Honors Newsletter | 2023-2024

Honorable Mentions

Dean

Dr. Brian Newsome

Assistant Director and National Scholarships Coordinator

Anna Whiteside

Administrative Assistant

Linda Dorsey-Moon

Honors Advisory Board

The Hon. Stephen Bradley, Esq.

Devlin Cooper, Esq.

Bob Daneke

Dr. Dorianna Dobson

Dr. Sandra Gangstead

Julian Lopez-Hanson

Dr. Doris Moody

Kevin Morris

Susan Presley

The Hon. Peggy Walker, Esq.

Honors Faculty Council

Dr. Alex Blazer

Dr. Christopher Clark

Dr. Jordan Cofer

Caroline Cole

Dr. Juli Gittinger

Dr. Ernie Kaninjing

Dr. Hasitha Mahabaduge

Ryan McGill

Dr. Michael Snowden

Dr. Bruce Snyder

Dr. Robert Sumowski

Dr. Ashley Taylor

Student Assistants

Caroline Cole, ‘24

Jack Como, ‘23, ‘24

Jenesis Harris, ‘24

Juliann Mackiewicz ‘25

Jared Reese, ‘25

TheJohnE. SallstromHonorsCollegeFall

2023-Spring2024

Letter from the DEAN

Dr. Brian Newsome, Dean John E. Sallstrom Honors College

Students in the John E. Sallstrom Honors College have achieved so many milestones this year that I hardly know where to begin! The Week of Welcome is fitting, I suppose, so let’s start there. Honors faculty and staff—including our new Administrative Assistant, Linda Moon—greeted 148 incoming Honors students. Once again, this number is the largest in the history of the university. Our new students grounded themselves in the life of the Honors community through Eta Sigma Alpha’s peer mentoring program, Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower’s Honors Global Civic Literacy Residential Learning Community in Bell Hall, dozens of lunch/dinner seminars in the Doris Moody Seminar Room, ESA’s biannual escape rooms, and Honors courses and Honors options led by dozens of faculty members.

Many first-year students, alongside a host of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, presented scholarly and creative works at the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference in Dahlonega, the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Jacksonville, and Research Day at GCSU. Faculty mentorship, peer encouragement, and staff support make those programs possible.

The Honors College is a truly collaborative community, and I am grateful to the students, faculty, staff, and administrators—including President Cathy Cox and Provost Costas Spirou—who nurture that community each day.

The support of alumni and friends is also key. Their generosity made possible a fall break program in New York City for students in Dr. Jenny Flaherty’s course on Underworlds and Afterlives. I would invite you to read all about it on pp. 12-13. And as indicated on p. 29, the Honors College has recently completed another successful Giving Challenge to underwrite the cost of a fall-semester program in New Orleans, Louisiana for more than 40 Honors students, including those in my World War II course!

Dr. Ken Saladin’s generous endowment, bestowed in 2020, bears more fruit each year, giving the Honors College the resources to fund a growing number of Saladin and Transformative Experience scholarships to support study abroad, undergraduate research, internships, and community-based learning. Highlights appear on pp 16-18.

The National Scholarships Office, led by my colleague Anna Whiteside, continues to open doors for students as well. This year—the second in a row—a GCSU student earned a Truman Scholarship. I am so proud that it is Honors student Axel Hawkins, a history major, a political science minor, and the incoming SGA President. Congratulations, Axel! And thank you to Ms. Whiteside and to colleagues in History, Government/Sociology, and Student Life who mentored Axel along the way.

This year has been such a good one. Ms. Whiteside and I recently returned from the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Jacksonville, Florida, where we spent the better part of a week with 14 students who presented their research, explored the city, and forged bonds with Honors students from other universities. One of our students, Chloe Melton, even won election as SRHC Student Vice President! The fact that faculty, staff, and students from other colleges have such faith in one of our own shows just how powerful and promising Honors education at GCSU is. Go Bobcats!

Ryan McGill President, Eta Sigma Alpha Class of 2024

From the PRESIDENT From the EDITOR

Jenesis Harris

Honorable Mentions Editor

I remember walking into Bell Hall for the first time, experiencing what the Honors College community is about seeing so many lively faces all over the dorm, people from around the world just having fun and enjoying each other’s company. I basically lived in the internet lounge on the second floor all of my first year, getting to know other Honors students and making friends and connections.

Honors has taught me a lot, from preserving morals to better analytical skills. The intelligence, the ambition, and the mutual support of this community truly bring out the best in everyone. The Honors College is a second home to many, as students get together and become a family.

I had the privilege to be the president my third (and final) year of college, and helping build the community further has been an amazing experience. Gathering a great executive board that truly cared about the students and meeting new students who wanted to be a bigger part of the community were inspirational. I know the Honors College is in great hands, and I cannot wait to see it prosper as an official alumni of the college.

It is my last year working on the newsletter, and the moment is bitter sweet. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked on the newsletter for two years. I will miss this university and the faculty, staff, and students who make up this community. Milledgeville was a second home for me the past four years, and my professors and peers have become like family.

I will hold the memories and experiences I have made along the way close to my heart because I know I will have them with me forever. Since I am closing a chapter of my life and opening a new one, I would like this year’s newsletter to be a parting gift.

