精东鈥檚 Liberty Campus welcomed nearly 60 students, alumni, faculty, staff and guests for Friends and Family Day in early October. 

The event was designed to bring the campus community together for an afternoon of free food, fun and games, music, and Eagle spirit.

New Student and Family Programs organized and sponsored the event in collaboration with Liberty Campus staff. Representatives from the Follett bookstore were also on hand with Georgia Southern merchandise and raffled off swag to attendees.

鈥淚 had a great time,鈥� said first-year student Justin Jones. 鈥淚 met a lot of people, made new friends and played cornhole with my mom.鈥�

Fellow first-year student James Keel also enjoyed the experience. 

鈥淚 had a good time,鈥� Keel said. 鈥淚 enjoyed the food, but I just wish [the event] would have been bigger.鈥�

With plans already underway to bring Friends and Family Day back each fall, Liberty Campus leaders hope to build on this year鈥檚 gathering and continue growing the event as a campus tradition.

鈥淪eeing our students, staff and families laughing, connecting and enjoying the day together was truly the best part,鈥� said Liberty Campus Associate Director Dawn Merrell. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see this Liberty Campus tradition continue to grow.鈥�

Instead of walking from table to table hoping to catch the attention of a potential employer, 精东鈥檚 Center for Sales Excellence (CSE) offered students the chance to pitch themselves as a potential employee to hiring companies during the inaugural Reverse Sales Talent Showcase. 

Partnering with the Pi Sigma Epsilon (PSE) chapter inspired the CSE to take a different approach to career readiness during the University鈥檚 annual .

鈥淚n years past, the Center for Sales Excellence would host a traditional career fair, and it was fine; everyone seemed to enjoy it,鈥� said D. Travis Brickey, senior lecturer of marketing and executive director of the CSE. 鈥淭he only issue, it would be the fourth career fair hosted on campus in a three-day period, which seemed redundant. This year we decided to shake things up by turning the tables, with the students presenting to the firms.鈥� 

More than 20 firms, including , , , , and , visited the personal displays of 54 Parker College of Business students. Members of PSE designed posters to market themselves to the companies, showcasing their talents, ambitions, professionalism and desire to hone their craft in professional selling.  

鈥淭he opportunity to participate in the University鈥檚 first-ever Reverse Career Fair was such a unique and rewarding experience,鈥� said Katie Smith, a senior majoring in marketing with an emphasis in sales and sales management. 鈥淲e were able to showcase who we are beyond a r茅sum茅, connecting with so many incredible companies. As president of the Gamma Lambda chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon, I was especially proud to see our members take advantage of such a great opportunity. Innovative events like these remind me how proud I am to say I鈥檓 an Eagle.鈥�

Reversing the traditional career fair model provided students with a platform to highlight their background, enhance their networking ability, demonstrate their creative presentation skills, and refine their professionalism. The students were encouraged to develop an elevator pitch, learning to develop a concise talk track when provided with a brief opportunity to sell themselves to a company executive in 60 seconds or less.

鈥淢any students find large career fairs overwhelming, making it difficult to hold meaningful conversations with the employers,鈥� Brickey said. 鈥淚n this approach, the company interacts with the student in a one-on-one format, which is less intimidating and more productive for all. Everyone seemed to enjoy the change in pace.鈥�

The CSE uses a holistic approach to sales education where it is vital for students to learn from and engage with current sales practitioners. The relationships formed at events, such as the Reverse Sales Talent Showcase, are invaluable to student development.

鈥淭he Reverse Career Fair challenged me to put myself and my experiences at the forefront,鈥� said Jonathan Foreman, a junior majoring in marketing with an emphasis in sales and sales management. 鈥淚t was a fantastic opportunity to step outside the traditional career fair format and take ownership of my own personal brand. It was a great experience putting my communication skills into practice and connecting directly with employers.鈥�

The Fall Reverse Sales Talent Showcase would not be possible without the support of the Sales Center鈥檚 corporate partners. Partners in attendance included , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . 

About the Center for Sales Excellence

Located within 精东鈥檚 Parker College of Business, the CSE is recognized by the University Sales Alliance as one of the nation鈥檚 top sales programs. Established in 2007, the mission of the Center is to have a positive impact on the sales profession through education, research and service. The B.B.A. in Marketing offers students an emphasis in Sales and Sales Management.

Through the Center, students gain experience with sales role-play in our dedicated labs, with many going on to compete in some of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious sales competitions. The Center also works to bring students together with companies in the industry looking to hire the best and brightest minds. It is the goal of the Center to be the preeminent sales program in the nation.

