November 2014

A Time to Give Thanks

What I hear on campus and around the state of Georgia is that Georgia Southern is a special place. And it truly is. It might sound corny, but as you talk to many different types of people – from faculty who have been here 30 years or students taking their first campus tour – there’s a certain magic here. You can feel it. You may not pick it up from visiting a website or reading a brochure. You really have to be here physically to feel it. Everybody will tell you about that magic and it’s real. It’s what has allowed us to grow to new heights. And all of it revolves around our people and traditions.

This past semester is no different. From Day One and our annual Weeks of Welcome events, we strive to make new members of the Eagle Nation feel at home as soon as they arrive on campus. We’ve hosted prestigious speakers, opened a new Tech Corner on campus, and secured the largest partnership in school history by signing a renewed deal with The Coca-Cola Company. A Day for Southern broke yet another fundraising record and our inaugural season in the Sun Belt Conference is turning out highly competitive teams and even conference champions!

As we head into the season of gratitude, I am thankful for all of you. Each of you shines such a positive light on our University and allows us to continue to educate and serve. I wish all of Eagle Nation a joyful holiday season.

President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D.
Twitter: @PresKeel

---

Gulfstream Aerospace Invests in Georgia Southern

Gulfstream Aerospace has made a significant impact on the future of Georgia Southern University this month with a $225,000 gift to support research and education.

Gulfstream, the most technologically advanced business jet corporation, understands the value that Georgia Southern brings to both business and industry, and has made this very generous donation to benefit our students. The funds received from Gulfstream will go toward the newly designated Manufacturing Engineering degree program, the i2Explore STEM Festival, student co-op and internship opportunities and the College of Education’s National Youth at Risk Center. Thank you, Gulfstream! Read more.

---

Concussion Research Highlighted on ESPNU

As I’ve said so many times as I travel or speak to folks here on campus, our Athletics programs are the “front porch” to the University. Sporting programs and events bring awareness about Georgia Southern’s tremendous academics, research and traditions to more and more people who would normally not have the opportunity to learn about the Eagle Nation. The Georgia Southern vs. Troy game on October 30 was aired live on ESPNU to hundreds of thousands of households. During my interview with the ESPNU commentators, I had the opportunity to explain to a national television audience about the advanced concussion research being conducted by the faculty in the School of Health and Kinesiology in the College of Health and Human Sciences here at Georgia Southern. Having the opportunity to talk about the extraordinary academic programs and ongoing research activities at Georgia Southern was a proud moment for me and one that I know will resonate for years to come.

---

Global Entrepreneurship Week at City Campus in Downtown Statesboro

The Georgia Southern Business Innovation Group (BIG) will be participating in “Global Entrepreneurship Week,” November 17-22.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a Kauffman Foundation initiative, is a worldwide celebration of the innovators and job creators that bring new ideas to life. The week will be filled with presentations and networking events, most of which are free and open to the public. GEW is an empowerment week aimed at giving innovators important information as well as networking opportunities to help them be successful. BIG Global Entrepreneurship Week

---

Recording Artist and former student, Cole Swindell shows Southern Pride at the CMA Awards!

---

Online M.Ed. Program Receives National Ranking

Georgia Southern University’s online M.Ed. in Higher Education degree program has been ranked by TheBestSchools.org as one of “The 25 Best Online Master in Higher Education Degree Programs.” TheBestSchools.org selected Georgia Southern based on several weighted factors, including academic excellence, course offerings, faculty strengths, and reputation, including reputation for online degree programs. Congratulations to our College of Education and the faculty who have made this program such a success!

---

Biology Professor Invited to United Nations

Subhrajit Saha, Ph.D., of the biology department, was invited to present his agroecological research at the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Saha’s agroecology research is focused on climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, agroforestry, organic farming and bioenergy production. Apart from Georgia, Saha has research projects in Germany, Mexico and India. Dr. Saha’s participation at this meeting has not only helped present his research at a United Nations platform, but also shared Georgia Southern’s unique agricultural research initiatives to a global community of researchers, officials, policymakers and international agencies and organizations. Read more.

---

Faculty Collaborates on New NSF Grants in Education

Antonio Gutierrez, a new assistant professor in the College of Education, Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading, is part of two newly funded grants from the National Science Foundation totaling $950,000. Both grants concern issues surrounding different aspects of teaching and learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more.

---

International Fashion Show

The Center for International Studies held the inaugural International Fashion Show on Tuesday, Sept. 30 to celebrate culture and fashion from around the world. Made possible by student activity fees, the event showcased clothing from different countries and was attended by more than 250 participants. Both international and American students served as models, and one professor provided students extra credit for preparing refreshments for the event that represented their culture. Congratulations to our talented students.

---

Athletics

Georgia Southern women’s soccer entered their first ever Sun Belt Conference Tournament after a 5-3-1 conference record but fell last week in the semifinals to South Alabama.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams opened their seasons on November 14. The women’s team will feature seven freshmen and just one senior as they transition to the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball opened the 2014-15 season on November 14 against Illinois. Season tickets for both teams are on sale now. Tickets start at just $65 and a combo season ticket to both the women’s and men’s games costs just $120.

Georgia Southern’s Football team played an outstanding game against Navy on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Eagles were defeated 52 – 19. When the day began, Georgia Southern’s seven-game win streak was the fifth-longest in the nation. With eight wins, the Eagles have recorded the most wins by a Sun Belt Conference team in its inaugural season in the league. It was only the second time the Eagles have ever played a game in the state of Maryland. Attendance was 33,894. The next game is Nov. 29 against ULM at Paulson Stadium. For this game during the Thanksgiving weekend, additional ticket specials are offered to Eagle fans and alumni with lower-level seats in the North Stands for $20, club level seats at $28 each and mid-deck tickets for $15 each. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.

Georgia Southern employees can reserve their two free tickets to this home finale by emailing tickets@georgiasouthern.edu through Wednesday, Nov. 26 or picking them up at the Athletics Ticket Office beginning Monday, Nov. 17 through Wednesday, Nov. 26 during regular business hours.

---

GS Students Care About the Community

Our students continue to demonstrate their concern for the community by displaying a Holiday Helper Tree. The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement will help fulfill holiday wishes this year with its annual Holiday Helper Tree.

Participants may select tags from the tree in the Russell Union Commons now until Nov. 21. All gifts are due by Tuesday, Dec 2.

---

On the Calendar

June 16, 2014 – Jan. 25, 2015
The Mad Scientist’s Laboratory
Georgia Southern Museum

The popular hands-on science laboratory returns and is better than ever. Visitors can participate in a wide variety of science activities and experiments and learn about the research and work of Georgia Southern University’s scientists.

Thanksgiving Break
For students: Nov. 24 – Nov. 28
For faculty and staff: Nov. 27 and Nov. 28

Tuesday, Dec. 2
Evening with the President – Savannah
Pulaski Room, DeSoto Hilton Hotel
5:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 5
Run the Boro
The 3rd Annual Run the ’Boro 5K is part of the Downtown Statesboro Holiday Celebration. The proceeds from the race registration will benefit the United Way of Statesboro and the 2014 Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade. For complete information, please visit statesboroga.gov/run-the-boro.

Friday, Dec. 12
Fall Commencement
Hanner Fieldhouse
9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
www.georgiasouthern.edu/commencement

---

Last updated: 4/2/2022