University System News:

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Kemp appoints five new Georgia Board of Regents members

By Eric Stirgus

Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday announced five new members to the Georgia’s Board of Regents, the 19-member group that oversees operations at the state’s largest public colleges and universities. The new members are:

 

• Cade Joiner, a Brookhaven resident who founded a document shredding company and is chairman of the National Federation of Independent Businesses of Georgia.
• T. Dallas Smith, a real estate executive who runs his own firm and chairs the real estate committee at Georgia State University, his alma mater.
• Harold Reynolds, a Lake Oconee resident who is chief executive officer of BankSouth Holding Co., located in Greene County.
• Everett Kennedy, a Bulloch County resident who is chief executive officer and broker of Berkshire Hathaway Kennedy Realty in Statesboro.
• Lowery May, a University of Georgia graduate who serves on the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Transitions: Oregon State U. Selects New President, New Provost at U. of Michigan at Dearborn

Appointments, resignations, retirements, awards, deaths

Compiled by Julia Piper

CHIEF EXECUTIVES

Appointments

Brendan Kelly, chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate, has been named the finalist for president of the University of West Georgia.

 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia State student earns degree after Uber passenger pays off debt

By Eric Stirgus

A Georgia State University student said she’s been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support after sharing her story of how a stranger helped pay her tuition. Latonya Young, 43, earned her associate degree in criminal justice a few weeks ago from the university and plans to take classes at Georgia State to pursue her bachelor’s degree in that field this month. “I’m ready and I’m excited to go back to school,” Young, an aspiring federal probation officer, said in a telephone interview Friday. Young was driving for Uber about a year ago when she and a passenger, Kevin Esch, had a conversation about their challenges. Young, a mother of three, explained she had a tuition debt of $693 and couldn’t continue her education until the money was paid.

 

Saporta Report

University of North Georgia fall commencement

AvatarMegan Anderson

More than 800 University of North Georgia graduates participated in the Dec. 14 ceremonies at the Convocation Center on UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. Additionally, 20 members of the Corps of Cadets commissioned into the U.S. Army or Army National Guard as second lieutenants.

 

Inside Higher Ed

New Programs: Psychology, Yoga Studies, Cell and Gene Therapy, Film, Health Policy

By Scott Jaschik

University of Georgia is starting an M.F.A. with a focus of film, television and digital media.

 

The Newnan Times-Herald

Newnan carves out new identities while maintaining the old

By Clay Neely

One word can accurately sum up the last 10 years of Newnan’s story – growth. From the construction of new state-of-the-art hospitals and a conference center to the renovation of the Newnan Hospital for a Newnan campus for the University of West Georgia, the City of Homes established new identities over the last decade. … In 2013, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents agreed to buy the old Newnan Hospital on Jackson Street for a new satellite campus of the University of West Georgia. Construction on both the new UWG campus and Newnan’s new public safety complex began later that year. “The new West Georgia Newnan campus, Piedmont and CTCA were the big game-changers,” Brady said.

 

WSAV

Georgia Southern University Athletics Director, Tom Kleinlein resigns

Georgia Southern University announced Friday afternoon the resignation of Director of Athletics, Tom Kleinlein. According to the school, Kleinlein is leaving to pursue another professional opportunity, effective Jan. 21. Kleinlein spent eight years in Statesboro leading the athletics department.

 

Your Erie

Longtime Columbus civic, lawmaker Tom Buck passes away

By Chuck Williams

Columbus attorney and longtime Georgia legislator Tom Buck died early Thursday morning at Columbus Hospice. He was 81. Buck served 38 years in the Georgia General Assembly, exiting in 2004. He was a hardcore Georgia Democrat when Democrats controlled the state. Buck worked his way into powerful committee chairmanships under longtime Speaker Tom Murphy. Buck led the House Education, Ways and Means and Appropriations committees during his tenure in the General Assembly. …Though his legislative work with the University System of Georgia on the High Education Committee, Buck was able to help fund and grow Columbus State University. “He did a lot for CSU over the years,” Hatcher said. During his tenure, CSU grew from a small community college to a robust state university.

 

Thomasville Times Enterprise

Kemp taps Prine to fill judgeship

Governor Brian Kemp announced his selection of James “Jim” Prine to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court of the Southern Judicial Circuit. Prine will replace the Honorable Harry Jay Altman II following Altman’s retirement. “Given Jim’s extensive background with the Southern Judicial Circuit, I am confident that he is the right man for this job,” Governor Kemp said. “As a judge, he will prioritize the business of the court and uphold justice, fairness, and proper decorum.” Prine earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law.

 

Delaware News Journal

Delaware’s first black Supreme Court justice to take oath of office Friday

Sarah Gamard

Delaware’s first African-American Supreme Court justice will take her public oath of office on Friday. Former Vice Chancellor Tamika Montgomery-Reeves’ investiture is at 2 p.m. at Howard High School in Wilmington. The event is not open to the public due to limited seating. The Senate unanimously approved Gov. John Carney’s selection of Montgomery-Reeves in November. She is replacing Supreme Court Justice Collins Seitz Jr., who was confirmed as chief justice in place of retiring Chief Justice Leo Strine Jr. …Montgomery-Reeves, who grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and University of Georgia law school.

 

 

Higher Education News:

 

Inside Higher Ed

Students’ Sense of Belonging Varies by Identity, Institution

New research highlights the differences in students’ sense of belonging by race, institution type and first-generation status.

By Elin Johnson

A new study shows that minority and first-generation students have a higher sense of belonging at two-year colleges than their counterparts at four-year institutions. Researchers who conducted the study also found that while racial-ethnic minority and first-generation students at four-year institutions are less inclined to feel that same sense of belonging, first-year students at both two-year and four-year colleges and universities said they “somewhat agree” that they belong on their campuses. The students rated their experiences on campus using a “belonging scale” of one to five with four representing that they “somewhat agree” they feel a sense of belonging.

 

Inside Higher Ed

Chinese Med Student Charged With Stealing Research

By Scott Jaschik

Zaosong Zheng, a medical student from China at Harvard University, is being held without bail on charges he attempted to smuggle cancer research material out of the country, the Associated Press reported. Zheng is charged with stealing materials from his lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.