the Magazine, Volume 2 Issue 2 - The College of Coastal Georgia

college ofCOASTAL GEORGIAtheMAGAZINEVOLUME 2: ISSUE 2

Summer BreakPhoto courtesy of Luisa LopesWhile many college students were relaxing during their summer break, Coastal Georgia junior Luisa Lopes spent much of her summer helpingwith children in Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Africa. Read more about Luisa’s trip at www.coastalgeorgiasports.com/article/281.phpOn the Cover: FreshmanMadison Campbell fromPowder Springs, Georgia,enjoys kayaking throughthe marshes of Glynn onthe Georgia coast.

Alumni Profile:Jody Carter ’12Marine and former local business owner turns his focus to teachingJody Carter heard a calling: To teach or to preach.“I heard it just as plain as the conversation you and I are having,”the summa cum laude graduate with the perfect 4.0 average said.“I believe kids are important, so I started working on my BS ineducation.” But for the non-traditional student and Marine, thepath was not straight to the College of Coastal Georgia.“I was just an average student at Wayne County HighSchool, taking college prep courses and vocational coursesin drafting,” Jody admitted. “Even in high school, I likedpractical application – drafting – better than theory. We canall sit around and talk theory, but it’s putting it into action,testing the observations, that appeals to me. That’s why Ilike science and math – and teaching.”When Jody graduated from high school in 1996, he thoughthis only options were military. “I had a career mindset and Icould picture myself with a military career in the infantry.”He had an uncle who served in the Marines and often spokeof the brotherhood he had shared in the corps, as well as thechallenges. So Jody enlisted, but two years into his service, adislocated shoulder shattered his plans.Jody moved on to computer information systems,enrolling at Altamaha Tech. With the benefit of his Marinetraining and discipline to guide him, he earned his CISdiploma with honors and was one of 12 in the state that yearto win the Georgia Occupation Award for Leadership, basedon his character and grades. But no job was forthcoming.2 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

“By then, I had a family to support. So I combined mydrafting skills from high school with the document designI learned in my CIS courses and bought a printing and signbusiness in Brunswick,” he explained. But after two years,the primary sourcefor Jody’s business –contractors – beganto fail as the economystarted to slump.That was when Jodyheard the call, loud andclear.“I had hired some kidsat the print shop fromBrunswick High Schooland I discovered I reallyliked working withthem. But I also sawsome things that clashedwith the values I grewup with and what I hadexperienced in the Marines– things like honor,courage and commitment– aspects missingin their lives becausethey didn’t have malerole models. Being a rolemodel was a new challenge.I decided, if I was supposed to choose, I’d answer thatcall by becoming a teacher and an advocate,” he said.Jody enrolled at the College of Coastal Georgia. Finally,the timing was right. The new BS programs in educationand teacher preparation had been announced. Jody couldstay in Brunswick. And he could work in child advocacyand intervention with Morningstar Family and ChildrenServices in Brunswick. Morningstar serves children withspecial needs.“Kids need advocates – people who will respect themand be genuinely concerned about them personally. Theywill form a relationship once they realize you sincerelycare. Positive relationships are missing in their lives.” Jodyinsisted, ”Kids don’t care about what you know; they wantto know that you care.”Jody pursued a BS in Middle Grades Education.He threw himself into his studies, managing 16 to 18 credithours each semester plus observations in an actual schoolenvironment, as well as working and tutoring for extra cash.“Too many teachers quit within their first five years.Wanting the summer off is absolutely the wrong reasonto take up teaching,” he said, shaking his head incredulously.“At CoastalGeorgia, we’re put inthe real world fromthe beginning to makesure we are temperedand prepared. Everyday is hands on. Bybeing constantly observedand peer reviewed,every day isdemanding. Teachingin the middle gradesrequires learning allsubjects plus socialand life skills. I gotthose challenges I hadbeen seeking.”This time, whenJody completed hisprogram of study,a new career waswaiting for him. Jodyis now a teacher atCoastal Academy, aprogram that serveschildren in grades PK-12 with emotional behavioraldisorders and autism.“I start their day by making them smile,” Jody said. “We allneed more smiles. If I can get them to change their attitudebefore they come to class, the day starts off better for all of us.”This summer, he taught science in the field with 4 thgraders, creating a “critters notebook.”“We went for walks and we looked really closely – scientificobservations of animal behavior, which we then comparedto human behaviors – experientially covering the requiredstandards rather than through theoretical learning. We’reoutdoors, we’re moving, and they’re learning as they lookat the world around them,” he concluded.He has also identified his next challenge. He agreed toserve as testing coordinator for Coastal Academy - ratherdaunting for a first-year teacher.“I’ve learned to be joyful even during trials andtribulations,” he laughed. uDuring his commencement remarks in May, Jody challenged hisclassmates to persevere, “to find joy in failure with the hope and beliefthat success will be found in the next attempt,” to have courage, and toseek brotherhood “because together we are stronger.”College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 3

Just a Normal College StudentMaggie Bee tackles academics, student government, and varsity athleticsWhat is normal to MaggieBee ‘14?Her hometown, literally.The junior is from Normal inthe central farmlands of Illinois.The main campus of the state’soldest public university, IllinoisState, is in Normal. In fact, that’swhat gave the town its namein 1865 – Illinois State NormalUniversity – when a “normal”school was a teacher-traininginstitute.A hectic schedule is also normalfor Bee, who is a businessmajor, president of the StudentGovernment Association, andthe setter and one of the teamcaptains of the Mariners volleyballteam.“Keeping the proper balancebetween academics, sportsand student governmentis a challenge,” she admits,“especially at the start of fall term, which is volleyballseason.”Her BBA, with a concentration in communications, fitsher long-term plan to open and operate a pre-school. “Iconsidered an education major as well as psychology,but I finally decided knowing how to operate my ownbusiness should be my first priority. Once I have the BBA,I can go back to school for certification in early childhoodeducation,” she explains.“My dad is glad I finally made up my mind,” she laughs.“He said, ‘Whatever, Maggie, just pick something andgraduate!’”Her goals for the student government association hingeon one key word: involvement.“We want to have a full and committed studentgovernment team with a secretary – no one ran forthe office. We want students involved on campus andparticipating in programs over the weekends as well ascoming to SGA meetings to get their information firsthand,not through the grapevine,” she says.To facilitate student participation, the SGA plans tooverhaul their meetingstructure. “We’re going to bemore professional and moreaction-oriented,” she adds.“Our goal is to be a betterforum for new ideas.”The goal for volleyball?“We’re working for nationals!We are so psyched!”This marks the second yearfor the volleyball programat Coastal Georgia and thefirst year the team will beeligible for tournament play.They finished their inauguralseason with a 15-17 record –quite an accomplishment fora new team.Maggie’s court position issetter. Sometimes comparedto a football quarterback,the setter in volleyball callsand sets up the play whenthe opposition serves – butwithout danger of being sacked.Volleyball is what brought Maggie to Coastal Georgia.Coach Jeff Huebner recruited her – or rather his wife, Erin,did.“I played volleyball for three years in high school. Erinwas my coach senior year. In club volleyball, I was in the16-year olds and we regularly scrimmaged against histeam of 18-year olds. I participated in drills he ran, so I wasfamiliar with his style,” Maggie recounts.“My freshman year I attended the University of Illinois inSpringfield, but shoulder surgery resulted in transferringhome. I ran into Erin and she told me Coach Huebner wasinterviewing for a position at a college on the coast ofGeorgia. I was excited to find out he was here.”Maggie says making the move to Coastal Georgia wasone of the best decisions of her life. “It’s the people – thecommunity, the faculty and staff. They genuinely care aboutyou. I’ve not found that anywhere else.”“And it’s not hard to be away from home during thewinter in Illinois,” she smiles. “My dad and mom say they’dlike to move here, too.” u4 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

