connection summer 2015

CONTENTS|

4 Up FrontNews and notes around campus

9

Cover StoryOne Day at Georgia College

10

Closing the 125th

18

Faculty ProfileNewell Scholar Dr. Mab Segrest

17

Turning Pages

22

HomecomingIn pictures

25 Featured AlumniA feature on alumna Helen Matthews Lewis

26 Class Notes

Alumni Weekend Moves to NovemberPlease save the date for Alumni WeekendNov. 12-15, 2015. We will celebrate withreunion groups and there will be numerousevents taking place on campus. Moreinformation about this event will be featuredin our fall issue of Connection.

Homecoming

connection magazine | 4 | gcsu.edu

Summer 2015

Vol. XXIV, No.2Copyright 2015.

All rights reserved.Published by

University Communications231 W. Hancock St.

Milledgeville, GA 31061

PresidentSteve Dorman

Vice President for University Advancement

Monica Delisa

Interim Associate Vice President for

Strategic CommunicationsKyle Cullars, ‘10

Editor/Director of Marketing and Publications

Victoria Fowler, ‘12

WritersBrittiny Johnson, ‘15

Margaret MorrisAubrie L. Sofala, ‘12

Al Weston

DesignJon Scott, ‘83Brooks Hinton

PhotographyTim Vacula, ‘86

Please send change of address and class notes to:

University AdvancementCampus Box 113

Milledgeville, GA [email protected]

No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, sexual

orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information

be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise

be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity

conducted by Georgia College.

Student’s artworklands limited-edition merchandiseAn opportunity to create a piece for analumni art exhibit at Georgia Collegeopened up doors that art therapy graduatestudent Kelly Self,’13, never could haveimagined.

“I only had a couple of weeks notice forthe art show and was starting my graduateprogram, so I knew I had to createsomething quickly,” said Self. “I wanted todo something abstract and was inspired bythe Georgia College Bobcat.”

From that, "Artsy Bobcat" was born. Herartwork on display for the alumni exhibitcaused quite a buzz on campus, which ledto her art being featured as limited-edition

merchandise at Barnes & Noble atGeorgia College.

The "Artsy Bobcat" is available in T-shirts,prints and coffee mugs at the university’sbookstore.

“I am so excited about this opportunity,”she said. “This is going to be a big part ofmy resume moving forward. I never couldhave imagined my artwork being used inthis way, but I’m feeling great about it.”

For more information on the specialedition merchandise with Self’s artwork,call Barnes & Noble at Georgia College at478-445-8398.


Former President Edwin Speir passes awayDr. Edwin G. Speir, Jr., former president of GeorgiaCollege, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014. He was 80years old.

During his time as president, Speir establishedinternational exchange programs with universities inseveral countries. His tenure also witnessed therevitalization and revision of many degree programsincluding the birth of the nursing program and theaccreditation of the College of Business.

Speir was a strong supporter of the college’s fine artsprograms. He was also at the helm when severalmultimillion-dollar projects were approved including theconstruction of a new Arts and Sciences building, theexpansion of the library and the construction of the

Centennial Center athletic complex.

In 1996, also under Speir’s leadership, the Board of Regents officially charged the institutionwith its new mission as “Georgia’s Public Liberal Arts University.” President Speir retired in1997.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sue Purvis Speir of Milledgeville and three daughters;Sarah Speir of Americus, Jennifer Speir-Hearn of Atlanta and Lynn Speir of Atlanta; threegrandsons and one granddaughter; and a sister, Anne Speir Bruce of Greenville, S.C.

Old Governor’s Mansion becomes first Smithsonian affiliate in central Georgia

The Old Governor’s Mansion at Georgia College has beennamed a Smithsonian affiliate, becoming the ninth in thestate and the first in central Georgia to receive thisrecognition.

“The opportunity to be an affiliate of the Smithsonian is agreat honor for the Old Governor's Mansion and GeorgiaCollege,” said Director Matt Davis. “We look forward tobuilding partnerships for exhibitions, loans and thedevelopment of programming. This partnership will be ahuge benefit to the Mansion as we continue to build ournational profile within the museum field."

The Old Governor’s Mansion is part of a select group ofmuseums, cultural, educational and arts organizationsthat share the Smithsonian's resources with the nation.

Smithsonian Affiliations are designed to facilitate a two-way relationship among Smithsonian Affiliates and theSmithsonian to increase discovery and inspire lifelonglearning in communities across America. The programestablishes long-term relationships with museums andeducation and cultural organizations to facilitate the loanof Smithsonian artifacts and traveling exhibitions, as wellas develop innovative educational collaborations locallyand nationally.


Presidential Scholarship honorslegacy of Regent’s grandmother

Education is a powerful tool to not onlybuild a career on, but also a legacy for futuregenerations.

That’s exactly what Annie Ola BryanWaters personified. Whether she knew it ornot, her graduation from Georgia StateCollege for Women (GSCW), currentlyGeorgia College, in 1914, left a lastingimpression on her family and will now havebenefits for future students.

Annie Waters was the grandmother ofGeorgia Board of Regents member DonWaters.

“My grandmother’s stepping out to furtherher education in a time when that was nottypical, deserves to be honored. She took thenormal track at GSCW and became ateacher,” said Don Waters.

Although she died when Waters’ fatherwas only 6 years old in 1925, the impact shehad on her four children kept her memoryalive as the family grew.

“Her flame of life was passed to me by myfather,” said Waters. “His pride in her had ahuge impact on our family, and that’s why 90years after her death, her family chose tohonor her life.”

Keeping her legacy alive, the WatersFoundation gave a gift of $100,000 to theGeorgia College & State UniversityFoundation to create the Annie Ola BryanWaters Scholarship.

“My family and I wanted to create thisscholarship to help further students’education while also recognizing mygrandmother’s achievements during her life,”said Waters. “It’s important to us to makeopportunities available to future students, justlike Annie was given at her alma mater.”

The Annie Ola Bryan Waters Scholarshipis a Presidential Scholarship, which isawarded to incoming first-year students withsuperior academic accomplishments. High-achieving high school seniors from across thecountry compete for Georgia College’s mostprestigious scholarships.

“Our goal through this scholarship is tohonor my grandmother’s legacy by supportinghigher education,” said Waters. “The key tosuccess is knowledge, and higher education isa pathway for that. This scholarship will helpprovide those opportunities for future GeorgiaCollege students.”


Student research leadsto accreditation ofGeorgia College PohlObservatoryTwo undergraduate physics majors spentcountless hours during the last few monthscapturing photos of the heavens through the PohlObservatory’s high-powered telescope.

Thanks to their work and analysis, the observatoryis now accredited by the International

Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC).Located at the Smithsonian AstrophysicalObservatory, MPC is the official organization thatcomputes, publicizes and catalogs the dataconcerning asteroids, known as minor planets,comets and irregular natural satellites.

“Basically this project used the telescope to proveto the Minor Planet Center that our telescope iscapable of tracking objects accurately,” said juniorphysics major Joey Ronca.

Ronca and senior physics major Ben Crawleyspent their independent research credit hourstaking multiple photos of asteroids as they movedacross the night sky. Once they submitted that datato the Minor Planet Center, it was compared to thecenter’s data for accuracy.

