Connection Fall 2006

CONNECTIONFall 2006, Vol. XVI, No. 1

Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

PresidentDorothy Leland

Vice President for University AdvancementAmy Nitsche

Director of University CommunicationsBryan Jackson

Senior PhotographerTim Vacula

Graphic DesignerJon M. Scott

Please send change of address, class notes and deaths to:

University AdvancementCampus Box 96Milledgeville, GA [email protected]

GCSUCampus Box 97Milledgeville, GA [email protected]

www.gcsu.edu

November 2006

Dear Friends,

We tell our students that making the most oftheir education at Georgia College involves morethan earning a degree. The degree is certainlyimportant! Yet extraordinary opportunities forintellectual and personal growth also exist out-side of the formal classroom setting at GeorgiaCollege. We call this the co-curriculum—a fancyname for student clubs and organizations, artexhibits and concerts, visiting scholars and otherdignitaries, mentoring programs and volunteerprojects.

The campus at Georgia College is alive with activity designed to enrich thetotal student learning experience, and I am happy to report that our studentsare fully engaged in their learning both inside and outside of the classroom.

Whether hosting a political debate, discussing the origins of humankind, gain-ing firsthand experience in an internship, participating in a residential learn-ing community, or exploring other cultures, Georgia College students are tak-ing charge of their own education. They are intellectually curious, imaginative,caring, determined and often bold. On a daily basis, they renew my faith inthe future leadership of our communities, state, and nation.

This issue of Connection will put you in touch with a sampling of the people,events and programs that help to create the vibrant community of learningthat we nurture and cherish at Georgia College.

If you haven’t visited us recently, I hope that something in this issue ofConnection will inspire you to do so. I admit to owning a healthy dose ofpride in our students, faculty and staff, and an equally deep appreciation forthe continued support of our alumni and friends!

Yours sincerely,

Dorothy Leland

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LETTERLetter from the President

Departments

Up FrontShort takes to provide a glimpse of the Georgia College community.

Inaugurating a Hall of FameTen star athletes from the past are invited inside Georgia College’s first hall of fame.

Alumni ProfileKim Martin, ’82, is general manager for WEtv, a cable network reaching 60 million U.S. households.

Class NotesCatch up on news of fellow classmates.

Features

More than Chasing Windmills: Santiago on MenéndezProfessor of Modern Languages Santiago García-Castañón releases his 11th book to Spain.

Right Place, Right TimeSenior Melissa Medlin covers a story at the Pentagon that circulated to the world press.

Ringing with Activity AgainProfessor Bob Wilson traces the history of Bell Hall which reopened to students in September.

From Oman to Georgia: Sharing Arabic CultureGeorgia College welcomes Fatma Al Maamari.

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CONTENTSTable of Contents

Discussing the Origins of Humankind Dr. Donald Johanson, considered by many to be among the most impor-

tant and accomplished paleoanthropologists of our time, delivered a

lecture in September titled, “The Origins of Humankind: The View from

Africa”

He discovered the 3.2 million-year-old hominid fossil known as “Lucy”

in 1974. The skeleton possessed a mixture of ape-like features, such

as a projecting face and small brain, but also had characters consid-

ered human, such as upright walking.

Having a key fossil is one thing; being able to fully use

that fossil and put it in the context of other discover-

ies within the field of paleoanthropology is one of

Johanson’s “stellar achievements,” says Dr.

Melanie DeVore, Georgia Power Endowed Professor

of Environmental Science at Georgia College.

UPFRONT

4

UpFront

Midnight MadnessOpens Hoops Season at GCSUGuest coaches, pancakes, and a good-

natured “grudge match” kicked of f

GCSU’s annual Midnight Madness wel-

come of this year’s basketball season.

The event pitted GCSU President Dorothy

Leland against State Senator Johnny

Grant, MPA, ‘04 in a scrimmage that fea-

tured opposing squads of Lady Bobcats

at the Centennial Center on October

14th. The evening provided plenty of

excitement as Leland and Grant directed

the battle on the cour t, with Leland’s

team eventually prevailing by 24 to 21.

However, both guest coaches were tact-

fully advised not to quit their day jobs.

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

President Leland with alumnus Johnny Grant.

Professor Johanson’s visit to Georgia College was highlight-ed in the October 2, 2006 issue of Newsweek in a storyabout the discovery of a three million year old skeleton of apre-human child thought to be related to the species of“Lucy” – the fossil of a pre-human adult female he discov-ered in 1974. Johanson’s presentation at GCSU drew acrowd of more than 600 and attracted wide media attention.

HostingPoliticiansThe election for the Georgia

District 12 seat in the U.S.

House of Representatives is

receiving national attention.

Even Georgia College’s own

Dr. Mike Digby, professor of

political science, was quoted

about the contentious race in a

recent USA Today article. And,

because Georgia College has

the Coverdell Institute on cam-

pus with the charge to foster

civic engagement and demo-

cratic leadership ski l ls

among students, hosting

political debates are a nat-

ural outgrowth of that mis-

sion. On August 28,

Congressman John Barrow

(D-GA) and Former

Congressman Max Burns (R-

GA) paired off for a fiery yet

civi l debate with Randall

Savage, a Pulitzer Prize journal-

ist and special assignment editor

for 13-WMAZ in Macon, serving as

moderator. Sophomores Emily

Currington, Jason White and senior Will

Thompson served as the panel of question-

ers.

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U P F R O N T


Linked to PeaceWhen Peace Corps volunteers return from serving the world, they will now

have the opportunity to fur ther their education by enrolling at Georgia

College. Returning Peace Corps volunteers can enroll as Fellows in one of

four degree programs including master of education, specialist in educa-

tion, master of arts in teaching, and master of fine arts in creative writing.

With the renewed partnership, GCSU will be the only university in Georgia

to host a Peace Corps Fellows/USA program.

Fellows/USA enables returned volunteers to pursue graduate degrees at

reduced cost while aiding underserved U.S. communities through intern-

ships. The program has established partnerships with more than 40 univer-

sities nationwide.

“This par tnership has par ticular significance as former Peace Corps

Director Paul Coverdell’s papers are housed at GCSU and the university

continues to be a strong supporter of Peace Corps and the Peace Corps’

Coverdell World Wise School program, begun by the late senator,” said

Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody Olsen.

“We are excited about having returning volunteers on campus as graduate

Fellows, especially with the unique experiences and backgrounds they bring

to the classroom,” said Dr. Roy Moore, associate vice president for acade-

mic affairs. “They will find a very welcoming environment with several for-

mer Peace Corps volunteers already here at the university, including

President Leland.”

