GUIDEBOOK TO IMPLEMENTATION
I’m excited to share an update on the progress we’re making in advancing Georgia State’s strategic plan, BluePrint to 2033. This plan remains a vital roadmap for growth, innovation and excellence across our institution. Thanks to the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and partners — many of whom are featured in this guidebook — we are making significant strides in critical areas that are shaping the future of Georgia State University.
Our commitment to student achievement is central to our mission. Through the Student Success 2.0 initiatives, we are building on our national reputation as a leader in student success by fostering curricular innovation, expanding educational access and enhancing evidence-based support programs for students at every level. From refining our core curriculum to prioritizing high-impact practices and launching a student employment program that builds connections between academics and careers, these initiatives strengthen Georgia State University’s role as a social mobility engine, positioning our students for long-term success.
Georgia State has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most dynamic research and innovation ecosystems. Our researchers and creative scholars are advancing new knowledge for public benefit, and through initiatives focused on innovative research, scholarship and creative activity, we are committed to elevating our impact in these areas. By improving tools and technologies that streamline research management, we are enhancing the support for our researchers to drive forward-looking solutions.
We are proud to be a globally recognized institution that offers students from all backgrounds access to one of the most innovative and creative learning environments in the nation. As a vibrant, multicampus university, Georgia State aims to be a place where people come to learn, work, play and connect. The Identity, Placemaking and Belonging initiatives will deepen our ties to Atlanta and our surrounding
communities, creating relationships that benefit both our students and neighbors. These collaborative initiatives enable us to contribute to our region’s growth while enriching the experiences of our students, faculty and staff.
Over the next decade, Georgia State will continue to be an institution “moving at the speed of change,” anticipating the needs of employers and equipping our students with the resources to thrive in their careers and in life. Through the Beyond College to Career initiatives, we are expanding career services, centralizing professional education and enriching the undergraduate experience with more opportunities for experiential learning in research, scholarship and creative pursuits.
As we look to the future, we will stay focused on our goals while remaining flexible to new opportunities and challenges. Your feedback is essential as we refine our strategies and build a stronger, more resilient Georgia State University. Together, we are crafting a future that honors our successes and embraces the innovations of tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission. I am eager to see what we will accomplish together in the coming months and years.
Dear GSU Community,
We are thrilled to embark on the next phase of BluePrint to 2033. With the launch of the 20 new initiatives grounded in the foundational pillars of Identity, Placemaking & Belonging; Innovating Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity; Student Success 2.0 and Beyond College to Career, we are leveraging the university’s strengths to advance our mission and reach our highest aspirations.
This guidebook serves as a resource to inform, inspire and guide our collective efforts as we move forward with the implementation of the strategic initiatives. Each section reflects our commitment to excellence, innovation and alignment with the goals that will propel the university toward continued success. But more importantly, the guidebook highlights the collective story of us — the dedicated faculty, staff and students — who have been involved in the process since the plan’s inception, and to those who will lead the implementation of the initiatives going forward. Together, as the GSU community, we will embrace this journey of growth and transformation, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas thrive, progress is measured and impact is realized.
Thank you for your dedication, focus and engagement as we work toward achieving the strategic objectives and fulfilling the Our Place, Our Time vision on the road to BluePrint to 2033.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Y. Lester Associate Provost, Strategic Initiatives
2022 STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Charge – To engage the university community and stakeholders in the development of a broad strategic planning document that will guide the University’s direction, build upon the Presidential Pillars, and identify goals for the next ten years that will enhance Georgia State University’s capacity for cultural enrichment and placemaking, student success, innovation beyond the classroom, and creating and communicating new knowledge.
2022 STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Co-chairs
Karen Wheel-Carter Perimeter College
Jared Poley College of Arts & Sciences
Honorary Co-chair
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Project Coordinator
Kristie Seelman
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Committee
Members
Airhihenbuwa
Collins
School of Public Health
Krista Graham Digital Library Services
Carol Cohen Student Success
Kenya Kirkendoll
Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
Lisa Armistead The Graduate School
Candace Kemp College of Arts & Sciences
Laura Edmunds Perimeter College
Tameka Lester College of Law
Jim Marton Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Didier Merlin Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Yves McKenzie College of Law
Michael Sanseviro Student Success
Committee Members
DaShaunda Patterson College of Education & Human Development
Chester Phillips College of the Arts
Student Advisory Board
Kevin Baker College of Education & Human Development, undergraduate
Summer Clark J. Mack Robinson College of Business, undergraduate
Jennifer Sherer J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Kelly Stout Research Program Enhancement
Bobby Eischen Perimeter College –Newton campus, associate
Sydney Flonnoy Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, graduate
David Gaines College of Law & School of Public Health, graduate & law
Veruanikka Newsome College of Arts & Sciences, undergraduate
Tre’Vaughan Williams College of the Arts, undergraduate
STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES
Charge – Organized according to pillar the Strategic Planning Taskforces were charged with utilizing the strategic planning document to identify, define, and recommend initiatives for implementation to the Cross-cutting team. The Strategic Planning Taskforces are led by members of the President’s Cabinet as well as the Dean of the Graduate School.