“The quickest and most efficient way is withasteroids because they’re near home and move alot. For us, it became a process of finding asteroidswith the right magnitude and luminosity,” saidCrawley.

The designation marks the Pohl Observatory as atrusted site, which means it is able to gatherprecise measurements, known as astrometry, toupdate the position and brightness of known andnewly discovered asteroids and comets.

Georgia College receives Carnegie 2015Community Engagement ClassificationGeorgia College has been selected bythe Carnegie Foundation for theAdvancement of Teaching as one ofthe 240 U.S. colleges and universitiesto receive its 2015 CommunityEngagement Classification. GC is oneof the 83 institutions receiving theclassification for the first time andwas recognized along with 47 otherpublic universities in the country andfive in the state of Georgia.

The Carnegie Foundation'sClassification for CommunityEngagement is an electiveclassification based on voluntaryparticipation by institutions. Theelective classification involves data

collection and documentation ofimportant aspects of institutionalmission, identity and commitments.The classification is not an award. Itis an evidence-based documentationof institutional practice.

“This classification allows us to saythat we have been assessed by anoutside group that has verified ourcommitment to fulfilling our missionand focusing on community basedlearning opportunities,” said Dr.Steven Jones, director of the Centerfor Faculty Development.

The classification is active for 10years.


Georgia College president delivers State of the University address

President Dr. Steve Dorman recounted achievements and accolades fromthe last year, as well as set forth transformational ideas for the future, inhis 2015 State of the University address.

Dorman highlighted the reopening of Ennis Hall, the opening of Barnes &Noble at Georgia College, new building signage throughout campus, thetransition to a smoke-free campus and the quasquicentennial celebrationefforts.

The president also cited that Georgia College received the highest numberof freshman applications in its history for fall 2014, an 8 percent increasefrom the previous year. The university’s enrollment of freshman fromunderrepresented populations increased by 24 percent for that samesemester.

He also outlined future goals including:• Focusing on faculty development at all levels including new faculty

orientation, innovative pedagogy and the scholarship of teaching andlearning by forming a Center for Faculty Development.

• Expanding the staff, resources and impact of the Career Center toprovide an array of key career planning preparation experiences for eachgraduate of Georgia College over the next three years.

• Facilitating campuswide conversations about what it means to be a publicliberal arts university, reviewing and making recommendationsregarding tenure and promotion guidelines at the university level,reviewing core courses within the context of the mission andinvestigating the possibility of hosting a Phi Beta Kappa chapter atGeorgia College.

• Working to develop regionally and nationally recognized programsbuilding on the strengths of our writing and literary studies and health,economic, environmental and education programs.

Mindy Miller, ’10, became director ofAlumni Relations and Annual Giving atGeorgia College in February 2015. Shewas previously an assistant director ofAlumni Relations at High Point Universityin High Point, N.C.

Miller holds a bachelor of businessadministration in management fromGeorgia College and a master ofeducation degree in student affairs highereducation administration from WrightState University in Dayton, Ohio. Millerwas involved during her time at GeorgiaCollege as a student ambassador and amember of Sigma Alpha Omega. She alsoparticipated in the Leadership Certificate

program and the Georgia EducationalMentor program.

“Choosing to come back to GeorgiaCollege was a decision to come home,”says Miller. “Milledgeville and GeorgiaCollege hold a special place in my heartfrom my time here as a student, so theopportunity to be a part of thistransformational university under theleadership of Dr. Dorman was an easydecision.”

In her new role at Georgia College, Milleraims to strengthen the presence of thealumni association through engagement,support and overall pride in her almamater.

Miller named Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving


HomecomingSnapshots of this year's festivities


COVER STORY

connection magazine | 11 | gcsu.educonnection magazine | 11 | gcsu.edu

ONE DAy

Follow seven students on a typical day on Georgia College’s campus


It’s 8:30 a.m. on a Monday morning and Julie Coppedge is alreadyhard at work in the Learning Center before hertutoring shift begins downstairs in the Math Lab.

“I started tutoring during my sophomore yearbecause I had such a great experience with aneconomics tutor when I was a freshman,” saysCoppedge. “I love being able to help students get tothat next letter grade and hearing their successstories. In a sense, it’s all come full circle for me.”

Coppedge works morning shifts on the first floorof the Ina Dillard Russell Library in the Math Lab,which was built in 2011 as a dedicated space for amore personalized approach to tutoring. ForCoppedge, an accounting major who is also takingcourses toward a masters in accounting, tutoring hasallowed her to combine her service-oriented mindsetwith her academic skills. She also has that sameopportunity at her current internship with HowardMoore & McDuffie, a tax preparation business inMacon, Ga.

As 9 a.m. rolls around, Coppedge makes her tripdown to the lab, passing the already bustling Books &Brew and Innovation Station— when she finally getsto her destination, there are more than 20 studentsalready in the lab.

“In the future I’m definitely looking into goinginto public accounting,” says Coppedge as she settlesdown with a student who is in need of assistance. “Itgoes back to serving the public, which is what I feelI’ve done with everything I’ve been involved with atGeorgia College— it feels nice knowing I’ll continuewhat I’ve started here.”

Life downtownAs Coppedge gets to her morning tutoring, junior Elaine

Friend is on the other side of campus dabbing a wet spongeinto a makeup palette. The theatre major has had her share ofexperience on and off stage. Friend was the assistant stagemanager for the play “Anything Goes,” acted in plays such as“Willy Wonka” and “Miss Nelson is Missing,” is an activemember of the improvisation troupe the Armed Farces andshe’s a camp counselor at the annual summer theatre camp—which has influenced her future plans of working withchildren.

“I found myself really drawn to teaching children,” saysFriend. “There’s something very liberating in seeing themexpress themselves and grow and come out of their shell—and knowing you’re playing a part in that development.”

Friend is learning the ins and outs of wound makeup onthis Monday morning and with her faux bruises in tow, shesays she’s had the opportunity to learn all aspects of thetheatre profession.

“I’ve gotten a great mix of the technical aspects and theart of theatre,” says Friend. “On one hand, I’ve learned theintricacies of set design and stage management, but I’ve alsobeen able to hone my skills as an actress. All of these skillswill eventually help me in teaching the art of theatre toothers.”

Many of Friend’s experiences have taken place in thedowntown Black Box Theatre, which has become her secondhome these past three years. Renovated in 2008 andtransformed into a modern space with offices and classrooms,the theatre has become a staple of campus and downtownMilledgeville.

Across the street from the Black Box Theatre, juniorJulia Fox hops off her blue and white beach cruiser bike—equipped with a rear basket— for her morning shift atBlackbird Coffee. Quick with the daily influx of morningorders, Fox is already thinking about her afternoon speech


presentation in a rhetoric class with Dr. Jan Clark,associate professor of rhetoric. It seems like she’s a pro atjuggling the two aspects of her life, and it’s no wondersince the barista has been working since she was 16-years-old.

“I’ve loved working at Blackbird these past fewyears,” says Fox. “It’s been so much easier balancingclasses and this job than I ever imagined.”

