Georgia Southern University Holds Fall 2012 Convocation
Georgia Southern University President Brooks Keel, Ph.D., welcomed faculty and staff during the 2012 Fall Convocation as the University makes final preparations for the upcoming fall semester. The ceremony, which is held each fall at the Performing Arts Center, was attended by nearly 900 faculty and staff members.
The theme for the annual convocation was “Engaging Our Future Together.”
“Convocation and commencement are the two greatest events at any university,” said Keel. “This past year has been full of outstanding accomplishments and the year ahead is not without challenges. Georgia Southern is growing and changing for the better and I am excited about our future.”
Keel spoke to a capacity crowd and recognized the work of the University’s outstanding faculty members including both teaching and research activity. He highlighted the University’s numerous achievements during the past year and then focused on Georgia Southern’s expanding role in Georgia, particularly southeast Georgia noting that the institution is the largest University south of Atlanta. “We have a responsibility to the state of Georgia and this region to get bigger. Bigger in research, visual and performing arts, educational opportunities including strategic new degree programs, economic development and athletics. To become a national comprehensive research, we have to be nimble.”
Keel highlighted some of the positive steps the University is taking to address a growing student population including the planned hiring of additional faculty members. “Our goal is to ensure that as we continue to grow, we maintain the ‘small feel’ that is one of the main reasons students choose Georgia Southern.”
During the ceremony, Keel, along with Jean Bartels, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs presented the 2012-2013 Faculty Awards for Excellence. Established in 1985, the awards recognize excellence in service, contributions to instruction and research and creative scholarly activity. Since the awards began 26 years ago, only 162 have been presented. In 1988, Georgia Southern Professor Emeritus, Sculpture Pat Steadman was commissioned to create a special medallion that is presented to each award winner.
2012-2013 Faculty Award for Excellence in Service
Simone Charles, Ph.D., Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Pat Humphrey, Ph.D., Department of Mathematical Sciences
2012-2013 Faculty Award for Excellence in Contributions to Instruction
Delena Gatch, Ph.D., Department of Physics
Mark Hanna, Ph.D., Department of Finance & Economics
2012-2013 Faculty Award for Excellence in Research/Creative Scholarly Activity
Lorenza Beati, Ph.D.Department of Biology
Marc Moulton, MFA, Department of Art
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 117 degree programs serving more than 20,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. In 2011, the University was named one of the Top 10 most popular universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report and is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
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