I would like to use this year’s newsletter as a way to say thank you for all the countless opportunities GCSU and the Honors College have presented me with and for the lifelong friendships and relationships with my professors.

Thank you to Dr. Brian Newsome for giving me creative freedom, helpful feedback, and kind support to complete this project, and thank you to those who give generously to make the Honors College what it is today.

Eta Sigma Alpha Alumni

Blakely Queen, ‘24 earned the Pauline Kelly Malone Scholarship, the 2024 Outstanding Senior in Public Health Award, the GCSU Bronze Service Medal, and the Eve Puckett Giving Tree Award (in recognition of her extraordinary community service).

Transformative Team Building

Bell Hall

Honor Success

Mary Morgan Collier, ‘24 won the Region IV Student Dramaturg Award from Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. She was then selected for the LMDA/KCACTF Dramaturgy Fellowship, an award given to only four students nationwide.

Jada Warren, ‘24 standout Women’s Basketball player, earned the 2024 Bobcat Student Leader of the Year Award for extraordinary involvement in student organizations and outstanding contributions to the campus community.

Escape Rooms

was selected from a national pool of candidates to serve as a Youth AIDS Ambassador through the health advocacy organization, Advocates for Youth. Following mentorship and advocacy training, she will organize community educational programs.

Conferences leadership Community humber white Scholarship

Jenesis Harris, ‘24 worked with Warner Brothers Discovery at the Techwood campus in Atlanta, Georgia as a DEI Marketing and Communications Intern in the summer of 2023.

Success Study Abroad

Mentoring

Vivian Cassaniti, ‘23 has been recognized as GCSU’s 2024 Academic Recognition Day representative. Since 1988, the University System of Georgia has honored outstanding seniors at each of its member institutions on Academic Recognition Day. According to the USG website, “these students have a high GPA, strive for excellence, and have the ability to share knowledge in various areas of expertise.”

Eta Sigma Alpha Alumni

Caroline Cole, ‘24 studied at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford in spring and fall 2023. She will be attending The University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Scotland to pursue a Master of Letters in Museum and Heritage Studies.

Transformative Team Building

Honor Success

Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant, a national scholarship to support undergraduate students studying abroad. This generous award allowed her to participate in the CEPA Intercultural Leadership Program in Strasbourg, France.

Bell Hall Escape Rooms

Kate Richardson, ‘23 was one of five Peach Belt Conference student athletes to be nominated for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Kate was a standout goalkeeper for the Women’s Soccer Team.

Angela Mills Moryan, ‘16 won a Central Great Lakes Emmy Award for her outstanding work in broadcast journalism as a member of the WISH-TV sports team in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Community humber white Scholarship

Axel Hawkins, ‘25 earned a Truman Scholarship, one of the most competitive scholarships in the US. Axel will intern with Senator Raphael Warnock this summer and serve as SGA President next year.

Leadership

Success

Study Abroad

Wesley Sutton, ‘24 participated in an REU at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he worked with Dr. Y. K. Vohra’s physics research group on creating boron-carbon compounds via spark plasma sintering. Sutton will attend graduate school at The University of Notre Dame.

Conferences

Conferences

Honor Success

Accompanied by Dr. Sunita Manian and Dr. Jim Winchester, Basil Cooper, ‘25 and Liam Landry, ‘25 presented research at the International & Interdisciplinary Conference in Kolkata, India.

Study Abroad

A dozen students presented their scholarship at the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference in Dahlonega, GA, and Chloe Melton, ‘27 won 2nd place for Best Paper in the Humanities/Social Sciences.

Bell Hall

Transformative

Mentoring

Fourteen students presented their scholarship at the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Jacksonville, FL, and Chloe Melton, ‘27 (far right) was elected SRHC’s Student Vice President.

Team Building

From the NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

COORDINATOR Anna Whiteside

This has been another exciting year for us in the National Scholarships Office! In April, we learned that Axel Hawkins, a junior Honors student who is majoring in history, was named the 2024 Truman Scholar for the state of Georgia. If you read last year’s newsletter, you know that GCSU student Colin Hall was named the 2023 Truman Scholar for the state of Georgia, making this the second year in a row that a GCSU student has been given this prestigious award. The Truman Scholarship, which is awarded to juniors who have shown great promise in the field of public service leadership, is the nation’s foremost public service scholarship with a roster of alumni that include preeminent public servants like Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, and former Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. We at GCSU already knew that our students were excelling as public service leaders, and I am so excited that the rest of the country is learning this, as well.

Let me tell you a little bit about Axel. A first-generation college student, Axel came to GCSU ready to engage! She joined the Student Government Association as soon as she started classes and began the work to improve life for her fellow students. Now elected as the upcoming SGA President, Axel will continue enacting changes for their benefit. Off campus, Axel believes in solving labor issues and is passionate about workers’ rights. She has spent many hours traveling between Milledgeville and the Georgia State Capitol lobbying for legislation on behalf of the Communications Workers of America. She has also excelled in academics as a John E. Sallstrom Honors College member. We are just seeing the beginning of Axel’s accomplishments—she is going to continue to do wonderful things!