Fox also has a minor in Spanish and economics,which has helped round out her education. But goingforward, Fox sees herself in the fast-paced world ofadvertising.

“Right now I just applied for an internship withBBDO, which is an advertising firm—it’s definitely thetype of place I see myself working. I’ve always envisionedmy dream job would be similar to ‘Mad Men,’ of coursewithout all the drinking,” says Fox as she slides the nextorder of black coffee across the counter.

Making a difference “Dance Marathon has been my life,” David Dietz says

as he takes a break around 11 a.m. from the grind ofplanning the 11th annual marathon fundraiser for theChildren’s Hospital Navicent Health in Macon, Ga.

Dietz, now a senior, got involved with GC Miracle andthe GIVE Center his sophomore year. As he sorts throughballoons and a string of lights to be used for the upcomingfundraiser, Dietz says the experiences, friends and skillshe’s gained from both organizations are immeasurable.

“I’ve learned how to work with clients, how to be aleader and how to apply what I’ve learned in my coursesinto action,” says Dietz. “I wouldn’t trade this for the world.Even the stress of planning the fundraiser is rewarding—it’s just I’m part of something so much larger than myself.”

As Dietz heads back into the GIVE Center, freshmanAltimease Lowe leads a group of visitors on a campustour, circling around the famous Bobcat head on Front

Campus, with the backdrop of Atkinson, Terrell andParks Halls behind her. The freshman is decked out inher student ambassador pullover and jeans, completewith an enthusiastic grin. And if the grin seemsgenuine— it’s because it is. Lowe came to Georgia Collegewith the intent to become involved and has had a stellarfirst year doing just that.

“I came in knowing I wanted to be really involved oncampus,” says Lowe, who is currently a member ofCollegiate 4-H, secretary-elect for SGA, a member of theStudent Ambassador Team and member of GammaSigma Sigma. “I fell in love with the sense of communityI had in high school, and I wanted to continue that here.It’s made me feel more at home and a much easiertransition into my first year of college.”


The extra mileIn the late afternoon, senior David Robeson finishes

up lunch at the Max and he heads over to work on hisresearch in Herty Hall, home to biologists, chemists,physicists and astronomers alike. Robeson is a chemistrymajor, and has a minor in business, which means hespends his time split between Herty and Atkinson Halls.

“I knew I wanted a smaller college that also had anemphasis on research,” says Robeson, who’s currentlyfinishing up his research testing the advertisednutritional benefits of cereal and comparing those to theactual, tested results. “Georgia College was the right fit,and it wasn’t until I got here and spent my first night inBell Hall that I saw what a great decision I had made.”

The sense of community Robeson felt his first nightat the university has led him to a busy four yearsincluding being a community advisor for Bell Hall,member of the Chemistry Club and president of ThunderCrew.

“Thunder Crew came about from my love of sports. Iteventually turned into my love of sports and GeorgiaCollege — from golf to tennis to basketball — I love thechance to be there, see our teams in action and motivatethem in the process.”

Robeson’s spirit also lead him to be crownedHomecoming King in spring 2015. His friendlydemeanor has influenced many and as he leaves in May,he’ll be pursuing his Ph.D. in organic chemistry atAuburn University.

“I’m not afraid to meet new people,” says Robeson. “Icame into college with the mindset that I could beanybody and do anything, and it’s given me a chance tohave an unbelievable experience in the process.”

By late afternoon, while others are getting out of theirevening classes and Robeson runs analytics on the lastsample for the day, senior Sean Espinosa is just gettingthings in order for an interest meeting for a newRegistered Student Organization he’s founding.

“ASAP (Aspiring Student Affairs Professionals)really came out of my own experiences with finding mypassion in student affairs,” says Espinosa. “No one comesto college knowing they want to pursue student affairs—this group will give students information about the fieldand advice on how to move forward if you are interested.”

Espinosa knows from first-hand experience howcomplicated the process can be. After applying tograduate school, he was recently accepted to theUniversity of Georgia’s College Student AffairsAdministration master’s program, where he’ll beattending in the fall. The senior business managementmajor has built his experience at Georgia Collegethrough his time serving as treasurer of SGA, working inCampus Life and the GIVE Center, being a studentambassador and even being a founding father of theTheta Chi chapter on campus.

“People have supported me all along my journey hereat the university and gotten me to the point where I amright now,” says Espinosa. “I can’t thank people enough

like Dr. Tom Miles and Dr. Paul Jahr who have guidedme along the way and given me opportunities thatallowed me to gain experience in student affairs.”

As he watches the sun go down through the windowsof the Student Activities Center and students continueplaying pool and foosball in the background— it’s clearthat campus is winding down for the evening. Studentsbegin their retreat to Russell Library, moving to the Artsand Sciences building for club meetings or begin makingtheir way downtown to grab a slice of pizza at Amici’s.The sentiment that is shared by Espinosa and otherstudents is that time at Georgia College has the ability tomove slow, and yet at the same time, tremendously fast.

“One of the most valuable things I’ve learned here isthat you can truly be successful,” says Espinosa. “GeorgiaCollege has a way of molding you into a better person.These years you spend here don’t just end after the fouror five years you are enrolled… they last forever andshape you into the person you become.” �

It’s been four years since Nicole Moyo first stepped footon Georgia College’s campus— since then the Zimbabwenative has developed a love for all things country music,traveled the streets of New Orleans and landed aninternship that has shaped her future in business. But

Moyo’s story began in her small town of Mvurwi in Zimbabwe,where education was a priority for her and her two sisters.

“My parents are both high school principals,” said Moyo.“So education was seen as very much an important aspect ofmy and my sister’s lives. My parents taught me to work hardand don’t compare yourself to others— compare yourself tothe best.”

Moyo was selected to participate in the United StatesStudent Achievers Program (USAP) in high school, whichhelped her apply for scholarships and study in the U.S. It was aUSAP advisor who suggested Georgia College to Moyo, whowanted a close knit community that reminded her of Mvurwi.

“I wanted the small town feel, close relationships withprofessors and a university with a good business program,”said Moyo. “In that sense, Georgia College fit the mold and Iknew it was perfect for me.”

Transitioning to life in the U.S. came with its hurdles forthe newly-minted freshman in 2011. However, she came inknowing she wanted to pick up a major in management with aminor in economics.

“Starting out, the differences were once so profound forme just because of the structure of society,” said Moyo. “Oneof the largest differences was the fact that everything inZimbabwe is very much communal, where making decisions isa family affair. In the U.S. the way of thinking is individualizedand really living for yourself. What I’ve found is my life here isreally a mixture of the two.”

During her time at Georgia College, she has served as

president of the International Club, member of the HonorsProgram, participated in Model African Union, served on theDean’s Student Advisory Board in the College of Business,participated in the Leadership Certificate Program andparticipated in the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM)program—serving as mentee to university President Dr. SteveDorman.

“Being Nicole’s mentor has given me an opportunity tosee the level of determination and academic accomplishmentsour students acquire at Georgia College,” said Dorman.“Getting to witness firsthand her success in her program ofstudy and in leadership opportunities has been remarkable. Asshe graduates in May, I am confident she will build upon thesuccesses she has earned here at Georgia College.”

