Georgia Southern University to promote sustainable practices during Southern Sustainability Week on Statesboro Campus April 3-6

Next week, Georgia Southern University’s Office of Leadership and Community Engagement (OLCE) will host Southern Sustainability Week to raise awareness about sustainable practices with fun and engaging activities.

Events will be hosted on the Statesboro Campus from April 3-6, featuring exhibits, games, a scavenger hunt, the Campus Thrift Store and a farmer’s market. Prominent speakers Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, hosts of the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary, “The Minimalists: Less is Now,” will also give a talk about living with less that is open to the public.

“Southern Sustainability Week is an opportunity for students to explore environmental and social sustainability through programs such as the Campus Thrift Store, Campus Farmers Market and daily activities at the Union Rotunda,” said Kira Jatoft, OLCE assistant director of Sustainability and Leadership. “Sustain Southern is excited to partner with campus and community organizations to allow students to learn more about sustainable resources, sustainability on campus, and how their actions now can impact future generations.”  

Highlights from the Southern Sustainability Week schedule include:

Monday, April 3 
Road to Recycling 
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
Russell Union Rotunda

Students can participate in recycling games and educational tabling.

Tuesday, April 4 
Reducing Inequalities
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. 
Russell Union Rotunda

Sustain Southern joins with campus partners for interactive and informative awareness activities and tabling.

Guest Speakers: The Minimalists
5 – 6 p.m.
Russell Union Ballroom
Emmy-nominated Netflix stars of “The Minimalists: Less is Now,” podcasters and New York Times bestselling authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus help millions of people live meaningfully with less. The Minimalists have been featured in TIME, GQ, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC and NPR, and have spoken at Apple and Google.
**This event is open to the public. Registration is required. To sign up, click here. 

Wednesday, April 5
Farmer’s Market
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Russell Union Rotunda
Multiple vendors and exhibitors will share their sustainable initiatives and goods. 

Thursday, April 6
Educational Scavenger Hunt
11 a.m – 1 p.m.
*Begins at the Russell Union Rotunda

Educational Scavenger Hunt relating to climate change begins at the Rotunda and winds throughout campus. 

April 3-6

Campus Thrift Store
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Please consider donating gently used clothing in drop off locations throughout the Statesboro Campus through March 29. Donations can also include canned goods and hygiene products. Donations will earn credits that can be used to purchase items from the Campus Thrift Store. This year staff and faculty can donate their credits for students to use throughout the event.

Southern Sustainability Week, formerly called No Impact Week, has been an annual event on campus in 2015. For more information, visit Southern Sustainability’s website or contact Kira Jatoft at kjatoft@georgiasouthern.edu.

Last updated: 3/29/2023

Georgia Southern’s gold commitment to military-connected students recognized in latest Military Friendly School ranking

Georgia Southern University has once again been named as a Military Friendly School® and received a “Gold” ranking for 2023-2024 by VIQTORY for its commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunities for its military-connected students. 

Georgia Southern was among 250 schools to be selected for “Gold” award status for their leading practices, outcomes and effective programs. This award status is given to schools that are within 10% of the 10th-ranked organization.

“We are honored to be recognized by VIQTORY as a Gold award institution,” said Retired Col. George Fredrick, Ed.D., director of Military and Veteran Services. “Congratulations to our faculty, staff and our students for all the hard work we do each day to serve all of our students, especially our military-connected student population (veterans, active duty, guard and reserve, military spouses, and military children). It is my honor to serve at Georgia Southern University where we sustain excellence in serving our military-connected students.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with 530 schools earning awards level designations in gold, silver and bronze. 

Georgia Southern University has a strong and proud history of supporting veterans, current-serving military personnel and their families, and has accumulated many awards for its dedication to the military community. Information and resources are available on the Military and Veteran Services webpage.

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer) and loan default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans. 

About Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving more than 27,000 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 our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

About Military Friendly® Schools

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com. 

About VIQTORY

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.VIQTORY.com.

Last updated: 3/21/2023

Georgia Southern chemistry professor earns USG Hall of Fame Faculty Award

“These awards embody USG’s dedication to academic excellence and our gratitude for these outstanding faculty and programs,” said USG Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence Denise Domizi, Ph.D., in the announcement.

Narendrapurapu began teaching chemistry at Georgia Southern in 2013. Along with those classes, she has concentrated on STEM education research. In particular, she focuses on two things: designing animations for chemistry concepts and designing and studying intervention programs for increasing success in chemistry courses.

