GEORGIA GWINNETT
PRODUCTION
Editor-in-chief: Sally Ramey
Graphic design: Phil Smith
Photography: Rod Reilly, Teresa Araque
Writing: Teresa Araque, Sally Ramey, Jackie Todd, Ken Scar
OTHER SUPPORT
LaKeidra Veal Hill
Laurie Hudson
Hoang Huynh
Simona Lucchi
Barbara Martell
Allana Walker
COLLABORATORS
Jennifer Hendrickson, associate vice president for Advancement
Sloan Jones, chief of staff
Jackie Todd, associate vice president for Communications
MAILING LIST
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WE VALUE YOUR INPUT
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President's Message
Embracing New Seasons of Growth at Georgia Gwinnett College
Dr. Jann L. Joseph President
As the vibrant blossoms of spring emerge from winter’s dormancy and summer’s warmth fosters continued growth, we witness the cyclical renewal of our landscapes. Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is a mirror of these natural transformations, continually evolving and flourishing for nearly two decades.
Change is both inevitable and essential. GGC has matured through numerous seasonal transformations, gaining wisdom and strategic vision. This edition of our magazine exemplifies this progress with a refreshed design and a new name – Georgia Gwinnett College magazine – aligned with best practices in higher education communications.
Our mission is to present fresh perspectives on our institution, highlighting the achievements and journeys of our students and alumni who exemplify the value of a GGC education.
Academically, we are committed to enhancing student success. This fall, we will welcome new faculty members, who, alongside our dedicated existing faculty and staff, will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of GGC and the career paths of our students.
At GGC, we are on a relentless quest for innovation and excellence in support of our students. Together, we strive to transcend the status quo and embrace the new seasons ahead, ensuring that we collectively achieve greatness.
Go Grizzlies!
Dr. Jann L. Joseph President
1000 University Center Lane Lawrenceville, GA 30043
678.407 5000 • www.ggc.edu
ON THE COVER
Hannah Gil, ‘25, cinema and media production, is shown with the tablet she uses to bring her creative ideas to life. See story, p. 4.
FROM IMAGINATION TO ANIMATION
GGC
junior Hannah Gil, ’25, has always loved art and drawing.
She is studying for her bachelor’s degree in cinema and media arts production (CMAP) with a concentration in design and production and a minor in integrative arts.
The Gwinnett County native is part of a family tradition at GGC –her father, David Gil, graduated in 2013 in information technology and her twin sister, Jodi Gil, CMAP, ‘25, is studying writing for the screen and stage.
“I knew this is where I wanted to be,” she said.
One of Gil’s projects, called “Dreamscape,” is a two-minute, animated story that recently earned first place for Best Animation in the 2024 Gwinnett County Public Library Student Film Festival.
“It’s about a girl whose black-and-white world changes when she discovers a new world,” she said, adding that she had just two weeks to complete the project.
The process of creating “Dreamscape” began with sketches and storyboards.
“I then do rotoscoping, which is taking live action and then tracing over each frame to create the animation,” she said.
The inspiration for her project came from Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. She added that one of the studio’s films, called “Spirited Away,” influenced her work.
Looking ahead, Gil said she wants to continue her animation path.
“I want to expand ‘Dreamscape’ and do more animation, but I also like concept art and character design,” she said.
Another goal could involve the writing talents of her twin sister.
“I hope we can work together on a children’s book. My sister would write it and I would illustrate it,” she said.
To watch Gil’s award-winning animation, scan the QR code or search for “Dreamscape” - A Short Film by Hannah Gil on YouTube.
GGC’S PILLAR OF CREATIVITY TAKES CENTER STAGE
Music is one of the many ways GGC students can fulfill their creative passions while working toward their degree. Some even plan to incorporate music into their careers.
Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) student ensembles recently shared the Lawrenceville Arts Center’s main stage for an unforgettable, first-time, joint performance before a crowd of students, faculty, families and friends.
