Savannah State University News

  Dear   SSU Campus   Community,   As we start the new year, I would like to take a moment to recount the many milestones we achieved as a campus family in 2024. This was a year of positive change, strategic growth and   major   accomplishments for our beloved Savannah State University (SSU). I am so proud of how our students, faculty, and staff have set and reached new goals and how many   of   our alums have lovingly supported their alma mater and inspired the next generation.   By strategically targeting expanding job markets, diligently pursuing grants, and writing winning proposals, we are now developing new courses in elementary education, forensic toxicology, and film. By collaborating with local, national, and international partners, we have secured internship opportunities for our students in manufacturing, healthcare, and several Dutch-owned companies, pursuant to a successful summer visit with the King and Queen of the Neth...

Dr. Jermaine Whirl   The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) today named Dr. Jermaine Whirl president of Savannah State University (SSU), effective April 1, 2025. Whirl, an Aspen Fellow, most recently served as president of Augusta Technical College (ATC), a role he has held since November 2020. Whirl’s career includes nearly 20 years of service as a faculty member and administrative leader at public colleges and universities in his home state of South Carolina and in Georgia. He has previously worked at several institutions, including Greenville Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Southern University and East Georgia State University. “As we welcome Dr. Whirl back into the USG family, we deeply appreciate the steadfast and dedicated leadership of interim President Cynthia Robinson Alexander,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Cynthia has laid a strong foundation for Savannah State’s future, one that Dr. Whirl is well-equipped to build...

We are thrilled to share the highlights from our inaugural 40 Under Forty Awards held February 1 on the campus of Savannah State University. This initiative recognizes young alumni of the university for elevating the legacy of Savannah State, serving as leaders in their professional fields and supporting their communities. Each honoree stands as a true testament to the hard work that it takes to continue to cement the HBCU legacy. All members of the inaugural class have achieved remarkable success in their professions, and have served as trailblazers and change makers in their communities as they embody the spirit of SSU. We are proud to recognize their success and hard work. Congratulations to all the recipients of the Savannah State University inaugural 40 Under Forty Awards. Video highlights:  40U40 Social Media Cut.mov 40 Under Forty website:  Savannah State University's 40 Under 40

                                              What: Georgia Poetry Circuit Reading Craft Talks are discussions hosted by authors focusing on the elements of writing, language, imagery and creative techniques. The event is free and open to the public. Who: Shane McCrae, author of several poetry collections including Mule (2011); Blood (2013); The Animal Too Big to Kill (2015) and In the Language of My Captor (2017), which was a finalist for the National Book Award. McCrae grew up in Texas and California and is the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned a BA from Linfield College, an M.A. from the University of Iowa, an M.F.A. at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. When: Thursday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. Where: Savannah State University’s Asa ...

Dr. Jermaine Whirl The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted today to name Dr. Jermaine Whirl as the sole finalist for president of Savannah State University (SSU). Currently president of Augusta Technical College (ATC), Whirl has spent nearly 20 years serving as a faculty member and administrative leader at public colleges and universities in Georgia and in his native South Carolina. “We prioritized finding a leader who values Savannah State’s historic legacy and embraces its modern role in moving this state and the region’s workforce forward,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Dr. Whirl understands the power of higher education and how earning a degree can transform a student’s life and prosperity. His enthusiasm and energy in doing that work make him an ideal candidate to lead the oldest public HBCU in Georgia.” Whirl has served as ATC president since 2020. He’s led the Predominantly Black Institution through enrollment and retention strategy change...

  Commemoration Founded by SSU’s First President Kicks off Black History Month   SAVANNAH, Ga - Savannah State University’s (SSU) Honors Program will host a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate National Freedom Day  at noon on Saturday, Feb. 1.  at the Richard R. Wright Sr. bust in front of Wright Hall on the SSU campus,  3219 College Street, Savannah. The event is free and open to the public.   Wright, who was SSU’s first president in 1890, later rallied local and national leaders to establish National Freedom Day to memorialize President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. This year’s celebration marks the 160 th   anniversary of that historic act. President Harry Truman signed a proclamation naming  Feb. 1  National Freedom Day in 1948.   "National Freedom Day has been celebrated since its inception in 1948,” said Dr. Carolyn Jordan, director of SSU’s Honors Program. “S...