C*-Algebras and ConeflowersDr. Víctor Vega-Vázquez has a passion for math, mentoring and gardeningAfter a decade of winters in Iowa, Dr. Víctor Vega-Vázquezwas ready to return to a warm weather climate andthe beach. He grew up in Puerto Rico and two of his fourchildren were born there. But he had been accepted intothe postgraduate mathematics program at the Universityof Iowa and Dr. Vega believed there would be more careeropportunities in the continental U.S.So after earning his MS and PhD in Mathematics from Iowaand progressing from Assistant Professor to Professor andChairman of the Department of Mathematics, St. AmbroseUniversity in Davenport, Iowa, Dr. Vega began looking foropportunities in Texas and Georgia.“Iowa winters were cold – and getting colder,” he laughed,“so I began looking for schools that were on the coast andwere growing institutions.” Those preferences led himto the College of CoastalGeorgia in 2010.In addition to transplantinghis family, he also transplantedflowers that he hadlearned to grow in the Midwest– coneflowers, hybridtea and grandiflora roses.An avid gardener, he hasrose specimens noted forfragrance and beds of coneflowerssurrounding hishome on St. Simons Island.The gardening providesa change of pace from theintensity of teaching, studentmentoring, and researching his areas of mathematicalinterest - real and complex analysis, C*-algebras, operatoralgebras, operator theory and graph algebras, Markovchains and Hilbert modules. The article he co-authored withMarius Ionescu and Paul S. Muhly, “Markov Operators andC*-Algebras,” was published this summer in the HoustonJournal of Mathematics (Volume 38, No. 3, 2012; Universityof Houston). The quarterly journal is highly respected bymathematicians in the United States and is refereed by someof the world’s foremost experts in the field.As a member of the National Alliance for Doctoral Studiesin the Mathematical Sciences, Dr. Vega actively mentorsstudents. In October 2011 he successfully nominatedthree Coastal Georgia math majors for the Alliance’s fallPhoto courtesy of Dr. Víctor Vega-VázquezA butterfly visits a coneflower (Echinacea) in Vega-Vázquez’ garden.conference in Tempe, Arizona.Student attendance is byinvitation only and includespayment of travel, hotel andconference expenses.“With our new baccalaureatedegree in mathematics, Ibelieved the time was right tointroduce our students to anopportunity to experience firsthandthe infinite possibilitiesavailable to them in the disciplineof mathematics,” explained Dr. Vega.Dr. Vega also mentors math students interestedin the highly competitive research experiences forundergraduates.During summer 2012,Coastal Georgia math majorDayton Ireland of Brunswickparticipated in a program atthe University of Arizona,Tucson, and Robert Chastainof Woodbine travelled toMorgantown for a programat West Virginia University.“This is a significantachievement and will certainlyopen new venues forthem and for all of our students,”Dr. Vega enthusiasticallynoted. “After instruction,mentoring is probably the most important thing I do– particularly helping math students realize all the careeropportunities their major provides.”His newest venture is the proposed campus math club.“The math club would provide students with an interest inmath the opportunity to also become involved in campuslife and extracurricular activities. The study of math may beintense, but it doesn’t need to be isolated.”Math and natural sciences are almost a family affair,according to Dr. Vega. His wife, Noris Torres, is a labcoordinator at the Camden Center. But he says it is too soonto tell what his sixteen-year-old daughter may pursue. Asfor the other children, they’re just happy dad moved to thebeach! uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 5

MaestroLuis Haza named College of Coastal Georgia Volunteer of the YearAs an 8-year-old child in Santiago, Cuba, Luis Hazaresponded to an act of political violence by throwinghis heart and soul into music. All of his anger, grief andloss, his sense of being powerless to right a great wrong,poured out in passionate music pulled with a bow fromthe strings of a violin.The act was the execution without trial of his father,the Chief of the National Police of Santiago de Cuba whosupported democracy in Cuba, by Fidel Castro.By the age of 11, Haza was touring the provinces of Cuba,performing on the concert stage. A year later, he obtainedhis first professional post as Assistant Concertmaster ofthe Lyric Theater and debuted as a conductor in a programwhich included one of his own orchestral compositions.As a child prodigy, he was offered opportunities to studyabroad in his choice of Iron Curtain countries. Instead,he and his mother sought asylum in the United States,immigrating on Election Day in 1964.Chance and circumstance eventually brought Haza tothe Golden Isles – to the benefit of the community andthe College – and he was recognized this spring as the2012 Volunteer of the Year by Coastal Georgia. What weresupposed to be Haza’s lazy days of retirement on thebeach have instead become days packed with instruction,rehearsals, performances and arts-in-education advocacy.A Brief History of a Prodigious TalentIn the United States, Haza studied on full scholarship atthe Curtis Institute, the Peabody Conservatory, and theBlossom Music Festival with teachers including DanielMajeske, Efrem Zimbalist, Robert Gerle and Eduardo VidalAviles, as well as being coached by Mstislav Rostropovichand Henryk Szeryng.His extensive performing career includes 36 years asfirst violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra atthe Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He conducted theAmerican Youth Philharmonic Orchestras for 25 seasons.As a soloist, he has performed extensively in the UnitedStates and internationally in Europe, Central America, andthe Caribbean.As a conductor, he has led the London SymphonyOrchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the nationalorchestras of El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala, andAustralia’s Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, amongothers. He served as director of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra,conductor of the Virginia Ballet Company, and member of theBoard of Governors for the Grammy Awards. Former First LadyLaura Bush appointed him to the President’s Commission forArts and the Humanities. He was the recipient of the NationalAcademy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the GRAMMY’s) HeroAward – their highest honor presented in Washington.6 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

A Georgia peach from Augusta, Dana Owens, brought himto the Golden Isles. They married in 2004 on the groundsof the St. Simons Island Lighthouse. When he retired, theyreturned to the Georgia coast.A series of conversations piqued his interest in the localyouth symphony which, dueto mandatory budget cuts for theschool system, was challenged tomaintain a strings program throughthe public schools. He committedto working with the Coastal YouthSymphony and December 12, 2010,marked his first performance as themusic director and conductor.The student musicians, ages 10to 19, come from a multi-countyregion to rehearse weekly duringthe school year under his direction.He began a rigorous scheduleof weekly private violin instructionfor the more advanced students.The youth symphony’s tworegularly-scheduled concerts becamestanding-room-only events.The community, responding to Haza’s vision and inspirationof young student musicians, provided financial support forgroup lessons, private instruction and coaching.With such support, Haza began a local summer musiccamp on the campus of the College.In prior years, students had attended camps acrossGeorgia and in Jacksonville. The camps were based on typeof instrument and level of experience. Those experiences,however, did not result in a cohesive orchestral sound, Hazaobserved. He believed the student musicians needed anintensive camp experience that would unite them as a teamas well as increase their skills and technique.So Haza polled regional talent and called friends withwhom he had collaborated in the Washington, DC, andnorthern Virginia area. The result was the 2011 CoastalYouth Symphony Summer Music Camp. The inaugural musiccamp students were among the first to stay in the new oncampusresidence center, Lakeside Village.The camp grew from 60 participants in 2011 to 81 in 2012.One of the major highlights of the camp is a Thursday nightArtists’ Showcase on campus with camp faculty and selectstudents performing classical and contemporary piecesduring a one-hour program - a joint donor appreciation eventfor the College Foundation, the Coastal Youth Symphony, andthe Coastal Symphony of Georgia.When the College Foundationestablished an adhoc Planning Committeefor Cultural Arts and LifelongLearning Programs(CALL) to help define theattributes and potentialuses for the Coastal CommunityCenter for the Arts,Haza was one of the firstcommunity members invitedto participate.Haza’s first public performanceas a residentof the Golden Isles wasat the request of CollegePresident Valerie Hepburn.On December 2, 2010,Haza took the stage withhis chosen accompanist, the Cuban-born pianist OrlandoAlonso, founder and music director of the Ossia SymphonyOrchestra in New York. The proceeds of the concertbenefitted cultural and performing arts programming atCoastal Georgia.Haza will reunite with Alonso on the stage of the campus’Thomas Auditorium on December 7 when the ChamberEnsemble of the Ossia Symphony Orchestra inaugurates anew concert series, From the City to the Golden Isles.Haza gently teases music camp student Kate Lane aboutperformance jitters before they perform during the 2012Artists’ Showcase on campus.Recognition as the Community Volunteer of the YearThe College’s award for volunteer of the year recognizesan individual demonstrating team spirit and unwaveringsupport of Coastal Georgia through commitment of timeand talents.In presenting the award to Maestro Haza at theHonors Day ceremony in April, Foundation Trustee AnitaTimmons said, “He has made a tremendous difference inour college community, our local community and in theworld community.” uFrom the City to the Golden IslesMaestro Luis Haza will reunite with Orlando Alonso on the stage of the campus’ Thomas Auditorium onDecember 7 when the Chamber Ensemble of the Ossia Symphony Orchestra inaugurates a new concertseries, From the City to the Golden Isles, funded by a gift from the Eric and Julie Epstein Charitable Trust. For ticketinformation, call 912.279.5925 or visit www.ccga.edu/advancement/ossia .College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 7

Small World - Big DreamsBarbara Nakigudde’s dreams have taken her around the world, and she’s just beginningIt’s a small world. Barbara Nakigudde can say that notjust because she’s 5’2”. Not just because she traveled halfway around the world to come to school – from landlockedUganda to the coast of Georgia. She can say it becausetalking to a man while waiting in line has opened a newdoor for her future.The line was at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Thewait preceded mounting the steps to the platform as oneof several speakers during commencement. The man wasA.D. “Pete” Correll.Graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s innursing, Nakigudde would present the charges to the Classof 2012. Correll was the featured commencement speaker.“We were waiting in line with the rest of the platformparty and we just started talking. The conversation endedwith a business card that might very well have changed mylife,” Nakigudde began.“When I met Barbara and heard her story, it was obviousthat she was a special young woman who had accomplishedmore than others dare to attempt,” Correll said.Barbara’s story“Growing up in Africa is like growing up anywhere else inthe world…except for the part where people are happierwith much less,” she said. “People work hard, and they feelthe same economic strain that seems to extend and engulfthe world. Parents struggle to providethe best they can for their children.In spite of the hardship, there is anoverwhelming sense of community andthat’s what always makes it feel likehome.”“My favorite times were those spentwith extended family because, nomatter what was going on, we alwaysfound humor in a situation.”Nakigudde’s mother is a nurse at ahospital in Uganda, but nursing wasn’ther daughter’s original career choice.“I was one week away from law schoolbefore I moved here and did a complete“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not letthe pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal yoursweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the worldmay disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”Ugandan countryside8 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