Dr. Leland was a volunteer in India from 1968-69.

Since 1961, more than 182,000 Peace Corps volunteers have helped pro-

mote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 138

countries where volunteers have served. Peace Corps service is a 27-

month commitment.

Rock the Vote campaignGCSU exceeds voter registration goalMore than 300 Georgia College students registered

to vote during the university’s “Rock the Vote” cam-

paign in the first weeks of October. Sponsored by the

university’s Coverdell Institute as part of its American

Democracy Project, the total exceeded the original

goal of 200. With over 80 universities participating,

the goal is to register 300,000 students as new vot-

ers across the nation.

6 Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

U P F R O N T

Chemistry Accolades GCSU junior chemistr y scholar, Lindsey

Peaden from Brooks, Georgia, received a pres-

tigious award from the American Chemical

Society in September. Lindsey was awarded a

Cer tificate of Merit from the Division of

Environmental Chemistr y at the 232nd

National Meeting of the American Chemical

Society in San Francisco which was given for

outstanding content material and outstanding

manner of presentation. This award is rarely,

if ever, given to undergraduate chemistry stu-

dents. Lindsey was competing against gradu-

ate student presentations and post doctoral

presentations from all over the country. The

American Chemical Society is the world’s

largest scientific society. More than 12,000

scientists attended the spring meeting, and

over 7,000 presentations were given.

Lindsey works under the guidance of Dr.

Catrena H. Lisse and the title of her presenta-

tion was “H2Oconee and Beyond: Keeping an

Eye on Your Water Supply”. Dr. Lisse’s

research group, which started four years ago,

consists of five undergraduate chemistr y

majors (Katherine Harper, Ben Barfield, David

Wilson, and Steven Rowland) with Lindsey as

the student group leader. The Department is

proud of all their students that attended and

continues to foster undergraduate research as

the primary focus of scientific learning.

A Streetcar Named Desire February 21 – 25

Make plans now to attend our Theatre

Mainstage Production, “A Streetcar Named

Desire,” a collaborative production of our

acclaimed music and theatre departments.

Times: 8 p.m.,

Wednesday through Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday

Location: Russell Auditorium

Tickets: $12 gen. admission; $8 sen. citizens

Reservations: (478) 445-4226

The front landscape of historic Russell Auditorium received amakeover during the summer, transforming what was a parking lotinto a tree-lined courtyard and grand entrance.

Lindsey Peaden

Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006 7

U P F R O N T

GCSU Student ReceivesDaily Point of Light AwardOn October 11, sophomore Chris Turner

received the Daily Point of Light award

for his work with the GCSU Santa

Miracle Fund. One award is given each

day to recognize the notable work of a

single volunteer, or volunteer effor t in

the United States.

Chris was cited for creating the GCSU

Santa Miracle Fund, a service program

that works directly with the Children’s

Hospital in Macon. The program gives

children the opportunity to purchase holi-

day gifts for themselves through a gift

card campaign.

Chris Turner

GCSU Foundation Completes Purchase of Downtown Macon Site for Graduate ProgramsThe Georgia College & State University

Foundation has completed the purchase of

30,000 square feet of space in the

Thomas Jef ferson Building on Cherr y

Street in Macon to house the university’s

new Center for Graduate and Professional

Learning. The Foundation also announced

it had received a lead gift of $500,000

from the Peyton Anderson Foundation for

the project. GCSU President Leland

expressed special thanks for its generous

gift, which will allow the university to play a

significant role in the revitalization of down-

town Macon.

“Downtown Macon is the per fect site for

our new Center for Graduate and

Professional Learning,” said President

Leland. “The Thomas Jefferson building

offers ample space for classrooms, offices

and student support, as well as amenities

that include cultural attractions, convenient

shopping and restaurants.”

President Leland said the new center will

allow the university to place its graduate

programs under one roof, enabling it to

better serve its mission of providing gradu-

ate programs that are responsive to area

workforce needs. The new center will occu-

py three floors of the building and provide

courses in business, education, and nurs-

ing. In addition, the center will emphasize

class schedules that meet the needs of

working professionals.

“We are proud of the progress Georgia

College has made in becoming one of the

South’s most academically competitive and

distinguished institutions of higher learn-

ing,” said Stanford G. Wilson, Chairman of

the GCSU Foundation and a 1977 graduate

of Georgia College. “I am pleased that the

Foundation has been able to play such an

important role in furthering this advance-

ment.”

“This new facility will be an important edu-

cational resource for working professionals

and area employers,” added Macon busi-

nessman J. Russell Lipford, a 1971 gradu-

ate of Georgia College and past Chair of

the GCSU Foundation. “Our goal is to con-

tribute to a more educated workforce that,

in turn, benefits the region’s economy.”

The new Center for Graduate and

Professional Learning is expected to open

mid-2007, following renovation of the build-

ing to accommodate classrooms, study

facilities, and offices.


U P F R O N T

Greetings to Chancellor DavisDr. Deborah Vess, professor of history, was invited by the Board of Regents to represent all

university system faculty at the inauguration of Chancellor Erroll Davis on September 13.

AthleticsIn 2006, the Bobcats baseball and soft-

ball programs had seasons for the ages,

and expectations will be high when the

2007 seasons swing into action the first

week of February.

Bobcats baseball won its first Peach Belt

Conference Championship and returned

to the NCAA Tournament for the first

time since 2002, finishing 53-12 overall,

one win shy of matching a school record.

Georgia College hosted the NCAA South

Atlantic Regional for the first time in

school history, and coach Chris Calciano

was named the Peach Belt Conference

Coach of the Year. The Bobcats were

ranked No. 1 in the nation for a school

record eight weeks during the season

and ended the year tied for seventh in

the national poll.

Bobcats softball won the NCAA Division

II South Atlantic Regional Tournament,

and advanced to the NCAA II Softball

Championships in Salem, Va., for the

second time in the last four years. The

Lady Bobcats finished 45-13 overall and

were the Peach Belt Conference runner-

up. Coach Ginger Miller was named

2006 Peach Belt Conference Coach of

the Year.

GCSU receives gift to endowHispanic scholarships, recruitmentGeorgia College & State University has

received a gift of $700,000 from The

Goizueta Foundation that will provide

scholarships and aid in the recruitment

and retention of Hispanic students,

announced President Dorothy Leland.

