, Va. developing a six-week community workshop focused on economics discussion. More recently, Lewis became concerned with clean water. “I think water resources are a problem everywhere,” she says. “Because not only have we polluted the water, but we’ve also dropped the water table in many places.” Since the water

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sources throughout Appalachia have been used as garbage dumps, industrial development and more, in 2010, she called for “a clean glass of water for every Appalachian child.” Lewis states, “The right to clean water must be included in the rights of individuals and all living organisms.” Some of her other accomplishments include a study on the effects of mechanization on coal miners and families, the creation of a 12-step program focusing on building a just and moral economy, a presidency of the Appalachian Studies Association and a recipient of Georgia College & State University’s Alumni Achievement Award. Her book publications include (coauthored) “Picking up the Pieces: Women In and Out of Work in the Rural South” (1978), (with Monica Appleby,) “Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia.” (2003) and “Helen Matthews Lewis: Living Social Justice in Appalachia.” (2012) “Now, with my age, I am no longer able to sit down in front of coal trucks as I did in the Pittston strike,” concludes Lewis. “Instead I am writing poetry and letting the trees and ﬂowers protest for me.” ■

Class Notes

1980s David Coker, ’84, started as a regional vice president in September 2014 with XPO Logistics, Inc. in Gainesville. Jeﬀrey Beggs, ’85, started as the director of athletics and assistant headmaster at Piedmont Academy in July 2014.

Terry Bragg, ’94, ’95, recently accepted a new position as a director of bands for Northside Middle School in Warner Robins. Lionel Brown, ’94, ’98, ’08, was named principal of Veterans High School in Houston County in November 2014. Kristie Brantley, ’95, became the Family Connections coordinator at Johnson County Middle School in November 2014. Darryl Albritton, ’96, became a principal at Perry High School in November 2014. Dr. Joylnn Aubry, ’96, ’98, ’08, started working as a director of Student Services for the Jasper County School system in December 2014.

Jonathan J. McColumn, ’86, was honored in January at a military ceremony at Robins Air Force Base. He was promoted to Brigadier General in the US Army commanding the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. Tracey Curtis, ’87, became an assistant principal at Newton High School in the fall of 2014. He previously was a teacher at Henderson Middle School. Michelle Brown, ’88, ’97, nurse practitioner, recently became a physician extender at Mercer Medicine, School of Medicine in Macon.

1990s Scott Adkins, ’90, became a CFO/senior vice president for ﬁnance for Magnolia Manor in the fall of 2014.

Dr. Pamela Edge, ’96, ’11, became a principal at Jasper County Primary School in December 2014. Don Andrews, ’97, began working as a counselor at Southwest High School in Baldwin County in January 2015. Butler Raines, ’99, is a cofounder at The Bitter Southerner. Raines, along with his team at The Bitter Southerner, was recently named by Southern Living as one of “50 People Who Are Changing the South in 2015.” He is also a product manager at NDN, Inc. In addition, Raines serves as a Georgia College & State University Foundation Board Trustee and a GC Alumni Board member.

Michael Allen, ’92, recently became president of Pool Time, Inc. in Griﬃn.

Tiﬀany Jones Ellenberg, ’91, ’93, was recently sworn into the Governor’s Indigent Advisory Panel by Gov. Nathan Deal. With the help of the committee, Ellenberg will monitor the progress and funding for the state’s Public Defender Standards Council and will collaborate with the Advisory Committee on Legislation, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors to provide advice, expertise and advocacy on behalf of systemic reform designed to satisfy Georgia’s constitutional obligation to provide adequate counsel for indigent persons accused of crime. While serving on the committee, Ellenberg will maintain her private law practice in Madison, Ga., where she handles primarily litigation cases.

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2000s April Bragg, ’00, became the president & CEO of Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce in November 2014. She previously served as president of the Milledgeville/ Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce.

Walter Agumbi, ’01, became a director of Strategic Planning & Analysis for Liberty Mutual Insurance in Columbia, S.C. Ericka Anderson, ’01, started working as a principal at Live Oak Elementary School in Newton County in December 2014. Alton Dykes, ’01, began as the manager of Operations Requirements & Concept of Operations (CONOPS) surveillance at Northrop Grumman Corporation in September 2014. Clayton Knox, ’01, has been a chief ﬁnancial oﬃcer with Oakhurst Medical Centers since January 2015. Kerri Moore, ’01, became a CPA with Clifton, Lipford, Hardison and Parker, LLC in Macon last year. Melissa McPhail, ’03, is a nurse practitioner with the Macon Cardiovascular Institute at the Medical Center of Central Georgia since January 2014.