Although she’s always been an involved student, Moyosays being active early on in her college career helped heradapt to life in the U.S.

“My work with the International Club has been influentialto my time at Georgia College,” she said. “Having a networkof people that are rooting for you and who support youthroughout your journey here has made all the difference inmy experience.”

Among Moyo’s many accolades, she cites her internshipat Compliance Point, a consulting firm in Duluth Ga., as thehighlight of her experience at Georgia College.

“It was such a great stepping-stone to my future career.That experience at the consulting company gave me hands-onexperience and prepared me for that next step aftergraduation,” said Moyo.

Moyo plans on staying in the U.S. and entering theworkforce, hopefully in the field of consulting. She also seesherself eventually going back to graduate school.

“At this point I’m open to all opportunities and lookingforward to my future, whatever that holds” said Moyo. “I thinkwhat my story has been about so far is defying all odds andnot doubting yourself—and I plan on continuing that.” �

Zimbabwean native finds success, community at Georgia College

STUDENT PROFILE


Zimbabwe

Capital: HarareArea: 150,871 sq miPopulation: 13,061,239Drives on the left side of the road

From the start, Georgia College celebrated its Quasquicentennial in a bigway with the 125 freshman class photo on the front lawn. Decked out inGC blue, 1,400 freshmen took to front campus for the photo during theWeek of Welcome.

“I was amazed by how deeply everyone saw their part in this project,” saiduniversity photographer Tim Vacula about the various departments involved.“This was truly a situation where the kitchen needed more cooks.”

From the class photo to Trivia Night at Amici’s, a jazz concert to Social Media Day— the university continued to celebrate throughout the fall semester.

“For me, the highpoint of our celebrations was Charter Week, which includedhistoric lectures and commemorations, a community event and our ScholarshipGala,” said Registrar and 125 Anniversary Committee Chair A. Kay Anderson. “Iwas grateful to see so many members of our campus and local community cometogether for our Charter Day Community Fair and celebrate the many ways GCcontributes to our local area. I was also thrilled that we could dedicate the galacelebration to raising scholarships to support the next generation of GCstudents.”

The Scholarship Gala rounded out the fall semester and launched a yearlongeffort to raise 125 new scholarships for Georgia College including a 1:1 match ofendowed scholarship donations by the GC&SU Foundation. At publication, 1.34million dollars have been raised, which is the equivalent of 134 new scholarshipsfor Georgia College students. The matching program will be active until thisNovember’s Alumni Weekend or until matching funds are depleted. The springsemester kicked off with Homecoming week — bringing together currentstudents and alumni to take in the annual festivities including the Bobcat Ramble,Tent City, basketball games and the Homecoming concert.

Anderson says celebrations like the quasquicentennial give the campuscommunity time to reflect on our past, but also our future.

“They give us an opportunity to recognize the many individuals whosecontributions have made Georgia College the institution it is today and help usrecommit to continuing that tradition of excellence for generations to come.” �


Closing the 125th year: Recap of the Quasquicentennialanniversary at Georgia College


|Ina Dillard Russell Librarystands the test of time inproviding resources forinnovative teaching, learning


t’s an average Wednesday afternoon in theIna Dillard Russell Library and to theuntrained eye it looks to be a refuge forstudents escaping to study for that next bigexam, but you’re also likely to hear thegentle hum of student collaboration and themechanical whiz of the 3D printer hard atwork.

“What we’ve excelled at is learning how toadapt to a changing academic atmosphere,”said Jenny Harris, user engagement andassessment librarian. “That has been key to thelibrary and the college’s success so far.”

Harris also says the library continuouslymonitors today’s academic landscape to beaware of changes, ensuring to adopt emergingtechnologies in order to serve students in aconstantly changing and diverse society. Andalthough its been more than 100 years since itsinception, Archivist Joshua Kitchens says thisemphasis on collaborative and engagedlearning— is a return to the original.

“What we saw in the 1930s was a very open,collaborative space,” said Kitchens. “In thatsense, we’re going back to that golden era werewe had a strong liberal arts focus.”

Over the course of its life, the Russell Library,named after the wife of Judge Richard B.Russell, has seen major renovations andrestorations. The largest came in 2006 with thesecond addition that added the InstructionalTechnology Center. In 2012, the library becamehome to a new set of resources including theLearning Center, Writing Center and ResearchCenter. The library has also been supported bythe Watson-Brown Foundation through thelargest endowment the college has ever seen.This gift has allowed the library to offer distinctresources and services over the years. It’s thesetypes of resources that Director of Libraries Dr.Joe Mocnik says make all the difference.

“Students differ in how they learn and RussellLibrary services are customized to serve allstudents’ needs,” said Mocnik. “There are manyresources for students, faculty and staff toutilize— from poster printing, robotics, 3Dprinting to our expert research librarians in theResearch Center.”

Mocnik also says that being at a liberal artscollege places the Russell Library at anadvantage in providing engaged staff ready tohelp.


“We have a team of highly-skilled professionalsthat have tools that work to not only encouragefaculty and students in their work, but inspirethem,” said Mocnik. “We’re also lucky that wehave a fantastic space, centrally located, thatcelebrates the library and its collection.”

Part of the new approach is the addition of thewelcome desk on the first floor, which serves asthe first point of reference for library visitors.Also, the library is adding more ways users canengage with content in the library and online.

“Technology has made us curators ofknowledge, and with that, we’ve madeourselves an essential player,” said Mocnik.“We’re also keeping our finger on the pulse ofhigher education so we can know what to addand what to phase out.”

Although digital collections are vital to thelibrary, other collections that have beenacquired over the years include the FlanneryO’Connor manuscripts, the CoverdellCollection and the Carl Vinson exhibit. Thesecollections are kept in Special Collections,which dates back to the 1950s and emerged outof the general history museum.

“you start to see the library transition once wereceive the O’Connor papers,” said Kitchens.

“We begin to think beyond ourselves and startto not only look locally but on a global scale.”

Thinking globally was put into motion with theMuslim Journeys project in 2013, which was afree five-part scholar-led reading anddiscussion series that explored the histories,faith and cultures of Muslims around the worldand in the U.S. Mocnik says programs likethese help get the library out into thecommunity.

“We take every opportunity to reach out to thecommunity and engage them with ourresources,” said Mocnik. “We’re constantlylooking for new ways to achieve this and usingprevious projects as models moving forward.”

Part of moving forward for the library includesdesigns to restore the entrance from Clarkestreet into the library— bringing together thepast and present of the historical space. It’s aspace that will continue to be used by alumniand current students alike to celebrate theinstitution of the library today and its coremission of identifying trends relevant to thecommunity it serves, building connections withexperts to help address emerging issues andpromoting innovative methods to supportteaching, learning and research. �

Russell Library now offers digital publications of TheSpectrum online at http://kb.gcsu.edu/spectrum/. Relive history by flipping through pages of the college’syearbook— with publications ranging from 1910 to the 1980s.