Photo courtesy of Barbara Nakiguddecareer switch. I realizedthat my temperamentwould be better suited forsomething else.““They say good newstravels fast. I think newsof affordable educationtravels even faster,” shelaughed. “I came to theCollege of Coastal Georgiato explore my options. Soto those freshmen withundecided majors - you arenot alone. I found myselfgravitating towards thehealth sciences and thenultimately fell in love withthe nursing profession.”From nursing school to the nursing station:Barbara recently joined the staff of Atlanta’sGrady Memorial Hospital.“Having been exposed to hospitals before, it seemed likea natural fit. I changed my major to nursing and told mymother about it after the fact,” she admitted.“My mother influenced me by raising me to beconsiderate of others’ needs. I can honestly say that Ilearned compassion by watching her interaction withother people.”“I have definitely changed since going to school here.You can’t take two psychology courses and two sociologycourses and remain totally unaffected,” she continued. “Isee the world differently. I’m more aware of the differencesbetween people, but also of their similarities. I think wehave a lot to learn from each other.”In talking to Correll, she learned he was on the boardof Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. (In fact, he’s thechairman.) He urged her to contact the hospital. Hisenthusiasm was contagious.She looked into the RN residency program there andwas sufficiently impressed to apply for a staff nurseposition after she passed her licensing exam. Five weeksafter commencement, she shared the news with Correllby e-mail. Correll responded by putting her in touch withDr. Rhonda Scott, Senior Vice President and Chief NursingOfficer, and added his personal recommendation.“Great nurses can accomplish wonderful things forothers. I felt Barbara had the potential to be a great nurse.I knew Grady was one of our country’s leading teachinghospitals. Under the leadership of Dr. Rhonda Scott, ChiefNurse, Barbara will have the opportunity to learn, grow,and realize her potential,” he said. “She had earned thatopportunity.”Nakigudde accepted a staff RN position inthe Intermediate Care Unit at Grady, startingAugust 6.What is next for Barbara Nakigudde?“In terms of professional growth, graduateschool is in the works as well, so I’m going tobe quite busy for the next couple of years. Mydreams tend to evolve over time, but the mostrecent one is to obtain a doctorate in NursingPractice,” she replied.“I definitely intend to return to Africa; it willalways be home. I intend to be a nurse for therest of my life. There is no way to predict thefuture, but I believe I will be ready and wellequipped to handle it.”She describes herself as incurably curious,and a realistic optimist. The optimism prevailed in thecharges to her graduating classmates. “Having been on theother side of a podium many times before, I am familiarwith the silent prayers that the speeches be either conciseor really entertaining,” she observed. “The sound advice of afriend was to focus on sharing what I know. I chose to pushthat idea further and tell my classmates about what inspiresme.”She urged her classmates to thank those who had madetheir education possible and, in whatever jobs they end updoing, to do it to the best of their ability, every time.She challenged them to not let popular culture definewhat success meant to them as individuals, declaring thetrue measure of character to be how an individual treatssomeone to whom they do not have to be nice.She exhorted them to keep an open mind and continueto grow. “Don’t become set in your ways. Be open topossibilities, and don’t be afraid to explore a different pathwhen faced with an opportunity…life may not turn out likeyou planned or expected, but if you keep an open mind anda flexible spirit, you will emerge at the end of it perhapssurprised, but definitely satisfied.”She concluded with a quote that she considers herpersonal challenge: “Be soft. Do not let the world makeyou hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not letthe bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that eventhough the rest of the world may disagree, you still believeit to be a beautiful place.”She doesn’t intend to stop trying to make the world morebeautiful. uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 9

Halfway Around the WorldYouTube and a nasty forehand brought Malhar Mali from Australia to the Golden Islesby Kevin PriceMalhar Mali made a YouTube video to sell himself topotential colleges which might be interested in histennis talents.And once Coastal Georgia coaches saw the video andmade a connection with him, it actually wasn’t hard to sellMali on coming to the Georgia coast to attend school andplay tennis at the same time.“I liked (Coastal Georgia) because of the location,” Malisaid. “I liked that it was next to the coast. I liked the weather.I wanted a climate as close to back home as possible.”Home for Mali is Brisbane, Australia, where thetemperature has fallen below the freezing mark only oncesince records for such occurrences have been recorded.“I don’t do cold that well,” Mali says.That almost instantly ruled out a school in Delaware thatwas interested in having him come there. Mali eventuallycrossed out other schools that were on his list andultimately chose to enroll at Coastal Georgia two years agoto further his education and also his tennis career with thenew men’s program that formed that year.For Mali, now a junior, the opportunity to get a collegeeducation and play tennis for the same institution fulfilleda dream. It was something he couldn’t exactly do at home.“The college athletic system in America is unique tothe U.S.,” Mali explained. “There is nowhere else reallywhere you can compete at a high level and also pursue an10 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

education. I know that is attractive to a lotof athletes, especially those from Australia,but really around the world.“In Australia, you can go to a university,but tennis would be something you do onthe side. You find an academy and playthere or train with a coach on the side. Theyhave teams, but they’re like club teams andnot really super competitive.”Whether it was Coastal Georgia orsomewhere else that Mali chose, comingto the U.S. to attend college was going tobe a major adjustment for him. He wouldbe further from home than ever before,obviously for much longer than ever before.And of course, that meant being separatedfrom his parents.Mali knew what he wanted to do, though,and didn’t shy away from coming to theStates out of fear for the unknown. “You have to go with themindset that this will be your new home for the next fouryears,” he said. “You have to meet new friends, new people,and form a new support group.”Mali said doing those things was easier at CoastalGeorgia than it might have been elsewhere. For starters, ithad the built-in surroundings he desired - the location andweather that made him more at ease from the beginning.But it is also a smaller college, where he sees many of thesame faces whether he’s hanging out in the residence hall,eating in the dining hall or walking the campus sidewalksbetween classes.Of course, it’s not surprising that his closest friends arehis teammates on the men’s tennis team. The team conceptin tennis was something new to Mali until he arrived atCoastal Georgia. It didn’t take long for him to realize it wasa pretty cool deal.“Tennis had been mostly an individual experience forme,” Mali said. “I like having a team that is cheering you onand supporting you, and there’s always a set group of guysthat you practice with all of the time.”Mali has become really good friends with teammateConnor Bond, his doubles partner on the Mariners team.Bond is a junior from Austin, Texas. This summer, Maliwent home with Bond to work on his game rather thanreturning to Australia.Mali felt it was something he needed to do after strugglingthrough his sophomore season due to drastic changes hehad made to his stroke and his approach on the court.“Coach (Reinaldo) Valor and I made a lot of changes tomy game, and I really struggled to figure out how to playMali spent the summer with friendand doubles partner Connor Bond(pictured behind Mali) in Austin,Texas, instead of returning to hisnative Australia.again,” he said. “We changed my strokes.They’re a lot more compact.”“We also changed my mind set. I used tobe more passive and relied on movementand outlasting people. Coach told me youcan only go so far with that, and I agreed.I’m trying to be more assertive and morein control of what happens on the court.”The adjustments have been hard forMali to make. His record was 5-11 insingles and 7-9 in doubles last season.He called it a disappointing season overall, but he wasencouraged by some of his performances toward the endof the spring.Had it not been for that, Mali doesn’t know if he would beplaying for the Mariners this season. “I went through a phaselast season where I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to do itanymore,” he admits. “Last year was a battle for me. Towardthe end last season, I felt like I was figuring things out.”“I’m starting to enjoy tennis again. I definitely think Imade the right decision to stay in America and work ontennis and I enjoyed my summer. Connor and his familyhave been really great.”Mali said his game still isn’t where it needs to be, but it’sgetting there little by little. He hopes to have it back on trackby the Mariners’ spring season, which will be their first inthe Southern States Athletic Conference. Mali said CoastalGeorgia’s tennis program is headed on the right track, too.“We’ve got great facilities - 12 amazing courts,” Malisaid of the new on-campus tennis complex. “I’ve seen a lotof tennis courts around the world, and we have fantasticcourts. This can be a really solid program and a big winnerin the region.”If you’re talking about being solid, Mali has been justthat in the classroom during his first two years at CoastalGeorgia. He holds a 3.19 GPA and is planning to pursue abusiness degree over the next two years.“Academics are obviously an important part of theexperience,” Mali said. “You just have to be committed,find time and make time to get it done. It’s really a 50-50balance between academics and athletics, or maybe evenmore than that toward academics. It has to be a priority.” uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 11

