Savannah State University News

Artwork from the Gabrielle Torres Polo series will be on display as part of the Telfair Museums' FAAA exhibit at Savannah State University. Savannah State University’s Visual and Performing Arts Program is hosting a special exhibition in collaboration with the Telfair Museums’ Friends of African American Arts (FAAA) in honor of Black History Month. The exhibit will be located in the university’s Kennedy Fine Arts Gallery from February 1 through 28, 2022. The gallery is open to the public with free admission. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, February 2 at 6 p.m. “We are delighted to host the many talented FAAA artists to exhibit on the Savannah State University campus again,” said Dr. Christen Clougherty, Savannah State University Director of Galleries. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to be able to view the art and interact with the artists. This exhibition presents a selection of our talented artist community.” This exhibit features work in a variety ...

A wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate National Freedom Day will take place at the Richard R. Wright Bust on campus Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. The Savannah State University (SSU) Honors Program in partnership with The Wright Choice Mentoring Program will host the National Freedom Day observance on Tuesday, February 1. A wreath-laying ceremony will be held on campus at 1 p.m., followed by a virtual live stream presentation at 6 p.m. to include reflections from President Kimberly Ballard-Washington, SSU alumni, students, and representatives from other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including Morehouse College, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University and more. The Wright Choice Mentoring Program is named for Savannah State’s first president, Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. Wright is considered the architect of National Freedom Day, established to commemorate President Lincoln’s signing of a resolution proposing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in ...

From left: Aladdin Campus Dining Senior Food Service Director Eric Young, President Kimberly Ballard-Washington, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Megan Davidson and Vice President of Enrollment Management Raymond Clarke, celebrate the grand opening of Chick-fil-A on campus at Savannah State University.  Chick-fil-A is officially open on the campus of Savannah State University! Located in the Student Union Food Court, the new dining service option will allow the campus community to enjoy all Chick-fil-A has to offer.     President Kimberly Ballard-Washington provides welcoming remarks during the event.  "Thank you to everyone involved in this project," said Eric Young, Senior Food Service Director with Aladdin Campus Dining. "We are finally open and operating, and ready to go. This dining option will spearhead new things to come for our dining services and options at Savannah State. What an excellent brand Chick-fil-A is; we've learned a lot toge...

  Public Safety Day is open to the campus community.  Savannah State University (SSU) will host Public Safety Day, a campus-wide event for its students, faculty and staff on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The expo-style event will take place on campus in the John F. Kennedy Fine Arts Building parking area, with ten municipalities in attendance. The goal is to inform the SSU community about safety measures on campus, and to continue the critical dialogue between students and public safety officers. Several demonstrations are taking place throughout the day, including at 1 p.m., the controlled burning of a 4-foot building to simulate a residence hall on fire. The university’s Department of Public Safety has partnered with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to display a vehicle involved in a rollover accident during the event, to simulate the devastating actions of distracted driving. In addition, the GOHS and Bryan County Driving Under the Influenc...

  Savannah State University administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Greetings Tiger family: This Monday, January 17 th , Savannah State University joins the nation in honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., beloved father, pastor and leader of the American civil rights movement. We pause every year to rightfully remember his life, and reflect upon the service and sacrifice of the many who fought alongside Dr. King, as well as those who continue to this day to fight for justice and equality for all. Sixty-two years ago, Dr. King gave an address titled “Keep Moving from This Mountain.” Although our society has progressed a great deal since that speech, many of the injustices we combat today are sadly the same ones Dr. King protested against more than six decades ago.   As we bear witness to many in our community being marginalized and discounted, still battling for equal justice, let us always rememb...

The 2022 Savannah Black Heritage Festival will open Feb. 1 with virtual and in-person events. The 33rd annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival will take place February 1-20 in a hybrid format. “Celebrating Culture, Celebrating Heritage, Celebrating You” is the central theme of the festival, and the hybrid experience will bring cultural education and exposure to the performing and visual arts, as well as historical gems and entertainment for all demographics and interests throughout the celebration. “The hybrid experience will allow for a broader range of participants by opening up the accessibility of the celebration of black history,” said Teresa-Michelle Walker Jackson, director of the Savannah Black Heritage Festival. “There will also be select events which will allow for an in-person celebration for those who are interested.” The schedule will include national and regional musicians of many genres, dance performances, local youth talent, historical tours, and visual art exhibition...

Lathea Adams   "The first to submit her work."...." Always ahead of the due date." These are phrases used to describe  LaThea Adams, a junior beginning her second semester at Savannah State University as a business management major. While she finished the  2021 fall academic semester with a 4.0 GPA, Adams' journey to success has not been easy. At 17, on September 8, 2005, it was Lathea’s third day of her senior year of high school. It also marked the day she’d become completely paralyzed due to Transverse Myelitis, a spinal cord disorder. Upon graduating high school,  Adams'  attended Hampton University as a marketing major, but after three years, she decided to devote time to her recovery. As part of her road to recovery, Adams and her family moved to Dacula, Ga. in 2014 to attend Project Walk - Atlanta a nd the Shepherd Spinal Center , two non-profit spinal injury rehabilitation centers. Seventeen years later, Adams decided to fulfill the commitmen...

  From left to right: Model African Union team members Nigel Smith, Olivia Withers, Sarita Smith, Nicole Harrison, and faculty advisors Dr. Otilia Iancu and Dr. Emmanuel Nojang.  Savannah State University’s (SSU) Model African Union (AU) Student Organization members recently won five out of 10 awards at the 24 th Southeast Model African Union Conference (SEMAU) hosted at Georgia College and State University.   The three-day conference on African affairs gave students an opportunity to learn about diplomacy, conflict resolution, leadership and government organizations, and all facets of African life.   “I had a wonderful time exchanging ideas and learning how to work with others who have different opinions. This is an experience I will never forget,” Political Science major Oliva Withers said. “I am very excited to be a member of the Model African Union and this experience has left me with better leadership and public speaking skills. I encourage all students to jo...