Faculty Profile

Much of Dr. Mab Segrest’s lifehas been ventures intospeaking for the voiceless.From her time with NorthCarolinians Against Racistand Religious Violence, an

organization that eventually took down the KuKlux Klan in North Carolina, to her work withFeminary, a Southern lesbian writingcollective— Segrest has worked tirelessly toexact social change. But over the past decade,Segrest has delved into telling the story of alocal, age-old, voiceless community— and it’sthe story of Central State Hospital (CSH.)

“Many of the stories haven’t really beentold publicly because they are hard to talkabout, and there’s a lot of shame tied to thehistory surrounding Central State Hospital,”said Segrest. “The subject of human sufferingcan feel overwhelming, and you have to beable to go to that place to really feel it whenyou’re studying it. It’s not a fast or simple task.There was so much humanitarian work donehere that is a part of a complex story thatdeserves to be honored, studied andpreserved.”

The Martha Daniel Newell Visiting Scholarbegan her residency at Georgia College inJanuary, to finish out her research on the socialhistory of CSH that has spanned 11 years. Thetask isn’t a simple one, telling a 170-year-oldstory, but Segrest says that her work with CSHcomes at a critical time— when decisions aboutthe future of the hospital are at a crossroads.

“The question of what will happen withCSH is more than just what will happen to thebuildings and landscape,” said Segrest.“There’s the history of the patients who camehere and the people who worked here. Peopleall over Georgia, and in Milledgeville itself,have been profoundly impacted by thisinstitution.”

During her time atGeorgia College, Segresthas been active in sharingthe story of CSH with thecommunity and campus.

She kicked off her residency with the exhibit“Angels in Straight Jackets: Exalted on theWard” in Ennis Hall Gallery, which was acollaboration between Segrest and mixedmedia artist Lynn Marshall-Linnemeir.

“Lynn brought remarkable talents andinsights to our attempt to honor the history ofCSH,” said Segrest.

Segrest also made it her task to informthe community about the history and stigmassurrounding mental health and southernpsychiatry. In February, she hosted a Jim CrowSanity film festival. In April, Segrestcollaborated with the Department ofPsychology to host a discussion “AslyumDetective,” which focused on bringinghistorical research to the realm of modern daypsychology.

Segrest also taught a course entitled“Milledgeville and the Mind,” which providedan in-depth study of the history of the hospitaland provided students with archival materials,such as hospital documents.

“To teach on Central State Hospital inMilledgeville is really to speak about a localreality for so many,” said Segrest. “Studentsneeded to know about this history of the townthey are living in.”

She concluded her residency with asymposium, “The Future of the Past at CentralState Hospital” that drew on student andfaculty work, conversations with townspeople,

and tours of the CSH ground. Department of Government and

Sociology Chair Dr. Costas Spirou saysSegrest’s residency was a success— combiningcommunity outreach and a unique mix ofdisciplines.

“Dr. Segrest brought a stronginterdisciplinary perspective which aptlycomplements the nature of our institution as aliberal arts college,” said Spirou. “Her outreachto the community contributed to our mission ofcollaborating beyond our campus andengaging with our community.”

After leaving Georgia College, Segrestplans to tell the story of CSH in a book on thesocial history of the hospital, which has neverbeen written before except for a self-publishedwork in 1952 by Peter Cranford. It’s not asimple story, but Segrest says its one that’swaited a long time to be told.

“There’s a story to be told, and it’s onethat we can appreciate and learn from,” said

Segrest. “And if youcan tell that whole,twisted, complicatedstory—there’ssomething reallyfreeing in that.” �

Genies out of the bottle:Newell Scholar explores stories of the past at Central State Hospital


sports

eorgia College women’s basketball’s senior guard Kayla Upchurchhas always been driven by competition. It’s that competitive spiritthat has guided the former Region Player of the year atChattahoochee High School past a major knee injury in her first

season for the Bobcats, has helped the senior to a 4.0 grade point average andhas helped her set the stage for her post-basketball career.

Upchurch, a political science major with a pre-law focus, has plans ofapplying that competitive spirit to law school, with the eventual goal of acareer as a lawyer or in government. The perfect GPA and interest in politicsdrew the eye of her professors when they decided the lucky few politicalscience students chosen, along with the Student Government Associationand Student Ambassadors, to represent Georgia College at the State Capitolin Atlanta for “Georgia College & State University Day” Feb. 10.

Her invitation came from Assistant Professor Dr. Brandy Kennedy andGovernment and Sociology Chair Dr. Costas Spirou.

At one point during the afternoon, Upchurch and the other studentswere sent out on their own to find their hometown legislators, and encouragelegislative support of the Beeson Hall reconstructive project on the GCcampus. “They gave us the room numbers, but I still got lost a couple oftimes,” revealed Upchurch. “There are so many offices, so many peoplegoing to and from meetings, and there is also a museum in the building. It’s amassive building, very exciting.”

“I was impressed by the number of Georgia College alumni that work atthe Capitol. I had no idea how many would be there. They talked to us abouttheir path and how they could help us get positions there. I got to meetformer Georgia College students that are already along the career I’d like topursue, doing exactly what I want to do. I met a bunch of really impressivealumni there. It was inspiring.”

To say Kayla Upchurch has been challenged during her basketballcareer at Georgia College would be putting it mildly. A sought-after recruitin high school, Upchurch spent her first semester at Georgia SouthernUniversity before transferring to Georgia College in the winter of 2011-12 fora better fit.

She sat out the rest of that season under NCAA transfer guidelines, andwas ready to roll for the 2012-13 season. In the first minute of the very firstgame that season, Upchurch tore her anterior cruciate ligament, also knownas ACL, wiping out that season. After rehabbing the surgically-repaired jointand playing with a bulky brace, Upchurch was a valuable reserve on the2013-14 GC Women’s Basketball team that took runner-up honors at thePeach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament. A year later the brace was off,and Upchurch was starting every contest as shooting guard for the 16-winBobcats. A CoSIDA Academic All-District selection this year, Upchurch ledGeorgia College to a 64-46 win at UNC Pembroke, hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers and finishing with a career-high 21 points. The Bobcats again tookPBC Tournament Runners-Up this past season, marking the first back-to-back conference title games for GC Women’s Hoops since 1996-1997.

Despite still having a year of basketball eligibility left, Upchurchgraduated in May as a valedictorian and will move directly to law school.She’s most interested in contract law, sports entertainment law and familylaw in addition to the political field. �

DRIVEN BY COMPETITION


sports

When Michelle Palethorpe got on aplane to take the lengthy flightfrom her native Australia to ruralGeorgia in the fall of 1992, little

did she know she would become a key pieceof the foundation for one of the top Division IIWomen’s Tennis programs in the nation.

Palethorpe was the first two-time All-American for Georgia College women’stennis, taking honors in 1994 and 1996. Shealso joined GC Athletics Hall of Famer NancyGroesch as the first three-time All-Peach BeltConference (PBC) selections in school historyin 1996. Palethorpe earned All-PBC status in1996, 1994 and 1993. A two-timeIntercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)Division II Scholar-Athlete, she also madethree appearances on the Peach BeltPresidential Honor Roll.

Palethorpe helped guide ColonialWomen’s Tennis to its first PBC Championshipin 1993, earning Co-Champion status withArmstrong Atlantic State University.

