Georgia Southern University establishes Yamaha Rightwaters Conservation scholarship

First recipient working to pursue career as a fisheries biologist

Georgia Southern University announced today the establishment of the Yamaha Rightwaters™ Conservation Scholarship. Supported by an ongoing endowment from Yamaha Rightwaters, the scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a student who exhibits outstanding efforts and commitment to improve coastal sustainability.

“The continued health and maintenance of our marine coastal environments is a key focus of Yamaha Rightwaters. It’s an honor to work with and support the next generation of dedicated conservationists. It will be their charge to carry the torch in the protection of our waterways,” said Martin Peters, director, External Affairs, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The opportunity to work with Georgia Southern, an outstanding university in Yamaha Marine’s home state, gives the new scholarship even greater significance. We look forward to following the recipients and applaud their efforts to pursue degrees that foster marine sustainability.”

Patrick Lewis, a Georgia Southern graduate student pursuing a Master of Science degree in biology, is the first recipient of the Yamaha Rightwaters Conservation Scholarship. Lewis plans to use the funds to finalize the research needed to defend his thesis, which seeks to understand the variations in fish ecologies at the individual and community levels in response to environmental variables that act together to affect fish. He’s also studying how these relationships vary across regions of Georgia. 

“Ultimately, my goal is to become a professional fisheries biologist at the state or federal level, where I can contribute to sound research concerning populations of fish across Georgia,” said Lewis, a native of Harris, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Marine Science from the University of Alabama. “I hope to combine the experiences I accrued over the years with science to achieve effective fisheries management, ensuring the sustainability of fishes and fishing for years to come.”

“It means a great deal to work with Yamaha Rightwaters in the pursuit of more sustainable marine environments through academic research,” said Trip Addison, president, of the Georgia Southern University Foundation. “This scholarship gives our students more support during their academic careers and also provides them with an example of an international company dedicated to impactful, conservation-oriented workforce development.”

Georgia Southern University will open applications for the 2024/2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Conservation Scholarship in the spring of 2024. Interested candidates may apply within their My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu portal, beginning in October. 

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 138 different degree programs serving more than 25,500 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare its students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Yamaha Rightwaters is a national sustainability program that encompasses all of Yamaha Marine’s conservation and water quality efforts. Program initiatives include habitat restoration, support for scientific research, mitigation of invasive species, the reduction of marine debris and environmental stewardship education. Yamaha Rightwaters reinforces Yamaha’s long-standing history of natural resource conservation, support of sustainable recreational fishing and water resources and Angler Code of Ethics, which requires pro anglers to adhere to principles of stewardship for all marine resources.

Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., markets and sells marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 450 horsepower. It also markets and sells fiberglass, jet-drive sport boats ranging from 19 to 27 feet, and personal watercraft. The unit includes manufacturing divisions of Yamaha Marine Systems Co., Inc., including Kracor of Milwaukee (rotational molding), Bennett Marine of Deerfield Beach, Fla. (trim tabs), and Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers of Indianapolis (stainless steel propellers). Yamaha Marine Group is a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., based in Cypress, Calif.

Last updated: 7/26/2023

Georgia Southern University Alumni Association welcomes new board members

Six new members recently joined Georgia Southern University’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome our newest members to the Georgia Southern Alumni Board,” said Ava Edwards, director of Georgia Southern’s Alumni Relations. “Their diverse backgrounds and experiences will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of our alumni network and University.”

The new board members include:

James Hammond (‘06)

Hammond is a managing partner for Ikon Filmworks, a premier videography company based in Metro Atlanta. In addition to more than 20 years of industry experience, Hammond is passionate about serving and developing communities across the state. He is a member of the Outstanding Atlanta Board of Trustees, and was a member of 2020 Leadership Buckhead, 2018 LEAD Atlanta, 2016 Georgia Forward Young Game Changers, 2016 Georgia Southern University 40 Under 40, 2015-18 Georgia Southern Young Alumni board, and the inaugural 2016 class of Emerging Leaders of DeKalb. Hammond, who graduated from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s in broadcasting, is also a 2015 Project Understanding Fellow, a 2012 New Leaders Council Atlanta Chapter alumnus, and a 2012 recipient of the Most Valuable Progressive Award from the New Leaders Council.

Kim Hartsock (‘00)

Hartsock is the managing partner in the Atlanta office of accounting firm Warren Averett, LLC, and is a co-host of the firm’s podcast, “The Wrap.” With a bachelor’s in business administration in accounting, Hartsock is also a valued community leader who was named a 2023 Georgia Titan 100 and a 2022 honoree of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Most Admired CEOs. She is an executive board member of Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, and past president of the Susan G. Komen Atlanta affiliate.