The gift will enable more Hispanic stu-

dents whose families currently reside in

the United States to attend Georgia’s pub-

lic liberal arts university by establishing

and endowing The Goizueta Foundation

Scholars Fund to provide need-based

scholarship assistance. The gift also pro-

vides for immediate need-based scholar-

ship assistance to Hispanic students and

supports the establishment a Hispanic

bilingual recruiter and retention specialist

position.

A scholarship endowment for Hispanic stu-

dents will allow Georgia College to further

concentrate recruitment efforts on this

specific target group, said Dr. Paul Jones,

vice president of institutional research and

enrollment management.

“Georgia has experienced a dramatic shift

in its demographics, which in turn has had

a dramatic impact on higher education,”

he says. “It is estimated that by the year

2018, Hispanic students will make up 29

percent of the public schools in the south-

ern region.”

Roberto C. Goizueta established The

Goizueta Foundation in 1992 to provide

financial assistance to educational and

charitable institutions. Goizueta was

Chairman, Board of Directors, and Chief

Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola

Company until his death in October 1997.

He was a native of Cuba and a graduate of

Yale University.

U P F R O N T

Leading the African Literature Association

Dr. Eustace Palmer, professor of

English and coordinator of Africana

Studies, was recently installed as

the 32nd president of the African

Literature Association in an elabo-

rate ceremony in Accra, the capital

of the West African State of Ghana.

Palmer, born in the African country of Sierra Leone, was installed

like a traditional ruler or Ashante “king,” in the presence of the

Vice President of the Republic of Ghana Alhaji Aliu Mahama and

scholars from around the world at the Great Hall of the University

of Ghana, Legon, in Accra, Ghana.

Traditional “royal” sandals were placed on his feet, he was

swathed in heavy traditional “kente” cloth,” he was made to sit

on a traditional stool, a traditional sword was placed in his hand

and he was made to swear an oath of loyalty and service. Palmer

delivered his presidential address and the magnificent ceremony

ended with joyful traditional and modern dancing.

The African Literature Association is a worldwide professional

association dedicated to the advancement of African literary

studies and the promotion of the welfare of African writers and

scholars of African literature.

Congress to CampusStudents recently had the oppor tunity

provided by the Congress to Campus

Program to meet and converse with

Former U.S. Representatives Jim Lloyd

(D-CA) and Dan Miller (R-FL) as they visit-

ed with classes and hosted a town hall

meeting that discussed the ideas and

voice of America’s moderates.

The Congress to Campus Program pro-

vides the oppor tunity for insight and

commentary about how Congress and

the government really work.


Dr. Palmer, seated, with colleagues in Ghana.



CAMPUSAround Campus

More than Chasing Windmills:Santiago on Menéndez

Adventurous, sarcastic, pedestrian, historical – terms

you’d likely see accompanying a description of the sto-

ries and poems of Santiago García-Castañón, “I don’t

write because someone expects me to do it,” he says. “I

need to write just like I need to breathe.”

Born in Avilés, Spain, the hometown of famed explorer Pedro

Menéndez who founded St Augustine, Fla., Santiago grew up with

a steeped history in one of the oldest cities in the northern region

of Asturias.

Santiago’s latest book is, in fact, about the legendary Pedro

Menéndez. “It’s set in sixteenth century Spain and written in

archaic Spanish,” he says. Even the way the book is organized

looks more like a first edition of Don Quixote than a modern

release, without as many windmills being chased in the text. “The

book opens with traditional sonnets that celebrate the author and

the stor y,” says Santiago. “I’ve also included the mandator y

authorization from an officer of the government that would be

expected of a book during that time.

“As a pseudo-autobiography, Menéndez looks back and gives an

account of his adventurous life from his deathbed,” Santiago

says. “It took a lot of research since I based the book on the avail-

able history, but research is the enjoyable part. We know some

things about Menéndez. We know he sailed from Spain with 11

ships and about 2,000 soldiers. We know his only son died on the

journey at 20 years of age. We know he arrived on the Florida

coast on August 28, 1565, for example. But, there are some gaps

in his childhood and in fleshing out the story generally. So, I

include commonplace elements for that era – knife fights and hid-

den treasure and Jules Verne type adventures.”

As to Santiago’s personal adventure, he came to the States for

college and graduate school. He makes it back to Spain every

summer. Because his wife is native to Georgia and his children

have grown up in the Southern context, he has mixed emotions

about his contextual identity. “I’ve spent half of my life here,” he

says in his tucked away office in Terrell Hall. “I love the United

States and I still love my country of Spain.” It’s a conflict that

writes itself into not only his stories but also his poetry. “I tend to

write poems about pedestrian issues,” he says. “I write about sim-

ple things; I nostalgically look back at why a person has arrived at

a particular point in their life and ask what the passing of time

does to a human being.”

Santiago is both an avid writer, with 11 books and numerous

scholarly articles to his name, and a dedicated teacher. “I love to

teach,” he says. “I always look forward to working with students.

Abrir los ojos y ver sólo vacío,escuchar el silencio que has dejado,percibir en los poros de mi piel que tu cuerpo está lejos,alimentar el alma de residuos de emociones vencidas,de sueños derrotados por el tiempo,moverme entre cadáveres vivientes que pueblan los espaciosy ser como uno de ellos.Andar como un autómata,sentir en el costadola puñalada hiriente del desprecio.Ser una sombra que deambula desde que te has ido,un alma penitenteque arrastra las cadenas del dolorvagando por lugares en donde tú estuviste.Crear una ficción,una falsedad dulce y compasivaque haga pensar en lo que nuncaquerría que me hubiera sucedido.Y luego,rebelarme contra las pesadillas, ahuyentar los fantasmas de la angustia,no admitir que la vida se limitea esto que está ocurriendo,luchar con adversarios invisiblesque habitan en mí mismo.

Por fin volver,abrir la puerta de la que fue tu casay sentir la cuchilla de tu ausencia,buscar en los rincones del pasadoy saber que no estás.


A R O U N D C A M P U S

Un día cualquieraFrom Rota memoria (Broken Memory),

October 2006To open my eyes and see only emptiness,To listen to the silence you’ve left behind,To perceive on the pores of my skinThat your body is far away,To feed my soul with dragsOf defeated emotions,Dreams vanquished by time,To move among the living phantomsDwelling spaceAnd be one of them…To walk like a robotFeeling on my chestThe wounding stab of scorn,To be a shadowWandering since you left,A penitent soulDragging chains of grief,Roaming the places you used to inhabit.To create a fiction, A sweet, compassionate lieTo make me thinkOf what I wished had happened.And then,To rebel against the nightmares,To frighten off ghosts of anguish,To deny that life is nothingBut this that’s happening,To fight against invisible opponentsLiving in myself.

