The supports costuming, production needs, rehearsals and guest artist fees to make Under the Bao Bao Tree: A Celebration of Dance Culture a reality. The two-day concert will promote different cultures to Gainesville and Hall County鈥檚 diverse community.

鈥淲e are elated to present a concert dedicated to showcasing dances from around the world in our great diverse city of Gainesville,鈥� 雏鸟视频 Dance Department Chair Madia Cooper-Ashirifi said. 鈥淭he concert will feature cultural dance groups, community members and members of the 雏鸟视频 community performing dances and drumming from countries such as Ghana, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.鈥�

The program also included bi-monthly workshops and activities for participants to learn different dances and songs, 12 drumming sessions and lessons with master Ghanaian drummer, Kofi Mawuko, two community-based demonstrations, and two facilitated lecture-demonstrations and conversations with the community.

The intention for the rehearsal and community demonstration activities is for all to engage in meaningful exchange by sharing cultural practices in the form of music and dance. 

鈥淭he process presents an opportunity for a cultural exchange where informative and historical dialogue will take place,鈥� 雏鸟视频 Grants Director Stefan Schulze said. 鈥淲e envision that the project turns into a highly anticipated event that grows every year.鈥�

The project culminates with the two-day concert featuring 雏鸟视频 dance students, faculty, staff, members of the Boys & Girls鈥� Club of Lanier, students from various schools, and community members.

The concert is open to the public, with two performances scheduled at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $5.

The post 雏鸟视频, community members showcase culture in two-day dance concert appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

Graduates from The Women鈥檚 College will receive their diplomas at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3. All other undergraduates as well as candidates for master鈥檚, specialists and doctoral degrees will receive their diplomas at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4.

Each ceremony will take place on the front lawn at Pearce Auditorium on the historic Gainesville campus. President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., will deliver the commencement address at both ceremonies.

鈥淓arning a degree is a great personal achievement for our students, but it also represents the successful fulfillment of the mission of 雏鸟视频 to prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual accomplishment and personal fulfillment,鈥� Barnett said. 鈥淎s president, I am honored to be part of this life-changing moment. I look forward to shaking the hand of every graduate and offering them my personal congratulations.鈥�

On both days, guest seating is available starting one hour prior to each ceremony, and graduates should have received guest passes for family and friends attending. More details about graduation, including a parking map and the rain plan for each ceremony, can be found on the graduation webpage.

A Nyansapo Kente Stole Ceremony, hosted by the Black Faculty and Staff Association, will be held ahead of commencement at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, in Pearce Auditorium. Students will be adorned with graduation stoles featuring the nyansapo, or wisdom knot, and will walk across the ceremonial kente cloth, or lappa, which symbolizes that the community offers support and protection as the graduates enter a new chapter. The ceremony is open to all graduates and undergraduates and all faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend.

鈥淐elebrating graduates at commencement ceremonies are pinnacle events at 雏鸟视频,鈥� Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jim Eck said. 鈥淥n behalf of the faculty, staff and administration of 雏鸟视频, we are immensely proud of our spring 2024 graduates and all that they have accomplished during their time at 雏鸟视频.鈥�

雏鸟视频 will stream all graduation ceremonies on for those unable to attend. The events will be streamed live and remain available for viewing after the event.

The post 雏鸟视频 to recognize more than 300 graduates in May appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

雏鸟视频 also celebrated the 95th anniversary of 雏鸟视频 Academy and honored alumni throughout the weekend.

鈥淚t is a special year for 雏鸟视频 as we mark our 145th anniversary. I thank you all for joining us to celebrate this important milestone, connect with fellow alumni and remember your time here,鈥� 雏鸟视频 President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., told alumni on April 13. 鈥淵our legacy with 雏鸟视频 continues; you are not just a part of our history, you are a vital part of our future. You will always be part of the 雏鸟视频 community.鈥�

The annual weekend kicked off Thursday with a reunion dinner celebrating alumni celebrating 50 years since their graduation. Michelle Gray Haywood, WC 鈥�75, was one of the first Black students admitted to 雏鸟视频 and attended the reunion for the first time.

