Georgia Southern Receives More National Recognition for Student Support Programs

Georgia Southern’s work to support students in their college journey is once again receiving national recognition. The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

Excellence Awards has included two of the University’s collaborative projects, The Eagle Experience and the Period Equity Movement, in its 2022-2023 list of winners.

“It is a tremendous honor for Georgia Southern to be recognized in this way, highlighting these programs that impact our students,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Shay Little, Ph.D.

Little said credit should be spread to many on campus, including Amy Smith, associate vice president for Enrollment Management, Dustin Anderson, Ph.D., associate provost for student success, and Ken Gassiot, Ph.D., associate vice president for student development, for The Eagle Experience; and Gemma Skuraton, DrPH, director of student wellness and health promotion, and Gabi Wiggell, president of the wellness ambassadors and undergraduate public health student, for leading the Period Equity Movement efforts.

The Eagle Experience, a cross-University effort to ensure new students’ successful transition to the Georgia Southern college experience, was selected as the 2022-23 NASPA Excellence Awards Gold Winner in the Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, First-year, Other-year, Orientation, and related category.

The Eagle Experience began with a charge and directive in fall 2020 from the vice presidents in enrollment management, student affairs and academic affairs to reimagine the transition experience for incoming students beginning summer 2021. This resulted in more than 50 faculty, staff and students working together to create an exemplary experience for new students that consists of a schedule of programming that engages and supports a broad range of student populations. By focusing on niche student populations such as online-only, first time-first year, graduate, LGBTQ+, multicultural, dual-enrolled, military-affiliated, honors, international and transfer students, among others, the experience showcases the value that Georgia Southern has in ensuring all voices and students feel welcome.

Georgia Southern was the only USG institution recognized in this year’s list of winners. The Eagle Experience was previously awarded the 2021-22 NASPA Excellence Bronze Award.

The Period Equity Movement (PEM), a multi-campus initiative led by faculty, students and staff to promote period equity, won the 2022-23 NASPA Excellence Awards Gold Award in the Athletics, Recreation, Counseling, Health, Wellness and related category. All Gold Award Winners were reviewed a second time to select the grand winners, and the Period Equity Movement was also selected as the Silver Grand Award Winner.

The goal of the PEM initiative is to reduce learning loss from menstrual product insecurity (period poverty) among Georgia Southern students by providing access to free sustainable and disposal menstrual products. The PEM consists of three pantry site types – the Green Period Pantry, the Disposable Period Pantry and Period Products On the Go. In addition to these pantries, PEM consists of engagement events and implementation of a comprehensive, medically accurate, culturally relevant reproductive health peer education certificate available to Georgia Southern students. The initiative currently has 21 trained reproductive health student educators, two ongoing research projects, collaborations with 19 campus partners, and 68 pantry sites across all three campuses.

The NASPA Excellence Awards recognize the contributions of members who are transforming higher education through outstanding programs, innovative services and effective administration. NASPA’s Excellence Awards cover 12 categories crucial to the success of students. Sharing our successes benefits students, improves institutions and promotes our profession. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu

New Dean of Georgia Southern’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Craig M. Harvey, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as the new dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing at Georgia Southern University beginning July 1.

“I am excited to welcome Dean Craig Harvey to Georgia Southern University as the next generation of leadership for the College of Engineering and Computing,” said Carl L. Reiber, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“Dean Harvey brings with him an understanding of what a vibrant and growing research university will need to move to the next level as our region expands in its engineering and computing needs.”

Harvey comes to Georgia Southern from Louisiana State University, where he serves as the associate dean for academic affairs of the College of Engineering, professor of Industrial Engineering and is the holder of the Donald W. Clayton University Professorship. He brings a wealth of knowledge in leadership, student growth and expansion and advanced engineering studies.

“It will be a great honor to serve as the next dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, a college that prepares graduates in engineering, construction and computing to be ready to take on the challenges facing Georgia and the country in the 21st century,” Harvey said. “I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, alumni and industry to position the college to meet the future demands in both education and research in the state where my engineering career began.”

Harvey worked full time as a maintenance engineer and captain at Grand Forks Air Base in North Dakota and served in the United States Air Force Reserves while earning a Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Purdue University. He earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, followed by a Master of Industrial Engineering degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. GeorgiaSouthern.edu. S