Another exciting note of student success is that we have had two GCSU students selected to be participants in the Critical Language Scholarship Spark Program. CLS Spark is a virtual initiative for U.S. undergraduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Designed to leverage best practices in online language learning developed by the CLS Program during the pandemic, CLS Spark provides American students the opportunity to study critical languages virtually when they may not have access to studying these languages on their campuses. Sophomore nursing major and Honors student Ama Kpoyizoun and first-year management major Matthew Malena were both chosen to participate in the CLS Spark program in Chinese. They are the first GCSU students selected to participate in any CLS program. Ama and Matthew will spend the summer learning Chinese through online classes and activities facilitated by native speakers at a host institution abroad.

As you may (or may not) know, I also work with alumni on awards. If you are interested in applying for a postgraduate award, please reach out to me! II would love to help you reach your national scholarship.

Honors In NYC

In October, Dr. Jenny Flaherty, Professor of English, led students course on “Underworlds and Afterlives” to New York City. They resources, such as exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and “Hadestown,” related to theme of the course. As the surrounding indicate, the students found the journey both meaningful and fun.

“Experiencing New York City with something I will never forget. Having musical live on Broadway, mere weeks before the was one of the most moving and inspiring Creekmore (Sophomore English major)

“Everything that I had an interest in, I was saw incredible jazz, and met the saxophone player. At the Top looked across the city at night. I saw the Butterfly Vivarium at Natural History Museum – so many incredible things places.” ~ Sydney Irons (Sophomore environmental sciences

NYC

students in her Honors explored cultural and musicals like surrounding photos clearly fun.

with other Honors students is

Having the opportunity to see my favorite the original lead exited the show, inspiring experiences of my life.” ~ Tommy

able to do. I

Top of the Rock, I at the incredible things and sciences major)

Escape Rooms

Jacob Carter, ‘23, ‘24 started the tradition of biannual Honors College Escape Rooms during his first year at GCSU. “I’ve always loved puzzles, and I knew that I wanted to get more involved with Eta Sigma Alpha and Honors. So when ESA Director of New Membership Lindsey Duke mentioned that ESA members could host events, I jumped at the opportunity and started thinking about what I wanted to do. I quickly realized I wanted to host an escape room at the McIntosh House.”

“I expected a few people to come but we actually ended up booking all of the sessions we hosted across two days in 2020. People really enjoyed the escape room; they were very enthusiastic about being able to sign up for a session with their friends,” said Jacob. “They seemed to like the clever use of simple resources for the escape room rather than fancy, expensive puzzles. Ultimately, I simply wanted people to have a lot of fun.”

Since 2021, the escape rooms have been held in the Humber-White House, and more students have assumed leadership of them. Emerson Hamm, ‘24 participated in an escape room during their first year at GCSU and leaped at Jacob’s invitation to help organize them during their sophomore year.

“Growing up, my brothers and I would make puzzles for each other, so getting to do the escape room was getting to go back to something I enjoyed,” stated Emerson.

Jacob indicated that he “trusted Emerson to continue the escape rooms because they had consistently proven that they were into it, pulling long nights at Humber-White with me as we tried to finish things, and I felt like they understood the spirit of what I wanted the escape rooms to be. That feeling has only been affirmed in the past year as Emerson has taken it over, and I am proud to participate in the escape rooms now as an alum.”

Before graduating in May 2024, Emerson tapped Carly Walker, ‘26 as lead organizer. “She and I have been working together for about a year now, and I love listening to the way she approaches puzzles and rooms,” said Emerson.

What Emerson will miss most about the escape rooms is “all the interesting perspectives that you get in a room. No two people ever go through the room the same. Even when designing the rooms, there is always a point where we have to say, ‘I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I trust you so let’s go for it.’ I love getting to see how everyone comes at problems and tries to solve them.”

Emerson’s hope for the future of the escape rooms is that they continue. “I really enjoyed doing them, and I know many of the Honors students enjoy going through them.”

Maryellen Hagberg, ‘25 took a study abroad trip this summer to Montepulciano, Italy. Hagberg states, “My experience studying abroad was amazing! As an art student, it was incredible to see all of these works of art in person that I have learned about in class.” Hagberg was able to learn much about Italy, including how cultural resources affect the lives and experiences of residents. “It was amazing to constantly be around so much art in every place I went. There wasn’t a single place there that wasn’t influenced by art and its history, and I have used that to try to fill my own life and spaces with art.”

Saladin

“My classes involved a lot of tours which brought the history and culture we learned to life,” says Anna Marti, ‘26, who participated in GC France: Gender, Culture, and the Good Life this past summer. The prior year, she took two semesters of French so that she could speak and read the language while in Paris. “I chose this program because I wanted to learn more about French culture and compare it with American culture.” And she did just that alongside other GCSU students in the course. “I would really like to study abroad again; it was a fun challenge to navigate a new country and a new language! Dr. Sunita Manian and Dr. Jim Winchester were great professors for my classes, and I learned a lot about philosophy and the arts.”

Named for Dr. Ken Saladin, Saladin Scholarships provide $2,000 to support undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, or community based learning.