Part of the School of Liberal Arts’ (SLA) Excursions Concert Series, the spring Student Ensembles Concert featured the college’s percussion, string, jazz and choral groups performing a variety of musical numbers.
“This was a great opportunity to showcase the incredibly talented student musicians and singers we have at GGC,” said Dr. Marc Gilley, associate professor of music and SLA’s interim dean. “This performance gave our students some real-world experience on stage.”
That experience included planning the logistics for a joint show, working with Aurora Theatre staff and taking part in a stage and lighting setup and a technical sound check in a professional facility.
“It’s about the act of performing live,” said Gilley. “This ensemble concert is like a final exam where the students apply what they’ve learned over the course of the semester.”
GGC Chorus member Julene McGaw, ’24, also performed with GGC Jazz. An integrative studies major, she is combining business and creative writing with a musical studies minor. This fall, the singer and song writer will attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, to earn a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in music business.
“My goal is to fuse music and wellness together by opening my own wellness center that offers a variety of modalities to help people heal,” said McGaw. “Music has always been a big part of my life, but I never wanted to major in music.”
A cellist in GGC Strings, Dylan Cruz, ’24, earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a musical studies minor. The 20-year-old completed his degree in two years, thanks to dual-enrollment and AP classes he took during high school. He also took high school band and orchestra.
This fall, he will begin teaching social studies at Duluth Middle School, where he plans to be active in school music programs.
“I want to help with school concerts and by giving cellists one-on-one or small group help,” Cruz said. “I also intend to continue my solo gigging career while beginning a gigging career in a string ensemble made up of fellow GGC students.”
Fall semester group concerts are already scheduled, including a second joint ensemble performance in November.
Shown are GGC students performing on the Lawrenceville Arts Center’s main stage.
MINOR EXPAND DEGREES
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Thanks to an expansion of minor degree programs at Georgia Gwinnett in recent years, students have more options than ever for enriching their educational experience.
GGC now offers 24 minor degrees, ranging from laboratory science and information technology to the arts, social sciences and legal studies.
“Minors allow students to enhance their bachelor’s degree with additional study in a related discipline or pair it with a completely different discipline,” said Dr. George S. Low, senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs/provost. “Such combinations enable students to tailor their education for specific careers, industries or graduate programs. The possibilities are limited only by the student’s goals and imagination.”
For example, a student interested in starting a counseling service might major in psychology and minor in business administration. Another could major in health science and minor in Spanish so they can serve the Hispanic and Latino communities, and yet another may major in environmental science and minor in legal studies if they have an interest in environmental law.
One such student is Byron Fisher, ‘24, who will be attending Washington State University in the fall with the goal of earning his Ph.D. in physical chemistry.
“ “ - Byron Fisher, ‘24
I chose to major in chemistry at GGC because I was deeply interested in the interactions of matter and the field would provide a wide range of potential routes to take my career. Physics is my second ‘love’.
More minors are likely in GGC’s future. The college continually evaluates its academic programs to ensure that it is preparing students for current and emerging careers while supporting regional economic development needs.
MINORS AVAILABLE AT GGC
African American studies
Anthropology
Biology
Business administration
Chemistry
Creative writing
Criminal justice/criminology
English
Film
Gender studies
Geography
History
Information technology
Integrative arts
Legal studies
Mathematics
Musical studies
Physics
Political science
Professional studies
Religious studies
Sociology
Spanish
Visual arts
GGC offers rare fermentation science program
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) now offers Georgia’s first bachelor-level fermentation science program and one of the few in the nation.
Offered as a concentration within the Bachelor of Science in chemistry, the program equips students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the rapidly expanding field of fermentation science, which combines biology, chemistry and microbiology.
The concentration includes the science, technology and business aspects of fermentation across various industries, including food and beverage production, pharmaceuticals, biofuels and more.
