Monthly Updates from Academic Affairs

Message from the Provost

As we begin a new academic year, Academic Affairs is entering an exciting new chapter. Over the past year, we have worked together to establish a clear strategic framework that aligns our efforts with Georgia Southern's long-term aspirations—expanding access, strengthening student success, advancing research, and enhancing the impact of our academic enterprise.

With that foundation in place, our focus now shifts from planning to implementation.

Our work is guided by five core values: alignment, innovation, engagement, impact, and distinctiveness. These values shape how we develop academic programs, support our students, strengthen partnerships, and make decisions across the division. They also provide the foundation for our strategic priorities, which include expanding innovative academic programs, increasing experiential learning opportunities, growing graduate education, advancing research excellence, and leveraging data and technology to improve how we serve our students and the university.

What unites these priorities is a shared commitment to preparing Georgia Southern for the future while remaining grounded in our mission of student success.

The progress we have made is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our faculty and staff. Every new program, research breakthrough, community partnership, and student success story reflects your commitment to excellence. As we continue this work together, I am confident that our collective efforts will strengthen Academic Affairs and position Georgia Southern for even greater impact in the years ahead.

Thank you for everything you do to support our students, our colleagues, and our university.

GS professor earns $20k grant to advance lighting design education

Georgia Southern University’s Beth McGee, Ph.D., associate professor of interior architecture and design and assistant chair of the School of Human Ecology, was awarded $20,000 through The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education “Create Your Own Grant” program in 2026.

From Brazil to Fulbright

Matthew Flynn, Ph.D., tried not to overthink the timing.

The professor of international studies and sociology at Georgia Southern University knew notifications for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program were expected soon, and like many applicants, he found himself checking his email more often than usual. Not obsessively, he’d likely argue—but enough to notice when a new message appeared from Fulbright.

He clicked.

Then came the words he had been hoping to see: he had been selected as a 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Brazil.

Flynn’s reaction was measured. His wife’s was not.

“She was definitely more animated than I was,” Flynn said with a laugh. “I think I was just trying to process it.”

GS professor earns 2026 History Author of the Year from Georgia Writers Association

Bennett Parten, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Georgia Southern University, has been awarded the 2026 History Author of the Year Award from the Georgia Writers Association (GWA) for his work, “Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman’s March and the History of Emancipation.”

GS earns numerous merits for undergraduate excellence from Colleges of Distinction

For the 2026-27 academic year, Colleges of Distinction has named Georgia Southern University a College of Distinction for Eagle Nation’s commitment to serving undergraduate students and championing the leaders of the future.