MaryEllen Hagberg

Anna Marti

Heather Vincent

2023 Scholars

“I have been working in Dr. Kasey Karen’s virology lab on a collaborative project with Miami University,” says biology major Heather Vincent, ‘25. This past summer she spent her time troubleshooting and conducting experiments. “I trained on a variety of new methods such as running an SDS page, protein assays, and Western blotting. I chose to do this project because I thought it would be a good opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge set,” states Heather. She aspires to attend medical school and become an infectious disease MD. Learning how to manage research now is essential preparation for her future. “These experiences showed me how to adapt and improve my methodology. I now feel more confident in my abilities in the laboratory and collaborative settings.”

Emma Laprade

This past summer Emma Laprade, ‘26 participated in an ISA service learning program in Galway, Ireland. Alongside fellow GCSU student Grace Holmes, Emma worked with the Galway Autism Partnership as an intern and camp facilitator for four rewarding weeks. Emma states, “As a nursing major, I did not think I would be able to go on a study abroad program before entering the cohort, but I was happy to be proven wrong. Volunteering and Ireland are two of my favorite things, so combining them was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

2024 Saladin Scholars

Hunter Pierce English & Spanish | 2026

Morgan Gosdin Psychology & Spanish | 2026

Ivan Chu Biology & Chemistry | 2026

Kassie Arps

Mass Communication & Rhetoric | 2026

Pierce will be studying abroad in Valencia, Spain for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Gosdin will be studying abroad in Cuenca, Spain this summer.

Chu will be conducting research on the Sec6 protein with Dr. Ellen France during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Arps will be studying abroad in Strasbourg, France this summer.

2023-2024 Transformative Experience Grant/Scholarship Recipients

Transformative Experience Grants/Scholarships provide up to $500 to support student endeavors.

Jessie Berry, Camille Browning, Caroline Cole, Basil Cooper, Tommy Creekmore, Isabella Dattilio, Evan Dunnam, Grace Gilmartin, Avery Halseth, Josh Jenkins, Jin Yeong Kim, Liam Landry, Anna Marti, Sam Paton, Peyton Rodgers, Shani Thompson, Sarah West, Wesley Whitehead

Left to right: Hunter Pierce, Morgan Gosdin, Dr. Ken Saladin, Ivan Chu, and Kassie Arps

“The Honors Alumni Mentoring Program has helped me discern that a career in the legal field is truly what I want to pursue. Mr. Cooper graciously answered all of my questions and helped connect me with other lawyers so I could interview them, too. I had the privilege of meeting with Judge Stephen Bradley and interviewing Mr. John Beasley, and we had conversations about the lifestyle of an attorney and how it can vary based upon specialty.”

“One of the valuable lessons I have learned from Mr. Cooper is the importance of humility. During the mentorship, Mr. Cooper treated me as an equal despite our differences in experiences and accomplishments.”

“It is inspiring how accomplished professionals like Mr. Cooper are willing to invest time in supporting undergraduate grateful to be part of an Honors College that creates experiences like this one.”

Katie Cooper

Alumni Mentoring Program

“I enjoy opportunities to work with college students and expose them to the legal profession. Before choosing law school, students should understand what lawyers actually do. My goal is not to steer students into the legal profession; instead, I would like them to understand the opportunities that a law degree offers and be able to make an informed decision about becoming an attorney.”

Devlin Cooper

“It is a demanding profession, and the people who succeed are the ones who are passionate about the law and learning. I had a great time working with an exceptionally intelligent, hard-working, and motivated student. That alone made it a worthwhile experience.”

DR. Jennifer GRAHAM

Dr. Jennifer Graham is a 2005 graduate of the Honors Program at GCSU, where she earned a BS in psychology, with a minor in women’s studies and a certificate in non-profit management. She went on to earn an MPA from GCSU and an Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership from UGA. Her research, which has resulted in numerous conference presentations, journal articles, and book chapters, is on sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as well as campus-based advocacy, feminist organizations, organizational dynamics, and feminist identity development.

Dr. Graham works here at GCSU, where she serves as the Associate Dean of Students for Student Inclusion and Belonging. As founding Director of the Women’s Center, she has secured major grants and significant state funds for the Center, which reaches approximately 6,000 students each year through more than 80 programs, workshops, and events. In recognition of her service, Dr. Graham received the university’s Outstanding Leadership Award, among many other accolades.

Alumni year of the

DR. DORIANNA DOBSON

Dr. Dorianna Dobson is a 2018 graduate of the Honors Program at GCSU, where she earned a BS in biology. She worked closely with Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower in Honors and with Dr. Ashok Hedge and Dr. Nathan Lord in Biology. Dobson served as the president of Eta Sigma Alpha and as an Honors peer mentor. She conducted biological research with Dr. Lord, and she presented her scholarship at multiple conferences. Those experiences served as a springboard for research at Vanderbilt University and for medical school at Mercer University in Savannah. “The Honors College prepared me for the level of critical thinking and problem solving that it takes to be an efficient, successful medical student,” Dobson said.

She continued conducting research, presented that scholarship at conferences, and published several peer reviewed articles. In her spare time, Dobson co-founded a student research organization and served on the student council at the medical school. She also joined the Honors Advisory Board at GCSU and served as an alumni mentor to one of our current Honors students.