Jessica Hood (‘07, ‘15)

Hood is vice president of the Effingham County Industrial Authority (ECIDA), specializing in business attraction and retention for the entity. A cum laude graduate with a bachelor’s of business administration in economics and a master’s in business administration, Hood is actively involved on the board of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and Leadership Southeast Georgia. She is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Leadership Liberty, Leadership Burke, Leadership Effingham and Leadership Southeast Georgia. She is also an economic development finance professional as designated by the National Development Council, and a certified economic developer as designated by the International Economic Development Council. Hood was honored as one of Effingham Living’s 20 under 40 in 2021 and 2022, and was named to Georgia Southern’s 40 under 40 list in 2022.

Crandall Jones (‘81, ‘83)

Jones is the municipal administrator of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and founder and CEO of ENOSHA Management Services, LLC, a management development consulting firm that facilitates organizational and individual excellence. Jones, who holds a bachelor’s in political science and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern, has served in both city and county manager roles in Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia. He also served as a state agency head in Florida and as a national association executive director in Washington, D.C. Jones is a co-author of “In Our Own Words: A Story Untold: From Segregation to Integration to Assimilation 1965-1985: 21 Essays by Georgia Southern University’s Black Alumni,” founder of the Alpha Phi Alpha Scholarship Endowment, and a co-founder of the First 500 Scholarship Endowment at Georgia Southern.

Tonya Kincaid (‘92)

Kincaid, who earned a bachelor’s in business administration in accounting, has served as a fiscal steward to the state of Georgia for the last 14 years, and currently serves as the accounting director of finance and shared services for the State Accounting Office. Previously, she worked for the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and Georgia Department of Public Safety.

Latoya Stackhouse, Ed.D. (‘02, ‘16, ‘22)

Stackhouse, who has worked in education for 20 years, is the dean of students at Gordon State College. She holds a Doctor of Education in curriculum studies, a Master of Education in higher education administration and bachelor’s in sport management from Georgia Southern. 

Stackhouse has vast experience in intercollegiate athletics and several areas of student affairs, including admissions, Federal TRIO programs, academic advising, residence life, student activities, Greek life, recreation and wellness, and student leadership. Stackhouse is also an editorial board member at the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.

Founded in 1933, Georgia Southern’s Alumni Association’s Board of Directors is made up of alumni volunteers who are leaders in their communities and who have given tirelessly of their time in order to promote Georgia Southern.

To view the full Alumni Association Board of Directors list, visit here. 
For photos of the new board members, click here. 

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving nearly 26,000 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Last updated: 7/10/2023

Georgia Southern professor featured on National Geographic’s ‘When Sharks Attack 360’; view on Hulu, Disney+ and Nat Geo WILD throughout July

Georgia Southern University biology professor and researcher Christine Bedore, Ph.D., is helping National Geographic explore the mysteries of shark attacks by sharing her expertise and years of fieldwork as part of the six-part series, “When Sharks Attack 360,” this month. 

The series, which kicked off July 3, is part of National Geographic’s SharkFest, which will run all month on National Geographic TV, Disney+ and Nat Geo WILD, with new episodes each night through July 11. All episodes are currently available for streaming on Hulu.

In episodes 3 and 6, Bedore, an assistant professor in the College of Science and Mathematics who conducts research on sensory systems in sharks, discusses how shark senses may lead to bites by sharks on humans. While filming, she marveled at the channel’s cutting-edge VFX lab and their approach to educating viewers. 

“Working with National Geographic and the production team on this series was exciting because of the level of experience and creativity of the production team,” said Bedore. “It’s one of the most unique experiences I’ve had filming a documentary so far since it was done in a studio with a green screen, rather than in the field like we typically do. Using the virtual graphics in this series allows us to see these animals from a completely different angle. Although it was challenging to point at a shark that I couldn’t see at the time, we wouldn’t be able to see the detail of the animal at this level filming in the field.”

Sharks have long captured the attention of both scientists and the public, and are fascinating animals for many reasons, according to Bedore, who has offered her expertise for previous episodes on Nat Geo WILD, The History Channel and BBC.

They’re a species of immense size and diversity, and offer unique behaviors and interactions with other creatures, she noted. Understanding the behavior and physiology of sharks is critical to their survival, as they experience population declines due to overfishing and habitat changes. 