Finally to go back,To open the door of what was once your homeAnd feel your absence’s sharp blade,To look among in the crannies of the pastAnd know you’re gone.

A Day Like Any Other

Como yo te amoUnpublished

Me gustaríapoder decirte que te amocomo se ama a Dios,al cielo, al honor, a la vida;con la pureza con que se amaal Sagrado Corazón de Jesúso a la primera novia adolescente.Pero no creo en Dios,en el cielo, ni en el honor.En cuanto a la vida,tampoco es para tanto,y ni el Sagrado Corazón de Jesúsni la primera noviadespiertan mis instintos animales.De modo que te amo como el hombre que soy,elemental y primitivo;te amo con deseo, con sudor, con gemidos,con el espasmo que brota de mi cuerpo:te amo húmedamente y sin medida, como se ama

a una mujer.

The Way I Love YouI would like To be able to tell you I love youAs one loves God,Heaven, life, honor;With the purity with which one lovesThe Sacred Heart of JesusOr the first adolescent girlfriend.But I do not believe in God,Heaven, or honor.As for life,It doesn’t matter much,And neither Jesus’ Sacred HeartNor the first girlfriendAwaken my animal instincts.So I love you like the man I am,Elementary and primitive;I love you with desire, With sweat, with moans,With the spasm springing from my body:I love you mistily and immoderately,As one loves

A woman.

Santiago Samples:Spanish and English


A R O U N D C A M P U S

Anne BaileyProfessor of History

Invisible Southerners: Ethnicity in the Civil War

UGA Press

“Most Southerners who

fought in the Civil War were

native born, white, and

Confederate. However, thou-

sands with other ethnic

backgrounds also took a

stand and not always for the

South. Invisible Southerners

recounts the wartime experi-

ences of the region’s

German Americans, Native

Americans, and Afr ican

Americans. Bailey looks at

how such outsiders respond-

ed to demands on their loy-

alties.” (From The University

of Georgia Press Website, www.ugapress.uga.edu.)

John D. CoxAssistant Professor of English

Traveling South: Travel Narratives and the Construction of

American Identity

UGA Press

“Traveling South is the first

major study of how narra-

tives of travel through the

antebellum South helped

construct an American

national identity during the

years between the

Revolutionar y War and the

Civil War. Cox makes his

case on the basis of a broad

range of texts that includes

slave narratives, domestic

l iterature, and soldiers’

diaries, as well as more tra-

ditional forms of travel writ-

ing.” (From The University of

Georgia Press Website, www.ugapress.uga.edu.)

Renee DoddPart-Time Instructor in English, Speech, and Journalism

A Cabinet of Wonders

The Toby Press

A Cabinet of Wonders is the

stor y of members of a

Freak Show with a traveling

carnival in 1927.

“I wanted to be the first lit-

erary novelist to really go

inside of this world, making

these always marginalized

characters the center of the

story,” says Dodd. “I want-

ed to write the book in such

a way that forces the read-

ers to exchange their dis-

comfort, pity, or distant fas-

cination for an intimate

knowledge of complicated human beings who are just as similar to

the readers as they are different from them.” (Renee Dodd)

Alice FrimanPoet-in-Residence

Poetry editor of Arts & Letters Journal of Contemporary Culture

Book of the Rotten Daughter

BkMk Press

This collection of poems

was inspired by Friman’s

experience as caregiver for

her aging mother and

father, exploring such top-

ics as i l lness, nursing

homes, guilt, grief, and

familial relationships. “The

book isn’t about death but

about the living’s reaction

to it,” Friman says. (From

an editorial review on

www.amazon.com)

More Books by GCSU Faculty



CAMPUSAround Campus

GCSU senior Melissa Medlin had lots of offers to intern

through the university’s Mass Communications pro-

gram, but she wanted an opportunity that would give

her an experience that would be like no other. And that

is exactly what happened when she found herself at the Pentagon

asking Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questions on behalf of

a reporter who was unable to cover the briefing for CNN.

“I guess being in the right place at the right time pays of f,”

Melissa wrote shor tly afterwards in an email to her Mass

Communications Professor, Mary Jean Land. “The footage on the

news feed has been pooled all over the world, and my question

was used in many packages that have been airing on CNN. Be

proud of me!!”

But it turns out that Melissa’s good fortune was more than just

luck. Although she had been offered a number of internships at

leading media outlets, including WSB-TV and CNN’s headquarters

in Atlanta, she wanted something that would give her the chance

to be witness to events that shape the world. Through a combina-

tion of her hard work and the support of GCSU’s faculty, Melissa

found herself working at CNN in Washington, DC.

“I’ve been placed right in the heart of our nation’s politics and

government, and I’m in the biggest news bureau that CNN oper-

ates,” Melissa says. “There are so many decisions being made

right where I am, and so much politics being discussed… and I’m

front and center in it!”

That was especially true the day she found herself with a CNN

news crew at the Pentagon covering a briefing with Secretary

Rumsfeld and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

Unable to attend, Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre text

messaged the crew’s producer with questions he wanted the

Defense Secretary asked about the budget for the war in Iraq.

Melissa and the producer followed through and soon footage of

Rumsfeld’s response to their questions was sent around the world

by CNN as one of the day’s biggest news stories.

Although Melissa admits it can all be overwhelming at times (“I’m

face-to-face with world leaders, but I can’t be like ‘Oh my God,

that’s President Bush,’” she muses), her background and educa-

tion prepared her well for the opportunity. Growing up not far from

the GCSU campus in Milledgeville, she attended Baldwin High

School, where she participated in a new program that allowed stu-

dents to earn credit for producing a morning television show that

featured school news. Melissa auditioned to be the show’s

anchor and was given the job.

“It was my favorite class,” she says. “Only about eight students,

but we all took the opportunity and learned from each other.”

The experience left Melissa with a new appreciation for the role of

journalists, and a desire to follow the road she had been shown.

After exploring GCSU’s courses in Mass Communications, she

enrolled and immediately became involved in every opportunity

the program afforded her. Among them was working as a reporter

for the university’s television station.

“I was a reporter-editor for the Apple Digital Conference Learning

Institute. We were running around like crazy covering events and

editing them into packages,” she recalls. “That was the first-ever

Podcast — and I still have it on my iPod. I was making video

Podcasts before the majority of the people in my business today.

I couldn’t have asked for more!”