A Public PartnershipCollege partners with FLETC on innovtive new Public Affairs degreeCory Mallard ’14Cory Mallard ’14 was the first Coastal Georgiastudent to qualify as a Public Affairs majorin the School of Business and Public Affairs. TheBrunswick High School graduate hails from a familyof entrepreneurs. His father owns Ed MallardConstruction, Inc., but instead of spending his pastthree summers on building crews, Cory has workedat the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center(FLETC).“One factor was the economy. This has not been thebest of times for construction,” Cory confessed. “WhileI was in high school, I was also enrolled in wildlifemanagement courses at Altamaha Tech. I like huntingand fishing, so I began to think of the enforcementareas of wildlife services, such as working as a gamewarden or a ranger.”12 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

“The federal interests me more than the state becauseof the variety of opportunities and locations. That’s whyI started applying for summer work at FLETC – to learnmore about what they do.”This past summer, Cory was assigned to the EnforcementOperations Division (EOD). According to the FLETCwebsite (www.fletc.gov/training), EOD provides state-ofthe-arttraining focused on the operational and technicalaspects of law enforcement for agents and officers in over85 federal law enforcement agencies. Training is providedthrough lectures, laboratory and practical exercises whichsimulate actual law enforcement scenarios. When notworking in the office, Cory sat in on classes ranging fromthe Fourth Amendment to the United Sates Constitution(search and seizure) to land navigation or the use of force.Variety was also a factor in Cory’s selection of thePublic Affairs degree. “Right now I’m concentrating on thebusiness side of Public Affairs, but I’m looking forward toagencies and several other DHS components. Theconcentration of criminal justice and public managementin this program will benefit many of FLETC’s current andfuture employees, complementing and enhancing ourefforts to develop future leaders.”Dr. Skip Mounts, Dean of the School of Businessand Public Affairs, agrees. “FLETC is a key communitypartner, particularly for the Criminal Justice and Securityconcentration, providing faculty resources and internshipsfor our degree program. The College offers developmentopportunities for their employees, particularly inleadership and management issues such as budgeting.They, in turn, provide development opportunities for ourstudents.”“The Criminal Justice and Security track is about muchmore than law enforcement practices such as policing,”noted Dean Mounts. “This is a concentration focused onleadership, policy development and evaluation.”“The concentration of criminal justice and public management in this programwill benefit many of FLETC’s current and future employees, complimenting andenhancing our efforts to develop future leaders.”— Connie Patrick, Director of FLETCupcoming classes in cyber crime and homeland securityfor the Criminal Justice and Security track. Since workingat FLETC, I’ve become interested in customs and borderprotection as well,” he explained.The BS in Public Affairs was approved by the Boardof Regents of the University System of Georgia in April.According to College President Valerie Hepburn, thedegree addresses specific workforce needs by preparingthe next generation of capable leaders in the fields of publicmanagement and criminal justice.Two areas of concentration will be offered:• Public Management, preparing students to face thechallenges of managing and leading nonprofit andgovernmental organizations; and• Criminal Justice and Security, preparing students tomanage criminal justice and security organizationsas well as to develop and evaluate related policies.Connie L. Patrick, Director of FLETC, U.S. Department ofHomeland Security, is enthusiastic about the new degree:“FLETC serves as an interagency law enforcement trainingorganization for over 90 federal agencies, and also providestraining to state, local, and international law enforcementWorking in the public sector requires ethical behavior,leadership, and the ability to make hard choices.The two main components of the 60 credit hours requiredfor the major are a common core curriculum and coursesspecific to the chosen concentration, both taken in thejunior-senior years. The core curriculum provides studentswith instruction in the theories, research, budgeting,management practices, and methods of policy analysis inpublic affairs. Dean Mounts counted 19 students, includingCory, currently preparing for the public affairs major.“One of the big advantages to our program is thecombination of business and public affairs,” he stressed,“and this linkage to the business school is importantto the community. Our graduates will benefit from themanagement competencies, quantitative tools andleadership training provided by the business school. Thereis commonality in a unique context – decision making,critical thinking, complex problem solving, teamwork,ethical behavior, and communication skills.”“Our graduates will have the skills for effective leadershipneeded by government, nonprofit, NGO, criminal justiceand security enterprises.” uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 13

A Teacher’s CommitmentDr. Michael Hazelkorn takes the reigns of the School of Education and Teacher PreparationTo the new Dean of the School of Educationand Teacher Preparation, Dr. MichaelN. Hazelkorn, teaching is fun – and alsopotentially messy.“I remember when I was teaching art to agroup of elementary children with behavioraland emotional problems. I was trying to unscrewa container of black tempera paint for an artproject that we were working on. Needless tosay, the supposedly washable paint and mybrand new yellow shirt were a big hit for the restof the day,” he laughs. “Sometimes everythingdoesn’t work out exactly as we want. But, thebeauty is that we can reflect on what we’ve doneand come back tomorrow and do a better job.You have to roll with the punches and, most ofall, be flexible.”Dr. Hazelkorn has teaching experience inelementary, middle, and high schools in Florida and Georgia,as well as having served as an assistant superintendent ofpersonnel and pupil services in Wisconsin. He moved tothe Golden Isles from Carrollton, Georgia, where he wastenured professor and former chair of the Department ofSpecial Education and Speech-Language Pathology at theUniversity of West Georgia.“My vision for Coastal Georgia’s School of Education andTeacher Preparation is to graduate educators who want toteach, are qualified to teach, and will make a difference inthe classroom,” Dr. Hazelkorn says.“The School is a young program. We’ll soon have a modelfacility – The Correll Center for Teacher Education andLearning. The new center is critical, not just because ofour need for more space and state-of-the-art classroomtechnology, but also because of what it tells the stateand our community – how engaged Coastal Georgia willbe in preparing teachers for the most critical areas ourstate needs.”His goal is to maintain the quality of what has beenestablished and grow the program in concert with theavailability of jobs. That may mean graduates possiblyrelocate, he contends, in order to find jobs in their chosenprofession. He also expects to recruit teachers from all overthe state, retaining the best, graduating them, and sendingthem back to work in their own hometowns.“I want parents andstudents across the state,when looking for a teachereducation program –especially one that givesthem dual certification inearly childhood educationand special education, ormiddle grades education,or a program in secondarymath or biology education– to give Coastal Georgia along, hard look,” he says.“How children learn haschanged,” he continues.”We want our studentsout in the real-worldenvironment of K-12classrooms every day to experience that difference.”“Teaching is not for the faint of heart. If you want to be ateacher so that you your day ends at 3:30 or 4 p.m. and youhave your summers off, think again. It is a lot of hard work,but the payoff is worth it. Knowing that you can impact somany lives for the better – that is what makes you want tocome back day after day,” he reflects.Recognizing that a BS in Education is a good basic degreebecause of the breadth of knowledge required and practicalapplications beyond the classroom, he is impressed withthe collegiality of the Coastal Georgia faculty and the levelof interdisciplinary collaboration. “Teacher preparationis embraced as the responsibility of the entire faculty ofthe College, with good relationships between disciplines,critical for solid subject mastery in the sciences, math,social sciences, arts and humanities.”“The quality of our program is excellent because ofour excellent faculty. After our students take the GeorgiaAssessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE),they return to tell us how prepared they were for theexams. When they start teaching, they know what they aredoing. They have the ability to hit the ground running.”“I’m excited to be at Coastal Georgia, preparing topnotchnew teachers with the knowledge, skills, anddispositions to become teacher leaders in today’ schools,”he concludes. u14 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

Coastal Georgia Golf ClassicSometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains...The inaugural Coastal Georgia Golf Classic to benefitstudent-athletes at the College launched October 8with a shotgun start on the King and Prince golf course,St. Simons Island. The morning began with a puttingclinic by Sea Island Golf Learning Center instructorMike Shannon — one of the top-50 greatest teachersaccording to Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. The weatherfailed to cooperate for the 32 competing teams, but thetournament was still a winner for the Mariner athleticprogram.College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 15

Sharer-in-ChiefReg Murphy named inaugural Executive-in-ResidenceNoted businessman, author and civic leader Reg Murphy joins the Schoolof Business and Public Affairs at the College of Coastal Georgia as theinaugural Executive-in-Residence for fall semester 2012. An early supporterof the College’s transformation to a comprehensive undergraduateinstitution, Murphy chairs the College’s Athletic Futures Committee, whichhas introduced a host of new and successful intercollegiate teams.“Reg Murphy continues to be a significant catalyst for the College’ssuccessful transformation,” College President Valerie Hepburn said,announcing his appointment. “Reg brings tremendous experience andunparalleled accomplishment combined with true compassion and wisecounsel for our students. His incredible combination of talents makeshim the ideal person to launch our executive-in-residence program. Weall look forward to having Reg as a member of our faculty and as a regularcontributor to academics and campus life.”Murphy doesn’t think of himself as faculty. “Sharer-in-chief is more likeit,” he said. “If people like me share their work and life experiences, we mayhelp students find their real career interests. Most of the students I’ve metare eager to do well not just in school, but in life. That’s encouraging.”In his role as Executive-in-Residence, Murphy will lecture in the businessand public affairs degree programs, organize informal lunches with groupsof students, consult with faculty, and provide career advising one-on-one.The Executive-in-Residence plays an important role advising students onjob-search and interview skills and strategies, planning a career path, andrecommending courses and extracurricular activities that can help preparefor various careers.“I hope that my business and professional experience will add to thestudents’ understanding of the world they will be entering. What I wouldlike to do is share some of the things I have learned and some of the mistakesI have made. Sometimes you learn more from the mistakes than from thesuccesses,” Murphy explained. “Perhaps they will feel a little more preparedfor whatever they undertake in their working lives.”Reg Murphy is a Gainesville, Georgia, native, whose business and publicaffairs career is extensive. He is vice chairman of the National GeographicSociety and served as president and CEO of the Society from 1995-98.Prior to that, he served as publisher and CEO of the Baltimore Sun, editorof the Atlanta Constitution, and editor and publisher of the San FranciscoExaminer. He is on the board of directors of The Omnicom Group, MSD&TFunds, and SIRSI, as well as a trustee of Mercer University and formertrustee of Brenau.“Like a lot of people, I changed direction in college. Originally, my goalwas to go to medical school,” Murphy noted, “but I needed income. TheMacon Telegraph hired me as a summer replacement after my first year.16 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