“This recognition belongs to all those who encouraged me in my growth as an educator,” said Narendrapurapu. “My special thanks to the Faculty Center, Library liaisons, colleagues and all my educator friends who supported me and shared their valuable wisdom that led to this award.”

Narendrapurapu will be honored at the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala on September 8.

“It’s faculty like Dr. Narendrapurapu who make institutions of higher education promising,” said Georgia Southern Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “She has continued to demonstrate the character and work ethic that make Georgia Southern succeed, and we are very proud of her.”

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving nearly 26,500 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville and online instruction. The leading higher education institution 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: 3/10/2023

Business Innovation Group announces Patrick Woock as new Director of Business Incubation

Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG) has hired Patrick Woock, Ph.D., to lead its efforts in supporting south Georgia entrepreneurs as the unit’s new director of business incubation.

In this newly created position, Woock will be responsible for continuing to grow the footprint that Georgia Southern has already established in the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He will work in the southeast region through BIG’s Innovation Incubators (I2) and around the state through the Georgia Enterprise Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GENIE) program.

“As someone who has worked in industry and in academia, Patrick is the perfect person to help take our incubator to the next level,” said Dominique Halaby, DPA, associate provost for Innovation at Georgia Southern University.  

Woock comes to Georgia Southern with more than 20 years of experience in leading entrepreneurs. He previously served as the director of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) SCORE Business Mentors program in Duluth, Minnesota, and the director of the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at the University of St. Thomas in Texas. Additionally, he brings extensive international expertise with 14 years of Asian business development experience.

“I’m excited to join the BIG team, and I am looking forward to implementing an impactful vision that will bring sustainable opportunities for south Georgia’s entrepreneurs,” Woock said. 

In the role, Woock will also oversee the operations of the FabLab, the Business Accelerator Program and the Virtual Incubator Program.

As a unit, BIG works to build an ecosystem throughout the state of Georgia to help entrepreneurs create, incubate and accelerate their for-profit business enterprises. In October 2022, the efforts of BIG and its resource partners culminated in Georgia Southern University being selected as one of 51 nationwide grant recipients of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Build to Scale program, wherein the University received $600,000 in grant funding along with $600,000 in local match funds. This was followed by the awarding of a $794,472 EDA grant to scale up the GENIE program, which will connect businesses in 27 underserved locations throughout Georgia with the technical assistance they need to be successful.

With incubators already established in Statesboro and Metter, and a third soon to open in Hinesville, BIG is committed to developing and deploying new technological platforms, innovative programs, quality services and educational events to help meet the needs of area businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators seeking to expand business operations or  launch new business enterprises, products and services.

About Georgia Southern University

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 with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging in learning opportunities through the knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers, and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Last updated: 3/9/2023

Youth mental health issues on the rise: National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Research Center awards seed grants for faculty research in support of local youth advocacy and resiliency 

Youth across the U.S. are increasingly at risk for mental health issues, and Georgia Southern University is directly responding to the needs of local youth.

The University’s National Youth Advocacy and Resilience (NYAR) Research Center, which promotes scholarly and collaborative research with community partners to assist young people in overcoming conditions that may threaten their safety, health, emotional needs or intellectual development, recently awarded three seed grants to faculty for research that support youth advocacy and resiliency.

“The three NYAR Research Center innovative seed grants address community impact around trauma-informed mental health care, family engagement and rural community-based interventions and counseling, and all grants support the 2023 educational legislative initiatives, specifically in the area of school safety,” said Juliann Sergi McBrayer, Ed.D., Georgia Southern College of Education (COE) associate professor of educational leadership and NYAR Research Center co-director. “Given the increased demand for high-quality mental health services, we feel these research projects are vital to the well-being of our community.” 

The center is co-directed by Chad Posick, professor of criminal justice in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 study revealed that:

— More than 1 in 3 high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic;
— Nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless;
— A quarter of teens struggled with hunger;
— Two-thirds said they had difficulty with schoolwork;
— More than half of students experienced emotional abuse in their home.

Research funded by the seed grants aims to buffer impact on local youth while supporting current and relevant educational legislative initiatives.

COE professors Regina Rahimi, Ed.D., and Delores Liston, Ph.D., along with Waters College of Health Professions faculty April Garrity, Ph.D., and Tamerah Hunt, Ph.D., were awarded $8,300 for a joint research project, “Establishing a Trauma-Informed and Mental Health Research Collaborative.”

“I am thrilled to be part of a collaborative team that was awarded an NYAR Research seed grant,” said Rahimi. “This grant will allow four colleagues from various colleges on campus to build a community collaborative around trauma-informed practice. We hope this grant will kickstart this community project, which will have long-lasting implications and outcomes.” 