Ava Edwards, director of Alumni Relations at 精东, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Georgia Education Advancement Council鈥檚 (GEAC) Excellence in Alumni Relations Award.

“This year鈥檚 honorees exemplify the very best of higher education advancement in our state,鈥� said GEAC President Frances Beussee of Kennesaw State University. 鈥淲e are proud to recognize their outstanding commitment, innovative leadership and lasting contributions to our profession.”

Under her leadership at Georgia Southern, Edwards has helped expand alumni engagement across a growing community of more than 162,000 alumni. The Alumni Office has seen a 15% annual increase in event attendance in fiscal 2026, while programs such as 40 Under 40, True Blue Tailgates and the International Alumni Travel Program continue to create meaningful opportunities for alumni to connect with the University. 

鈥淎va exemplifies the very best of the alumni relations profession through her unwavering commitment to alumni engagement, innovative programming, strategic leadership and dedication to advancing the mission of higher education through meaningful relationships,鈥� said Beusse, who nominated her for the award.

The Excellence in Alumni Relations Award honors higher education advancement professionals who have served at least five years in higher education and have distinguished themselves in the field of alumni relations.

STATESBORO 鈥� U.S. News & World Report has released the 2027 Best College rankings, recognizing 精东 in six out of 10 categories, including engineering, business and nursing.

Georgia Southern made a significant 15 spot jump, ranking #328 in national universities. The institution is tied with East Tennessee State University, Old Dominion University and The University of North Texas 鈥� Dallas in this category.

“This is a proud milestone for 精东,鈥� said Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淭his achievement is a direct result of our outstanding faculty and staff, whose hard work and pursuit of excellence drive our academic mission forward. I want to express my sincere gratitude for their dedication, which continues to position Georgia Southern as a strong, dynamic institution on the rise.鈥� 

The University鈥檚 top Best Colleges rankings include: 

• #175 in Top Public Schools (tie)

• #230 in Business Programs (tie)

• #106 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie)

• #276 in Computer Science (tie)

• #243 in Nursing (tie)

More than 1,700 institutions of higher education were evaluated for academic quality and graduate success. To be included in the rankings, schools must have a majority focus on baccalaureate degrees, have regional accreditation and offer education primarily based on campus. Schools are grouped into 10 categories which are based on the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s research designations and institutional classifications.

Georgia Southern continues to strive for excellence during our record-breaking year of attendance, with more than 33,000 students choosing to soar with Eagle Nation for the 2026-2027 academic year. In the last several months, the institution has proudly announced the addition of the College of Optometry, a new Physician Assistant program and the 精东 Literacy Center. 

When senior biology major John Petronis enters Jianzhou He, Ph.D.’s lab at 精东’s College of Science and Mathematics, he sets his bag down, puts on his headphones and gets to work analyzing water samples. 

“Most of what I research is focused on the communities we live in,” Petronis said. “So a lot of the samples I monitor come from Tybee Island and the Savannah River.”

Petronis uses a Shimadzu particle size analyzer to identify and analyze what He calls emerging contaminants, specifically microplastics.

“Globally, we produce hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastics every year, and only about 9% get recycled,” explained He. “Microplastics are less than five millimeters, but the impact they’re having on the world right now is immeasurable, and it’s growing by the day.”

As these materials break down, they enter local waterways, rivers, marshland and drinking water, said He. They can be toxic, harming marine wildlife, disrupting food chains and affecting the ecosystem they occupy, making them a major environmental concern.

“There are currently no regulations or standards that monitor the amount of microplastics in our environment,” He said. “So there’s no record of how they behave in a coastal area like ours.”

Studying these chemicals in a more diverse ecosystem helps Petronis and He develop a thorough assessment of the risks they pose and propose practical solutions to reduce their presence. They use advanced technology provided through the Shimadzu Partnership for Academics, Research, and Quality of Life (SPARQ) program to support their research. The SPARQ partnership gives students like Petronis a chance to work with the latest in industry-standard equipment.聽聽

“This research wouldn’t be possible without the tools from Shimadzu,” said He. “My students could not complete their work otherwise.” 

Equipment like the particle size analyzer helps them identify these chemicals on a granular level. They also want to see how environmental (UV) exposure changes them over time, so Petronis uses the sunlight simulator machine to produce results in minutes instead of the 3,000 hours it would otherwise take. But Petronis, a full-time student with a full-time job, doesn’t mind putting in the time. 

“I want to have a deeper understanding of how we exist in our world,” he explained. “The environmental science aspect鈥 mean, that’s the equivalent to cleaning your room. I look at the Earth and think, ‘I want to clean this place up. I want to take care of what’s been given to us,鈥� and this research opportunity has done just that.”