“This new concentration exemplifies our dedication to innovation in providing students with the education needed for outstanding career opportunities and meeting the evolving needs of industries,” said Dr. Chavonda Mills, dean of GGC’s School of Science and Technology.
For more information, visit www.ggc.edu/ChemistryDegree.
AUTUMN HARVEST CHILI
While we wait for Grizzlyfest, here’s a great chili you can try now! Try this recipe from Leia Kent, executive chef, Aladdin Campus Dining.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 10 people
Nutrition of 1 cup with beans and meat: 23.5g total carbs, 16.3g net carbs, 9.1g fat, 18.2g protein, 242 calories
INSTRUCTIONS
Stovetop Method
1. Add 1 tbsp. oil to a large, 2-3 qt. soup pot or saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking up large chunks as you go. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 min. until onions are translucent.
2. Add onions, peppers, celery, butternut squash, beans, pumpkin and diced tomatoes and mix well. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt and cayenne.
3. Continue cooking on medium-high until mixture starts to bubble. Add beer, reduce heat to low-medium,
INGREDIENTS
· 3 tbsp. olive oil or canola oil
· 3 lb. lean ground beef
· 1 lb. andouille sausage
· 8 oz. Spanish chorizo
· 1 small onion, diced - about ½ cup
· 1 tsp. fresh garlic
· 3 stalk celery, diced
· 1 poblano pepper, diced
· 1 jalapeno, diced
· 1 red pepper, diced
· 1 small can of chipotle pepper, diced
· 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1” cubes
· 4 Georgia peaches, diced and peeled
cover and allow to simmer for 30 min.
4. Serve hot topped with any combination of plain yogurt, sour cream, ripe avocado, lime juice, hot sauce and/or sharp cheddar.
Slow Cooker Method
1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp. of oil over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking up large chunks as you go. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 min. until onions are translucent.
2. Transfer mixture to the slow cooker. Add onions, peppers, butternut squash, pumpkin, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt and cayenne.
· 1 15-oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
· 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
· 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes, no salt added – undrained
· 3 tsp tomato paste
· 5 tbsp. chili powder
· 5 tbsp. dark chili powder
· 1 bay leaf
· 2 tsp. ground cumin
· 2 tsp. fennel
· 3 tsp. brown sugar
· 3 tsp. sea salt or to taste
· ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
· 2 beers of your preference
Stir well, add the beer, cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours. Serve as above.
Options
· Substitute vegan crumbles, ground beef or ground pork for the sausage, or try a combination of these.
· Toppings perfect for this chili include sour cream, cilantro, sharp cheddar or sweet potato chips.
Dr. Misael Romero-Reyes, assistant professor of chemistry (center), discusses yeast growth with 2024 biology graduates Katlyn Xiong and Amalia Barron.
Leia Kent, executive chef, Aladdin Campus Dining
Georgia Gwinnett College made history this past May with its largest graduating class to date. More than 900 students received their bachelor’s and nexus degrees before an enthusiastic crowd of families and friends.
With the addition of the spring graduates, GGC’s alumni now number more than 13,000.
The spring 2024 ceremony marked the final time GGC students will graduate at the Gas South District facilities, home to all of the college’s commencement ceremonies since 2013. Commencement will come home to campus when the college’s new Convocation Center will host its first ceremony in December 2024.
Dakota Merriman, 2023-24 Student Government Association president, presents a grizzly statuette to keynote speaker, state Rep. Pedro “Pete” Marin.
Dr. Jann L. Joseph, GGC president, presents a posthumous Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice for Georgia State Trooper Jimmy Cenescar to his brother, Joel. Trooper Cenescar passed away in the line of duty in early 2024.
Graduates visited with Ginger, now retired from service as GGC’s first K-9 officer.
Psychology graduate Laura Davis spoke on behalf of the spring Class of 2024.
Luis Montanez-Cerna ‘20, CMAP, and current GGC Alumni Board member, hands out GGC Alumni Association lapel pins to graduates.