The summer replacement became a full-time job.I worked a 40-hour week and stayed in school.”“Journalism just never turned me loose – ormaybe I didn’t turn journalism loose. It was agreat start to a career.”Murphy never thought of journalism as a job.“It always seemed like fun that I got paid to do.Living in Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, andBaltimore as a journalist, editor and publisher,and working in Washington, DC, at NationalGeographic – those were great adventures.”An avid golfer, he joined the executive committeeof the U.S. Golf Association in 1989, served as vicepresident of the USGA in 1992, chairman of theChampionship Committee in 1993, and presidentin 1994. He co-chaired the World AmateurGolf Federation in 1994 and captained the U.S.team for the 1998 World Amateur Championship inSantiago, Chile.Murphy recently returned to college to experiencebeing a student again. He took Dr. Hepburn’s public affairscourse surveying health care issues (“Was that everenlightening!” he commented) and during spring term,he sat in on Dr. Jim Fullerton’s leadership class (LEAD3100), noting how rapidly the students were learningwhile working in groups.This fall, he hopes to work with students he met inthose classes, such as George Horton, an intern withCongressman Jack Kingston, and student-athlete SheaAble, a member of the women’s golf team.Horton, who will graduate in December with his BBA,recognized Murphy’s name from the column he regularlywrites for The Brunswick News. “But I didn’t expect tobe going to leadership class with him, much less askinghim for advice about what to do after graduation,”Horton laughed.“Reg is charismatic. He’s a great listener as well as a goodstoryteller,” Horton continued. “I’m learning that listeningis an important aspect of success.”Horton used the example of a jigsaw puzzle whendescribing his interactions with Murphy. “He sees thebig picture, like the cover on the box, so he can suggestwhere the different pieces might fit together.” Hortonadmitted he isn’t sure yet of a post-graduation career,but said he’s feeling more secure about the directionhe’s heading.He also values Murphy’s take on ethical decisionmaking. “I suppose it’s in the spotlight right now becauseof elections, but I appreciate his perspective of ethics as aseries of daily choices we make to do what is right.”Senior Shea Able got to knowMurphy in the classroom andon the golf course.“This is a man who personallycovered the Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Ihave a dream…’ speech. Before Reg,I had never met anyone who was actuallythere,” Horton stressed. “Thisis the businessman who turnedNational Geographic around, cuttingstaff to save the publication.When you have the opportunity totalk to someone who has made hardchoices and personally dealt withsetbacks, it goes a long way towardsputting things into an objectiveperspective instead of feeling likeyou’re at the bottom of a deep hole.”Senior Shea Able, who is also abusiness major, first met Murphyoutside the classroom, when he invited the Marinerswomen’s golf team to play with the Mercer team atFrederica during fall 2010. She caught up with him againin Dr. Fullerton’s class during spring 2012.“At first, I was intimidated,” Able admitted. “I was veryimpressed with his accomplishments. By the end of thesemester, I was sharing a table with him – there were alot of group discussions by table – and I always wanted tohear his thoughts. I was blown away by his humbleness,his knowledge, and his awesome work ethic.”“I love his attitude. Through his actions and words, hemakes it clear that success is not the most important thingin life, but how you help others is. I feel the same wayand try to live by his example. The opportunity to haveReg Murphy interacting with students on campus is anamazing advantage for our school.”Horton summed it up, “This is a man who truly cares,who makes time for students. I’m lucky to have himas a mentor and I know he is going to be a solid executivein-residence.”“Executives-in-residence bring energy and uniqueperspective to campus by working with students to explorelife paths and clarify career opportunities and by bringingtheir life’s experiences to classroom discussions,” Dr. SkipMounts, Dean of the School of Business and Public Affairs,said. “Their insights are invaluable, particularly as theymentor students. These relationships and connectionsprovide additional meaning to the campus experience forbusiness students, often impacting them for a lifetime.Clearly, executives will be valued members of the faculty.”The Executive-in-Residence is appointed by the Deanof the School of Business and Public Affairs for renewableone-semester terms. uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 17

Summer SchoolImproving Teacher Quality grants bring local teachers to campusdifferent kind of student can be found on campus duringA June and July: middle and high school teachers fromacross the region. They come to Coastal Georgia for summerscience camps – opportunities to learn new material andresources for use in their own classrooms.“I need to recharge over the summer,” observed RichardAnderson, a 7th grade life sciences teacher at St. Mary’sMiddle School in Camden County. “My passion is notsustainability, but rather, staying ahead of my students, whoare really smart. But I learned a lot – and I was a hard sell,”he laughed.“Good teachers are always learning,” noted Victoria Klahn,who teaches at Glynn Middle School. “Workshops are morerewarding than course work as a learning experience. Iempathize with students who prefer kinesthetic learning– get out there and get your hands dirty – and I value thenetworking and community relationship building theseworkshops provide.”Cynthia Tupper, who teaches earth sciences at MidwayMiddle School in Liberty County, wants her excitement tobe contagious - to convey the urgency of science. “I valuedlearning more about the economics of sustainability. As ateacher, I impact many students. The more knowledgeable Iam, the more effective I can be in sharing the message that weneed to take steps now to preserve this planet for our greatgrandchildren.The choices made today affect tomorrow.”“The challenge is translating such condensed knowledgeinto examples easily understood by students and theirfamilies,” concluded Anderson. “Energy-saving light bulbsare an example. The savings may be mere pennies per day,but annualized, it adds up. I can get their attention if I pointout that their Christmas presents might be more generous ifthey would turn off lights when they leave a room.”Three programs were offered during summer 2012:• Education for Sustainability (EfS) Summer TeachingInstitute, sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions• “Inspiring Youth Activism Through Classroom CitizenScience Projects,” funded by a U.S. Department ofEducation grant for improving teacher quality (ITQ)• “Implementing Engineering and Technology ScienceEducation Standards Through Remotely OperatedVehicle (ROV) Classroom Missions,” a second ITQ grantfunded by the DOEThe Honeywell EfS program focused on experiences incoastal ecology, sustainable development and environmentaleducation, using an approach that stresses balance betweenTwelve local teachers participated in the Summer TeachingInstitute, sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions.economic prosperity and environmental integrity. Interactivesessions included a shrimping excursion on the Lady Jane toexplore sustainability in business and a trip to St. Catherine’sIsland to observe sea level rise investigations.Community partners added to workshop content. Forexample, PJ Newcomb, sustainability program manager withCoca-Cola Refreshments, discussed water stewardship andsustainable packaging. Helen Adler, an energy analyst, carbonreduction manager and certified sustainable developmentprofessional with Honeywell, explained greenhouse gasemission and reduction.The College partnered with UGA’s School of Forestryand Natural Resources and the Coastal Resources Divisionof the Georgia DNR to present a professional learningopportunity on marine science and the use of citizen science(data collection by people who are not classically-trainedscientists) to improve scientific investigations. The weekincluded a visit to Sapelo Island to participate in sea turtleresearch and a day trip to Little St. Simons Island to explorecoastal biodiversity.The ROV program involved the College, NOAA Grays ReefNational Marine Sanctuary and Georgia Tech. Teachers tookan overnight trip aboard the Research Vessel Savannah tovisit the marine sanctuary and participated in workshopsbuilding and piloting underwater robots. “Robots promotehands-on practice of concepts and principles in electrical andmechanical engineering, teamwork, and problem solving.They can also utilize skills in video gaming,” Dr. TimothyGoodale, Assistant Professor of Education, explained. Dr.Goodale served as program director for the three summerlearning initiatives. u18 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