In May 2023, Dobson completed her M.D. Dr. Dobson is currently pursuing a residency in neonatology at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

KEVIN MORRIS

Kevin Morris is a 2017 graduate of the Honors Program at GCSU, where he earned a BA in history and a BS in economics. He then earned a Fulbright that allowed him to spend a year in North Macedonia, where he taught and conducted research, with a focus on the facilitation of civic discourse.

After a stint at the National Democratic Institute, for which he established a European Democratic Youth Network, Morris earned a Marshall Scholarship. He is the only GCSU student or alumni ever to earn this prestigious UK fellowship.

The award funded two Master’s degrees—an M.S. in the History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an M.S. in Conflict Resolution from King’s College London. He conducted advanced research on conflict and conflict resolution in the Balkans, scholarship that he has presented in numerous forums and which has led to two publications.

Starting in 2023, Morris worked as a Young Global Professional at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, for which he facilitated policy dialogues on Balkan affairs among European political leaders. He also earned a US State Dept. Title VIII Critical Languages Fellowship, which funded advanced study in South Slavic languages. “I have the Honors College to thank for introducing me to the questions of democratization and conflict transformation in the Balkans,” Morris said. In the summer of 2023, Morris became a Program Associate with the Democracy Program at the Carter Center and has been working on election monitoring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Morris is also the newest member of the Honors Advisory Board.

Honors Undergraduate Research Presentations

6th Annual Posters at the Georgia State Capitol

Natalie Clark (Mentor: Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, Psychology)

Isabella Dattilio (Mentor: Dr. Peter Rosado Flores, Chemistry)

Association of Southern Biologists Conference

Heather Vincent (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

GC Sustainability Symposium

(Mentor: Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower)

Ali Brown-Winans, Tyson Butle, Adam Cody, Carter Crocker, Alex Deakins, Shelby Gowen, Tyler Griner, Grady Haugh, Anna Kroll, Christian Martinez, Jack McKinney, Peyton Nemec, Kayley Owens, Davis

Pittard, Thomas Rice, Derek Sanders, Abby Smith, Bradley Smith, John Summerlin, Bethany Tapee, Madelyn Tilson, Noah Turner, Will Turner, Grace Webb, Ashlyn Young

Georgia Academy of Science Conference

Camille Browning (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Ivan Chu (Mentor: Dr. Ellen France, Biology)

Kali Holierhoek (Mentor: Dr. Kristine White, Biology & Environmental Sciences)

Heather Vincent (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Sarah West (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference

Kassie Arps (Mentor: Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower, Political Science)

Courtney Brandon (Mentor: Dr. Stephen Auerbach, History)

Ivan Chu (Mentor: Dr. Ellen France, Biology)

Kathryn Cooper (Mentor: Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower, Political Science)

Tommy Creekmore (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Sofia Legoff Flores (Mentor: Dr. Jim Winchester, Philosophy)

Maryellen Hagberg (Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Sydney Irons (Mentor: Dr. Bruce Snyder, Biology)

Juliann Mackiewicz (Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Chloe Melton* (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Blakely Queen (Mentor: Dr. Scott Butler, Public Health)

Wesley Sutton (Mentor: Dr. Ralph France, Physics)

Georgia Political Science Association

Vivian Cassaniti (Mentor: Dr. Min Kim, Public Administration)

Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference

Camille Browning (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Natalie Clark (Mentor: Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, Psychology)

Morgan Collins (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Isabella Dattilio (Mentor: Dr. Peter Rosado Flores, Chemistry)

Raven Glover (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Carson Griffeth (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Maryellen Hagberg (Mentor: Dr. Sunita Manian, Philosophy & Liberal Studies)

Jin Yeong Kim (Mentor: Dr. Arnab Sengupta, Biology)

Monica Lichtenwalner (Mentor: Dr. Marcela Chiorescu, Mathematics)

Juliann Mackiewicz (Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Jonas McClelland (Mentor: Dr. Jebessa Mijena, Mathematics)

Skylar Reid (Mentor: Dr. Ronald Okoth, Chemistry)

Nicole Synder (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Madeline Teigen (Mentor: Dr. Wathsala Medawala, Chemistry)

Heather Vincent (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Sarah West (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Joint Mathematics Meetings

Anna Marti (Mentor: Dr. Brian Freidin, Mathematics)

National Conference on Undergraduate Research 2024

Natalie Clark (Mentor: Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, Psychology)

Hunter Coates (Mentor: Dr. Brooke Rudow, Philosophy)

Kathryn Cooper (Dr. Kaitlyn Newman, Philosophy)

Isabella Dattilio (Mentor: Dr. Peter Rosado Flores, Chemistry)

Victoriyah Friend (Mentor: Dr. Dana Gorzelaney-Mostak, Music)

Jin Yeong Kim (Mentor: Dr. Arnab Sengupta, Biology)

Nicole Synder (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry) Research Day at GCSU

Jacqui Banks, Victoriyah Friend, et al (Mentor: Dr. Whitney Hepner, Psychology)

Courtney Brandon (Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Flaherty, English)

Ainsley Brown, Jacob Carter,** Sicilia Reed, Will Turner, et al (Mentor: Dr. Elissa Auerbach, Art History)

Camille Browning et al (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Camille Browning, Madison Germain, et al (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Jacob Carter** (Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Alby, Secondary Education)