Graduates turn their tassels, becoming the newest GGC alumni.
When Ian Potter joined Georgia Gwinnett College in 2012, it was a full-circle moment. The Gwinnett County native continued his high school track career at Clemson University before starting his sports administration career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and then Augusta University.
GGC’s new intercollegiate athletics program brought him home and gave him the unusual opportunity to help the program from scratch.
Earlier this year, Potter was named executive athletics director, and his vision for the Grizzlies boils down to the student-athlete experience.
“Our mission is to develop lifelong leaders of character through athletic and academic excellence,” he said. “I wasn’t a good student in high school, but excelling in athletics provided me with an opportunity to attend college.”
In fact, Potter is now Dr. Potter, having earned his Doctor of Education in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University.
A point of pride for him is the fact that all GGC sports teams consistently have a GPA above 3.0.
“Everyone here recognizes that we have a shared responsibility to educate and equip our young people for life after GGC. I want to make sure we continue to focus on that.”
Spring Brings Success
The teams also excel in competition. Lining the walls of the Grizzly Athletics Building are cases filled with championship trophies, representing an impressive record for such a young program. Among the trophies are an astounding 10 national NAIA titles won by the men’s tennis team and nine by the women’s tennis team.
What’s next for GGC Athletics?
“Now that we have USG approval, we’ve built a winning tradition with soccer, baseball, softball and tennis,” Potter said. “Next is men’s and women’s basketball in the new Convocation Center. We’ve concluded the search for coaches and plan to start competing in 2025,” said Potter.
Spring Brings More Athletic Success
Dramatic, down-to-the-wire finishes brought more success for GGC’s intercollegiate athletic teams during the 2023-24 season, including the college’s 20th NAIA national championship.
The women’s tennis team rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Keiser University (Florida) 4-3 for the program’s ninth national title at the NAIA Championships in Mobile, Alabama. This marked the third time that the program’s national title came down to winning the final match. The final two points were secured by Iryna Lysykh, ’24, and Stephanie Fernandez, ’24. “With our experience and our players’ pure determination, I knew they could win this match ... Everyone on the team played their heart and soul out,” said Hannah Keeling, head coach.
Less dramatic, but just as significant was the men’s tennis team’s decade of dominance, secured by its 10th national title in a 4-0 triumph against Keiser in Mobile. Contributing to the team’s success were Aleksa Ciric, ’24, Alex Gurmendi, ’24, Santiago Villarruel, ’26, and Luis Francisco Sampedro, ’26. “It was a dominant performance. It was a special day for our seniors and I couldn’t ask for a better performance in their last matches,” said Keeling, who also guided GGC to national titles in 2023.
“A 10-peat for men’s tennis is something that may never be duplicated, so I was glad to witness the historic achievement. GGC tennis is a dynasty,” said Chris Hodges, who led GGC’s tennis program to 15 titles from 2013-22. “Having former players in Mobile to support this year’s team shows that there’s a G-Claw connection between current and future Grizzlies.”
Extra efforts made the baseball and softball teams victorious in their NAIA Lawrenceville Opening Round tournaments – within minutes of each other – to qualify for the World Series.
The Grizzlies’ baseball squad scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a dramatic, 7-6, come-from-behind victory against Faulkner University (Alabama).
Meanwhile, a dramatic walk-off single gave GGC softball a 1-0 victory over Eastern Oregon University in the championship game of the team’s Lawrenceville Opening Round.
Last fall, the women’s soccer team qualified for NAIA postseason play after winning the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) championship with a 2-1 victory over Bellevue University (Nebraska) at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.
The men’s soccer squad had a 6-8-4 record and advanced to the semifinal round of the CAC tournament.
A New Grizzly is Coming to Campus
World-renowned sculptor Gregory Johnson of Cumming, Georgia, is creating Georgia Gwinnett’s newest landmark: a six-foot, bronze grizzly statue that will greet visitors to the new Convocation Center.