Palethorpe made that lengthy flight onceagain this past February to help cap offHomecoming Week at Georgia College withthe GC Athletics Hall of Fame Inductionceremony.

Where are they now?What was your career path after graduation?After graduation, I returned to Western Australia and attendedlaw school at the University of Western Australia which I waslucky enough to be accepted into on the back of my academicresults and experience at Georgia College. After graduating 3years later, I started working as a lawyer at the law firmFreehills and I am still working for this firm (which has nowmerged to become the international law firm Herbert SmithFreehills) as an executive counsel in the Corporate/Mergers andAcquisitions area. I also worked for a large law firm in Londonfor 3 years.

How did your role as a student-athlete help shape you as aperson in college?The role of a student-athlete was at times challenging to balancethe academic demands of maintaining good grades and thephysical and mental energy you need to apply to the athleticside. However, I believe this balancing skill was an excellentgrounding to develop other life skills which I have needed toapply in my career as well as balancing family life. Also, thecollegiate nature of being part of the tennis team really wasinstrumental in my experience at Georgia College. Thefriendships and support I received from my teammates andcoaches, as well as the broader Athletic Department, meant thatI rarely felt like I was very far from home (even though I wasphysically and culturally).

What attracted you to Georgia College?Well, not knowing much about the U.S. at the time, the firstthing that attracted me was its proximity on the map to Florida,which I knew from movies and television shows, was warm! Butonce I got to know a bit about the college, it was the friendlynature of the staff and the fact that it had a good business schooland faculty which I was interested in. Once I arrived, whatmade me stay (I originally thought I might only stay a year), wasthe fun campus life, the excellent tennis program and the factthat I could receive an internationally recognized degree from agreat school that I could springboard off of to develop my legalcareer back home.

What was your favorite place on the Georgia College campus?The Georgia College campus really is a beautiful and historiccampus and so different compared to the architecture backhome in Australia. The tennis facility at the Centennial Centeris really great (and I spent a lot of time there) and I really likethe downtown area and how it has developed. But I think myfavorite place was just sitting on the beautiful lawns in the mainquad in the spring time watching all the student life go on allaround.


Featured Alumni

ewis’ passion for equality beganwhen she was a student at GeorgiaState College for Women (GSCW)from 1943 – 1946. During thattime, the South and rest of the

world were experiencing vast socialchanges. The women of GSCW embracedthese changes with the help of the college’sPresident Guy Wells and faculty whoencouraged students, known at the time as“Jessies”, to think about equality and tolead the charge against racial discrimination.“It was here that I was encouraged to readand think critically about social andeconomic problems including race relationsin the South, to believe that women couldbe leaders, and to act on thatunderstanding for equality, for democracyand social justice,” says Lewis.

She participated in integrated meetingsthrough the GSCW Young Women’sChristian Association (YWCA), which wouldfeature speakers on current affairs andinterracial efforts.

While at GSCW, Lewis also joined theLeague of Women Voters. Upon graduation,she played a leading role in the 1946Democratic gubernatorial primary.Considering Georgia became the first stateto allow 18-year-olds to vote that same year,Lewis immersed herself in a statewide effortas co-director of the “Students for GoodGovernment” campaign where she ralliedyoung people to vote. Lewis wrote lettersand distributed materials to students andalumni of various schools, organized youngpeople to work on Election Day, maderecords for radio broadcasts and droppedleaflets from airplanes. Although a vowedsegregationist won the election [though notthe vote], Lewis wrote, “We must keepfighting in the battle for human rights.”

She attended graduate school at DukeUniversity studying anthropology andsociology. There she met her husband, JuddLewis. They moved to Charlottesville, whereboth earned degrees from the University ofVirginia, then on to Wise, Va., near theAppalachian coalfields, where Judd becamea faculty member and Helen was librarian.

Living in the Appalachian coalfields wasshocking to Lewis and she became

interested in how coal mining changed theAppalachian culture. She began to seeinjustice and economic inequality in thearea. “I became concerned about how thearea of the state which produced thegreatest wealth, could be the poorest partof the state,” says Lewis. She focused herresearch on understanding more about theAppalachian coal fields.

In teaching at Clinch Valley College,she developed a rural social work programincluding the first Appalachian studiescourses. Lewis’ material was distributed toteachers throughout the region. Soon, shehad transformed students into leaders. HerAppalachian students would research localland records and contest the broad formdeeds – allowing the owners of mineralrights to mine land even if the landownerobjected.

Lewis also testified before the U.S.House of Representatives on “Mines,Mining and Environment” in the region.Later, she became involved in a nationaldebate about the causes of poverty inAppalachia, where coal mining hadremoved billions of tons of coal with littlereturn to the area, co-edited “Colonialism inModern America: The Appalachian Case.”(1978).

In 1970, Lewis earned her Ph.D. insociology from the University of Kentucky.

She then worked with health programsand community clinics in Central Appalachiathrough Highlander Research and EducationCenter [New Market, Tenn.], where shebecame director and reached out to globalmovements, such as the InternationalCouncil on Adult Education. She took theknowledge of ordinary people, documentedtheir experiences and used it for positivesocial change. Lewis taught economics toempower members of the community inIvanhoe, Va. developing a six-weekcommunity workshop focused on economicsdiscussion.

More recently, Lewis becameconcerned with clean water. “I think waterresources are a problem everywhere,” shesays. “Because not only have we pollutedthe water, but we’ve also dropped the watertable in many places.” Since the water

sources throughout Appalachia have beenused as garbage dumps, industrialdevelopment and more, in 2010, she calledfor “a clean glass of water for everyAppalachian child.” Lewis states, “The rightto clean water must be included in therights of individuals and all livingorganisms.”

Some of her other accomplishmentsinclude a study on the effects ofmechanization on coal miners and families,the creation of a 12-step program focusingon building a just and moral economy, apresidency of the Appalachian StudiesAssociation and a recipient of GeorgiaCollege & State University’s AlumniAchievement Award. Her book publicationsinclude (coauthored) “Picking up the Pieces:Women In and Out of Work in the RuralSouth” (1978), (with Monica Appleby,)“Mountain Sisters: From Convent toCommunity in Appalachia.” (2003) and“Helen Matthews Lewis: Living SocialJustice in Appalachia.” (2012)

“Now, with my age, I am no longerable to sit down in front of coal trucks as Idid in the Pittston strike,” concludes Lewis.“Instead I am writing poetry and letting thetrees and flowers protest for me.” �

A Champion in the Fight for RightsPOLIT ICAL ACTIV IST. AUTHOR. COMMUNITY LEADER. TEACHER.

For more than 70 years, Dr. Helen Matthews Lewis has been advocating for equality.

Class Notes

1980sDavid Coker, ’84, started as a regional vicepresident in September 2014 with XPOLogistics, Inc. in Gainesville.

Jeffrey Beggs, ’85, started as the director ofathletics and assistant headmaster atPiedmont Academy in July 2014.