The Academic Success Center (ASC) at 精东 has earned an international recertification by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) for the tutoring services it offers students. 

The ASC received the recertification as a Level 1 International Tutor Training Program (ITTPC). To earn the recertification, the tutoring services team successfully completed CRLA鈥檚 peer review process and demonstrated its tutor training program meets the established standards for tutor selection, training, direct service and program evaluation.  

鈥淐RLA certification reflects our University鈥檚 commitment to excellence in student support by ensuring tutors receive consistent, rigorous and research-informed training,鈥� said Lydia Reynolds, tutoring coordinator at the ASC. 鈥淚t transforms tutoring into a meaningful professional development opportunity while ensuring students receive support from well-prepared tutors equipped to meet diverse learning needs. Ultimately, CRLA certification strengthens the quality, credibility and impact of our tutoring program and supports a broader culture of student success.鈥�

CRLA鈥檚 International Tutor Training Program Certification is a nationally and internationally recognized certification that promotes high-quality tutor training and academic support programs. For more than 30 years, CRLA has been a leader in learning assistance, reading and academic support, serving professionals and programs dedicated to student success.

For more information about CRLA and ITTPC, visit . 

Georgia Southern鈥檚 Waters College of Health Professions (WCHP) received approval from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) to move forward with a new Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Physician Assistant Studies degree program. The new program, approved by the USG鈥檚 governing and managing authority on Aug. 13, will add to the college鈥檚 38 diverse health professions degrees and certificates offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

鈥淭he addition of a program in physician assistant studies further solidifies Georgia Southern鈥檚 leadership in preparing dedicated health care professionals who will serve our communities,鈥� said Waters College of Health Professions Dean Scott Gordon, Ph.D., FACSM. 鈥淎s Georgia faces a critical deficit in primary care providers, we are committed to improving health outcomes and fostering long-term economic stability in our region and state.”

In Georgia, an estimated 14 counties currently lack family medicine physicians, and eight counties have no physicians at all. Georgia Southern鈥檚 physician assistant (PA) program will strengthen the workforce pipeline by creating a pathway for students to receive high-level clinical training in the region, recruiting from the very communities with the greatest need. The program’s focus on evidence-based practice and quality improvement will also prepare graduates to contribute to the health care system’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Physician assistant employment in Georgia is projected to grow by 32% over a 10-year span through 2032, with approximately 430 annual job openings. Current annual production of PA graduates in Georgia meets only about 80% of estimated employment demand. The program will help bridge the projected deficit over the next decade by producing 35 to 40 highly skilled physician assistants annually.

The program鈥檚 economic impact will be multifaceted. Graduates will transition into high-demand clinical roles with significant earning potential, serving as vital catalysts for local economic growth. By increasing access to primary and preventive care, the program will help reduce costly emergency department utilization and address chronic disease management鈥攆actors that improve population health while reducing overall health care expenditures.

“Georgia Southern鈥檚 long-standing leadership in health professions education is rooted in a fundamental belief that a theory-to-practice model based on an optimal mix of classroom-based didactic education and hands-on clinical phase, blending scientific theory with direct patient care focused on the population we serve, creates long term impact,鈥� said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D. 鈥淭he new PA program represents a strategic alignment of our educational expertise with our deepest responsibility to prepare graduates who not only demonstrate clinical excellence, but possess the steadfast dedication to serve communities across our region and state.”

Based at the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, the MMSc program is a 27-month, 112-credit-hour curriculum that balances 14 months of didactic learning with 13 months of supervised clinical practice. Pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the program expects to begin recruiting its inaugural cohort within the next two years.

The program鈥檚 curriculum integrates rigorous, evidence-based education with a focus on hands-on service in underserved areas, extending benefits directly to the most vulnerable populations in the region. Students will be provided multiple optional community service-learning experiences in medically underserved areas and have the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations at Federally Qualified Health Centers and community health clinics across counties in South Georgia that provide direct exposure to underserved populations. The region鈥檚 strong military presence also allows students to engage with veterans, active-duty service members and their families.

Additionally, the program’s emphasis on patient-centered care across all supervised clinical practice experiences will ensure that graduates are equipped to serve numerous distinct populations with sensitivity and responsiveness to individual patient needs and community health priorities. This approach will ensure that students receive hands-on experience in the specific settings where they are most needed, increasing the likelihood that graduates will choose to practice in underserved communities upon certification.