Johnson started his career as a representational painter. In 1990, he turned to traditional bronze sculpting. He has installed more than 1,500 sculptures around the world, of which about 100 are animals or birds. This latest project is his third grizzly and second for GGC.
Johnson will invest 350 to 400 hours in creating the 750-lb. statue by the time it’s standing in its permanent place on campus – an island in front of the new Convocation Center.
hands. Its facial expression looks as if it wants to know about the person it’s looking toward. If a bear were to step up and introduce itself to a person, this may be how it would look, and it will face the parking lot so people walking toward the entrance will see it.
“When I start to make a sculpture like this, I look for interesting silhouettes, movement and a bear with soul,” he said. “Animation is very important. You want it to look alive, which is not easy to do.”
Johnson posed the bear with its back paws on the ground and its right, front paw reaching forward, almost as if to shake
“I want peoples’ first reaction to be a sense of discovery and awe,” said Johnson. “He’s a handsomelooking bear with a touch of curiosity in his face.”
Johnson said there is also a surprise design element, which he would not divulge. He wants people to discover it for themselves.
He said creating a metal object that projects character and energy requires craftmanship and skill that take decades to cultivate.
“I could say it takes an entire lifetime to make something like this, because you are always learning,” he said.
The new grizzly statue will be unveiled as part of the Convocation Center ribboncutting ceremony.
Gregory Johnson is shown working in his studio.
Scholarship Endowments Support GGC Students And Create A Lasting Legacy
Endowment Growth
The GGC Foundation seeks to grow its endowment, and the GGC Foundation Board of Trustees and School of Business Board of Visitors are stepping up to the plate. Through the Advancement team’s engagement with five members of these boards, each has committed to funding a scholarship endowment of $50,000 or more. They are the Garrard Family Scholarship, Chen-Lin Foundation Endowed Scholarship, Kim Gartrell Endowed Scholarship, Om Duggal Scholarship in International Business, and the Herschend David Burkart Memorial Scholarship. Such endowments create a lasting legacy and live in perpetuity.
Through the Peach State Federal Credit Union, a firstgeneration-focused scholarship endowment has also been created.This scholarship will launch in 2030, and is a $250,000 commitment that will impact many students for decades to come.
The Foundation appreciates the generosity of these donors. Students interested in applying for GGC scholarships should contact GGC Financial Aid.
Scholarship Celebration
GGC’s Scholarship Celebration brought nearly 100 donors and scholarship recipients together last April.
Students and donors mixed and mingled, sharing stories about why they give and how the generosity of each donor has changed their lives.
Shown are scholarship recipients Patrice Hampton, ‘24, business – Beacon Student Emergency Fund; Citlali Cardenas Gutierrez, ’25, integrative studies – IME-Becas Scholarship; Denait Araya, ’24, biology – Daniel J. Kaufman Scholarship Fund; and Daniel Loa, ’26, business – Andersen Family Scholarship Fund.
Philanthropist Camille Chang-Gilmore gave the keynote address, evoking tears among many in the audience.
GGC Four Pillars Scholarship Gala
This fall, Georgia Gwinnett College and the GGC Foundation will host its first GGC Four Pillars Scholarship Gala, presented by Georgia Power, in the new Convocation Center on Nov. 22. Co-chairs Antonio Molina and Jay Dennard will lead the charge, along with the Gala Committee.
Gala Sponsorships
The Four Pillars Scholarship Gala offers pillar-themed sponsorship levels, including Leadership at $20,000, Scholarship at $15,000, Creativity at $10,000 and Service at $5,000. Proceeds from the gala will provide scholarships for deserving students.
Mark Your Legacy With Your Personalized Brick
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE GGC FOUR PILLARS SCHOLARSHIP GALA
November 22, 2024
GGC Convocation Center
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Dinner, Awards and Dancing
For sponsorship information visit www.ggc.edu/FourPillarsGala or scan the QR code
It’s an exciting time at GGC. The new Convocation Center is nearing completion and one of the amazing features of the building is the Alumni Plaza, located at the front entrance. The Alumni Plaza will honor GGC alumni in a special way.