Despite her small-town roots, the preparation GCSU provided to

Melissa has helped her survive and prosper in the nation’s capi-

tol, where stress is a way of life. “The people I work with at CNN

treat me as a colleague, not an intern. They have me doing work

right along side them,” she says.

Melissa, who graduates in December, hopes the experience of her

internship, and the contacts she has made, will lead to a full-time

job with a major news organization. Although she knows she will

have to “pay her dues,” her ambition is to become an internation-

al reporter whose work contributes to making the world better.

“The media is a very powerful entity in today’s society. We have

the ability to bring the entire world to people and show them

what’s really going on. As a journalist, my biggest goal is to help

those who don’t have a voice in society to get the ‘whole’ story

out.”

Clearly, Melissa knows the importance of being in the right place

at the right time, but she also knows it is more than just luck.

“I’m an opportunist. I don’t sit around waiting for something to

happen – I make it happen. Never give up on something you can’t

go a day without thinking about.”

Right Place, Right Timeby Bryan Jackson


Ringing with ActivityAgain

by Dr. Bob Wilson, Professor of History and University Historian

(with thanks to Binky Strickland and Lauren Lundin)

COVERCover Story

17historic

Historic Bell Hall, after nearly two years of extensive reno-

vation, is once again providing a home for Georgia

College students as it has done for close to eighty

years. About 60 percent of its new residents are partici-

pants in the Honors & Scholars Program. The Honors Program

has for years sought to engage our very best students with a chal-

lenging and rewarding academic environment. That environment

now includes a residence center where the students can not only

connect socially, but can even attend some of their classes right

in the residence hall.

The new Bell Hall residents are appreciative of the honor and love

the convenience (though tardiness for an early morning class is

now admittedly hard to defend). Students enjoy the warm colors

of the high-ceilinged rooms, convenient laundry facilities, suite-

style rooms, a second-floor internet lounge, and a large communi-

ty room that faces on what once was the Bell courtyard.

Bell Hall was constructed in 1928 during the presidency of Dr. J.

Luther Beeson.

The building committee consisted of President Beeson, Dr. E.A.

Tigner (a dentist and local historian), and Miller S. Bell for whom

the new dormitory was named. Miller Bell had served on the

Board of Directors since 1909 and had been the college’s treasur-

er since 1907. A vigorous, rather aristocratic looking gentleman,

Bell was Milledgeville’s leading citizen in the early 20th century.

He was the town’s longest serving mayor—eight terms, stretching

from 1908 to 1928. Roads were paved, sidewalks installed, and

a much improved water works plant was built during his energetic

tenure. He became president of the Milledgeville Banking

Company, where most of the college accounts were kept, and was

the guiding spirit in building the new (1915) Methodist Church

building, which was intimately connected with the school during

the GN&IC and GSCW years. Bell and college President Marvin

Parks (1906-1926) were close friends and allies. They played

baseball together and worked hand in glove to modernize the col-

lege and the city. Whenever Parks was fighting in Atlanta for more

state appropriations for the college, his most stalwart supporter

on the Board of Directors was always Miller Bell. Miller’s brother,

E.E. Bell operated a very successful dry goods store (now The

Brick) where the young women at the college bought their uni-

forms. A portrait of Miller S. Bell will soon be reinstalled in the

Bell Hall front lobby.

Bell, in its earlier years, offered a virtual cloister for the girls. Its

back annex connected with the now vanished back annexes of

Terrell Hall to create a courtyard where the students could gather,

read, and sun bathe in near total seclusion. Life was not always

idyllic. Bell now has central air and heat, but older residents

recall the blistering heat on the third floor, even with the big fans

they brought from home. Up until 1935, the Baldwin County Jail

was side by side with Bell on the east side. The girls could hear

the cries and laments of the inmates and had to keep their

shades drawn since the prisoners could look right into their

rooms. During the World War II years when the campus was host

to thousands of Navy WAVES, the regular Jessies crowded three

and four to a room, and for dining, many sought a little privacy in

Bell’s own Tea Room, a small cafeteria in the back basement.

The girls had cur fews—10:30 on weeknights and 11 on week-

ends, and a sign-out system that they only challenged at their

peril. Times have certainly changed.

Miller Bell passed away in 1941, but there is little doubt that he

would take immense pride in the newly renovated facility named in

his honor and in the quality of the students that now reside there.

“We used raincoats to cover up our pajamas

when we went across the street to get food at the

Piggly Wiggly. And we’d wear our raincoats over

our pajamas when we went to breakfast.”

– Carolyne Hammond Guitton, ’64


“I met Bill, my husband, at Bell.

He was in a group of young military men

from Fort Gordon that came to an Open

House. That is my best memory of Bell.”

- Sandy Mills, ’64


This fall GCSU welcomed its first Arabic

instructor as par t of the Foreign

Language Teacher Assistant (FLTA)

Program, a State Department-funded pro-

gram managed by the Institute of International

Education. It took several days, two missed

flights and over 8,000 miles of traveling, but

Fatma Al Maamari finally arrived in Milledgeville,

Georgia, all the way from Saham, Oman. En

route to the U.S. on the same day of the London

bomb scare that turned airport security upside

down, Fatma had to overcome many obstacles to

reach her much-anticipated new home on August

12. Her luggage arrived a week later.

Despite the initial problems, Fatma is starting to

call Milledgeville home. “I like Milledgeville

because it is quiet and small, not like other places that are crowd-

ed and noisy. Also, the people are very friendly and helpful here,

which makes me feel more comfortable.”

The FLTA program brings 400 teachers of Arabic and other critical

languages to the United States each year from 58 countries,

including 20 Omanis this academic year. Faculty and students at

Georgia College are embracing the opportunity to learn the lan-

guage. “Arabic is one of the less commonly taught languages at

U.S. college and universities, but it is spoken in 28 countries in

Africa and the Middle East by over 200 million people,” explains

Dr. Roger Noel, chair of the Depar tment of Modern Foreign

Languages. “We hope that there will be a Certificate in Middle

East Studies at GCSU in the near future, and Arabic will be an

important component.”

Seventeen students have signed up for the Arabic class and have

already star ted learning the Arabic alphabet and a variety of

vocabulary words from songs and dialogues. Fatma enjoys experi-

menting with interactive activities and games to

of fer students a chance to practice the lan-

guage. When she runs into her students on cam-

pus, they greet her with a proper “Marhaba.”