鈥淐oming back is an emotional experience for me. It took 50 years to come back to 雏鸟视频. It is so surreal being here,鈥� Gray Haywood said. 鈥淭here were only four Black women when I attended school here, and now, I look around in awe at all the young and inspiring Black women here today.鈥�

Friday, alums and the community attended the annual Research Symposium at the Downtown Campus and ended the evening with the annual Alumni Association Awards ceremony. Alumni recognized were:

• Ken Blair, BU 鈥�16, Community Service Award
• Melinda Cassiday Jacques, WC 鈥�17, Young Alumna Award
• Kay McMaster, WC 鈥�87, Alumni Hall of Fame
• Shannon Morris, A 鈥�84, WC 鈥�88, Academy Alumna of the Year
• Jessie Southerland, WC 鈥�99, Professional Achievement Award
• Daisy Goodnight Waldrep, WC 鈥�61, Service to 雏鸟视频 Award

Saturday morning, hundreds of alumni, faculty, staff and students came together on the historic Gainesville campus to celebrate the 145th with a champagne brunch, sorority open houses, a paint and sip event, and the traditional presentation of the May Court and wrapping of the May Pole. Before the champagne brunch, students participated in the annual Class Day, which signifies the changing of ranks among classes, and rising seniors climbed the Crow鈥檚 Nest for the first time in a decades-old tradition.

鈥淚 loved watching the current students enjoy Class Day,鈥� Patrice King, WC 鈥�86, said. 鈥淚 have loved everything about Alumni Weekend, from the cocktail hour to the paint and sip, it is really just a joyous time on the campus.鈥�

On Saturday evening, Academy alumnae celebrated the 95th anniversary of the former all-girls boarding school. Also that evening, the 2024 class of the Athletics Hall of Fame was presented by the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department. The former student-athletes, including one who also served as a coach, who were recognized were:

• Marilyn Anderson, WC 鈥�09, coach 2010-16, soccer
• Lillian Futrell Genova, WC 鈥�10, soccer
• Sydney Koon Johnson, WC 鈥�15, volleyball
• Brittney Wiley, WC 鈥�14, basketball

Read more about the Athletics Hall of Fame on the .

Former SGA President Tiffany Kovash, WC 鈥�23, said she felt like she was coming home on Alumni Reunion Weekend.

鈥淢ay Day is a nostalgic experience, it feels amazing that in the one year I鈥檝e been pursuing my next degree that I鈥檝e had somewhere to go, somewhere where I feel home again,鈥� Kovash, also a Delta Delta Delta alumna, said. 鈥淪isters, friends, and mentors who embrace you with open arms and celebrate our traditions. To me, May Day means coming back to your roots and seeing where you were and where you鈥檝e been.鈥�

The post 雏鸟视频 alumni celebrate 145th anniversary at Alumni Reunion Weekend appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

鈥淭he annual symposium is the pinnacle of scholarly pursuits completed by both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as several of our esteemed faculty,鈥� Didi Cassell, executive director of academic initiatives and student success, said. 鈥淧resentations span disciplines including fine arts and humanities, education, health and science, and business and communication.鈥�

The symposium took place on Friday, April 13, at the 雏鸟视频 Downtown Campus. This year, the keynote speaker and special guest was Will Hinton, a faculty emeritus at Louisburg College.

All presentations took place both in person and via Zoom.

The Innovation, Inquiry and Creativity Symposium was renamed in 2023 from the 雏鸟视频 Research Symposium to align the event with research that is undertaken at 雏鸟视频, including the emphasis of the creative arts, expand participation and to embrace research that focuses on innovation and scholarly inquiry.

“The 2024 Symposium marks the second year that the event expanded the definition of research to include Innovation, Inquiry, and Creativity to better reflect the range and diversity of scholarly work that is conducted within the many disciplines represented at 雏鸟视频,” Billi Bromer, education professor and committee member, said.

雏鸟视频 President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., also reflected on the new focus of the symposium in closing remarks for the event.

鈥淭hese themes also are reflective of 雏鸟视频鈥檚 mission to provide our students a curriculum enriched by liberal arts, scientific inquiry and global awareness,鈥� Barnett said. 鈥淭oday, we have seen the embodiment of those themes through posters and presentations across disciplines that reflect a broad array of the pursuit of knowledge beyond a narrow framework as we seek to both understand our world and meet its changing needs.鈥�

This was the first year the symposium took place during Alumni Reunion Weekend, and alumni were encouraged to explore what academic pursuits students, faculty and staff were involved in at 雏鸟视频.