STRATEGIC PLAN
STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES
IDENTITY, PLACEMAKING AND BELONGING
Convener Task Force Members
Michael Sanseviro Student Engagement
Kimberly Bennekin Perimeter College
Dorcas Attah J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Charlie Cobb Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
Kim
Facilities Design & Construction
Joseph Corrigan Campus Police
Dajun Dai College of Arts & Sciences
Delisa
Undergraduate Student, Student Government Association
Tamika Barnes University Library
Bauer
Hardnick
Jennifer Wilson Sustainability Initiatives
Corrie Fountain Office of Faculty Affairs
Melanie Davenport College of the Arts
Carlos Pavao School of Public Health
Patrick Freer School of Music
Ann Williamson Human Resources
INNOVATING RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
Convener Task Force Members
Donald Hamelberg Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development
Ann-Margaret Esnard Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Elliott Albers Neuroscience Institute
Kay Gilstrap Research Program Enhancement
Paul Alberto College of Education & Human Development
J.D. Li Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Anna Radar Neuroscience Institute
Jessica Shepherd Office of the Vice President for Research & Economic Development
Rodney Lyn Schol of Public Policy
Sarah Clark Neuroscience Institute
Kristina (Kris) Niedringhaus College of Law
Chester Phillips College of the Arts
Michael Parkerson Government and Community Affairs
Rose Sevick College of Arts & Sciences
Jared Poley College of Arts & Sciences
STRATEGIC PLANNING TASKFORCES
STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0
Convener Task Force Members
Allison Calhoun-Brown Student Success
Jaye Atkinson College of Arts & Sciences
Michael Galchinsky Office of Academic Affairs
Shelby Frost Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Sarah Cook The Honors College
Kerry Heyward Legal Affairs
Brad Freeman Finance and Administration
Ashley Holmes College of Arts & Sciences
Tabatha Michel University Advancement
James Wilson Student Government Association
Nadine Kabengi College of Arts & Sciences
Matthew Lawson Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Eileen Kramer University Library
Erin Morrey Perimeter College
Carrie Manning Office of International Initiatives
Ben Yonas School of Music
BEYOND COLLEGE TO CAREER
Convener Task Force Members
Armistead The Graduate School
Kennedy Crawford Student Engagement
Bala Ramesh J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Heath Wood University Advancement
Jason Aldrich Career Advancement Center
Jennifer Meeks Perimeter College
Jamie Thaubald Instructional Innovation & Technology
Bell-Kareem Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Huanbiao Mo Byrdine College of Nursing & Health Professions
Phil Ventimiglia Instructional Innovation & Technology
Richard D. Phillips J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Willis College of Ars & Sciences
Lisa
Antoinette
Nancy Byron The Graduate School
Angelique
CROSS-CUTTING COMMITTEE
Charge – Prioritize and recommend to the Presidential Cabinet initiatives for implementation. The Cross-cutting Team also ensures consistency and integration of initiatives that span across the university. The Cross-cutting team consists of leaders across the university and is co-chaired by the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
CROSS-CUTTING COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs Committee Members
L. Jared Abramson Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Cheryl Harrelson University Advancement
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Jo Ann Herold Public Relations & Marketing Communications
Sidney Smith President’s Office
Jeff Steely University Library
Michelle Brattain College of Arts & Sciences
Rubena Cela Learning Innovations
Tabatha Michael University Advancement
Mary McLaughlin Office of Academic Affairs
Wanda Lynn Riley University Audit and Advisory Services
Zayvion Sheppard Student Government Association
Sally Robertson Perimeter College
Jamie Smith Perimeter College
Ramesh Vakamudi Facilities and Building Services
James Wilson Student Government Association
Charge – Create a consistent format for prioritized initiatives that can be aligned with key performance indicators of both successful implementation and outcome and develop a scorecard to rate each proposed initiative on impact, affordability, and ease of implementation.
OPERATIONS TEAM COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Charge – Create a communication environment that manages and coordinates internal and external communications regarding the plan that ensures that the University community can effectively engage with the plan through a variety of communication methods.