“The Arabic class is the most enjoyable part of

my experience here,” Fatma shares. “My stu-

dents are very motivated and interested in learn-

ing the language. Everyday we exchange differ-

ent ideas and opinions.” Closely tied to teaching

the language is teaching the culture. To learn

more about the tradition of Ramadan, Fatma’s

students are fasting for one day and will share

an evening Omani meal prepared by Fatma.

Fatma’s interest in cultural exchange prompted

her to apply for the FLTA program. She wanted to

serve as an ambassador for her country and inform others about

the Arab world. While at GCSU, she is also reaching out to learn

more about American culture. First on her list was to visit a

church. Even though she is a Muslim, Fatma explains, “I like to

know about other religions and compare common prayers and ritu-

als.”

Fatma plays an important role in internationalizing the campus at

Georgia College by participating in numerous programs. Among

other events, she served as one of the panelists for a Middle East

Global Democracy Teach-In sponsored by the Coverdell Institute.

She has visited classes on campus and plans to go to local

schools. When she gives presentations, Fatma first tries to dispel

common misunderstandings by stating simple facts: “Not all

Arabs are Muslim and not all Muslims are Arab.”

Fatma is already being inundated by requests from students to

join her class spring semester, as the interest in Arabic/ Middle

East studies at Georgia College continues to grow.

From Oman to Georgia: Sharing Arabic Culture

by Libby Davis,

Associate Director of International Education

and International Student Adviser

CAMPUSAround Campus

19Georgia College & State University Connection • Fall 2006

ATHLETICSAthletics

Georgia College & State University recently announced the formationof an Athletics Hall of Fame with an inaugural induction of tenmembers. Georgia College has a proud history of fielding teamsthat win titles and graduate students to succeed in their chosen

careers. We congratulate the inductees and look forward to a history of hon-oring the athletic spirit and accomplishments of some of Georgia College’sfinest. Each inductee was presented a plaque. A banner and plaque will alsobe permanently displayed in the Centennial Center.

Inaugurating a Hall of Fame

• Phil Arp – Baseball (1980-83). Arp was a two-time NAIA All-Americanand All-Area selection, and a four-time NAIA All-District honoree. He wasthe first GCSU baseball player to be drafted by a major league team. Heholds the school single season record for home runs and career recordfor batting average, and ranks in the top four for home runs, careerruns scored, hits, doubles, RBI, and slugging percentage.

• Sherita Ballard – Women’s basketball (1987-91). Ballard was a three-time NAIA All-District selection and a First Team All-Peach BeltConference selection as senior when GCSU moved to NCAA Division II.She is GCSU’s career leader in games played, points, field goals,steals, and minutes played.

• Tom Gorman – Baseball (1983-86). Gorman was a three-time NAIA All-American and All-Area selection. He was also a four-time All-Districthonoree. He is the GCSU career leader in hits, doubles, RBI, and totalbases, and ranks in top five in GCSU history for runs scored, triples,home runs, slugging percentage, and batting average.

• Jennifer Joiner – Softball (2002-2003). Joiner was an NCAA All-Americanand All-Region selection in 2003 while helping the team finish as thenational runner-up in its first trip to the College World Series. She wasa two-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection, the NCAA RegionalTournament MVP in 2003, and also selected to the 2003 College WorldSeries All-Tournament Team. Joiner was also named to the Peach BeltPresidential Honor Roll. She holds GCSU career pitching records for vic-tories, lowest earned run average, strikeouts, strikeouts per game,shutouts, fewest hits per game, and fewest walks per game.

• John Kurtz – Baseball Coach (1976-1993). Coach Kurtz posted 577career wins in 18 seasons with a .610 winning percentage. He tallied14 winning seasons including five 40+ win seasons and two 50+ winseasons. Kurtz’s teams also won seven conference championshipsand four district titles, while making two World Series appearances. Herecruited and coached 45 All-District players and 14 All-Americans. Thebaseball field is named after him. He also coached the men’s soccerteam.

• Dr. J. Michael Peeler – Athletics Director and Golf Coach (1981-1990). Coach Peeler was one of the leaders in founding the Peach BeltConference and led GCSU’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. Hewas primarily responsible for the tremendous upgrade in GCSU athlet-ics facilities, and the West Campus Athletics Complex was named inhis honor.

• David Robinson – Golf (2000-2003). Robinson was a three-time NCAAAll-American, three-time All-Conference selection, and a three-timePeach Belt Conference Player of the Year. He was also the winner ofthe prestigious Michael Peeler Award. He earned medalist honors inseven tournaments during his career.

• Julia Roudkovskaya Dimitrov – Women’s tennis (1999-2002). Dimitrovwas a four-time All-American and All-Peach Belt Conference selection.She was also the NCAA Region Senior Player of the Year in 2002,Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in 1999, a three-time ITARolex Doubles Regional Champion and National Runner Up, an ITARegional Singles Champion in 2000, and the GCSU Female Athlete ofthe Year in 2002. She was also named to the Peach Belt ConferencePresidential Honor Roll.

• Duward Whelchel – Tennis Coach (1988-2000). Whelchel’s teams wontwo men’s conference championships, five women’s conference cham-pionships, made eight trips to men’s national tournament (NAIA andNCAA), and seven trips to women’s NCAA tournament. He was a seven-time conference coach of the year, two-time NCAA Regional Coach ofthe Year, and the 1995 NCAA Men’s National Coach of the Year.

• Robert Williams – Men’s basketball (1973-77). Williams earned NAIAAll-American honors and is GCSU’s career leader in points scored andfield goals. He also posted a career scoring average of 20.3 points pergame.

For more information about the Georgia College Hall of Fame, times andlocations for current games, and any season scores and highlights, visitwww.gcsu.edu/athletics.


ALUMNIAlumni Profile

“Jobs are like shoes,” says Kim Martin in a recent visit to

campus where she showcased her work and gave advice

to current students who packed the ar ts and sciences

auditorium. “You have to try them on and figure out if they

feel right. So, do as many jobs as you can before you get set in a

career path. It’s the only way you’ll know if you like what you’ve

chosen.”

Kim is a 1982 graduate of Georgia College and currently general

manager for “WE tv”, a cable network that is particularly geared

toward women viewership. Her accolades include being named as

one of The Top 50 Most Influential Women in Cable by

CableWORLD in 2005.

“When I started in this role about two years ago,” she says, “the

network had an older audience and basically aired movies. I want-

ed to change that and make the viewership younger and really

think about what women want to see on television.”

The change appears to be working. Kim says that the network has

increased 18 percent in total audience just this year. That’s an

amazing amount for a cable channel in the overpopulated televi-

sion dial of today. Now, more than 60 million U.S. households,

according to Nielsen Media Research, receive WE tv in their cable

package.