Imagine your name etched into the very foundation of your alma mater. By purchasing a commemorative brick, you’ll become a permanent part of our vibrant alumni community. Lining the new Alumni Plaza, these engraved bricks will welcome visitors, fans and new graduates into the Convocation Center. What a beautiful legacy to leave for future generations of Grizzlies.
Scan the QR code to pre-order your brick today and be one of the first to receive instructions for formatting your brick in August.
Dream realized: Becoming an educator
‘24
Lizbeth Hidalgo Moran, ’24, is many things – daughter of immigrants, Georgia Gwinnett College alum and soldier – but there’s one title that defines her better than all the others: teacher.
“I chose education because from a very young age, I looked up to the educators who taught me,” Hidalgo Moran said. “I had positive experiences throughout my schooling, both academically and with my teachers. When I was trying to soul-search and determine if there was any other job I really wanted, I kept circling back to teaching.”
When it came time to pursue that dream, she knew GGC was the place to do it.
“I chose GGC because of its proximity and its education program. Also, we were middle class citizens, so the more cost-effective I could make my college journey, the better,” she said. “I knew that with my HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships, I could lessen those financial burdens. This was also one of the main reasons I joined the military.”
She joined the Georgia National Guard in 2018, and serves as a sergeant in the 874th Engineering Utilities Detachment.
Hidalgo Moran’s parents, immigrants from Guerrero, Mexico, taught her the value of hard work. Her father, Nicolas, and mother, Marbella, raised Hidalgo Moran and her two younger sisters while working as a landscaper and house cleaner, respectively.
“I’m proud of all that I’ve accomplished so far, and without the proper support from my parents and my two younger sisters, I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” said Hidalgo Moran, who majored in middle grades education. “I want my parents to know that their effort all these years will continue to pay them back!”
Hidalgo Moran is just one example of the mutually beneficial relationships between GGC and Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). About 75% of GGC’s student body hails from Gwinnett, and the college’s educator preparatory program has a special collaboration with GCPS that provides local student teaching experiences for education majors.
Like many of her predecessors who graduated from GCPS, Hidalgo Moran is now returning to a GCPS school as a teacher. This fall, she will teach fourth grade at Level Creek Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia.
HELPING MINORITY BUSINESSES THRIVE
Shalaya Morissette was studying for a business degree in upstate New York when a call from her mother changed everything – she was pregnant and needed her daughter’s help.
After moving 1,000 miles to be there for her mother and baby brother, Morissette was determined to finish what she started, and set her sights on GGC.
“At the time, GGC was small, but it had obtained the fastest accreditation east of the Mississippi,” said Morissette. “So, I said this is the place to be! They’re doing things.”
Morissette enrolled in GGC in 2009 and earned her business administration degree in 2012, leaving a record of academic successes behind her.
Today, she is chief of the Minority Business and Workforce Division at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and reports directly to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Her role is to increase the minority business participation within the DOE’s federal funding opportunities.
“I know business, and I happen to be a black woman, so that gives me a certain credibility and puts me in a unique position to understand what’s happening in the world,” said Morissette, who enjoys talking with minority business owners and educating them about DOE opportunities.
“What I do doesn’t just help businesses thrive. Business owners have children and are more likely to hire other minorities,” she said. “Looking through that lens, I wake up every day and say, ‘I’m impacting people’s lives in a very positive way, and I don’t need a billion dollars tomorrow to do it.’”
She said her knack for business comes from her mother, a serial entrepreneur.
“My mother is amazing. She has bought and sold many, many companies,” said Morissette. “She’s owned thrift stores and convenience stores, and was the first person in Massachusetts to have a mobile auto glass company.