The post Annual symposium highlights academic research initiatives appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

鈥淚t feels unreal,鈥� the junior biology major said. Evangelista had heard about the scholarship and focused on her grades in hopes of winning the prestigious award. 

鈥淎nything is possible when you work for it,鈥� Evangelista said. 鈥淵ou just have to put in the work, even if it means staying up late studying, or not going out with your friends. It鈥檚 totally worth it.鈥�

A rising senior in The Women鈥檚 College has been named a Baxter-Bryan Scholar each year since 1990. The award was established by Joe W. Baxter, who named the scholarship for his sister and 雏鸟视频 alumna, Carfax Baxter, and friend, Morris Bryan Jr.

The Sidney O. Smith Jr. Scholarship was presented to the Baxter-Bryan runner-up Imani Tornes.

鈥淩eceiving this award is not just an honor, it is a reflection of the generous support that has helped to shape my dedication and perseverance in college so far,鈥� Tornes said. 鈥淭his award is a reminder that hard work and determination can open doors to endless opportunities, and I am grateful for the support that has empowered me to pursue my academic goals.鈥�

Four other Women鈥檚 College students were awarded the Provost鈥檚 Scholarship: Sasha Baker, Egypt Byrd, Erin Delaney, and Sarah DeLay. The Provost Scholarship is awarded to the finalists for the Baxter-Bryan award.

Other prestigious scholarships announced include: 

• Mary Mildred Sullivan Award: Junior Cailyn Rhodes
• Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award: Junior Bladimir Rodrigues聽
• Women鈥檚 Leadership Colloquium Scholarship: Junior Raven Winder and Sophomore Kristina Radovic
• Halberg Award: Senior Jasmin Mitchell
• Spirit of 雏鸟视频 Award: Junior India Williams

Each department presented individual awards to students.

Faculty awards were announced following the student recognition. Associate Professor of Anatomy & Genetics Dr. Greg Marshall was named the Ann Austin Johnston Award recipient for 2024, and Assistant Professor of Art & Design Huy Chu was honored with the Vulcan Award. Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr. Irma Alverado and Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr. Amanda Buono were named Outstanding Part-Time Faculty.

Assistant Vice President and Dean of The Women鈥檚 College Dr. Debra Dobkins also announced the inaugural members of the Senior Leadership Society. Based on a previous secret society at 雏鸟视频, the group aims to recognize exceptional rising seniors who are devoted to 雏鸟视频. The 2024-25 Senior Leadership Society consists of Erin Delaney, Sarah DeLay, Shaloom Delgado, Calli Edens, Lily Hart and Tivona Myles.

The post Isabella Evangelista named Baxter-Bryan Scholar for 2024-25 appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

“This team has been so determined from day one to be the absolute best that they could be and to make history for 雏鸟视频鈥檚 cheerleading program,” Head Coach Bralee Housworth said. “I鈥檓 beyond proud of them and I can鈥檛 wait to continue to celebrate this huge accomplishment.”

The Golden Tigers opened the competition with a score of 88.7 in the prelims and built a comfortable fourteen point lead over second place Rocky Mountain (Mont.).

Housworth, in her second year coaching the team, was effusive in her praise of the squad鈥檚 performance.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better prelim performance from the team. They hit everything and had zero deductions,” she said.

The Golden Tigers rode their strong preliminary round performance into the finals and the squad delivered with a final round score of 84.25, and an overall event score of 85.3 to be crowned national champs.

鈥淭he team鈥檚 finals performance was fantastic, but we had deductions from a mistake in the pyramid,鈥� Housworth said. “However, I believed that the rest of the performance was strong enough to lead us to a National Championship.鈥�

Avila (Mo.) University finished second with an event score of 74.0125, while Rocky Mountain (73.0125) and Ottawa (Ariz.) University (71.3917) rounded out the top-four finishers.

The squad, which is one of 12 varsity sports in the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department at 雏鸟视频, returns 13 letter winners to next year鈥檚 program.

For complete results of the championships, .

The post Competitive cheerleading team crowned NCA National Champions appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

The naming of the athletics department, first announced by the university in late November, was funded by the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation. The gift for the naming of the department is the second from the Ivester Foundation to support athletics at 雏鸟视频 in honor of Grindle; the first was funding to create the Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Park. Doug and Kay Ivester both grew up in New Holland.