The Waters College of Health Professions鈥� demonstrated excellence in cross-disciplinary collaboration, interprofessional education and activities, faculty-led research partnerships and experiential learning creates an ideal foundation for this initiative. The PA program complements the institution鈥檚 existing nurse practitioner program, currently the largest occupation in the region, creating a comprehensive advanced practice provider pipeline. Together, these programs position WCHP as the regional leader in addressing critical health care workforce shortages across coastal and South Georgia. 

WCHP is Georgia Southern鈥檚 largest college with more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students working toward degrees in the clinical sciences, health sciences and kinesiology, and nursing. The college confers approximately 950 undergraduate and graduate degrees each year. 

“This is a strategic investment in the economic and physical health of South Georgia,” Gordon added. “By leveraging our existing simulation facilities and strengths in the health sciences and deep partnerships across the region, we are maximizing the impact of University resources.”

John Banter, Ed.D. has been selected to serve as assistant vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement (OELDE), effective August 1.

“John listens before he decides,” said Dominique Quarles, Ph.D., associate vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development and Engagement. “Colleagues across campus trust him, and he follows through without being asked twice. Those instincts are what set him apart, and they are why I have full confidence in his ability to lead in this capacity.”

Banter has built a strong record of measurable and meaningful work since joining the OELDE team as director of the Office of Organizational Effectiveness. He served as strategic planning administrator in the development of the University Strategic Plan, Soaring Beyond 2030, and has since led the centralized data collection process for the institutional key performance indicators tied to that plan. 

He also developed and launched the Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders. He co-leads the University Strategic Engagement and Alignment Committee, ensuring the university’s strategic priorities translate into coordinated action across campus.

“I am excited to serve in this role and to partner with colleagues across the university as we develop leaders, strengthen engagement and take purposeful action to advance Georgia Southern’s mission and vision,” said Banter

Banter will work alongside Quarles to help align leadership development, institutional engagement, and organizational effectiveness work with the University’s mission and strategic plan and will assume administrative oversight of the Office of Institutional Engagement and the Office of Student Engagement and Support. 

That also includes strengthening the leadership and professional development ecosystem, including the Leadership Development Institutes and the employee e-learning platform, while building out systems to track data and results. 

Banter brings 20 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education to his new role. 

STATESBORO, GA 鈥� Forbes Magazine has named 精东 as one of . 

Forbes has released the names of employers across the United States committed to providing pay equity, career development opportunities, parental leave, work-life balance, childcare and eldercare benefits, and proper assessment and management of incidents related to sexual misconduct and discrimination. 

Georgia Southern was one of two universities from Georgia to be named within the list, ranking  #138 out of 700 employers across the country. According to research from , women account for more than half of the workforce today, a stark contrast to the 1990s, when men held about 7 million more jobs than women.

In partnership with , more than 176,000 women working for companies employing at least 1,000 people throughout the U.S. were surveyed, and results from the last three years were considered in the findings. Statista also accounted for the percentage of women in executive and board positions within the research.  

For the ninth consecutive year, Forbes recognizes standout employers making strides to improve pay equity and providing employees opportunities to advance in their careers, and achieve the highest levels of success within leadership positions. 

精东, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 with a Carnegie Community Engagement classification, offers approximately 149 different degree programs serving nearly 31,600 students through 11 colleges on four campuses in Savannah, Hinesville, Statesboro, Swainsboro and online instruction. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern is a leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty and a focus on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to soar beyond and take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit .

STATESBORO, GA 鈥� For the 2026-27 academic year, has named 精东 a College of Distinction for Eagle Nation鈥檚 commitment to serving undergraduate students and championing the leaders of the future.聽

These merits signify a school鈥檚 adherence to what Colleges of Distinction calls its Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community and Successful Outcomes. In addition, Eagle Nation was also named a 2026-2027 Military Support, Business, Education, and Nursing College of Distinction.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 students are navigating a college landscape shaped by rising costs, rapid technological change, and real uncertainty about the future of work,鈥� said Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer at Colleges of Distinction. 鈥淲hat they need from higher education isn鈥檛 just a credential, but preparation for the world ahead. 精东 delivers that through the kind of intentional, high-impact education that equips students for whatever comes next.鈥�

Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to recognizing schools across the United States for their remarkable contributions to higher education. Colleges of Distinction was founded on the premise that a college is the experience it provides, not its place for numerical rankings alone. Georgia Southern鈥檚 inclusion reflects its commitment to actionable, qualitative values. 

From undergraduate research and collaborative coursework to immersive service-learning and mentored internships, Georgia Southern students are active participants in their own education.

鈥淣o two students arrive on campus with the same goals, background, or definition of success,鈥� Schritter added. 鈥淭he institutions we recognize understand that. Georgia Southern has built an environment where students are supported and challenged in ways that translate into real academic, professional, and personal outcomes.鈥