Annalise Cefaratti et al (Mentor: Dr. Taylor Elsey, Psychology)

Natalie Clark et al (Mentor: Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, Psychology)

Hunter Coates (Mentor: Dr. Brooke Rudow, Philosophy)

Caroline Cole (Mentor: Dr. James Welborn, History)

Morgan Collins (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Basil Cooper (Mentors: Dr. Sunita Manian and Dr. Jim Winchester, Philosophy & Liberal Studies)

Kathryn Cooper (Mentors: Dr. Max Harleman and Dr. Min Kim, Public Administration)

Taylor Doyle et al (Mentor: Dr. Lee Kirven, Spanish)

Elizabeth Dyal and Skylar Reid (Mentor: Dr. Ronald Okoth, Chemistry)

Michelle Escuela (Mentor: Dr. Aurora Castillo-Scott, Spanish)

Cate Fell, Morgan Gosdin, et al (Mentor: Dr. Dianna Young, Psychology)

Madison Floyd (Mentor: Dr. Juli Gittinger, Religious Studies)

Victoriyah Friend (Mentor: Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Music)

Victoriyah Friend, Riley Greer, Claire Kosobud et al (Mentor: Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Music)

Caitlyn Gailey et al (Mentor: Dr. Aurora Castillo-Scott, Spanish)

Helen Garcia-Carreras (Mentor: Prof. Natalie King, Dance)

Ben Globerman (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Raven Glover (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Carson Griffeth (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Maryellen Hagberg (Mentor: Prof. Abraham Abebe, Art)

Emerson Hamm (Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Clark, Political Science)

Daniel Hastings et al (Mentors: Dr. Arnab Sengupta and Dr. Bruce Snyder, Biology)

Caroline Hegwood (Mentor: Dr. Jebessa Mijena, Mathematics)

Kali Holierhoek et al (Mentor: Dr. Kristine White, Biology & Environmental Sciences)

Rebecca Huisman (Mentor: Dr. Peter Rosado Flores, Chemistry)

Sydney Irons (Mentor: Dr. Bruce Snyder, Biology)

Maddux James, Pouriya Mosayebi, et al (Mentor: Dr. Hasitha Mahabaduge, Physics)

Jin Yeong Kim (Mentor: Dr. Arnab Sengupta, Biology)

Claire Kosobud (Mentor: Dr. Colin Whitworth, Rhetoric)

Crystabel Kwarteng et al (Mentor: Dr. Arnab Sengupta, Biology)

Liam Landry (Mentor: Dr. Sunita Manian and Dr. Jim Winchester, Philosophy & Liberal Studies)

Juliann Mackiewicz (Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Ella Martin et al (Mentor: Dr. Eric Rindal, Psychology)

Jonas McClelland (Mentor: Dr. Jebessa Mijena, Mathematics)

Emily McCormick et al (Mentor: Dr. Ania Rynarzewska, Marketing)

Chloe Melton (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

T.J. Murphy (Mentor: Dr. Brooke Conaway, Economics)

Joelle Nicosia et al (Mentor: Dr. Ania Rynarzewska, Marketing)

Lizzy Niswonger (Mentor: Dr. Kelley Massey, Exercise Science)

Joshua Patterson et al (Mentor: Dr. Lee Kirven, Spanish)

Blakely Queen et al (Mentor: Scott Butler, Public Health)

Jared Reese (Mentor: Dr. Yi Liu, Computer Science)

Drew Rice (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Patrick Schoen (Mentor: Dr. Amy Pinney, Theatre)

Ian Seidel (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Nicole Snyder et al (Mentor: Dr. Catrena Lisse, Chemistry)

Madeline Teigen et al (Mentor: Dr. Wathsala Medawala, Chemistry)

Kaitlin Van Voorhis** et al (Mentor: Dr. Ernie Kaninjing et al, Public Health)

Kaitlin Van Voorhis** et al (Mentor: Dr. Kevin Hunt, Physical Education)

Heather Vincent et al (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Heather Vincent, Sarah West, et al (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Kate Walker (Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Southeastern Psychological Association

Jacqueline Banks (Mentor: Dr. Whitney Heppner, Psychology)

Kathryn Brook (Mentor: Dr. Ashley Taylor, Psychology)

Annalise Cefaratti (Mentor: Dr. Taylor Elsey, Psychology)

Natalie Clark (Mentor: Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, Psychology)

Victoriyah Friend (Mentor: Dr. Whitney Heppner & Dr. Ashley Taylor, Psychology)

Morgan Gosdin (Mentor: Dr. Diana Young, Psychology)

Southern Regional Honors Conference

Kassie Arps (Mentor: Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower, Political Science)

Courtney Brandon (Mentor: Dr. Stephen Auerbach, History)

Kathryn Brook (Mentor: Dr. Noland White, Psychology)

Hunter Coates (Mentor: Dr. Brooke Rudow, Philosophy)

Kathryn Cooper (Mentor: Dr. Steve Elliott-Gower, Political Science)

Victoriyah Friend (Mentor: Dr. Whitney Heppner, Psychology)

Maryellen Hagberg (Mentor Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Sydney Irons (Mentor: Dr. Bruce Snyder, Biology)