雏鸟视频 President David Barnett noted that the location for the celebration was significant not only because of its name, but also as a reminder of the importance of community.

鈥淥ur location today also represents community. It is my firm belief that through engaging with the people in our community from varying backgrounds – whether at neighborhood picnics or softball games – we grow into the best versions of ourselves,鈥滲arnett said. 鈥淭his location was an important epicenter of the New Holland community that has meant so much to the Grindles, the Ivesters and all of those families who have called it home. 雏鸟视频 is proud to be part of New Holland as well, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help honor the memory of Ernest Ledford Grindle.鈥�

Grindle, who was Kay Ivester鈥檚 father, was born and raised in New Holland. He attended New Holland School on the site now home to 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Park. Grindle joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and served in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Japan. Upon returning to Hall County after the war, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Inez Wilson, also of New Holland. After working for Pacolet Manufacturing Co. and General Motors, Grindle started his own successful business.

Lynn Darby, president of the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation, explained why the Foundation supports 雏鸟视频.

鈥淚 have known and worked with Kay and Doug Ivester for the last 50-plus years,鈥� Darby said. 鈥淭hey have long been focused on making the lives of Gainesville and Hall County citizens better and the Foundation is always looking to support facilities, programs and activities which do just that 鈥� 鈥榤ake lives better.鈥� Athletics is one of those elements which contributes to well-rounded lives and we are pleased to be supportive of the athletics program at 雏鸟视频.鈥�

Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon, who also thanked the Ivesters for their support of the community, noted the close relationship between the city and 雏鸟视频.

鈥湷袷悠� is Gainesville鈥檚 university,鈥� Couvillon said. 鈥淭here’s a synergy there between the city and the university that makes Gainesville better. I’m very grateful that we have 雏鸟视频 here and I’m also grateful that we have such generous people like Kay and Doug Ivester who have an altruistic and philanthropic heart and are willing to give back.鈥�

Michael Lochstampfor, 雏鸟视频鈥檚 vice president of athletics, thanked the Foundation for the ongoing support.

鈥淥ur student-athletes have been successful in the classroom and in competition, and this newest commitment from the Ivesters and their Foundation will elevate the level of excellence that is expected from our Golden Tigers,鈥� Lochstampfor said. 鈥淥n behalf of the student-athletes, I offer my thanks to the Ivester Foundation for the generous and ongoing support of our programs.鈥�

雏鸟视频 is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and supports 12 varsity sports and 15 teams. Its roughly 150 student-athletes have an overall GPA of 3.4, and 47 of those are NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

The post 雏鸟视频 unveils Ernest Ledford Grindle Athletics Department at dedication ceremony appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

This year, 雏鸟视频 will celebrate 145 years of The Women鈥檚 College and the 95th anniversary of 雏鸟视频 Academy, as well as alumni from the graduate programs and the university as a whole.

鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be where we are today without the support of our alumni,鈥� Alumni Director Emily Reid said. 鈥淭he value our Women鈥檚 College, university and Academy alumni bring to our present-day institution is immeasurable. We are thrilled to invite everyone to the historic and Downtown campuses and celebrate their involvement in 雏鸟视频鈥檚 future, while honoring the memorable experiences they had as students.鈥�

The weekend is jam-packed with exciting events, including the Innovation, Inquiry and Creativity Symposium on Friday. The professional development presentation offers continuing education credit, led by Lawrence E. Henderson, Jr., CPC, PCC, and is open to the greater community. This interactive workshop offers a deep dive into the critical elements of employee engagement, revealing how they serve as catalysts for organizational excellence and productivity. 

The symposium features undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff presentations that span disciplines as diverse as fine arts and humanities, education, health, science, business and communication.

“The 2024 Symposium marks the second year that the event expanded the definition of research to include Innovation, Inquiry, and Creativity to better reflect the range and diversity of scholarly work that is conducted within the many disciplines represented at 雏鸟视频,” Billi Bromer, Ed.D., education professor and committee member, said.

Registration for the symposium and the continuing education presentation is required, sign up for the presentation here and for the symposium here.