Ralph Staffins III, ’06, ’08, recently became president of the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce in January. He previously served as the CEO of the ThomsonMcDuffie Chamber of Commerce. Jeffery C. Wells, ’06, was promoted in January to the position of Academic Dean of the Georgia Military College Online Campus. Michele Wimbush, ’06, became a program manager for Together on Diabetes with Morehouse School of Medicine in January 2014. Antonio Aguilera, ’07, began working as a network security engineer at Southern Company in September 2014. Ellen Campbell, ’07, is a specialized fiduciary officer II with U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management since June 2014. Jessica Bahn, ’08, ’10, biologist, became president of Southeastern Ecological & Environmental Services, LLC in Putnam County in January 2015. Tyler Berglund, ’08, became a district manager for Abercrombie & Fitch in August 2014. Kendrick Britford, ’08, started as a principal at Russell County High School in Alabama in the fall of 2014. Melissa Franklin, ’08, ’11, was named Washington County’s Teacher of the year in October. Melissa is in her seventh year of teaching kindergarten with the Washington County School system. She received her undergraduate degree in early childhood education and her master of education from from Georgia College.

Herbert Agnew, ’05, started his position as an internal communications and marketing manager with Georgia Association of Educators in September 2014. Matthew Baxter, ’05, became a corporate development manager with GreenSky Credit in the fall. Michael Hardwick, ’05, has been a producer with 13 WMAZ since December 2014.

Lisa Lombardi, ’08, became a 4-H Environmental Educator with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Oﬃce on February 2015.

Imran Khan, ’05 has been a senior data integration analyst with Capgemini in North Hollywood, Ca. since March 2015.

Matthew Parkerson, ’08, has been a national sales manager with Gebhardt Logistic Solutions since 2014.

Courtney Craine, ’06, became an anesthetist with MEDNAX in November 2014. Samuel Eilers, ’06, started working as a creative specialist with Twitter in September 2014.

Jennifer Bates, ’09, started as a family experience coach with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in February 2015. Amber Bennett, ’09, became a business consultant with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia in January 2015. Pavielle Ludlow, ’09, started working as a veterans’ aﬀairs specialist with Americorps in November 2014.

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2010s Michael Brill, ’10, became an associate at the Law Office of Kevin A. Leipow, P.C. in February 2015. Scott Howard, ’10, completed his master’s degree with a concentration of film and television production at Georgia State University. He has directed several short films and assisted with concept development and production. In addition, Howard was also a freelance videographer filming lectures, theatrical performances and a cooking show. In September, he began working as a production videographer traveling to college campuses nationwide with StudentBridge, a division of RealView TV in Atlanta.

Kyle Allen, ’11, began his position as an annual giving coordinator with the University of Tennessee College of Business in the summer of 2014. Ryan McShane, ’12, has been an account manager with AT&T since January 2014. Andrew Davis, ’13, has been the executive director of Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful since October 2014. Meghan Boland, ’13, became a pharmaceutical sales representative with Artesa Labs in August 2014. Timothy McDonald, ’13, is in the claims management development program at GEICO in Gainesville, Ga. Kari Goodbar, ’14, recently started working as a marine mammal aide at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Anton Zametin, ’10, became a quality assurance manager with NCR Corp. in August 2014.

Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements and Births Mindy Marie Mahrer, '10, became the bride of Benjamin Patrick Miller on Nov. 1, 2014 at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. Bridesmaids included GC graduates: Stephanie Jergel Holtzapfel, ’10, Jenna Green Maddox, ’10, Suzanne Casey Brett, ’07, Katie Parker Beal, ’08, ’10 and Abby Bryant, ’11.

Michelle DeMaris-Collins, ’14, married Daniel Collins, on December 20 – one week after graduation in Johns Creek. Alumni featured in the wedding party include: Rachel Bull, '14, Haley Campa, '15, Angel Lindsey, '15, Rachel NeSmith, '14 and Tyler Beggs, '14.

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Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements and Births Daryl Campbell Hunnicutt, '79, took his ﬁrst walk down the aisle at the age of 59 to marry Alice L. Babb. The couple were wed in the second oldest church in Eatonton, Ga., Mt. Ararat United Methodist Church, on June 14, 2014. They reside in Cumming, Ga. Hunnicutt is employed by Kroger and has been working at the same store for the past 20 years.

Lindsey Chambers, ’05, ’07, Lindsey, Clint and big brother Jackson welcomed new baby Lily into the family on Aug. 30, 2014.