Juliann Mackiewicz (Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Jett, Psychology)

Chloe Melton (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Drew Rice (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Heather Vincent (Mentor: Dr. Kasey Karen, Biology)

Kate Walker (Mentor: Dr. Brian Newsome, History)

Women’s and Gender Studies Symposium

Charlotte Aexel (Mentor: Dr. Libby Murphy, French)

Diana Cazacu (Mentor: Dr. Jim Winchester, Philosophy)

Tommy Creekmore (Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Flaherty, English)

Anna Durden** (Mentor: Dr. Katie Simon, English)

Lily Gauntt (Mentor: Dr. Libby Murphy, French)

Jasmine Harrison (Mentor: Dr. Libby Murphy, French)

Jaci Hill (Mentor: Dr. Julian Knox, English)

Emma Humphries (Mentor: Dr. Brooke Conaway, Economics)

*Conference Prize Winners **Graduate Student and Honors Alum

Dr. Sandy Gangstead

Dr. Sandy Gangstead earned a B.S. in health & physical education from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, an M.S. in curriculum & instruction/heath & physical education from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in physical education/higher education administration from the University of Utah. She served in faculty and administrative positions at Oklahoma State University (1983-1990), the University of Southern Mississippi (1990-2003), and Kennesaw State University (2003-2006) before coming to GCSU. Here she served as Professor and Dean of the College of Health Sciences (2006-2019) and as Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Director of the Graduate School (2019-2020).

As an undergraduate, Dr. Gangstead conducted research on Stephens’ Law of Scaling and was a member of both the field hockey and fencing teams. As a professor and administrator, she published dozens of articles on practice and pedagogy in both physical education and athletic training, as well as articles on outdoor education, observational training, computer-assisted learning, and many other topics. At present, Dr. Gangstead holds emeritus status at GCSU and is working on a book on women in sports leadership.

Honorary Advisory Board

Julian Lopez- Hanson

Julian Lopez-Hanson earned a B.B.A. from GCSU in May 2020. He completed what was then the Honors Program, serving as President of Eta Sigma Alpha and earning the John E. Sallstrom Award during his senior year. In addition, he served as Vice President of both Omicron Delta Kappa and Swipe out Hunger. During his junior year, Lopez-Hanson completed a marketing internship with Amnesty International in the Dutch city of Maastricht. After graduation, he worked for Instacart in Gainesville, Georgia before serving from Dec. 2020 to May 2021 as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the DeKalb County Board of Health, for which he created a youth violence prevention program. Since May 2021, Lopez-Hanson has worked in Atlanta for Boston Consulting Group BrightHouse. First as Strategist and now as Senior Strategist, he has provided Fortune-500 companies with business consulting services in a variety of fields, from client research to project management, branding, and much more. At BrightHouse, Lopez-Hanson has also collaborated with Senior Directors to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and to encourage leading clients to undertake their own climate initiatives.

My favorite thing about my job is that I get to work with students who are passionate about the most interesting things, and through them, I have learned about such varied subjects such as phytoremediation, labor unions, food insecurity, and the Balkans. I am constantly impressed by the depths to which our students engage with their areas of interest, and I love helping them find unique opportunities to continue to develop their knowledge and skills.

- Anna Whiteside, Honorary Membership Award

Honors Faculty Awards

What I love most about teaching honors students is that they tend to embrace the productive struggle. These students appreciate confronting a challenging problem. They do not mind describing their process and strategy so that others understand how they thought about a problem. I appreciate the chance to learn from and be inspired by my students.

-Dr. Angel DistinguishedAbney,Faculty Award

Giving Scholarships

Thank you to each of the generous individuals listed below for supporting the future of the Honors College through scholarships and endowments. And thank you to Dr. Ken Saladin for providing a matching gift for each of the endowed scholarships.

Baker Family Endowed Honors Scholarship ................................................................

Devlin & Ashley Cooper Endowed Honors Scholarship ..............................

Prof. Carol Dean Baker

Mr. Devlin & Mrs. Ashley Cooper

Steven Elliott-Gower Annual Honors Scholarship...................................................... Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower

Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship ...................Dr. Steven Elliott-Gower & Dr. Doris Moody

Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship............................ Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak & Mrs. Jennifer Gorzelany

JoAn & Nicholas Shields Annual Honors Scholarship......................................................

JoAn & Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship .................................................

Mrs. Elizabeth Hines

Mrs. Elizabeth Hines

Lori M. & William A. Westbrook Endowed Honors Scholarship ...................... Mrs. Brandie Mock, Dr. Harold Mock, Dr. Doris Moody & Dr. John Sallstrom

Mark & Martha Morris Family Endowed Honors Scholarship .........................

Mr. Mark & Mrs. Martha Morris

Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship .....................................................................

Dr. Mike Riley

Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship ..................................................................

Dr. Mike Riley

Doris C. Moody Endowed Honors Scholarship.....................................................................Dr. John Sallstrom

Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship ..............................

Dr. Joseph & Mrs. Patricia Samprone

Sapp Family Endowed Honors Scholarship..............................................................................Dr. Carol Sapp

Lee & Holly Snelling First Generation Endowed Honors Scholarship ................ Mr. Lee & Mrs. Holly Snelling

Plutarch-Stelios Spirou Endowed Honors Scholarship .........................................................