The 145th Celebration on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the 雏鸟视频 Downtown Center Ballroom will highlight class years ending in a 4 or a 9, and the presentation of the annual alumni award winners. Each reunion class member will receive their pin during a special ceremony. This event is open to all alumni.

The art and design department will host the 雏鸟视频 Collaborative art and fashion show on Thursday. The art show in Sellars Gallery will be open from 3-5 p.m., and the fashion show will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Pearce Auditorium. A reception will follow in Sellars and Presidents galleries. Additionally, the 雏鸟视频 Dance Senior Thesis and Guest Artist concert will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday in the John S. Burd Performing Arts Center. These events are open to the public.

雏鸟视频 Academy alumnae will be celebrated at the 95th Celebration on Saturday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Northeast Georgia History Center.

The Golden Decades Class Giving Competition has returned this year, which encourages alumni to raise funds for student scholarships. Recognition will be given to the decade with the highest participation rate with the greatest number of alumni donors, and to the decade with the most dollars donated between July 1, 2023 and April 12, 2024. A silver trophy engraved with the winning class decades will be displayed in Walters Alumni House.

All of 雏鸟视频鈥檚 sororities will host alumnae on Saturday, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which will celebrate 30 years at 雏鸟视频鈥檚 campus.

A full list of events can be found here. Registration is required to attend Alumni Reunion Weekend, and all who register will receive a swag bag filled with 雏鸟视频 goodies and access to the champagne brunch on Saturday morning.

The post 雏鸟视频 welcomes alumni, friends back to campus for Alumni Reunion Weekend appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

The Masters in Teaching award is an annual event that celebrates local educators for their dedication to all areas of education in the Gainesville-Hall County community. The award is a partnership between Featherbone Communiversity and 雏鸟视频, and is part of a series of awards to recognize local talent and leadership.

Christy Todd, , was the guest speaker. She is a music technology teacher from Fayette County and one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

Todd compared teaching to social media influencing, a popular profession among Generation Z. Born between 1996 and the early 2010s, the majority of Gen Z, or 鈥淶oomers,鈥� are school-aged.

鈥淭eachers are the ultimate influencers,鈥� Todd said. 鈥淭eachers change the future when we help students see their potential.鈥� 

She said the things Gen Z looked for in social media influencing, like making connections, serving as a community leader, time off and income, are relative to teaching. Todd said the specific schedule of teaching allows for time off, and the income is similar to but steadier than an average influencer. Additionally, Todd said making a connection is a key factor in being a successful educator, relating teachers to influencers in the classroom and community.聽

Todd encouraged teachers just starting out or returning to the classroom to foster connections with their coworkers, too.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to know it all, or do it all. Find those pain points, the things you don鈥檛 know how to do, and find a connection with someone who can help you solve that problem,鈥� Todd said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all here to support each other. This is one of the most rewarding professions you can ever enter and sometimes it鈥檚 hard, because as a new teacher you don鈥檛 see your influence immediately. It takes a couple of years.鈥�

雏鸟视频 Associate Professor of Education Donna Cherveny was selected as one of this year鈥檚 recipients.

鈥淏eing recognized as the 2024 Master in Teaching for 雏鸟视频 is an honor and a privilege; however this award is not my own,鈥� Cherveny said. 鈥淚 humbly share it with all of my students, both former and current, and my esteemed colleagues at 雏鸟视频, specifically in the College of Education. I am fortunate to learn right alongside the best each day.鈥�

The event was the 16th Masters in Teaching awards. Gladys Harvey-Peterson, one of the organizers and advising coordinator for the College of Education, said she enjoys seeing the reaction from award winners.

鈥淭he award today is not a surprise, but when we initially reach out, it is,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o see all the amazing things they do as educators 鈥� to them, it鈥檚 second nature. But it truly is incredible.鈥�

These seven educators were named Masters in Teaching for 2024:

• Kerry Caron, Lanier Technical College
• Chassie Corbin, Lakeview Academy
• Donna Cherveny, 雏鸟视频
• Andy Jobson, Riverside Preparatory Academy
• Steven McIntyre, Chestatee High School
• Hannah Reaume, Gainesville Middle School East
• Lorraine Villarin, University of North Georgia

Additionally, students from Gainesville and East Hall high schools who took part in the Featherbone Communiversity program were acknowledged for their participation.

