Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Commencement Programs Office of Student Affairs Fall 2020 2020 Fall Commencement Georgia Southern University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/commencement- programs Part of the Higher Education Commons This brochure is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of Student Affairs at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Commencement Programs by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Twenty-Ninth Annual Fall Commencement 2020 Georgia Southern University SCHEDULE OF CEREMONIES UNDERGRADUATE Sunday, Dec. 13 • 2 p.m. • Savannah Convention Center Wednesday, Dec. 16 • 10 a.m. • Paulson Stadium in Statesboro Wednesday, Dec. 16 • 3 p.m. • Paulson Stadium in Statesboro Thursday, Dec. 17 • 10 a.m. • Paulson Stadium in Statesboro GRADUATE Thursday, Dec. 17 • 3 p.m. • Paulson Stadium in Statesboro COMMENCEMENT NOTES Photography: A professional photographer will take Accessibility Access: If your guest requires a picture of you as you cross the stage. A proof of accommodations for a disability, accessible seating this picture will be emailed to you at your Georgia is available. Guests entering the stadium from the Southern email address and mailed to your home designated handicap parking area should enter address so that you may decide if you wish to through the Media Gate or Gate 13 (Statesboro purchase these photos. Find out more about this Ceremony). Accessible seating for the Savannah service at GradImages.com. ceremonies are available on the right hand side near the back of the Exhibit Hall. Please see the map for Live Broadcast: There will be a live broadcast accessible seating on the commencement website. via the University’s Facebook page at If you have questions, please contact the Student Facebook.com/GeorgiaSouthern or can Accessibility Resource Center at 912-478-1566. also be viewed via the web on the Georgia Southern Commencement Live Feed Page at Sign Language: American Sign Language GeorgiaSouthern.edu/commencement. interpreting is available. Guests who need access and desire close proximity to the ASL interpreter Diplomas/Transcripts: Diplomas will be mailed may choose to sit in Section J of Paulson to the graduates at their diploma mailing address Stadium (Statesboro Campus). In Savannah, the or their permanent home address. Diplomas will interpreter will be visible on the big screen from all be mailed six to eight weeks after graduation for seating areas. students who have applied for graduation and completed all requirements. More info: For more information or access to ceremony maps, please visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/commencement or scan the QR code. FOR YOUR SAFETY Face-coverings are required to be worn at all times. Public health guidelines and protocols ensure Eagle Nation stays safe. Please pay attention to signage at the venue or visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/commencement for more details. Ushers are stationed throughout the venue to assist you. Police Officers are also available on location. In Case of Emergency—Follow the directions given by the usher and police officer nearest you. Medical Emergency—Ask the nearest usher for assistance. The usher will contact EMS on location. CONTENTS History of Georgia Southern 2 Points of Pride 4 About Georgia Southern University 6 The SEAL 6 The Presidential Medallion and Chain 6 Vision Statement 7 Mission Statement 7 Values 7 Academic Colors 8 Academic Distinction 9 The Symbols of Academic Tradition 10 Letter from the President 11 Acknowledgments 12 Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies 20 Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health 30 College of Education 31 Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing 33 Parker College of Business 37 College of Science and Mathematics 41 College of Arts and Humanities 43 College of Behavioral and Social Sciences 47 Waters College of Health Professions 51 Emeritus Faculty 55 Previous Honorary Degrees Awarded by Georgia Southern University 60 Alma Mater 61 Freedom 62 HISTORY OF GEORGIA SOUTHERN The roots of Georgia In 1935, just a half-mile In 1924, First District A&M In 1964, Armstrong had Southern University away from the DeSoto, School expanded its mission also achieved four-year college begin in Savannah. Armstrong was founded at the and became the Georgia status, and just two years later historic Armstrong House on Normal School, training completed its new campus on In 1906, Georgia Southern Bull Street. teachers at the college level the southside of Savannah. The founders from Bulloch County for the first time. By1959 , move was controversial to many In both cases, local leaders like met with state legislators the Board of Regents changed locals and city leaders because Lonnie Brannen and Albert and leaders from competing the school’s name to Georgia the southside was considered M. Deal from Statesboro, counties at the DeSoto Hotel, Southern College, a four-year “out in the country.” Back then, and Lowry Axley and Thomas where they won the bid for the college with diverse programs. Abercorn Extension ended at Gamble in Savannah, First District A&M School to a barricade right in front of understood the impact that be located in Statesboro. the campus. education would have on the workforce and the business However, the move proved to prospects of the region, and be visionary, and the southside they put their resources behind became an integral part of the their beliefs. city in later years. 