Jonathan J. McColumn, ’86, was honored inJanuary at a military ceremony at Robins AirForce Base. He was promoted to BrigadierGeneral in the US Army commanding the103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

Tracey Curtis, ’87, became an assistantprincipal at Newton High School in the fall of2014. He previously was a teacher atHenderson Middle School.

Michelle Brown, ’88, ’97, nurse practitioner,recently became a physician extender atMercer Medicine, School of Medicine inMacon.

1990sScott Adkins, ’90, became a CFO/senior vicepresident for finance for Magnolia Manor inthe fall of 2014.

Michael Allen, ’92, recently became presidentof Pool Time, Inc. in Griffin.

Terry Bragg, ’94, ’95, recently accepted a newposition as a director of bands for NorthsideMiddle School in Warner Robins.

Lionel Brown, ’94, ’98, ’08, was namedprincipal of Veterans High School in HoustonCounty in November 2014.

Kristie Brantley, ’95, became the FamilyConnections coordinator at Johnson CountyMiddle School in November 2014.

Darryl Albritton, ’96, became a principal atPerry High School in November 2014.

Dr. Joylnn Aubry, ’96, ’98, ’08, startedworking as a director of Student Services forthe Jasper County School system inDecember 2014.

Dr. Pamela Edge, ’96, ’11, became a principalat Jasper County Primary School inDecember 2014.

Don Andrews, ’97, began working as acounselor at Southwest High School inBaldwin County in January 2015.

Butler Raines, ’99, is a co-founder at The BitterSoutherner. Raines, alongwith his team at The BitterSoutherner, was recentlynamed by Southern Livingas one of “50 People WhoAre Changing the Southin 2015.” He is also a

product manager at NDN, Inc. In addition,Raines serves as a Georgia College & StateUniversity Foundation Board Trustee and aGC Alumni Board member.


Tiffany Jones Ellenberg, ’91, ’93, was recently sworn into theGovernor’s Indigent Advisory Panel by Gov. Nathan Deal. Withthe help of the committee, Ellenberg will monitor the progressand funding for the state’s Public Defender Standards Counciland will collaborate with the Advisory Committee onLegislation, the Executive Committee and the Board ofGovernors to provide advice, expertise and advocacy on behalf ofsystemic reform designed to satisfy Georgia’s constitutionalobligation to provide adequate counsel for indigent personsaccused of crime. While serving on the committee, Ellenbergwill maintain her private law practice in Madison, Ga., whereshe handles primarily litigation cases.

2000sApril Bragg, ’00, became the president& CEO of Robins Regional Chamber ofCommerce in November 2014. Shepreviously served as president of theMilledgeville/ Baldwin CountyChamber of Commerce.

Walter Agumbi, ’01, became a director of StrategicPlanning & Analysis for Liberty Mutual Insurance inColumbia, S.C.

Ericka Anderson, ’01, started working as a principal atLive Oak Elementary School in Newton County inDecember 2014.

Alton Dykes, ’01, began as the manager of OperationsRequirements & Concept of Operations (CONOPS)surveillance at Northrop Grumman Corporation inSeptember 2014.

Clayton Knox, ’01, has been a chief financial officer withOakhurst Medical Centers since January 2015.

Kerri Moore, ’01, became a CPA with Clifton, Lipford,Hardison and Parker, LLC in Macon last year.

Melissa McPhail, ’03, is a nurse practitioner with theMacon Cardiovascular Institute at the Medical Center ofCentral Georgia since January 2014.

Herbert Agnew, ’05, started his position as an internalcommunications and marketing manager with GeorgiaAssociation of Educators in September 2014.

Matthew Baxter, ’05, became a corporate developmentmanager with GreenSky Credit in the fall.

Michael Hardwick, ’05, has been a producer with 13WMAZ since December 2014.

Imran Khan, ’05 has been a senior data integrationanalyst with Capgemini in North Hollywood, Ca. sinceMarch 2015.

Courtney Craine, ’06, became an anesthetist withMEDNAX in November 2014.

Samuel Eilers, ’06, started working as a creativespecialist with Twitter in September 2014.

Ralph Staffins III, ’06, ’08, recently becamepresident of the Covington-Newton CountyChamber of Commerce in January. Hepreviously served as the CEO of the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce.

Jeffery C. Wells, ’06, was promoted in January to theposition of Academic Dean of the Georgia MilitaryCollege Online Campus.

Michele Wimbush, ’06, became a program manager forTogether on Diabetes with Morehouse School ofMedicine in January 2014.

Antonio Aguilera, ’07, began working as a networksecurity engineer at Southern Company in September2014.

Ellen Campbell, ’07, is a specialized fiduciary officer IIwith U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private WealthManagement since June 2014.

Jessica Bahn, ’08, ’10, biologist, became president ofSoutheastern Ecological & Environmental Services, LLCin Putnam County in January 2015.

Tyler Berglund, ’08, became a district manager forAbercrombie & Fitch in August 2014.

Kendrick Britford, ’08, started as a principal at RussellCounty High School in Alabama in the fall of 2014.

Melissa Franklin, ’08, ’11, was namedWashington County’s Teacher of the yearin October. Melissa is in her seventh yearof teaching kindergarten with theWashington County School system. Shereceived her undergraduate degree inearly childhood education and her masterof education from from Georgia College.

Lisa Lombardi, ’08, became a 4-H EnvironmentalEducator with the University of Georgia CooperativeExtension Office on February 2015.

Matthew Parkerson, ’08, has been a national salesmanager with Gebhardt Logistic Solutions since 2014.

Jennifer Bates, ’09, started as a family experience coachwith Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in February 2015.

Amber Bennett, ’09, became a business consultant withthe Small Business Development Center at theUniversity of Georgia in January 2015.

Pavielle Ludlow, ’09, started working as a veterans’affairs specialist with Americorps in November 2014.



Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements and Births

2010sMichael Brill, ’10, became an associate at the Law Officeof Kevin A. Leipow, P.C. in February 2015.

Scott Howard, ’10, completed hismaster’s degree with a concentration offilm and television production atGeorgia State University. He hasdirected several short films and assistedwith concept development andproduction. In addition, Howard wasalso a freelance videographer filminglectures, theatrical performances and a

cooking show. In September, he began working as aproduction videographer traveling to college campusesnationwide with StudentBridge, a division of RealViewTV in Atlanta.

Anton Zametin, ’10, became a quality assurancemanager with NCR Corp. in August 2014.

Kyle Allen, ’11, began his position as an annual givingcoordinator with the University of Tennessee College ofBusiness in the summer of 2014.

Ryan McShane, ’12, has been an account manager withAT&T since January 2014.

Andrew Davis, ’13, has been the executive director ofKeep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful since October2014.

Meghan Boland, ’13, became a pharmaceutical salesrepresentative with Artesa Labs in August 2014.

Timothy McDonald, ’13, is in the claims managementdevelopment program at GEICO in Gainesville, Ga.

Kari Goodbar, ’14, recently started working as a marinemammal aide at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park.

Michelle DeMaris-Collins, ’14, married Daniel Collins,on December 20 – one week after graduation in JohnsCreek. Alumni featured in the wedding party include:Rachel Bull, '14, Haley Campa, '15, Angel Lindsey, '15,Rachel NeSmith, '14 and Tyler Beggs, '14.