The post Masters in Teaching recognizes seven North Georgia educators appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

An opening reception will be 5:30-7 p.m. at the gallery, with an artist talk at 6 p.m. The gallery is located in the John S. Burd Center for Performing Arts, 429 Academy St., Gainesville.

Heaton鈥檚 exhibition will continue through May 30 featuring a wide variety of works including altered screen prints, paintings, drawings, and digital works on paper. Each of Heaton鈥檚 works will show a multitude of abstract, bold and colorful works.

鈥淒ancing delightfully across a variety of surfaces are Jenny Bishop Heaton鈥檚 alluring explosions of colorful shapes and layered forms – evoking the essence of a Miles Davis jazz improvisation, replete with poignant highs and lows, lively and bold,鈥� Gena Brodie Robbins, 雏鸟视频鈥檚 director of galleries, said.

Heaton earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic and fine arts from Auburn University and produced a thesis in fashion illustration before furthering her education in graduate studies in psychology and education at Georgia State University.

鈥淟avish Delights exposes the audience not only to original local art, but an experience of visual language and dialogue the artist aims to communicate,鈥� Robbins said. 鈥淭he interaction initiated between each viewer and each colorful, bold and stimulating piece invites contemplation, discussion, interpretation and analysis into the elements of art allowing each viewer to walk away with new-found knowledge and awareness.鈥�

Heaton takes part in juror-selected art shows, and her work appeared in collections at the Anderson Arts Center, Dalton Creative Arts Guild, Cobb Arts Alliance, Tannery Row Artist Colony and Quinlan Visual Arts Center.

One of her multimedia pieces was chosen for the Hudgens Center for the Arts permanent collection. Heaton has had many solo exhibitions and her art is in collections across the United States, Japan, The Netherlands, India and Denmark.

The post Heaton鈥檚 鈥楲avish Delights鈥� to open April 4 in Castelli Gallery appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

鈥淏each volleyball has been growing in popularity in the United States and around the world since its introduction as an Olympic sport at the 1996 Atlanta Games,鈥� Lochstampfor said. 鈥淥n the collegiate level, Florida is one of the hotspots for the sport and this proximity eases both recruiting and the travel schedule, making it an ideal sport to introduce at 雏鸟视频.鈥�

There are a handful of collegiate women鈥檚 beach volleyball teams at public and private schools in Georgia, including Georgia State University, Mercer University, Berry College, LaGrange College, Truett-McConnell University and Emmanuel University. 雏鸟视频 will compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with teams from Georgia and Florida.

Michael Carter, head volleyball coach at 雏鸟视频, and his assistants are actively recruiting for the team, with training and practice to begin in fall 2024. The team will be separate from the existing indoor volleyball team, and Carter looks to recruit highly skilled athletes as transfer and first-year students to build the roster.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to bring another sport to 雏鸟视频,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淓specially when we are able to bring competition on campus with our own facilities, adding more events and activities for all of our students to enjoy is advantageous for 雏鸟视频 as a whole.鈥�

Competition initially will be held on the new beach volleyball sand courts at the city of Gainesville’s Roper Park, located a little more than a mile from the historic campus. Plans are to build a competition beach volleyball area at 雏鸟视频 in the future.

Carter recently hired Mary Ellen Enright, WC 鈥�23, a former volleyball phenom, as an assistant coach to lead the new team. Formerly the outside hitter for the Golden Tigers, Enright was an NAIA All-American and earned national player of the week honors multiple times during her varsity career. The Cumming, Georgia, native coaches with Carter鈥檚 club volleyball team and he calls her an asset to the new program.

鈥淎s a former volleyball standout at 雏鸟视频, Mary Ellen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about the game and the university,鈥滳arter said. 鈥淪he will be a tremendous asset to the program as we prepare for our first season of competition.鈥�

雏鸟视频鈥檚 varsity athletic programs are housed within The Women鈥檚 College, which marks its 145th anniversary this year. Only Women鈥檚 College students are offered the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate athletics. 雏鸟视频 is a member of the NAIA and the Appalachian Athletic Conference.