COE faculty Anne Valauri, Ph.D., and Jarvais Jackson, Ph.D., were awarded $9,502.02 for their research, “The State of Home: Understanding Georgia Teachers’ Conceptions and Practices of Family Engagement.”

“Securing this grant to gauge family engagement practices in classrooms around the state of Georgia will inform our instruction for future and current teachers; thus creating more engaged families,” said Jackson.

In addition, COE’s Pamela Wells, Ph.D., and Kristen Dickens, Ph.D., earned $6,167 for their collaborative work, “Steps to a Stronger Statesboro: Community-Based Interventions to Fortify a Rural Community.”

All research will include collaboration with undergraduate or graduate students, who will collect and analyze data in preparation for publication and dissemination regionally and nationally.

The NYAR Center is based on a dynamic complex systems view of five interacting areas, known as the 5H Model, that impact the academic, social and emotional well-being of youth that include: “head” for intellectual achievement and school leadership; “heart” for social and emotional skills; “hands” for safety and protection; “health” for physical and mental health; and “home” for family and community support.

The model guides the center’s decision-making in order to foster the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of youth by providing educators, social workers, law enforcement, community leaders and other community constituents impacting youth with professional development, research support, and resource assistance across the 5H areas.

Last updated: 3/9/2023

It’s a good day to plant a tree: Georgia Southern celebrates Arbor Day

Georgia Southern University’s campuses are a little greener after students, faculty and staff came together to celebrate Georgia’s Arbor Day by planting longleaf pine and dogwood trees on the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses, respectively. 

Organized by Sustain Southern in the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement, The Division of Facilities Services and student organization EcoAdvocates, the groups planted three longleaf pine trees near the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah and in Statesboro, 10 dogwood trees were planted along Southern Drive leading to Sweetheart Circle. 

Shay Little, Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs, said the Arbor Day celebrations are just one way that students can become more connected to sustainability on campus and the inclusive learning environment that the Division of Student Affairs aims to create. 

“I am proud to say that the mission of the division of Student Affairs is to cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters the holistic development of students through transformational engagement and intentional learning,” Little said. 

Arbor Day is celebrated and is marked by the planting of trees and emphasizes caring for them as a way to sustainably protect the planet’s natural resources. Each year, Georgia Southern students, faculty and staff gather at each campus and reflect on the importance of Arbor Day. 

“We have been designated a tree-friendly campus, and we’re recognized nationally because of this commitment and the work that we are doing here today,” said President Kyle Marrero during the Statesboro ceremony. 

The efforts by the University’s Landscape Services team and efforts such as Arbor Day provide an inviting environment on campus that will be enjoyed for many years, Marrero added. 

“Today is a part of the work that we do with Sustain Southern, and I am thankful for all of the groups and the plan that we’ve developed to make sure that we are good stewards of our environment now and in the future,” Marrero said. 

Vice President for Business and Finance Ron Stalnaker also lauded the efforts of the Landscape Services team. 

“I want to give a tremendous thank you to our grounds team for all the work that they’ve done to prepare us for this Arbor Day event, but not just for this event, but everything they do every single day to beautify all of our campuses,” said Stalnaker. 

At the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, Ken Gassiot, Ph.D., associate vice president of Student Affairs, shared a quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead about the importance of making a change in the world. 

“‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,’” Gassiot quoted. 

He then encouraged the students present to get involved inside and outside the classroom because it could make all the difference. 

“Whether you feel like your population of two and your ideas of three can make a difference in the world, it truly can,” he said. “When we choose to live in a sustainable world by planting trees and living in a more recyclable, sustainable way, it helps the things in our life and people become better.”

The newly planted trees add to the combined more than 250 species varieties that can be found on the campuses in Savannah and Statesboro. The most commonly found tree species in Statesboro is oak, while in Savannah, conifers, junipers and dogwood trees are most commonly found on the Armstrong Campus. 

In addition to a wide variety of species on Georgia Southern’s campuses, one can also find rare species and trees that have been on the campus grounds since before Georgia Southern existed. 

On the Armstrong and Statesboro Campuses, the oldest trees are oak trees which can be found on Sweetheart Circle and the lawn in front of Burnett Hall in Savannah. The Division of Facilities Services had to remove an oak tree on Sweetheart Circle in recent years and estimated it to be nearly 400 years old. 