That gives me a clear lens when I see what folks are going through as small business owners.”
Morissette said her mother’s influence and her GGC education set her up for success and gave her momentum to climb to the highest levels of government service.
“I could tell you something from every class that I took,” she said. “I found the value later in life for all the courses. They each prepared me for something.”
Shalaya Morissette with actor Malik Yoba
Shalaya Morissette with Georgia Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm.
AI: FRIEND OR FOE?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing and evolving tool
“We know that computers learn from data fed into their databases, which were designed and programmed by humans. Computers store, categorize and process this input of information and compound their knowledge by learning from other connected databases,” said Dr. Karen Benson, assistant professor of information technology at GGC. “With AI, the machines are now reasoning and forming conclusions with the vast amount of data stored in their hard drives.”
Like any other tool, AI has its advantages.
“It can be thought of as the modern day ‘Ouija board’ for predictive models of supply and demand. In fact, you’re probably using AI and don’t realize it,” she said. “An example is ChatGPT, which is a category of ‘chatbots.’ Using chatbots, you can ask questions and receive answers in a human-like conversation and written content.”
Like any other form of technology, there are disadvantages.
“Because AI can’t empathize with personal feelings, bias and discrimination become a prominent drawback,” she said. “Studies show that the facial recognition system is less accurate in identifying people of color, which may lead to false positives in the authentication process.”
AI can also be a tool for scams.
“AI can personalize a phishing campaign to steal personal information. Always use strong passwords and never use the same password twice for different applications. Also, ensure you have antivirus on your personal devices and use common sense when giving out information over the phone,” she said.
With the help of AI, deepfakes are becoming more common.
“This results in creating people that do not exist or events that never happened and stitching them together to create misleading information. Deepfakes are prevalent in scams and hoaxes, such as revenge-porn, and they can steal your identity to create an imposter of yourself,” she said.
AI will impact jobs.
“Google has unveiled its latest development of AI software to use data analytics for predictions and code/content creation. Jobs that are predicted to disappear include accountants, research analysts, warehouse workers, and computer programmers,” she said. “Any job that is hands-on, like electricians, plumbers, nurses, surgeons, managers and teachers can’t be replaced. Data networking and cybersecurity will never go away.”
When Benson and her colleagues teach information courses at GGC, there are four properties that students must learn – input, output, processing and storage.
“Now with AI, we must add reasoning,” she said.
Summer internships open career paths
As the demanding academic school year gives way to quieter summer months, some GGC students maximize that time by enrolling in GGC’s Business Internship Experience class
This summer, 33 GGC students signed up to work in academic credit internships that align with their chosen career fields.
“Summers are typically the most active for internships,” said Dr. Marvin Bontrager, associate professor of management and School of Business internship coordinator. “Internships are vital to securing full-time positions upon graduation, as these provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge from the classroom to
gain practical skill development in the workplace.”
Yadira Valencia, ’25, business, interned at the accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram for four months this past spring. She said the skills she learned during the internship are invaluable to her professional goals.
“I learned to be comfortable handling multiple different tasks with multiple clients in certain time spans and adjusting to working with different teams of people,” she said. “It was a great experience that really improved my confidence as a future, fulltime member of that career field.”
Valencia recently started a second internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its Atlanta office.
After graduating next year, she plans to pursue a master’s degree and earn a certified public accountant license to continue working with PwC or another CPA firm in metro Atlanta.
The long-term benefits of an internship are undeniable. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, about 72 percent of paid internships result in full-time employment and higher salary offers.
“Employers look for students with both academic and applied experience, especially in relevant career fields,” said Bontrager.
“With the experience that comes through the School of Business’ degree programs and our internship program, our graduates have everything they need to thrive once they walk across the commencement stage.”
Students like Grayson Scott and David Carter have benefited from internships.
CLASS NOTES
If you have news you would like to share with the Georgia Gwinnett College community, please email it to alumni@ggc.edu.