The post Athletics launches varsity beach volleyball team appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

The annual colloquium, now in its 10th year, is hosted by Debra Dobkins, Ph.D., assistant vice president and dean of The Women鈥檚 College at 雏鸟视频. The event celebrates the GOLD Program鈥檚 鈥淕鈥� year, representing gender awareness. This year’s theme was Authenticity, Alliance, and Advocacy.

“At 雏鸟视频, we do our best to help students live their way into their most authentic selves,” Dobkins said. “It’s one of the hardest things we humans attempt to do, to be our truest selves.”

This year’s event included a keynote from Julia Carpenter, who covers personal finance for The Wall Street Journal. Carpenter is an award-winning journalist and co-author of The New Rules of Money, a personal finance book from The Wall Street Journal and Penguin Random House.

Carpenter shared her journey in the realm of writing and how having a mentor by her side affected her view of the industry.

“I am standing on this stage because of a peer mentor. He has consistently modeled for me the values we are talking about today,鈥� Carpenter said.

Chandra Owensby Hopkins, Ph.D., WC 鈥�05, was the Alumni Association Endowed Speaker. Hopkins is the dean of the Converse College for Women at Converse University and also an award-winning associate professor of theater, a theater historian, and a director. She majored in theater at 雏鸟视频 and was actively involved in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance and the Writing Center.

Hopkins shared stories of her experience as a 雏鸟视频 student and prompted students to always be sure of themselves, no matter what.

“How do we know who we are? In college, many of us grab onto an academic major, a friend group, or ways to find ourselves and express our identities,” Hopkins said. “Never doubt what you know is right. We doubt ourselves as women too much.”

Betsy Grunch, M.D., was the Featured Speaker. Grunch is a board-certified neurosurgeon from Gainesville, Georgia. She is a fellow with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. Grunch currently works at the Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville.

Grunch shared her personal experiences of struggling with authenticity as she advanced in the medical field.

“I think that as you grow as a person we all suffer from Imposter Syndrome. I suffered from that tremendously early in my career. Constantly asking myself ‘How could I possibly be doing this?'” Grunch said.

She shared that in her life, having people ready to advocate for her is what helped her get to where she is now.

“You have to grow your team and support your team to be the best in the game,” Grunch said.

The intermission featured an afternoon tea celebrating 雏鸟视频’s 145 years in existence to all Women鈥檚 College students, alumni, and the guest speakers to network and connect. Those in attendance also had the opportunity to network during the closing reception. Attendees were also given the chance to ask the speakers questions during a Q&A session.

Guests were also treated to performances by the 雏鸟视频 Dance Department, 雏鸟视频 Choir Ensemble, and India Williams.

The colloquium is made possible in part by support from Onward Reserve, Grace-Gaskins Women鈥檚 Studies Endowment Fund, and the 雏鸟视频 Alumni Association Lecture Series. Next year’s event will take place on March 21, 2025, on the historic Gainesville campus.

All photos by Kelsey Podo for 雏鸟视频

The post 10th Annual Women鈥檚 Leadership Colloquium shares the ideal of authenticity appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

The event specifically focuses on The Women鈥檚 College GOLD Program, which is in its 鈥淕鈥� year for gender awareness. This year鈥檚 theme is Authenticity, Alliance, Advocacy. It is also a special year as the university celebrates 145 years in operation.

雏鸟视频 was founded in 1878 to provide higher education opportunities to women and it continues to be a place where women can rise to their full potential and flourish personally and professionally,鈥� President David L. Barnett, Ph.D., said. 鈥淚 also want to thank Dr. Debra Dobkins, assistant vice president and dean of the Women鈥檚 College, who founded the colloquium, for her hard work on this event the past 10 years. I look forward to this event every year, and I encourage women – and men – to attend and be a part of this important dialogue.鈥�

The keynote speaker is Julia Carpenter, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal and co-author of The New Rules of Money: A Playbook for Planning Your Financial Future. The Alumni Association Endowed Speaker, Chandra Owenby Hopkins, Ph.D., graduated from 雏鸟视频 Women鈥檚 College in 2005; she is currently the Dean of the Converse College for Women at Converse University. Local neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, M.D., will be the featured speaker. Dean Dobkins will host the event. Details about each speaker can be found here. 