Mindy Marie Mahrer, '10, became the bride of Benjamin Patrick Milleron Nov. 1, 2014 at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. Bridesmaidsincluded GC graduates: Stephanie Jergel Holtzapfel, ’10, Jenna GreenMaddox, ’10, Suzanne Casey Brett, ’07, Katie Parker Beal, ’08, ’10 andAbby Bryant, ’11.


Jane Cox Godwin*

Ben Walters

Nancy Brown Windler, ’26

Beatrice McCarthy Calhoun, ’35

Cathryn Stevens Ford, ’37

Frances McCrary Amidon, ’38

Jane Lankford McGahee, ’38

Mary Nelson Brown, ’39

Mary Morris Hudson, ’39

Emily Speight Stearns, ’39

Frances McGarity Bryant, ’40

Neoline Bobbitt Daniel, ’40

Vera Culberson Fuller, ’40

Bridget Palmer Osborne, ’40

Ethelyn Berrie, ’41

Mary Mullins Wiggins, ’41

Nelle Bond Byrd, ’42

Doris Watson Joiner, ’42

Ruby Huddleston Shelley, ’42

Marguerite McCarthy Meagher, ’43

Sarolyn Pennington Moore, ’43

Jane Cleveland Niles, ’43

Frances Hooten Staplin, ’43

Ima Stephens, ’43

Lily Walker Gibson, ’44

Ann Pennington Martin, ’44

Louise Williams Walker, ’44

Sara Henderson Tucker, ’45

Mary Usery Durden, ’46*

Nell Brookins Knowles, ’46*

Ann Moore Lines, ’46

Lucille Finney Pinkson, ’46

Helen Melton Rees, ’46

Mary Lott young, ’47

Hernice Daniell Anders, ’48

Betty Wells Bullock, ’48

Maude Fields Morris, ’48

Nannette Park, ’49

Dorothy Jones Bridgeman, ’50

Jimmie Haulkner Harris,’50*

Louise Ledbetter Lawrence, ’50

Neta Hancock Smith, ’50

Mary Richey Hubbard, ’51

Ruth Downs Snider, ’53

LaVance Clement Atkins, ’54

Stella Alston, ’55

Margolese Jones Long, ’56

Isabel Kitchens Wheeler, ’57

Angelyn Holloway Hightower, ’58

Jane Duvall Walton, ’59

Virginia Watts Wray, ’60

Joan Lawrence Baker, ’61

Zelma Burleson Ray, ’61

Cynthia Gilder Monfort, ’63

Isabel Gunnels Snyder, ’64

Suzanne Sosby Wheeler, ’64

Mary Davidson Pollett, ’66

Lois McBridge Brant, ’68

Mary Owens Sorrels, ’70

Robert Baggarly, ’75

Don Johnson, ’76

Gertie Holmes Layson, ’76

Wanda Wade Dennis Williamson, ’76

William Henry, ’77

Gina Williams Cook, ’81

Harvey Garrett, ’84

John Lubniewski, ’88

Wanda Stancile, ’88

Pietra Kurtz Dixon, ’89

Celia Lucas Vinterella, ’90

Leah Womack Callahan, ’91

Janis Ervin Channell, ’96

Shawn Gabe Gaddis, ’96

Ellen Moore, ’07

Lessie Thomas, ’09

In Memoriam

*Denotes alumni of Peabody School.This list recognizes deceased alumni that the college has been made aware of since April 1, 2015.

Daryl Campbell Hunnicutt, '79, took his first walk downthe aisle at the age of 59 to marry Alice L. Babb. Thecouple were wed in the second oldest church in Eatonton,Ga., Mt. Ararat United Methodist Church, on June 14,2014. They reside in Cumming, Ga. Hunnicutt isemployed by Kroger and has been working at the samestore for the past 20 years.

Lindsey Chambers, ’05, ’07, Lindsey, Clint and bigbrother Jackson welcomed new baby Lily into the familyon Aug. 30, 2014.

Weddings, Anniversaries, Engagements and Births

A look back…

Alumni Weekend will take placeThursday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 15.

It promises to be an excitingweekend full of festivities withreunion groups and a variety ofevents occurring on campus.

In the meantime, we invite you to peruse the list ofactivities* and make plans to connect with yourtreasured fellow alumni.

• 60th Reunion Tea: Class of 1955• 50th Reunion: Class of 1965• Academic Enrichment – Women in Philanthropy• All-alumni Picnic• Alumni Awards Ceremony• Alumni Choir Reunion and Concert• Ambassador Reunion• Bobcat Ramble• Campus Tours• Class/Affinity Reunions• Flag Football Tournament• Front Campus Party• National Pan-Hellenic Council Re-Chartering

( Divine 9)• Open Houses• Peabody School Reunion Luncheon• US Army Jazz Band Ambassadors

*Please note that these events may be subject tochange.

All reunion events were moved to the fall in order toattract more alumni and to allow for more favorableweather conditions for travel. If you are interestedin helping to host an affinity or class reunion,contact Mindy Miller at 478-445-5771 [email protected]. Look for registrationinformation in the fall issue of Connection.

University CommunicationsCampus Box 97Milledgeville, GA 31061

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

gcsu.edu/alumnifacebook.com/georgiacollegealumni

Alumna Frances Harris, ’53, ’61, Simply Invests in Georgia College

After 35 rewardingyears of teachingelementary school-aged children and a

feeling of unwaveringgratitude toward her teachers,Frances Harris ’53, ’61, wantsto return the favor to her almamater.

Her love of Georgia StateCollege for Women (GSCW)developed when she was ahigh school student at bandfestivals. Harris stayed in the

dorms and played tenor saxophone in three statewide musicfestivals. “I just loved being at GSCW. The campus wasbeautiful, and everybody was so nice that I felt welcome,” shesaid. When it came time to choose a college, Harris’ mothergave her two choices: Wesleyan College and GSCW. Because ofthe teacher program and her band camp experience at GSCW,Harris chose the latter option.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education andher master’s in education and attributes her teachers withproviding her with confidence and incentives to learn. Althoughpinpointing her favorite instructor was difficult, Harris explains, “I

especially liked Dr. Frances Hicks. She taught psychology andwas a kind and understanding person and just made it fun,”Harris says. “I took more courses in psychology than I intendedto take because I liked her.” She adds, “Like so many otherteachers there, John Lounsbury was an excellent teacher, andpeople really liked him.”

Harris taught first through third grade in Moultrie, Ga. Hersupervising principal was a fellow alumna. “We just seemed tothink alike,” says Harris. “The fact that she was also a GSCWgraduate felt like we had the same way of approaching things.”Her friend encouraged Harris to get certified in teaching andearn her master’s degree. They have been friends since thattime.

Now, Harris has made the Georgia College & State UniversityFoundation the beneficiary of her Teachers Retirement Annuityto give back to Georgia College. “I want to invest into a placethat did a lot for me and provided me with a good foundationfor teaching.”

In one simple step, you can let your legacy champion countless students

who aspire to reach their goals. Contact Elizabeth Hines at 478-445-1944 or

[email protected].

connection summer 2015

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