Kevin Becerra-Cardoza, ’23, political science, is pursuing a master’s of legal studies at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Angel Do, ’21, psychology, earned her master’s in psychology and is now pursuing an education specialist degree in school psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also in Georgia State’s School Climate and Safety Research Program.
Jody C. Forsyth, ’23, business, and Hunter P. Mosley, ’22, political science, are engaged.
Kodjo Gagnon, ’13, business, received both a master’s in science of accountancy and a doctorate of business administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Brandon Gamon, ’18, exercise science, and Stacy Gonzalez, ’22, nursing, are engaged.
Tenasia Glover, ’19, psychology, earned her master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anzules Gomez, ’23, political science, has been accepted into the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia.
Stacy Gonzalez, ’22, nursing, is working in the Emergency Department at Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Madison Martin Hunt, ’21, exercise science, earned a master’s in athletic training from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, and is practicing athletic training at a high school in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Christopher Lacroix, ’15, criminal justice and criminology, served in the U.S. Army and now owns a CrossFit Gym in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also a Jefferson Award recipient.
Zach Lister, ’23, exercise science, is in physical therapy school at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida.
Azaliah McKenzie-Darby, ’23, political science, helped her family grow a restaurant business and is now pursuing a master’s of legal studies with an emphasis on business law and compliance at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jazzmyne Mitchell, ’22, business, earned her MBA from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
Eli Munoz, ’21, business, is marketing coordinator for Oldcastle APG, Inc.
Nishant Singh, ’18, business, is a senior project manager at Axon, specializing in video communications.
Imani Lewis Sumter, ’20, business, is brand and creative strategy specialist for Delta Professional Services.
Demone Webb, ’22, political science, earned his MBA from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sabrina Veillard, ’23, political science, is a legal assistant focused on real estate at O’Kelley & Sorohan Attorneys at Law, LLC in Duluth, Georgia.
Tom Willard, ’11, business, completed his MBA at Purdue University Global.
Dr. Alvina Atkinson, professor of mathematics, is a 2024 Black History Month Honoree of the Network of Minorities in Mathematical Sciences’ Mathematically Gifted & Black.
Dr. Peter Sakaris, professor of biology, received the Distinguished Service Award and the Professional of the Year Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.
Dr. Kara Latopolski, dean of students, was a primary practitioner for spring training modules for the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
GGC faculty teams recently won more than $41,000 in Affordable Learning Grants for development of digital materials and related research that will result in significant savings for students.
See more Notables at www.ggc.edu/notables
Scene Around GGC
Woohoo! GGC’s student parking lots are paved! A big, Grizzly thank-you to the City of Lawrenceville for paving the way to helping the college obtain and improve the parking lots.
The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents recently presented the Regents Momentum Award for Excellence in Advising and Student Success to Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC). Shown are Dr. Ashwani Monga, USG executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer; Dr. George Low, GGC senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs/provost; Dr. Karen Jackson, GGC assistant professor of education and associate dean for advising programs; Dr. Justin Jernigan, GGC dean of Student Success; Nancy Ciudad-Simmons, GGC senior student success advisor, and Dr. Sonny Perdue, USG chancellor.
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Scan the QR code below to complete the survey by Sept.15 and you can enter to win two VIP tickets to the GGC home-opener basketball game! The winner will be announced by the end of September.
GGC hosted a free solar eclipse viewing April 8 for students and the community to witness.
A K-12 teacher learns a fun classroom student activity via outreach by GGC’s Technology Ambassador Program (TAP) TAP received $300,000 of $700,000 in National Science Foundation grant funding provided the college for information technology programs.
GGC’s chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity recently pinned its 14 founding fathers, celebrating its inception within the campus community.
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) provides access to targeted baccalaureate- and associate-level degrees meeting the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast metropolitan Atlanta region.
GGC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Georgia Gwinnett College. Visit www.ggc.edu
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