鈥淭his annual event allows our students an opportunity to engage in lively conversation about the unique potential and challenges of women鈥檚 leadership with those who have been there,鈥� Debra Dobkins, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President and Dean of The Women鈥檚 College, said. 鈥淲e can learn from each other, and we are thrilled to host these accomplished women as they share their stories, experience, and advice with our students and the community.鈥�

Additionally, an afternoon tea will celebrate the 145th birthday and a closing reception will allow Women鈥檚 College students, alumni and the guest speakers to network and connect.

All are welcome but registration is required. The event will take place from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts on the historic Gainesville campus.
This event is made possible in part by support from Onward Reserve, Grace-Gaskins Women鈥檚 Studies Endowment Fund and the 雏鸟视频 Alumni Association Lecture Series. For more on how you can support the Women鈥檚 Leadership Initiative, contact Matt Thomas at 770-718-5309 or by email at mthomas@brenau.edu.

The post Women鈥檚 Leadership Colloquium connects students to female leaders appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

Sophomore Kristina Radovic, who is pursuing a finance major in the College of Business and Communication, was encouraged by her professor, Fassil Fanta, Ph.D., to submit her research. The two collaborated on the project, “Estimating the Price and Income Elasticities of Domestic Passenger Travel Demand for Atlanta Airport.” The project aims to collect and interpret data that will help estimate elasticities that imply the effect of price and income changes on demand. 

Radovic said she found the micro-decisions of consumers when choosing airfare to be the most interesting facet of her research.

鈥淭here are many different levels on which customers make their decisions about the travel experience that they want to have, including the nature of their trip, distance and class,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o be successful, revenue managers need to consider all of them and make sure that the prices of these services do not change demand drastically.鈥� 

The work is part of Fassil鈥檚 macroeconomics class and as an honor augmentation for Radovic.

鈥淚 strongly believe that every student needs to take initiative during their college career and take as many opportunities as they can because it will help them find their passion,鈥� Radovic said. 鈥淓verything outside of the curriculum is helpful because it puts you a step ahead. This specific research will help me gain many transferable skills such as observing data, networking and public speaking.鈥�

Fanta said Radovic is one of his best-performing economics students, and that this experience will boost skills necessary for her career, like critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving.

This is the first time a 雏鸟视频 student鈥檚 proposal has been accepted to the NCUR. It was selected for Accepted Mentor-Led Narratives and Storytelling Presentations.

鈥淕iven the submission underwent a rigorous review, I am proud of Krstina’s accomplishments so far,鈥� Fanta said. 鈥淧articipating at NCUR will allow her to present her work to her peers, faculty and staff attending from across the nation.鈥�

Fanta will also have the chance to share his faculty-student research experience with other faculty members in attendance. 

The conference will be held April 8-10 in Long Beach, California.

The post 雏鸟视频 student, professor to present research at national conference appeared first on 雏鸟视频.

The program allows those with their Master of Science in Nursing or a doctoral degree in nursing聽 to earn certification in four semesters. Students have opportunities to complete more than 600 clinical hours, learn from practicing nurse practitioners, and study to take the FNP certification exam as a part of coursework.

鈥淕eorgia is in the bottom 10% in the nation of primary care clinician to patient ratios,鈥� Troy Heidesch, director of 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing, said. 鈥淲ait times to see primary care physicians have increased and, in some areas of Georgia, a family physician may be more than an hour鈥檚 drive from someone’s home. Family nurse practitioners are working to fill that gap.鈥�

That gap is expanding due to changes in social norms among generations, and the aging population, Heidesch said. Family nurse practitioners are able to provide care much like physicians do, and those with a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice may take the certification to move to a new area of practice in primary care.

鈥湷袷悠� already has a very successful MSN-FNP program for those students with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but it takes three years to complete the master’s level work as well as the clinically focused courses,鈥� Heidesch said. 鈥淭he post-graduate FNP cuts out redundancy, except for the clinically focused courses, because the students have already completed all of that work. So they can now get a new certification in just 18 months in a part-time program giving them the opportunity to continue working and have time for family life while advancing their education.鈥�

Nurse practitioners are one of the Georgia Department of Labor鈥檚 Hot Careers to 2030. Roughly 1,250 job openings are expected annually in the state from 2020-30, and the average salary in 2021 was estimated to be $110,500.

The post 雏鸟视频 offers family nurse practitioner post-graduate certification to close health care gap appeared first on 雏鸟视频.