Dr. Costas Spirou

Pictured from left to right are the following scholarship recipients: Jared Reese (Margaret Samprone Endowed Honors Scholarship), Riley Greer (Steven Elliott-Gower Endowed Honors Scholarship, Karen D. Green Endowed Honors Scholarship, and Harold Edward Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship), Alexis Keeney (Elaine Brown Riley Endowed Honors Scholarship), Crystabel Kwarteng (JoAn & Nicholas Shields Endowed Honors Scholarship), and Ivan Chu (JoAn & Nicholas Shields Annual Honors Scholarship). Not pictured is Grace Arnold (Steven Elliott-Gower Annual Honors Scholarship).

Fundraising

Thanks to the generosity of more than thirty alumni, friends, and students, the Honors College raised $4700 during the 2024 Honors Giving Challenge, exceeding our goal of $4000. Together with a matching gift by ‘89 alumnus Dr. Roger Best and previous contributions by a number of donors, including members of the Honors Advisory Board, we raised a total of $13,800—enough funds to take more than forty students, including those in Dr. Brian Newsome’s World War II Honors course, on a fall break trip to New Orleans. Students will explore the French Quarter, the World War II Museum, and the Whitney Plantation! Thank you to all of our donors!

Ashley Banks

BCG BrightHouse (Donation Match)

Dr. Roger Best

Jillian Bolak

Cammie Branan

Dr. Scott Butler

Cathy Cox, J.D.

Susan Daniels

Prof. Kendra Evans

Dr. Hedwig Fraunhofer

Dr. Sandra Gangstead

Maria Gordon

Dr. Sarah Gordon

Elizabeth Hines

Dr. Kasey Karen

Julian Lopez-Hanson

Chloe Melton

Dr. Doris Moody

Kevin Morris

Ian Morrison

Dr. Brian Newsome

Dr. Del and Mrs. Beverly Presley

Susan Presley

Haleigh Purser

Sam Rauschenberg

Donald Rhodes

Dr. John Sallstrom

DR. David Snow

Dr. Elizabeth Speelman

Dr. Amy Sumpter

Kristin H. Villarreal

The Honorable Peggy Walker

Dr. Harriett Whipple

Anna Whiteside

Abby Willcox

Ruby Zimmerman

December 2023

Laila Campbell Art

Vivian Cassaniti Political Science and Philosophy

Anna Durden English

Haley James English

Monica Lichtenwalner Mathematics

Allison White Environmental Sciences

May 2024

Arleni Arvizu-Garcia Biology

Jacqui Banks Psychology and Criminal Justice

Tiffany Baptiste Biology

Caroline Cole History

Mary Morgan Collier Theatre

Elizabeth Cooper Psychology

Lizzy Galloway Music

Parker Goolsby Management Information Systems

Emerson Hamm Political Science

Jenesis Harris Mass Communication

Jasmine Harrison World Languages & Cultures Public Health

Jaci Hill English

Ashley Hills Biology

Emma Holm Psychology

Caroline Johnson Nursing

Samuel Johnson Exercise Science

Marta Knapp Psychology

Jonas McClelland Mathematics

Lillian McGalliard Special Education

Ryan McGill Political Science

Isabella Oetting Exercise Science

Courtney Owen Mass Communication

Cale Strickland Mass Communication

Wesley Sutton Physics

Jada Warren Exercise Science

Alyssa Wright Exercise Science

August 2024

Caroline Hegwood Mathematics

Chad Helton Political Science

Elizabeth Niswonger Exercise Science

Blakely Queen Public Health

Sicilia Reed Mass Communication

Congratulations Graduates!

Recent Valedictorians

May and August 2023

Jack Como

Priya Polanco

Kate Richardson

December 2023

Vivian Cassaniti

May and August 2024

Caroline Cole

Lizzy Galloway

Caroline Johnson

Lillian McGalliard

Isabella Oetting

“The Honors College has been one of my favorite aspects of my time at GCSU. Through the college, I have been able to attend conferences, present my research, and connect with students and faculty in a meaningful way. I am so grateful for this organization, and for the opportunities it has given me.”

Caroline Cole

“Honors allowed me to have a community of people who supported me academically and professionally.”

Caroline Hegwood

“I found the Honors College to be one of the most supportive and uplifting communities on campus. The opportunities and resources readily available through the Honors College helped me to pursue my academic endeavors with confidence.

Dr. Newsome is very invested in each and every student’s collegiate journey and I’m particularly grateful for all his support.”

Vivian Cassiniti

John E. Sallstrom Honors College

CBX 029

231 W. Hancock Street

Milledgeville, GA 31061

478-445-4025

honors@gcsu.edu

facebook.com/GeorgiaCollegeHonors @gcsuhonorscollege linkedin.com/in/gchonorscollege/

The John E. Sallstrom Honors College relies on the generosity of faculty, alumni, and friends to fund our book discussions, lunch/dinner seminars, undergraduate research, and other educational and cultural activities. Please contact Dr. Brian Newsome at honors@gcsu.edu or visit https://give. gcsu.edu/g/honors-college if you are interested in supporting us. We are keen to build our base of support with gifts of any amount. Thank you!