Alumni Scholarship Winner: Caroline BurgessTeacher in the MakingCaroline Burgess of Jesup, Georgia,is the inaugural recipient of theCoastal Georgia Alumni AssociationScholarship, a one-year $2,000 meritaward for an incoming freshman. A2012 graduate of Wayne County HighSchool, Caroline intends to pursuea BS in Middle Grades Education orin the Biology Secondary Educationtrack at Coastal Georgia.“My long-time dream has beento become a middle or high schoolbiology teacher,” she explained.“Many of the teachers I have beenfortunate to study under throughoutthe last 12 years have inspired me tofollow in their footsteps.”“My dad has been an educator foras long as I can remember. I’ve alwaysloved school. I guess it’s in my blood.”Caroline’s father is the principalof Arthur Williams Middle School inJesup. Her mother also works in theschool system as the bookkeeper atJesup Elementary. Caroline hopesshe’ll be assigned to a Wayne Countyschool for her observations andeventually teach in the Wayne County school district. “I’m ahomebody,” she laughed. “I like staying at home, being withmy family and my twin cats, Old Dan and Little Ann.”The cats’ names came from a favorite book, Where theRed Fern Grows.Another incentive to stay close to home is her fiancée,Matthew Reid ’15, who already attends Coastal Georgia..According to Caroline, her science and social studiesteachers have most influenced her. “I really enjoy thosesubjects,” she noted. In fact, her scholarship nominationletter was written by Melony Jones, her social studies teacher.“What is very impressive about Caroline is that she is avital part of any activity that she participates in,” Joneswrote. “Anyone can rest assured that if Caroline is given atask, it will be completed on time and correctly.” Accordingto Jones, Caroline not only excels academically, but she is anactive volunteer in school organizations, in the community,and in church.Jones continued, “Her teachers will tell you that she is thetype of student that makes teaching worthwhile.” Payingher perhaps the highest compliment of all, Jones wrote,“Any student will be lucky to have someone of the caliberof Caroline Burgess…I would let her teach my child withouthesitation.”Although not a legacy herself – neither of her parentsgraduated from Coastal Georgia – Caroline Burgess isproud to be the first in what may become a new familytradition – a legacy of Mariners.The Alumni Association Endowment for Scholarshipswas established in April 2011.For information on all scholarships offered by theCollege of Coastal Georgia foundation, visitwww.ccga.edu/scholarships. uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 19

A Greensboro Dreamer Puts HisThey are known as the “Greensboro Dreamers.” Fifty-fourkindergarteners in Greensboro Elementary School werepromised a college education 12 years ago by Cathy andTom Kelly, a CEO from Philadelphia who had retired to LakeOconee in Greene County, Georgia. The promise came withstrings attached: expectations of academic performance,community involvement and volunteering, good behaviorand proper etiquette, group travel toexpand horizons – social and life skillsto improve the likelihood of success.Forty-five students remained in theprogram and graduated from highschool on schedule this spring. Twelve– more than 25 % of the Dreamers –selected the College of Coastal Georgiaas their college choice.Freshman William Mitchell fromUnion Point is one of them.Making the change from the nurturingschool environment providedby Kelly and his wife, including intensivementoring and tutoring, to a statecollege on the southeastern coast ofGeorgia entails much more than tradingthe hills of Greene County for themarshes and beaches of Glynn.That’s where the College’s minorityoutreach programs and academicsupport systems, such as the Center for Academic Successand TRiO, help bridge the transition. In fact, the Collegereceived a University System of Georgia grant this spring toestablish a new program, Summer Bridge and Go, specificallysupporting efforts to enhance the enrollment, retention andgraduation of African-American males in the USG system.Coastal Georgia used the grant to support a pre-collegeexperience this summer for African-American malesinterested in attending the College this fall. Over the program’sthree-week period in June, the recruits lived on campus inLakeside Village; received coaching in reading, vocabularyand math; completed the admissions and financial aidprocess; and built supportive friendships with other students,mentors, faculty and staff. “They also developed a deeperunderstanding of leadership and community commitment,”explained Heidi Leming, Vice President of Student Affairs.“I’m confident they will successfully transition to existingsupport services designed to assist first-generation collegestudents.”“I feel prepared,” Mitchell says, “and I know what to expectfrom college life.” He already has a community mentor,Eugene Williams, a member of Fourteen Black Men of Glynn,and is interacting with support staff. “The program was fun,but just like Mr. K, they made it clear they want and expectme to succeed.”Linell Bailey, Assistant Coordinator of Academic Services,stresses the minority outreachprograms provide cultural supportas well as academic support:“Community mentoring is importantfor students who are away from homefor the first time.”Mitchell enjoyed meeting classmatesfrom around the state. “The Dreamershave stuck together a long time,” headmits. “One of my roommates inour dorm suite is Ronald Shelton –another Dreamer – but the other guyscome from different places.”One of their assignments duringthe summer program was to readand discuss Pulitzer prize-winningpoet Natasha Trethewey’s memoir,Beyond Katrina: A Meditation onthe Mississippi Gulf Coast. The bookexamines the impact of HurricaneKatrina on the lives and culture of thatregion. Mitchell liked Trethewey’s poetry and hopes he’llhave the opportunity to meet the U.S. Poet Laureate duringthe Georgia Literary Festival at Jekyll Island in November.He also plans to participate in the fall term service-learningproject on the Gulf coast.That Mitchell would prefer poetry is no surprise. He writespoetry himself and incorporates it in his hip hop routines.“I don’t play an instrument,” he says, “I use myself as aninstrument.” So one of the things he’s looking forward to isopen mic night on campus, when he can perform with poetry,music and everything in between.With his eye on the goal of graduating in four years,his freshman year will be spent in core classes such asart, literature, and math. He is committed to campusinvolvement and community engagement, includingvolunteering at the Boys and Girls Club in Brunswick. Hisdegree is the dream, but this Dreamer intends to enjoy thejourney, one day at a time. u20 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

Lessons LearnedService-learning scholarship winners excel outside the classroomSome lessons can only be learned by experience.Don Jones ’14 can cite numerous examples from lifeas a single parent with a beautiful daughter who has beencompeting in beauty pageants since 3 rd grade. “I’ll neverforget the first pageant. We show up – and there’s no placefor daddy. It’s all mommies. There is no dressing roomwhere a daddy is allowed to help his daughter get ready forthe show,” he laughs, shaking his head.Ayla Wilson ’14 is passionate about helping peoplebecause of her experiences as a child. “I’ve been there. So, Iwant them to understand hurt matters…they matter…andhurt does not define who they are,” she explains. “Someonedid this for me, and I want to pay back. You shed the shell ofbeing self-serving by serving others.”Service-learning courses are now integral parts of everydegree program at Coastal Georgia. In service-learning,the community becomes a classroom. Students connecttheory with practice while meeting a direct and immediatecommunity need.Dana Beckham ’13 says it is how she best learns, “Handson, in the community. I’m out there actually doing it,physically.”Beckham, Jones and Wilson are the inaugural recipientsof Coastal Georgia’s service-learning scholarships.Beckham is a psychology major. Her service-learningcourse assignment in Psychology and Nutrition introduceda healthy-eating nutrition program to Burroughs-Moletteelementary school students in grades K-2. Burroughs-Molette is where Beckham went to school as a child.Wilson, also a psychology major, teamed with otherclassmates to plan, dig out, plant, and maintain a garden toprovide fresh vegetables and herbs for a local soup kitchen,Manna House.Jones worked with two other classmates in Environmentof Business to stage an art contest and exhibit for elementaryand middle schools as part of the Georgia Department ofNatural Resources’ annual CoastFest. The team visitedschools, collected the art, set up the exhibits, arranged thejudging, then returned to the schools with the students’ artand prizes. “It was an excellent study of logistics, problemsolving,and coordination,” Jones contends.Wilson and Jones agree that the team interaction wasa critical component of the structured service-learningexperience.“There is no way that you don’t learn from this typeof experience. It is empowering. You grow and stretch.The garden at the Manna House in Brunswick was one of theservice-learning projects inaugurated during spring 2012.It enriches the material. It is effective because it forcesreflection. But you are experiencing it in a safe way - withyour classmates, as a community,” Wilson explains.Before enrolling in a service-learning course, Jonesrecalls not being fully engaged as a student: “The servicelearningprojects brought our class together, regardlessof age and circumstances. This class made me feel [moreengaged and] comfortable about being in college.”Prior to enrolling in the School of Business & PublicAffairs in pursuit of his BBA, Jones owned a recyclingbusiness for eleven years. “In high school, I rebuilt old cars.I went from selling used car parts to recycling old cars torecycling other metals. But between the economy and thewear and tear on my back and knees, I knew it was time tochange. I came back for my degree to learn how to trust andhow to manage [employees]. I recognized I couldn’t run abusiness by myself. I made money then, but with what I’velearned in college, I could double that money now.”While developing trust was an important componentof his service-learning experience, Jones also cites thesatisfaction of project responsibility. “This isn’t volunteering.I’ve done a lot of volunteer work in my life, especially for theRed Cross and helping out after Katrina. But with the DNRassignment, we were managing and completing a project –we saw the results.”All three scholarship recipients have selected additionalservice-learning courses as well as targeted organizationswith which they will continue to work. Beckham hasalready taken the next step. She has founded a non-profitassociation that is now a community partner for servicelearningexperiences by other students. uPhoto courtesy of Ayla WilsonCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 21