OPERATIONS TEAM
L. Jared Abramson Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Cynthia Lester Office of Strategic Initiatives
Committee Members Committee Members
Cynthia Villaverde Finance and Administration
Chair
Jo Ann Herold Public Relations & Marketing Communications
Cody Benson Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss
Renata Irving Public Relations & Marketing Communications
William Davis Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss
Matt McCullin Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss
William Inman Public Relations & Marketing Communications
Julia Thompson Public Relations & Marketing Communicationss
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
Charge – The Implementation Team will develop the project plan and oversee the implementation for each initiative. The Implementation Team also defines clear initiative objectives, goals, timeline for implementation, and milestones. The Implementation Team is led by a Taskforce Convener or designee and provides quarterly updates to the President’s Cabinet.
Implementation Team Pillar Key
IDENTITY, PLACEMAKING AND BELONGING
INNOVATING RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY
STUDENT SUCCESS 2.0
BEYOND COLLEGE TO CAREER
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE: Implement the Hidden Gems Project
Develop the Hidden Gems and Hidden Histories Project to highlight historical sites and events on each campus to increaseconnections and community.
Cabinet Sponsors
Jo Ann Herold Vice President, Public Relations & Marketing Communications
Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement
Leaders
Manager, Marketing and Media
INITIATIVE:
Develop Signature University-Wide Events
Enhance the Georgia State University community experience by highlighting signature experiences, expanding existing traditions and developing new shared traditions that reflect our core values and create a sense of shared identity.
Cabinet Sponsor
Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement
Leaders
Lauren Bellard History & Honors College Librarian
Jeff Benson Associate Director, Student Life – Atlanta
Jez Catamay-Lopez Director, Student Engagement – Clarkston
Kathyrn Wilson Assistant Professor
Raychel Briggs
Erin Morrey Associate Professor
INITIATIVE: Develop GSU Mobile App
Develop an official mobile app for the Georgia State University community that elevates the user experience, boosts engagement, extends the university’s reach, fosters seamless communication, drives innovation and reinforces the strength of the university’s brand.
Cabinet Sponsor
Phil Ventimiglia Chief Innovation Officer
Leaders
John Bandy Deputy Chief Innovation Officer
Fernando Rochaix Assistant Professor
INITIATIVE:
Develop a Panther Quad on Every Campus
Develop a Panther Quad on every campus, which will serve as an identifiable location where students, faculty and staff can gather for activities, events or leisure.
Cabinet Sponsors
L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Michael Sanseviro Vice President for Student Engagement
Leaders
Anthony Davis Associate Vice President & Dean of Students
Instructor
Jamie Smith Chief Administrative Officer and Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration
Shayla Willis
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE: Implement Safety Improvement Plan
Implement the safety improvement plan to improve safety infrastructure, enhance the learning environment, foster community trust, promote well-being, strengthen the university’s reputation and create better campus connectivity.
Cabinet Sponsor
L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
INITIATIVE:
Recruit, Cultivate and Retain Employees
To establish Georgia State as a competitive place to work, one of President M. Brian Blake’s first priorities was to launch a compensation study. The study will provide data to establish benchmarks for competitive salary structures to better recruit and retain employees.
Cabinet Sponsor
Ann Williamson
Associate Vice President for Human Resources & CHRO, Office of Finance and Administration
Tim Evans Director, Class and Compensation
Anthony Coleman Cheif of Police
Corrie Fountain Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs
Chau Nguyen Assistant Director of Business Operations
INITIATIVE:
Reimagine Research Administration
Reimagining Research at Georgia State will strengthen the administrative framework by improving tools and technologies that streamline the management of sponsored programs, research activities and related processes.
Cabinet Sponsor
Donald Hamelberg Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Leaders
Comfort Reeves-Brownell Assistant Vice President for Research, Office of Sponsored Proposals & Awards
MaryAnn Romski Regents Professor – Director, Center for Research on Atypical Development and Learning
INITIATIVE: School of Computing
Create a School of Computing within the College of Arts & Sciences to expand the scope of traditional computer science by leveraging interdisciplinary fields that advance computing research and education while meeting the growing demand for degree programs that align with distinct sub-fields and career paths.
Cabinet Sponsor
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Leaders
Lindsey Cohen
Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science
Armin Mikler
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE:
Elevate Research and Innovation
As the next phase of Project RISE, Georgia State will establish a new health-focused University Research Center (URC), which leverages the unique strengths of our research and academic community to address complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Cabinet Sponsor
Donald Hamelberg Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
J.D. Li Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Leaders
Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development
Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College
Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health
Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries
Courtney Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law
Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
Huanbiao Mo Dean, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts
Candace Kemp Professor
Thomas
Lisa
Barbara Johnson Dean, Perimeter College
INITIATIVE: Implement Graduate Research Excellence Program
Launch the Graduate Research Excellence Program to bolster support in line with peer Research 1 institutions, offer degree completion incentives and introduce enhancements that elevate the overall graduate student experience.