Kim graduated as a political science major with an ambition to

become a lawyer. That changed when she went to work for ATARI

in a marketing capacity. After completing her MBA, she found a job

at a new and little known cable channel called Discovery. “I think I

was employee number 34,” she says. “Now, Discovery is vastly

larger with a number of channels.” Kim says she “got lucky.” But,

she tempers this with a few points of advice. “I learned some

valuable lessons along the way,” she explains to current Georgia

College students. “First, as I’ve said, do as many jobs as you can.

Second, network and find mentors who you trust. And third, find

something you are passionate about. The motto of WE tv is ‘We

have more fun.’ And I can honestly say that’s how we work in the

office. It’s great to want to go to work.”

Next time you are watching Bridezillas, Secret Lives of Women, or

new shows like America’s Cutest Puppies and Kari Whitman:

Designer to the Stars, know that Kim Martin, an ambitious and

passionate Georgia College graduate, is behind the scenes mak-

ing WE tv successful.

Kim MartinMixing Passion, Fun, and TV



1960sMary Ellen Mitchell, ‘69, welcomed her firstgrandchild, Travis, into the world. Proud parentsCharlotte and Luke adopted Travis recently.

1970sPeggy H. Walker, ’74, was appointed byGovernor Perdue in May 2006, to serve on theState Commission on Family Violence. Sheworks as a juvenile court judge for DouglasCounty, Ga.

Cathy Hamilton, ‘79, ’91, is a Financial Analystfor Navcom Defense Electronics Inc.

1980sMichael Gilstrap, ‘82, has retired from theMedical College of Central Georgia.

Edward Allan Walsh, ‘83, has been appointedthe President of the Summit Group in Macon,Ga.

Harriet Strickland Collins Agen, ‘85, marriedGregory S. Agen, SMSgt, USAF (Ret.) on July 24,2005. She also received the National BoardCertification in Early Adolescence/EnglishLanguage Arts on November 18, 2005.

Georgia G. Slagle, ‘87, was elected to SecurityBank of Bibb Country’s Board of Directors. Shecurrently serves as a partner with the MaconCPA firm of Howard, Moore & McDuffie PC.

Velinda Stanley, ‘88, ’91, has been named theDirector of the University System of Georgia’sDublin Center.

Bridget Moten, ‘89, has been appointed theMarketing Director for Geotechnical &Environment Consultants in Macon, Ga.

Frank Askew, ‘89, is the President/CEO ofWashington County EMC.

1990sVonda Massingill Cooley, ‘90, and husband,Bruce, welcomed a son, Jonah Bruce, to theirfamily on October 3, 2006. He joins sistersAdriana, 4, and Cara, 2.

Elizabeth Hines, ‘90, ’92, has accepted a job atGCSU as the director of development. Elizabethcomes to her new position with years of develop-ment experience and was the Executive Directorof the Jekyll Island Foundation before returningto work for her alma mater.

Ann Shepherd Young, ‘91, received her JuristDoctorate degree from John Marshall LawSchool in May 2005, and also received theState Bar of Georgia Award for Tax Law. She

received her MBA from Georgia SouthwesternCollege & University in 1992.

Lawrence Mink, ‘92, has been appointed to theboard of directors at Mid South Federal CreditUnion.

William Emmette Vinson IV, ‘92, married MerryBlossom Samuel of Lawrenceville on October 1,2005, at Chota Falls in Clayton, Ga.

Sharon Murphy Augustine, MAT ’93, married J.Michael Augustine, Director of Admissions atGCSU, on July 1, 2006. Sharon and Mike live inMilledgeville and Sharon is currently on facultyat Mercer University.

Rebecca Castaldi Miles, ‘94, was promoted toCoordinator of Graduate Admissions at GCSU inAugust of 2005. She and her husband, Tom,’91, live in Milledgeville with their son, Tommy.

Lori Heayberd, ‘95, is currently employed atGCSU in the office of University AdvancementServices as an accountant.

Puneet Puri, ’96, is working in Delhi, India, inthe marketing department for India’s largestmedia company.

Jody Mathis, ‘97, has been appointed theController of Century Fire Protection LLC inDuluth, Ga.

Johnathan Sadlock, ‘97, is a franchised opera-tor of a Chick-fil-A restaurant that opened May23, 2006 in Spanish Fort, Ala.

Michelle Nicole Young, ‘99, has recently movedfrom Atlanta, Ga. to Greenville, S.C. after receiv-ing a promotion at GE Energy to become the newCommodity Site Leader at the Gas Turbinesplant in Greenville.

Terri Hoffman Duffield, ‘99, and her husbandCasey Duffield, ‘97, celebrated the birth of theirfirst child, Emily Marie Duffield. Emily was bornon May 6, 2006 at Northside Hospital inAtlanta. The family currently resides inWoodstock, Ga.

Brian Smith, ‘99, and his wife, Danielle Smith,welcomed their first child, Lydia Caroline Smithon October 27, 2005.

Cynthia B. Worthen, Ed.D., ‘99, received a doc-torate in organization leadership (Ed.D.) from theUniversity of La Verne in May 2005 and inOctober 2005 accepted a position at theUniversity of Redlands (California) as itsBurbank campus director.

Brandon Mercer, ‘99, has been promoted fromFirst Vice-President to Senior Vice-President andSenior Lender of the New Southern Bank.

2000sApril Brooks Bragg, ‘05 and Terry Bragg, ‘95welcomed the birth of their first child, AbigailBrooklyn on Monday, October 16, 2006. AbigailBrooklyn weighed in at 9 lbs and 14 oz.

Maurice Smith, ‘01, ’06, has been namedassistant coach for the GCSU women’s basket-ball team.

Jason Peterson, ‘01, received HonorableMention on his doctorial paper presented at theAmerican Journalism Historians Association inSan Antonio. He is completing his degree at theUniversity of Southern Mississippi in MassCommunications.

William V. Randall II, ‘02, ’04, is a Colonel inthe U.S. Air Force and the Deputy Commander ofthe Mission Planning Systems Group at Eglin AirForce Base in Florida.

Gregory Shayne Rozier, ‘02, graduated in May2006 from the Medical College of GeorgiaSchool of Dentistry with a Doctor of DentalMedicine degree.

Kathryn ‘Katie’ Tek, ‘02, married BrandonYoumans, ‘03, on April 22, 2006 on St. SimonsIsland.