“In order to combat these changes and ensure the persistence of sharks in our oceans across the world, we first need to understand why they behave the way that they do,” Bedore said. “This series helps us do exactly that. For example, in episode 3 we discuss whether or not sharks can see in color. As a scientist that studies shark color vision, I’m often approached with the question, ‘who cares if sharks can see color?’ As you’ll see, the ability to see color could help sharks identify prey, predators or other objects.”

In episode 6, Bedore helps viewers understand that visual acuity, or how clear an image is, may be more important than color when we think about why sharks sometimes have negative interactions with humans. 

“Being able to discuss my work in these areas through National Geographic’s shark month has been a rewarding experience in helping people understand why these events sometimes happen,” she said. “It’s exciting to study such charismatic animals and have the chance to share your enthusiasm for your research and the sharks with people across the world.”

For more information on National Geographic’s “When Sharks Attack 360” visit here.

Last updated: 7/6/2023

Georgia Southern faculty receive $424,000 grants to advance cancer treatments

A pair of Georgia Southern University professors and their research team are working to develop new options to help the estimated two million new cases of cancer that are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Karelle Aiken, Ph.D., professor of organic chemistry, and Jannet Kocerha, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, are using a $424,000 grant to pursue new cancer drug treatments. This is the first time Georgia Southern has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute.

“The exciting research being done by Drs. Aiken and Kocerha is cutting-edge and aligns perfectly with Georgia Southern’s public impact mission to produce innovative ways to solve modern problems,” said Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “This grant validates their extraordinary efforts, and I applaud them for their hard work and dedication.”

Current anti-cancer therapeutics are plagued by issues such as selectivity in which the drugs also attack healthy cells, poor intake into cancer cells and drug resistance that develops over time.

The goal is to overcome various barriers that impact the effectiveness of cancer therapeutics by exploiting a cancer cell’s dependency on unusually high levels of amino acids nutrients. 

“Cancer cells compared to healthy cells grow really rapidly and they have a higher need for nutrients,” Aiken explained. “What we’re thinking of doing is taking compounds that we know have some toxicity to cancer cells and then masking them as a nutrient that they would need. That will make the drug even more attractive for the cancer cells to ingest them.”

Aiken and Kocerha said they hope the research will bring hope to those fighting incurable forms of the disease and other aggressive types of cancer.

The research will also offer full-time positions to Georgia Southern students. For three years, the grant will fund stipends to two undergraduate students and one graduate student to assist in the work. 

“A big part of the grant is about training the next generation of scientists,” Kocerha said. “Georgia Southern has a strong culture of involving students in the whole research. Not just the design, but also in coming together and working directly with the faculty on developing publications, doing presentations at national meetings and learning how to communicate science to the broader audience.”

Last updated: 6/30/2023

Georgia Southern University launches new School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of positions in environmental sciences is increasing 5% every year. The typical entry-level position requires a bachelor’s degree.

“We’re seeing an increase in the development of environmental science and sustainability programs across the country, and that’s because business is becoming more conscious of their impact,” said Daniel Gleason, Ph.D., chair of the new School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability (SEES). “Industry has now taken an interest in it and they’re demanding graduates with these types of degrees. Students are demanding these types of degrees. I’ve had several students over the last year that have transferred from some other institutions within Georgia because we had a sustainability science degree and they wanted that degree.”

On July 1, the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University will launch a new school that will blend several science disciplines to better serve a growing student demand for sustainability and environmental science. The SEES will bring together the geosciences program and the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science (ICPS).

“The new School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability is a testament to Georgia Southern’s aptitude to acclimate with the job market to create new pathways for successful careers,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “The careers these students will be prepared for don’t require the traditional disciplines we used to see. We’re now seeing a need for combining pathways among several disciplines to give students a better chance of success after their academic careers are complete.”

Under the new union, the degree programs will be respectively:

Geosciences

-Master of Science in Applied Geography

-B.S. in Geosciences (concentration in geology or geography)

-B.A. in Geology

-Geography Minor

-Geology Minor

-Geographic Information Systems Minor

James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science

-Ph.D. in Environmental Science

-Master of Science in Environmental Science

-B.S. in Sustainability Science

-Environmental Sustainability Interdisciplinary Minor

Students can pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Science as an accelerated master’s degree, which allows students to begin working toward their graduate degree as an undergraduate.

Gleason has been a professor and director of the Institute for Coastal Plain Science for a decade. He said when it comes to addressing issues related to the environment and sustainability, the traditional boundaries between the sciences are becoming blurred, so combining the geosciences programs and institute was a natural union.

