Fall 2008
alumni connections A publication of the Georgia State University College of Education Alumni Club
Welcome Dr. Susan Ogletree College of Education Alumni Club President
Dear COE Alumni and Friends:
Organizational Meeting and Silent Auction The Fox Sports Grill at Atlantic Station was the location of our organizational meeting and silent auction and proved to be a great success. The guest speaker for this gathering was Ms. Carolyn Curry, a Georgia State University alumnus and first lady of our Georgia State Panthers football team. Georgia State alum Dr. Carolyn Curry mingles at Fox Sports Grill at Atlantic Station.
The Fall semester is in full swing and we are looking forward to an exciting academic year! Our club is only as successful as the members make it. We have a few wonderful leaders and would welcome a few more. Positions are available that would focus on membership, event planning, coordination with the Alumni Association, website maintenance and community services. As we plan events to support and reunite with our alumni and friends, I invite all of you to become active participants in the COE Alumni Club. Also, keep us informed on what you are doing so that we may share your successes with other alumni, friends and the education community. Please update your contact information so you will be certain to receive news, announcements and to learn more about the COE Alumni Club. We are eager to hear from you.
Wine & Dinner with the Dean, children’s text books, and COE apparell are a few gift baskets that were auctioned to raise money for the alumni club.
COE alumni coordinator, Elisa Tate, engaged in discussion on what speakers would be of interest for alumni.
Our Board of Directors and club members have been meeting bi-monthly and working diligently to establish our club’s committee structure and mission. Our most recent initiative is to partner with homeless shelters to support homeless children in the Atlanta area. All of our efforts will be linked to the vision that “Every child deserves an education…the children of the College of Education.” If you have resources or are interested in helping with this initiative, we need to hear from you. Contact our club coordinator, Elisa Tate at (404) 413-8101 or etate2@gsu.edu.
Upcoming Events
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Benjamin E. Mays Lecture Monday, October 13 • 6 p.m.
Rialto Center for the Performing Arts 80 Forsyth Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 Dr. Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), has been selected as the speaker for the 20th Annual Benjamin E. Mays Lecture, which will be held Monday, October 13, at 6 p.m. at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The annual lecture series, sponsored by Georgia State’s College of Education and Alonzo A. Crim Center for Urban Educational Excellence, began in 1989 to encourage the discussion of issues facing urban educational leaders through a series of lectures. The event honors the memory of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, an Atlanta educator, and promotes his philosophy of excellence in the education of those typically least served by society.
Jazzing Up the COE Lobby Saturday, October 25
City Grill & COE Lobby 50 Hurt Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30303 COE Alumni & Friends are invited to an evening of jazz to celebrate our newly renovated COE lobby. The evening begins with cocktails and light hor’d oeuvres at 5 p.m. at the City Grill, 50 Hurt Plaza. The evening continues with live jazz entertainment, festivities in the newly renovated COE lobby and review of our emeritus recognition wall. Complimentary parking will be available in parking lot G. The dress is business casual. Register online at www.gastatealumni.net/Clubs/Education.cfm or call the Alumni Association at (404) 413-2190 or (800) GSU-ALUM. An art show featuring art from students in the metro area will be on display in our COE lobby and available for auction.
Alumni & Friends Winter Gala and Fundraiser Sunday, January 25, 2009
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center 980 Briarcliff Road, N.E. • Atlanta, GA • 30306 The Club’s first fundraiser to support homeless children will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 6 p.m. at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. This will be a black tie affair. Call (404) 413-8101 for more information.
Alumni Spotlight
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Dr. John Green named “Outstanding Educator”
Nicola H. Ayoub, Owner of Nicola’s Restaurant
Dr. John Green of Gwinnett County Public Schools was recently named “Outstanding Educator” by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) during the organization’s annual conference for his contributions and accomplishments as principal of North Gwinnett High. The Outstanding Educator Award is presented annually to a GAEL member who has shown significant achievement in the field of educational leadership and who has made important contributions to GAEL and one or more of the GAEL affiliates. Dr. Green has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University
Nicola’s Restaurant is a Lebanese restaurant featuring Middle Eastern cuisine. Nicola makes his restaurant available for local Middle Eastern dance teachers and their students to hold their recitals. The restaurant is also available for wedding rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, and business meetings. The College of Education alumnus and owner of Nicola’s, Nicola H. Ayoub, was born in the mountain city of Zahle where he taught Arabic composition for five years at St. George’s school in Zahle. In 1970, he came to the United States and studied English as a second language at Georgia State University. After learning English adequately,
Dr. John Green of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a master’s degree in math education from Georgia State University; and a doctoral degree in educational administration from the University of Georgia. Dr. Green currently serves Gwinnett County Schools as its Area V Superintendent, a position he took in July after serving North Gwinnett High as its principal for a decade.
C o l l e g e o f Edu c at i o n Georgia State University P.O. Box 3980 Atlanta, GA 30362-3980
he received his bachelor’s degree in education and later received his master’s degree in educational psychology. Nicola’s is located at 1602 Lavista Road in Atlanta and is open Tuesday-Sunday, 5-10:30 p.m. For more information on Nicola’s visit www.nicolas-restaurant.com.