In Memoriam Jane Cox Godwin*

Ann Pennington Martin, ’44

Virginia Watts Wray, ’60

Ben Walters

Louise Williams Walker, ’44

Joan Lawrence Baker, ’61

Nancy Brown Windler, ’26

Sara Henderson Tucker, ’45

Zelma Burleson Ray, ’61

Beatrice McCarthy Calhoun, ’35

Mary Usery Durden, ’46*

Cynthia Gilder Monfort, ’63

Cathryn Stevens Ford, ’37

Nell Brookins Knowles, ’46*

Isabel Gunnels Snyder, ’64

Frances McCrary Amidon, ’38

Ann Moore Lines, ’46

Suzanne Sosby Wheeler, ’64

Jane Lankford McGahee, ’38

Lucille Finney Pinkson, ’46

Mary Davidson Pollett, ’66

Mary Nelson Brown, ’39

Helen Melton Rees, ’46

Lois McBridge Brant, ’68

Mary Morris Hudson, ’39

Mary Lott young, ’47

Mary Owens Sorrels, ’70

Emily Speight Stearns, ’39

Hernice Daniell Anders, ’48

Robert Baggarly, ’75

Frances McGarity Bryant, ’40

Betty Wells Bullock, ’48

Don Johnson, ’76

Neoline Bobbitt Daniel, ’40

Maude Fields Morris, ’48

Gertie Holmes Layson, ’76

Vera Culberson Fuller, ’40

Nannette Park, ’49

Wanda Wade Dennis Williamson, ’76

Bridget Palmer Osborne, ’40

Dorothy Jones Bridgeman, ’50

William Henry, ’77

Ethelyn Berrie, ’41

Jimmie Haulkner Harris,’50*

Gina Williams Cook, ’81

Mary Mullins Wiggins, ’41

Louise Ledbetter Lawrence, ’50

Harvey Garrett, ’84

Nelle Bond Byrd, ’42

Neta Hancock Smith, ’50

John Lubniewski, ’88

Doris Watson Joiner, ’42

Mary Richey Hubbard, ’51

Wanda Stancile, ’88

Ruby Huddleston Shelley, ’42

Ruth Downs Snider, ’53

Pietra Kurtz Dixon, ’89

Marguerite McCarthy Meagher, ’43

LaVance Clement Atkins, ’54

Celia Lucas Vinterella, ’90

Sarolyn Pennington Moore, ’43

Stella Alston, ’55

Leah Womack Callahan, ’91

Jane Cleveland Niles, ’43

Margolese Jones Long, ’56

Janis Ervin Channell, ’96

Frances Hooten Staplin, ’43

Isabel Kitchens Wheeler, ’57

Shawn Gabe Gaddis, ’96

Ima Stephens, ’43

Angelyn Holloway Hightower, ’58

Ellen Moore, ’07

Lily Walker Gibson, ’44

Jane Duvall Walton, ’59

Lessie Thomas, ’09

*Denotes alumni of Peabody School. This list recognizes deceased alumni that the college has been made aware of since April 1, 2015.

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A look back…

Alumni Weekend will take place Thursday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 15. It promises to be an exciting weekend full of festivities with reunion groups and a variety of events occurring on campus. In the meantime, we invite you to peruse the list of activities* and make plans to connect with your treasured fellow alumni. • • • • • • • • • • • • •

60th Reunion Tea: Class of 1955 50th Reunion: Class of 1965 Academic Enrichment – Women in Philanthropy All-alumni Picnic Alumni Awards Ceremony Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert Ambassador Reunion Bobcat Ramble Campus Tours Class/Aﬃnity Reunions Flag Football Tournament Front Campus Party National Pan-Hellenic Council Re-Chartering ( Divine 9) • Open Houses • Peabody School Reunion Luncheon • US Army Jazz Band Ambassadors *Please note that these events may be subject to change. All reunion events were moved to the fall in order to attract more alumni and to allow for more favorable weather conditions for travel. If you are interested in helping to host an aﬃnity or class reunion, contact Mindy Miller at 478-445-5771 or mindy.miller@gcsu.edu. Look for registration information in the fall issue of Connection.

University Communications Campus Box 97 Milledgeville, GA 31061

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

gcsu.edu/alumni facebook.com/georgiacollegealumni

Alumna Frances Harris, ’53, ’61, Simply Invests in Georgia College

fter 35 rewarding years of teaching elementary schoolaged children and a feeling of unwavering gratitude toward her teachers, Frances Harris ’53, ’61, wants to return the favor to her alma mater. Her love of Georgia State College for Women (GSCW) developed when she was a high school student at band festivals. Harris stayed in the dorms and played tenor saxophone in three statewide music festivals. “I just loved being at GSCW. The campus was beautiful, and everybody was so nice that I felt welcome,” she said. When it came time to choose a college, Harris’ mother gave her two choices: Wesleyan College and GSCW. Because of the teacher program and her band camp experience at GSCW, Harris chose the latter option. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s in education and attributes her teachers with providing her with conﬁdence and incentives to learn. Although pinpointing her favorite instructor was difﬁcult, Harris explains, “I

especially liked Dr. Frances Hicks. She taught psychology and was a kind and understanding person and just made it fun,” Harris says. “I took more courses in psychology than I intended to take because I liked her.” She adds, “Like so many other teachers there, John Lounsbury was an excellent teacher, and people really liked him.” Harris taught first through third grade in Moultrie, Ga. Her supervising principal was a fellow alumna. “We just seemed to think alike,” says Harris. “The fact that she was also a GSCW graduate felt like we had the same way of approaching things.” Her friend encouraged Harris to get certified in teaching and earn her master’s degree. They have been friends since that time. Now, Harris has made the Georgia College & State University Foundation the beneficiary of her Teachers Retirement Annuity to give back to Georgia College. “I want to invest into a place that did a lot for me and provided me with a good foundation for teaching.”

In one simple step, you can let your legacy champion countless students who aspire to reach their goals. Contact Elizabeth Hines at 478-445-1944 or elizabeth.hines@gcsu.edu.