Meredith Marie Wilson, ‘02 and David ‘Rhett’Barnwell have announced their engagement. Thecouple is employed by GEICO Auto Insuranceand makes their home in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tiffany M. Agnew, MPA ‘03, is currentlyemployed as the Program Coordinator for theEnvironmental Bio-safety Program in the office ofResearch compliance at Texas A&M University.

Leah Blasingame, ‘03, is a Project Manager atthe Macon Economic Development Commissionin Macon, Ga. As Project Manager, Leah over-sees the integral details of the business/indus-trial recruitment, retention and developmentprocesses in the Macon-Bibb County area.

Crystal S. Cammon, ‘03, ’05, is currently work-ing as a Program Manager for the Department ofDefense in Fort Mead, Md. Crystal recentlyreceived recognition for having exceeded goalexpectations for her division.

Kim Grahl Fowler, ‘03, married Jason HoytFowler on October 1, 2005 in Fort Valley. She iscurrently employed at the Cherokee Tribune inCanton, Ga.

NOTESClass Notes


William Hatcher, ‘03, ’05 is currently in the doc-toral program at Mississippi State University.

Patrick McKeown, ‘03, has recently been pro-moted to work in the internet sales division forGEICO in Washington, D.C.

Kate Brannen, ‘05, married Cainan Whelchel,‘05, on April 22, 2006 in Jesup, Ga. and theynow reside in Centerville, Ga.

Alex Brown, ‘04, is now working for WachoviaBank in Tucker, Ga.

Holly Crosby, ‘04, and Lee Snelling, ‘01, ’03,recently announced their engagement. They planto wed in December 2006. Holly currently worksin the Alumni and Development office at Mountde Sales Academy in Macon, Ga. and Lee isworking as a development officer at GCSU.

Andrew R. Dow, ‘04, recently accepted a posi-tion in California as a traveling nurse. With hisnew position he will have the opportunity to helppatients at various hospitals all over the stateand country.

Jamie Goss Gray, ‘03, and Bryan Gray, ‘04,recently wed. Jamie received a graduate degreein Child and Family Studies from MercerUniversity and works as a family counselor.Bryan has accepted a position working forGeorgia Power. The couple reside inMilledgeville, Ga.

Amanda Williams Scott, ‘04 and Andrew F.Scott, ‘04 have just purchased a new home inthe Atlanta area. Amanda is currently in a mas-ter’s degree program for Christian Counseling.Andrew works as a Hospital DevelopmentLiaison for LifeLink of Georgia.

Amber Smith, ’04, is director of campaign man-agement at MoreVisibility, a company based inBoca Raton, Fla.

Jenni Prosnak Bruckman, ‘05, is currentlyemployed as the marketing director for Coldwell,Banker in Raleigh, N.C. Jenni and her husband,Paul, reside in Wake Forest, N.C.

Bret Benson, ‘05, is currently working for theWachovia Corporation as a Licensed FinancialSpecialist in Atlanta, Ga.

Courtney Carney, ‘05, has been accepted intothe Master of Arts Program at Ball StateUniversity.

Brett Cook, ‘05, has been named in theOctober issue of Georgia Trend as one of the top“40 under 40”. He currently serves as the CityManager of Darien.

Michael Haun, MBA ’05, has been promoted toMarketing Manager of Auxiliary Services forGCSU and is married to Tifanie S. Haun, ‘06.

Elaine Harris, ‘05, is the Marketing Coordinatorat Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee and is responsi-ble for all advertising, public relations and othermarketing programs.

Bryan Hinkle, ‘04 and Jessica Norsworthy, ‘06are planning to wed and live near Lake Lanierafter a honeymoon in St. Lucia.

Josh Hyder, ‘05, is enrolled in an 18 monthMBA program in Tian Jin, China. He is enrolledthrough the University of Oklahoma and beganhis program in July 2006.

Alyson McGoldrick, ‘05, was promoted toAssistant Vice-President and Trust Advisor atSunTrust Bank.

Grace Rebecca Moore, ‘04, is a RegisteredNurse for the Ambulatory Core Unit of theOconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville,Ga.

Kaneice Bembry Lucas, ‘04, was named a‘master teacher’ by the Georgia Department ofEducation. She received this honor by showingsignificant gains in the test scores of her stu-dents. Kaneice now functions as a teacher anda mentor to teachers in the Warner Robins mid-dle school system.

Tara Marie Schroeder, ‘05, has accepted a posi-tion as manager of a Bath and Body Works storeand lives in Titusville, Fla.

Louis “Bo” D. Shell, ‘05, is currently working forthe Southern Voice as a Community Reporterand Staff Photographer in Atlanta, Ga.

Erin Shipman, ‘05, is engaged to Coit Jefferies.The couple plan to be married in February 2007.

Dilanka Seimon, ‘03, is enrolled at DukeUniversity’s Fuqua School of Business in theircross-continent Executive MBA program. He iscurrently working at Sequent Energy Group andACI Surgical Associates.

Tara Springfield, ‘05, received her Master ofAccountancy at GCSU in the spring of 2006 andis now a staff accountant with Cheryl Williams,CPA in Milledgeville, Ga.

Christopher Yarbrough, ‘05, is in his first year oflaw school at John Marshall Law School inAtlanta, Ga.

Jennifer C. Jones, ‘05, is now the PublicRelations Manager for the North Central HealthDistrict which is now a part of the GeorgiaDepartment of Public Health. She will now over-see the health departments and emergency pre-paredness programs of 13 counties.

Jessica Ward, ‘05, is currently in the master’sdegree program for Higher EducationAdministration at the University of Kansas.

James Michael Madison, ‘06, began an MBAprogram at GCSU this fall.

Christy Marie Purvis, ‘06, married Ryan Purvison August 6, 2005. They now reside inSavannah where Christy works as a PracticeRepresentative for Savannah Surgical Group andACI Surgical Associates.

Harold C. Mock, III, ‘06 is currently in the mas-ters & doctoral program at the University ofVirginia. Harold is a graduate assistant whichallows him to get great experience for his futureendeavors as a professor.

Christina Homer, ‘06, recently accepted a posi-tion at Fox Sports as a Sales Associate inAtlanta, Ga.

C L A S S N O T E S

Friends from the Class of 1955 at a recent gathering in St Teresa, Fla.Standing from left: Martha Lewis, Jerri Haines Hurst, Myra Bagwell Harris, Patsy Orr Cox, JanAnderson McGahee, Jan Haines Brown Kneeling from left: Joan Klecan Kemp, Elaine DurhamMobley, Jane Adams Edmonds

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Connection Fall 2006