2 In 1980, Georgia Southern Our ties to the military don’t With the reinstatement of In 2017, Georgia Southern created its first ROTC program end there. Fort Stewart is the football in 1982, Georgia and Armstrong consolidated to with Mercer University’s help. largest Army base east of the Southern began to get noticed become one Georgia Southern Four years later, the University Mississippi, and has provided on the national stage. During University, and is now the assumed responsibility for a huge opportunity for us to the Eagles run of championships largest public university south ROTC at Armstrong, and connect with our community. under head coach Erk Russell, of Atlanta and the fifth largest the cadres have been linked In 1998, Armstrong worked enrollment doubled. in the state. Focused on student ever since. with Georgia Southern and success, the University seeks other USG institutions to By 1990, this explosive to help our students get the Today, our ROTC programs create the Liberty Center— growth and the hard work firsthand, experiential training draw some of the best and now the Liberty Campus— of faculty and staff led to its that will help them enter brightest from around the which serves the large designation as a university. the workforce as leaders in country, and our cadets are population of active-duty Just six years later, Armstrong their fields. routinely among the best in and veteran military and gained university status as the nation. their families. Both Georgia well, and the two institutions Southern and Armstrong have expanded their program been designated Military- offerings and regional impact. Friendly institutions for years, a trend we will proudly continue as a consolidated University. 3 POINTS OF PRIDE Georgia Southern is now For the 10th year in a row, Georgia Southern’s The Eagle Battalion is the fifth largest public Georgia Southern University Allen E. Paulson College proud to have one of the university in Georgia and was named one of the of Engineering and largest Army ROTC the largest south of Atlanta. nation’s top eco-friendly Computing opened the Nursing programs campuses in The Princeton state of Georgia’s in the nation. Georgia Georgia Southern University Review’s Guide to 361 Green first undergraduate Southern’s School of Nursing is now ranked as an “R2” Colleges: 2020 Edition. Manufacturing is consistently ranked among high research institution, Engineering program the top in the country. The placing it in the top 6% of Georgia Southern ranked in August 2015, with the first strong relationship between all institutions ranked by in the top 5% in 11 cohort graduating in 2019. these elite programs has the Carnegie Classification categories, including The program is one of only ensured that our nurse cadets of Institutions of Higher diversity and best 20 in the nation and one of receive top quality education only three in the Southeast Education. The “R2” programs by College and experience while being United States. designation is the second- Factual for 2021. held to high academic and highest classification for ethical standards, preparing Jiann-Ping Hsu College The Armstrong Campus in research institutions. them to become both Army of Public Health is ranked Savannah was designated as officers and leaders in the field Named “Military- first in the nation for the first college campus of medicine. Friendly” school for a master’s degree in in the country to have the ninth year in a row by public health by SR a collegiate chapter of the National Latina Georgia Southern University Victory Media, publisher Education Group. Organization MANA, established its first of G.I. Jobs, STEM Jobs and which represents the interests permanent scientific Military Spouse magazines, Georgia Southern University’s of Latina women, youth field station known as the and ranked number one in Department of Biology and families in the areas Effingham Wetlands. The the best schools for is the largest center for biology research of education, health and property of about 1,400 acres, military students by Best is located in Effingham and and education in well-being, financial literacy, for Vets Colleges. Chatham counties. southern Georgia. equal and civil rights and immigration reform. 4 The Betty Foy Sanders can receive. The finalists online master of educational is a significant part of Georgia Artists included only nine four-year leadership, higher education the USG’s $16.8 billion Collection, one of Georgia institutions, among them, administration, master of economic impact on the Southern University’s largest Furman University, Duke business administration, state of Georgia.