Cooking for a CauseC.H.E.F.One of the newest student organizations on campus isnot just for aspiring chefs.“The acronym actually stands for Culinary andHospitality Educational Fellowship,” Chef Whit Ward ‘14explains. Ward, a sous chef at the King and Prince Beach& Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, is one of the originalfounders and serves as this year’s president.The inaugural president, Jessika Daniels, graduatedin May with a career associates degree in HospitalityManagement, specializing in hotel operations.“The emphasis is on fellowship,” Chef Thomas Waldrop‘13, sous chef at the Mad Hatter Tea Shop in St. Mary’sand two-term vice president of the club, adds. Activitiesinclude networking, developing new community partnersfor internships and experiential learning opportunities,volunteering, and competing as the College culinary team.Now in its second year, the organization has 15 activemembers who are eagerly looking forward to an influx ofnew students this fall.Members of C.H.E.F. competed at the 2012 Golden IslesChili Cook-off.“CHEF members want more hands-on culinaryexperiences outside the classroom,” Ward laughs, “becausewe know there’s more to it than what you see on TV.”“Competition definitely reinforces what you learn in theCulinary and Hospitality Educational FellowshipPhoto courtesy of C.H.E.F.CHEF requires community service as a condition ofmembership. Last year, CHEF members made and providedlunch at a Habitat for Humanity building site in CamdenCounty. They also prepared and served food donated bySouthern Soul BBQ at the Tides and Tunes fundraiser forthe Okefenokee area council of the Boy Scouts of America.Competing at cook offs is one of their favorite activities.CHEF teams participated in the Shrimp and Grits Festivalon Jekyll Island, Stewbilee in the streets of downtownBrunswick, and both the Taste of Glynn and the chili cook offon St. Simons Island. The goal is not just local, however, asthey look forward to rounds of competition at the regionaland state level within the American Culinary Federation.Their local competition is the culinary apprenticeshipprogram at Sea Island Resort.“At ACF competitions, some events are similar to the FoodNetwork challenges,” Waldrop explains. “You’re presentedwith a ‘blind basket’ – a tray of ingredients with your nameon it. Whatever is on the tray is what you use to prepare thecompetitive entry.”classroom,” Waldrop agrees. “The additional experiencemakes a stronger foundation. And it adds excitement to theculinary field.”“Plus winning reflects well on the culinary program, theCollege, and the community,” Ward adds. “But there’s moreto it than competing. This requires teamwork. We worktogether - we don’t just look out for ourselves.”“A comment Chef Steve [Ingersoll, Assistant Professor ofCulinary Arts] made one day in the teaching kitchen stuckwith me,” Waldrop concluded. “He pointed out that someday we might be colleagues, so we should treat each otherprofessionally and learn to work together compatibly now.”Membership in CHEF is open to any Coastal Georgiastudent. Meetings are held bi-weekly during the regularacademic year at the Camden Center, which houses theHospitality Management facilities . The organization hopesto secure American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)affiliation for the program’s hotel operations students.The College’s culinary arts program is accredited by theAmerican Culinary Federation. u22 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

The Georgia Literary FestivalComes to the Golden IslesU.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey to deliver keynote addressThe College of Coastal Georgia is engaged in an excitingoutside-the-classroom opportunity during fallterm. The College has joined with two other communitypartners - the Jekyll Island Authority and the GoldenIsles Convention and Visitors Bureau - to host the 2012Georgia Literary Festival at the Golden Isles. On Saturday,November 10, over 30 authors from across the southeast– primarily from Georgia – will be discussing their books,reading excerpts, and interacting with participants at theJekyll Island Convention Center.Hosting the Festival was a light-bulb moment for CaryKnapp, Public Services Librarian for the Gould MemorialLibrary on campus. Attending the 2010 Festival inStatesboro, Knapp thought it would be a natural fit for theGolden Isles. She suggested the idea to Bill Starr, ExecutiveDirector of the Georgia Center for the Book, and to CollegePresident Valerie Hepburn. The Georgia Literary Festival,which is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book andthe Georgia Humanities Council, has celebrated exceptionalwriting in a different part of the state since 1999. Just neverin southeastern Georgia.Dr. Hepburn saw it as an excellent opportunity to displaythe cultural wealth of the Golden Isles and promotecultural tourism. “We embarked on this literary adventurefor several reasons. First and foremost, this is the kind ofstimulating intellectual activity a college is intended tonurture,” she explained.The Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) and the Golden IslesConvention and Visitors Bureau (GICVB) were naturalpartners for the event in Dr.Hepburn’s view. Because ofthe College’s relationshipwith the JIA, she wasfamiliar with the plansfor the new Jekyll IslandConvention Center – theperfect oceanfront venue.In fact, Coastal Georgia’s2012 Commencement wasthe first public event heldthere. JIA partners with theCollege to provide passesto the popular island forNatasha Tretheweyfulltime Coastal Georgiastudents. This fall, that means free access to the Festival aswell as to the beach and bike paths.“When you go, you’ll be able to explore topics as diverseas the coastal influence on American cuisine, emergingtrends in thrillers and mysteries, regional and local history,ecological and environmental issues, and what monsterate peas in contemporary children’s literature,” Dr.Hepburn laughed. “You’ll have the opportunity to interactwith Georgia’s poet laureate, best-selling authors, awardwinningwriters in many categories, and authors with newbooks hot off the press.”Emory University Professor Natasha Trethewey, U.S.Poet Laureate and recipient of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize inpoetry for her book Native Guard, is the keynote speakerPhoto courtesy of Natasha TretheweyPhoto courtesy of Jekyll Island AuthorityJekyll Island VistaCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 23

on Saturday morning. Trethewey will be readingexcerpts and discussing her latest collectionof poems, Thrall.Trethewey’s memoir, Beyond Katrina: AMeditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, wasselected as the common read for twoliving-learning communities on campus:the African-American Male Initiative andthe Women Engaged in Leadership andLearning (WELL) programs. These studentsparticipated in a summer pre-College programin which they read the book and will have the opportunity,in an alternative spring break trip to the Gulf coast, tofurther explore the book’s themes.For the Festival, over 200 volunteers will beneeded, doing everything from introducingauthors to handing out programs toparticipants. “I hope our students willnot only attend, but will also becomeinvolved through one of the manyvolunteering opportunities. This extracurricularopportunity is part and parcelof the College learning experience – a dayto engage your mind and your soul in richdiversity,” Dr. Hepburn summarized.A schedule of events and a list of the participating authorsand the books they’ll be discussing are posted online atwww.GoldenIslesLiteraryFestival.com. uThe Young AlumniAlumni associations are what you jointo keep in touch after you graduate,right?“Not so!” says Jessica Dickson, AlumniDirector for the College of Coastal Georgia.“A student alumni association is a great wayto network and build lasting relationshipsright now.”Health Informatics major Akia Banks’13 agrees. The Brunswick resident andGlynn Academy graduate attended thefirst career networking luncheon lastyear as a junior, where students met withgraduates to get ideas about their future,and she ended up volunteering for thethird annual Phonathon to alumni andfriends of the College this autumn.While some students might feel shyabout calling alumni, Banks sees thePhonathon as a good opportunity tonetwork. “I get to brag about the school –that’s fun. My call may bring in more moneyto help the school and my classmates. Andyou never know who you are going to getto talk to. It’s more like an adventure thana chore or a bore,” she laughs.Recognizing she would be graduating in a year, she joinedthe student alumni association to gain additional careernetworking. “To get my foot in the doors,” she interjects.“I’m on my own and can move to wherever there would bea good job managing an electronic health records system.This is a way to meet other people outside the area whoknow the school’s standardsand might also know of anopening.”“Any student, including afreshman, should considertaking advantage of the alumniassociation. That wouldgive you more years to buildrelationships,” she adds. “Notonly can I keep in touch, but I’llbe able to help someone elsedown the line by maintainingthese links to the College.”The student alumni associationwill meet throughout theyear, according to Dickson, talkingabout the legacy they wantto leave for future students aswell as working on service projectsto enhance the campus.“The association is a two-waystreet,” Dickson explains. “Thestudents act as ambassadorsfor the campus, and the campusgets them involved in careernetworking.”“It’s a great way to build relationships and memories,”Dickson concludes.“All the events have been fun,” Banks agrees. “But truthfully,I’m more into the big picture. It’s not all about the Collegeexperience – it’s about what I can do with my Collegedegree.” uStudents and alumni participated in theinaugural Alumni Service Day across theGolden Isles on September 8.24 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

Photo EssayFrom Rome to the Golden Isles...Freshman Dent Law recently made the journey from Rome, Georgia,to begin his freshman year at College of Coastal GeorgiaDeborah Law chronicled her son’s departure from home andarrival at Lakeside Village, the on-campus student residence,on Move-in Day, August 18. From saying good-by to the family dogsto trading in four wheels for two to get around the community,Dent’s college experience began with a warm welcome, helpinghands, burgers and hot dogs grilled by the men of neighboringCollege Place United Methodist Church, and an ice cream socialwith other new freshmen scholarship recipients.College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 25