Cabinet Sponsor
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Leaders
Cynthia
Vice President for Financial Planning and Operation
Villaverde
Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
J.D. Li Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development
Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College
Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health
Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries
Courtney Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law
Huanbiao Mo Dean, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
Thomas J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Lisa Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
Barbara Johnson Dean, Perimeter College
Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE:
Engage Faculty to Increase Student Success
Georgia State will form faculty-led task forces to explore and implement best practices in targeted courses aimed at improving completion rates. Modeled after the successful Math Taskforce, these groups will focus on replicating positive student outcomes across various disciplines.
Cabinet Sponsors
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Courtney
Melody Kelley Associate Professor
J.D. Li
Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Huanbiao Mo
Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development
Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College
Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health
Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries
Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law
Dean,
Thomas J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Lisa Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
Barbara Johnson Dean, Perimeter College
Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts
INITIATIVE:
Implement Customer Relationship Management Tool for Robust Student Records
Implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool for continuing students to enhance engagement, improve communication and retention, streamline processes, make more timely data-driven decisions and personalize the student experience.
Cabinet Sponsor
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Scott Burke Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions
Associate Vice President for Advancement IT
Associate Vice President & University Registrar
INITIATIVE: High-Impact Practices and Core Curriculum
Enhance the core curriculum by prioritizing high-impact practices, particularly in firstyear courses, through stronger integration and expansion, while implementing a faculty incentive plan to promote the adoption of best practices.
Cabinet Sponsors
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Michelle Brattain Associate Professor
Katy Crowther Assistant Professor
Kim Manturuk Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Online Education
Chris Burge
Tarrah Mirus
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE: Enhance Learning Management System
Enhance the learning management system into a more comprehensive student-facing tool by integrating academic support, enrollment management and career exploration opportunities, with a focus on connecting students to college-to-career initiatives.
Cabinet Sponsor
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Carol Cohen Associate Vice President for University Advisement
Eric
Floyd Associate Director, Digital Learning Environments
David Cotter Director of Communications and Data Analytics
INITIATIVE: Implement an On-Campus Worker-Learner Program
Establish a Student Employment Program that provides financial support to students, offers practical experience to strengthen career-academic connections, aligns employment opportunities with College-to-Career initiatives and includes a comprehensive training program for student employee supervisors.
Cabinet Sponsor
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Boyd Beckwith Assistant Vice President for Student Life
Senior Director of Talent Management
Cheryl Harrelson Vice President for University Advancement
Deedra Climerdra
INITIATIVE:
Recruit, Cultivate and Retain High-Quality Graduate Students
Implement the Graduate Enrollment Management Plan to better recruit, cultivate and retain high-quality graduate students.
Cabinet Sponsor
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lisa Armistead Dean, The Graduate School, and Distinguished University Professor of Psychology
J.D. Li
Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Chester Phillips Dean, College of the Arts
Leaders
Amber Amari Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs
Lindsey L. Cohen Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Rodney Lyn Dean, School of Public Health
Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Paul A. Alberto Dean, College of Education & Human Development
Sarah Cook Dean, Honors College
Joseph Magliano Professor
Jeff Steely Dean, University Libraries
Courtney Anderson Interim Dean, College of Law
Barbara Johnson Dean, Perimeter College
Huanbiao Mo Dean, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Professions
Thomas J. Vicino Dean, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
IMPLEMENTATION TEAMS
INITIATIVE:
Strengthen Infrastructure for Student Success
To create a one-stop hub for Georgia State’s student success services and the headquarters for the National Institute for Student Success (NISS).
Cabinet Sponsors
L. Jared Abramson Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
J.D. Li Director, Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Ramesh Vakamudi Vice President for Facilities Management Services
Timothy M. Renick Founding Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success
INITIATIVE:
Expand Access to Career Services
Implement VMock, a virtual career assistant that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics to ensure every student has continuing exposure to career services.
Cabinet Sponsor
Allison Calhoun-Brown Senior Vice President for Student Success
Leaders
Housley Assistant Vice President, Student Engagement
Ramona Simien Director, University Career Services
Heather
Dori Neptune Assistant Director of Integrated Graduate Student Services
INITIATIVE:
Centralize and Expand Continuing and Professional Education
Centralize and expand the continuing and professional education enterprise using short-format credentials and certificates that help workers upskill to meet the marketplace’s changing needs.
Cabinet Sponsor
Presidential Commission
Leaders
Richard D. Phillips Dean, J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Nancy Byron Assistant Dean for Marketing, Academic Innovations, Strategic Partnerships
INITIATIVE:
Create an Undergraduate Research Center
Create a Center for Undergraduate Research and Creativity that will enhance the undergraduate experience through increased opportunities for experiential learning in the domains of research, scholarship and creative activities.
Cabinet Sponsor
Nicolle Parsons-Pollard Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Leaders
LaKeyta Bonnette-Bailey Professor and Co-Director, Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni (CASA)
Kyle Frantz Professor and Director, Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni (CASA)
Gregory Poon Professor