The Armstrong Campus is home to one of the rarest tree species in the world: The Vietnamese Cypress. Only discovered as a species in Vietnam in 1999, it is considered critically endangered with less than 1,000 living in the wild. The Armstrong Arboretum is participating in an ex-situ conservation effort to preserve the species. The tree can be found in the conifer garden. 

The Mexican Oak is another less common tree species found on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah. Already sparsely found outside of Mexico, deforestation and agricultural efforts have depleted many of the species in its native country. Since its planting on campus in 2012, the tree has grown to be nearly 30 feet tall, which is considered exceptional since it’s growing outside its natural habitat. There are only a few reports of this type of tree living along the Atlantic Coast. 

The Statesboro Campus is home to the Herty Pines Nature Preserve, a wooded area just off Sweetheart Circle where a thicket of longleaf pine trees can be found. The preserve is named for Charles Herty, a researcher and pioneer in the turpentine industry who developed a sustainable method of turpentine collection in the early 1900s. The preserve is the original location of where Herty began his research developing this method, which extended the life of trees used in the turpentine industry. 

Planting trees in February allows them to better establish before the hot Georgia temperatures set in during the summer. This is why Georgia recognizes Arbor Day on the third Friday of every February instead of on the National Arbor Day celebration in April. Due to inclement weather, the Statesboro Campus moved its celebration to March. 

Last updated: 3/9/2023

Georgia Southern Business Innovation Group client awarded runner-up prize at Savannah pitch competition

A Georgia Southern University Business Innovation Group (BIG) client and Statesboro-based business won $2,500 and claimed the runner-up spot at the 2023 GRIT Conference Startup Stage Pitch Competition held in January. 

Whiskey Grail, a business co-owned by Georgia Southern alumnus and entrepreneur Jim Walker and Statesboro entrepreneur Adam Tsang, offers handmade, American white oak drinking vessels with a charred interior designed to mimic the barrels where bourbon whiskey ages. Each grail is hand-crafted by expert artisans in BIG’s Fabrication Lab (FabLab) in downtown Statesboro. 

Walker and Tsang, who started the business in November 2020, represented one of six start-up ventures selected from a group of 31 applicants to deliver their pitch to the competition’s five judges at the Creative Coast’s annual innovation conference. The panel included venture capitalists and angel investors Bill Glenn, Julianne Roseman, Steve Perricone, Jim Goodlet and Bill Nussey. 

“It’s incredibly validating to the work that both of us have put in over the past two years,” said Tsang on the team’s accomplishment. 

Those sentiments were echoed by Catherine Blake, business advisor at BIG and the team’s coach in the BIGx Accelerator Program, which works to mentor and prepare clients to successfully seek investor funding for their business. 

“The performance of team Whiskey Grail is an example of BIG’s dedication to client excellence and the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of these amazing founders,” said Blake. 

Along with various in-kind services, Whiskey Grail plans to use the cash prize to use for investing in production processes and capturing a larger market share in their industry.

Last updated: 2/27/2023

RiteCare Center asks Georgia Southern community to lend their voice to help others find theirs

Georgia Southern University’s RiteCare Center for Communications Disorders is asking students, faculty and staff to lend their voice in an effort to help those who struggle with speech to improve their communication. 

The RiteCare Center’s third annual Voice Drive is happening now through May. Individuals are encouraged to collect voice recordings to submit to a human voicebank. Individuals with voice or speech loss from conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), apraxia, aphasia and Huntington’s disease, among others, can later access the recordings to help create a voice for themselves. 

“A voice is unique to an individual, and the loss of a voice may result in a loss of one’s identity,” said Tory Candea, clinical coordinator at the RiteCare Center. “The use of Augmentative Alternative Communication (ACC) can assist those who have lost their voices, yet the standard voices programmed on ACC devices may sound mechanical, robotic and unnatural.”

Approximately 3,500 sentences are needed to create a complete digital voice. This takes an average of five to seven hours, and recordings are broken up into 10-15 minute sessions over the course of several weeks.

“The more individuals who donate their voices, the more options a person who has lost their voice is able to choose from, allowing them the opportunity to find a voice that better matches their personality and identity,” noted Candea. “By hosting this voice drive we hope to help these individuals retrieve control over their voice and improve their overall ability to communicate.”

Last year the RiteCare Center collected 9,696 sentences and hopes to collect 15,000 sentences this year.

Recordings can be submitted from your own home via your own schedule. You will need a computer and a microphone headset. The deadline to submit recordings is May 2.
For additional information or to register, please contact Tory Candea at tcandea@georgiasouthern.edu.

Last updated: 2/22/2023