Alumni Profile:Mike Hodges ’73During the annual Honors Day program in April, MichaelD. Hodges ‘73 was named the 2012 Alumni of theYear. The award recognizes an alumni of the College whodemonstrates leadership and dedication in advocating for,and supporting, the College.Hodges graduated from Brunswick Junior College, nowCollege of Coastal Georgia, in 1973, earning an Associateof Science degree. He graduated from the University ofGeorgia in 1975 with a BBA in banking and finance. But hehas been a banker since high school.As a senior, he needed a job, so he started working ata bank after school and during the summers. He recallsworking with his father, an electrician, one Christmasholiday and his father remarked, “As an electrician, you’llmake a good banker.”Working at a bank is how he paid for his classes atBrunswick Junior College during 1971-73: “I started schoolhere so I could go on to Athens. I could afford to get startedby attending BJC. There were no scholarships available then– one reason I feel strongly about supporting scholarships26 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

today. I continued to work in banking after enrolling at UGA.”Hodges worked for several banks, and in all aspectsin banking, but he considers the pinnacle of his careerachievement to be returning to coastal Georgia to helpfound the First Bank of Brunswick, now Ameris Bank. “Itwas an entrepreneurial leap – for myself, as a banker, butalso for helping other local businesses and entrepreneurs inour community get started and succeed.” Since 1989, he hasserved as president andCEO and continues todayas market president forAmeris Bank.The list of his serviceactivities and civic involvementis lengthy, spanningLeadership Glynn andLeadership Georgia, UnitedWay, the American RedCross, and both the local and state Chamber of Commerce. Inaddition to the College Foundation, he is also heavily involvedin the Southeast Georgia Health System and the Jekyll IslandAuthority. In 2011, Hodges was the recipient of the Brunswick-GoldenIsles Chamber of Commerce Shepherd CenterAward for development of the community and promotion ofthe area and its worthy causes.His role as chairman of the Brunswick-Golden IslesChamber of Commerce during 2004-2005 crystallizedhis understanding of the need for a baccalaureate degreegrantinginstitution in southeast Georgia. In 2007, he beganco-chairing the Education Subcommittee of the Chamberwith a key goal of securing state college status for the College.“There are certain institutions any community musthave to be successful: business, education, and a goodhealth system,” he explains. “The College is a big part of thecommunity. I’m investing my heart at home.”When he began his service as a College Foundationtrustee during 2005-2006, he recognized unmet needsas well as the College’s importance to the community. Hecurrently serves as vice chair of the College Foundation, butviews his work as chair of the Foundation’s Investment andReal Estate Committee as his most important to date. He ismost pleased with the planning and financing of the firston-campus student residential housing, which opened inAugust 2011.Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointedHodges to serve on the Jekyll Island Park Authority in“There are certain institutions any communitymust have to be successful: business,education, and a good health system. TheCollege is a big part of the community. I’minvesting my heart at home.”2005. He was reappointed by Governor Nathan Deal andserves as secretary of the JIA as well as chair of the FinanceCommittee. Through a unique partnership with the JekyllIsland Authority, full-time Coastal Georgia studentsreceive special passes as a benefit of their student activityfee. The decals provide unlimited access to the islandfor one year.“There is nothing that can affect development of the regionmore than proper redevelopmentof Jekyll Island –which is owned by 9 millionGeorgians who should enjoyit,” he says. “And what othercollege in Georgia can offera student pass to somewherelike Jekyll Island?”Since 2004 Hodges hasserved on the Glynn-BrunswickMemorial Hospital Authority, which governs SoutheastGeorgia Health System. The Hospital Authority and theHealth System provides significant support to the College,including establishment of the College’s first named deanship:the Southeast Georgia Health System DistinguishedDean of Nursing and Health Sciences.The serendipitous relationships between the institutionshe serves are no accident. “Gary [Colberg, President andCEO of the Southeast Georgia Health System] says ‘workingtogether works’ – and it does!” Hodges laughs. “I lookforward to the day when a nursing student stepping outfrom home can turn one way to walk a couple of blocks toclass or turn the other way to walk to work at the hospital.”In making the award presentation, Rev. Dr. Glenn ThomasCarson, President of the Alumni Association, noted, “Hehas served as a tireless advocate, fundraiser, supporter,and wise counsel on behalf of the College’s administrationand Foundation.”“Mike Hodges is an accomplished businessman, activecivic leader, respected public servant, and a dedicatedalumnus of the College,” College President Valerie Hepburnconcluded. “He represents the finest values and attributes towhich the College of Coastal Georgia and its students aspire– educational access, scholarship, community service, civicengagement, and principled leadership.”Hodges’ vision is simple. He wants and works for theCollege of Coastal Georgia to reach full potential - to be all itcan possibly be for his community. uCollege of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 27

AroundThe new school on campusContinuing its maturation as a comprehensiveundergraduate institution, the College hasestablished a School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. KeithBelcher, Professor of Biology and director of theLaboratory Sciences program, has been appointed deanof the new school.Dr. Belcher, who previously served as Dean of theSchool of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, earned hisPhD at the Medical College of Georgia and completedhis postdoctoral residency and fellowship at the MedicalCollege of Virginia.Dr. Andrea Wallace, Professor of Chemistry, servesas the inaugural chair of the Department of NaturalSciences. Dr. Wallace, who earned her PhD in Chemistryat Clemson University, was the College’s 2009-2010Adviser of the Year.Dr. German Vargas, Assistant Professor ofMathematics, heads the Department of Mathematics.He earned his PhD in Applied Mathematics at WichitaState University. Dr. Vargas was accepted to the NationalUniversity of Colombia at the age of 14 to complete hisBS in Physics.Dr. Carla Bluhm, AssociateProfessor of Psychology,chairs the Department ofSocial Sciences. She earnedher PhD in DevelopmentalSchool of Arts and SciencesPsychology at ColumbiaUniversity Teachers College in New York City. Dr. Bluhmis co-author of Someone Else’s Face in the Mirror: Identityand the New Science of Face Transplants (2009).Ricky Weaver, Associate Professor of English, is theinterim chair of the Department of Arts and Humanities.A national search for an incoming chair is underway.“This structure will encourage and promoteinterdepartmental and interdisciplinary activities, includingopportunities for faculty and students to work in moreintegrative ways on community projects and scholarlyactivities,” Dr. Phillip Mason, Vice President for AcademicAffairs, explained. “Additionally, it will more effectivelysupport the efforts of the faculty of each departmentthrough the leadership of the department chairs.”The changes were effective with the beginning of thefall 2012 term.Coastal Georgia in print...College President Valerie A. Hepburn was recently featured as a guestcolumnist in her alumni publication for Agnes Scott College. Hepburndiscusses the value of a liberal arts education. The complete column isavailable at: www.ccga.edu/~PresOff/files/ASCColumn.pdfNursing faculty member Lee Hunter-Eades was recently featured in heralma mater’s publication discussing herDoctor of Nursing Practice degree fromGeorgia Southern University. To read thecomplete article on Hunter-Eades, visit:www.ccga.edu/Academics/SchoolNursing/LHE.pdf28 College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine

CampusDiscoverBillboards, posters and advertising across thestate of Georgia are encouraging visitorsto discover all ofthe exciting newthings happeningat the College ofCoastal Georgia. Thecampaign is designedto reintroduce theCollege’s offerings,including new academicbuildings, degrees,and student lifeopportunities.Lights,Camera,Action!College of CoastalGeorgiasophomore businessmajor BreanneHerrin takesdirection duringfilming of the College’s student recruitment video.Students, faculty, and staff recently completed thenine-minute video, which is available for viewingfrom the College website. Check out the video onlineat: www.discoverccga.com/video.aspLending a helping handWhen Sequoyah Brown, RN, planned the employeehealth fair for Rich Product’s Brunswick facility, sheknew a community partner she wanted to include – heralma mater, the College of Coastal Georgia. As a result,nursing and culinary arts students participated in theprogram in mid-September.Eight nursing students and two faculty members of theSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences provided bloodpressure readings for participating associates: MeganCorrigan, Suzanne English, Associate Professor of NursingJudith Gift, Chelsea Holcomb, Jennifer King, Joyce Lockyer,Joellyn Storey, Assistant Professor of Nursing VirginiaTeel, Jessica Valtentich, and Ann Westberry.“This is a wonderful opportunity for the nursingprogram to participate in health screening within thecommunity and practice clinical skills such as bloodpressure testing and teaching,” noted Dr. Patricia Kraft,Southeast Georgia Health System Distinguished Dean ofNursing and Health Sciences and Professor of Nursing.Additionally, three of the College’s culinary artsstudents, accompanied by their program director, handedout a healthy snack alternative – homemade granola bars– with the recipe: William Grotto, Tyler Schaub, DawnieWright, and Assistant Professor Walter Wright.College of Coastal Georgia – the Magazine 29

Advancement OfficeOne College DriveBrunswick, Georgia 31520ccga.eduNON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGEPAIDBRUNSWICK, GAPERMIT NO. 245Welcome Home!Freshmen Kristian Payne-Haddock and Michael Baggott carrytheir things into Lakeside Village on Move-In Day 2012.