Last updated: 6/28/2023

Georgia Southern’s Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center invites public to grand opening, Juneteenth celebration on June 19

Georgia Southern University’s Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center will officially open its doors with a grand opening and ribbon cutting on June 19. Coinciding with the Center’s Juneteenth celebration, the public is invited to attend the festivities at 13040 Abercorn Street in Savannah from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The ribbon cutting will kick off the event at 11 a.m. as local dignitaries, including Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, Georgia Rep. Carl Gilliard, Georgia Sen. Derek Mallow and Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis, as well as Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Executive Director Victoria Smalls, Gullah Geechee historian and preservationist Queen Quet and Georgia Southern Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D., offer opening remarks.

“This is a monumental occasion,” said Maxine Bryant, Ph.D., director of the Gullah Geechee Center. “To celebrate our grand opening on the nationally recognized Juneteenth is extremely meaningful. We will simultaneously honor the freedom of enslaved Black Americans and the Gullah Geechee culture that has preserved more African traditions than any other group.”

The Gullah Geechee people of Coastal Georgia are descendants of enslaved Africans from plantations along the lower Atlantic coast. Many came from the rice-growing region of West Africa and were brought to the Americas for their agricultural and architectural knowledge and skills. The enslaved Africans were isolated on the Sea Islands. This isolation enabled them to create and maintain a unique culture steeped in remnants of Africa. This culture became known as Gullah Geechee and is visible in the people’s distinctive arts, crafts, foodways, use of waterways, music, dance and language. 

Much of the Gullah Geechee community today, which is estimated to be a population of 1 million, can speak the African Creole language or tell the stories of their ancestors who are credited with influencing southern and American culture.

Local Gullah Geechee artists and the McIntosh County Shouters will showcase their talent at the event, and food truck vendors will be on-site.The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center, established in 2019, honors myriad contributions made by Gullah Geechee people, provides educational resources for the public, promotes scholarship and research, and serves as a model for national reconciliation and reparations. It is part of the Gullah Geechee Corridor, which stretches across 27 counties in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.

Last updated: 6/13/2023

Georgia Southern University announces Michael Huggins, Ph.D., as new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics

Michael Huggins, Ph.D., will join Georgia Southern University on August 1 as the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Huggins to our academic leadership,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “Dr. Huggins has a distinguished career filled with research, service and mentorship. He will be a valuable partner as we move forward with our leadership goals. He brings with him the working knowledge of how to lead a College, along with the foundations needed to advance our research mission.”

Huggins comes to Georgia Southern from Tarleton State University, where he has served as a dean since 2020. He led three academic departments with nine undergraduate degree programs and three master’s degree programs.

While serving as dean at Tarleton State, Huggins established a $15 million College of Science and Mathematics fundraising initiative. He also led efforts to improve COSM First-Time-In-College (FTIC) retention rates resulting in an improvement from 67.3% COSM FTIC retention for the Fall 2019 cohort to 71.7% retention rate for the Fall 2021 COSM FTIC cohort; a 6.5% improvement in just two years.

“I am excited to join the Georgia Southern team,” Huggins said. “I look forward to working with the faculty and staff to develop initiatives that support the growth of the College of Science and Mathematics and to ensure the success for all students during their time at the University and beyond.”

Huggins holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of West Florida, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Nevada, Reno and completed his postdoctoral at University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate from the Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

Last updated: 6/14/2023

Georgia Southern University names David Owen as new dean of the College of Arts and Humanities

David Owen, Ph.D., will join Eagle Nation on July 1 to serve as the new Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH).

“I am pleased to welcome David to Georgia Southern as the next generation of leadership for the College of Arts and Humanities,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “David brings with him a wealth of knowledge and understanding in analytical and philosophical foundations that will prepare our students for vital roles in their professional communities.”

Owen comes to Georgia Southern from the University of Louisville, where he has served as the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since 2020. Among his many achievements, he transitioned the college to a new enrollment-based budget model, led the development of a three-year retention plan, and led morale improvement efforts among the College.

While interim dean, Owen oversaw a budget of $62 million, including $4.8 million in funded research grants and a fundraising campaign that raised $4.3 million in 2021-2022. Prior to becoming interim dean, he was the chairperson of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Louisville. He is a three-time alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D.

“I am truly excited to be joining Georgia Southern as dean of the College of Arts and Humanities,” said Owen. “In my meetings, I found the faculty and staff of the College to be extraordinarily talented, and deeply committed to student success. The importance of the arts and humanities to a vibrant civic culture has never been more clear, and I look forward to working with the faculty and staff in CAH, Provost Reiber, colleagues from across campus, and alumni and friends of the college to advance the impact CAH has on students’ lives, on the wider community, and on civic culture.”

Last updated: 6/7/2023