Skip to main content

Savannah State University to Celebrate Annual Founders’ Day

 

Alumnus Alfred D. McGuire, Jr., Class of ’03, has been selected to speak at Savannah State University’s annual Founders’ Day celebration.

Savannah State University (SSU) will celebrate its 132nd Founders’ Day on Thursday, Nov. 10, with alumnus Alfred D. McGuire, Jr., Class of ‘03, as speaker. An awards ceremony and observance of the university’s history, the annual event recognizes outstanding alumni and/or community members and those who have contributed to its success. Free and open to the public, the event will take place in the Student Union Ballrooms, 3219 College St., at 9:30 a.m.

A native of Lithonia, Ga., McGuire is the principal of Woodville Tompkins High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Savannah State University and a master’s degree in middle grades education from Armstrong University (Georgia Southern University). He also graduated from Mercer University with an Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership (K-12).

As a student at SSU, he was one of the founders and organizers of Achievers of Today and Tomorrow, Inc., a student organization committed to developing the professional, academic, and social lives of its members while serving the campus and surrounding community. McGuire began his career in the field of education with the Educational Talent Search program at Savannah State University, a federal outreach program designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and ultimately prepare them for post-secondary education.

Founded by an act of the general assembly on November 26, 1890, Savannah State University is the oldest public historically black university in the University System of Georgia. A preliminary session of the school was held between June 1 and August 1, 1891, at the Baxter Street School building in Athens, Georgia, with Richard R. Wright as the principal and three other instructors. In 1892, the school was moved to its present site in east Savannah and officially named The Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth. Richard R. Wright was the first president. His son, Richard R. Wright Jr., received the first degree awarded by the college in 1898.

For more information or to live stream the event, visit SavannahState.edu.

Popular posts from this blog

SSU Homecoming 2023

   Get Ready for the Show!  The 2023 Savannah State University Homecoming celebration is Oct. 21. For more information and to get your spot in the Homecoming Parade visit  https://tinyurl.com/8xuc35u7 For Homecoming football tickets and SSU football season tickets visit https://tinyurl.com/98vfaaue

Alumni Spotlight Wall: 28 Tigers Who Have Made and are Making History

During the month of February, each day, as we celebrate Black history, we will shine a light on Savannah State University's notable alumni who have made and are making history. Wesley McGriff, class of '90 Wesley McGriff, class of 1990, is the co-defensive coordinator/ secondary coach at the University of Louisville. A native of Tifton, Ga., Wesley McGriff, class of 1990, is the co-defensive coordinator/ secondary coach at the University of Louisville. McGriff played at South Carolina State for one year before transferring to Savannah State, where he started at outside linebacker for three seasons and was named the conference’s 1989 Male Academic Athlete of the Year. McGriff has been in the coaching ranks since 1990 when he was hired as a graduate assistant at Savannah State, where he coached for four years. Starting as a graduate assistant, McGriff tutored running backs before coaching the secondary in 1991-92 and then served as defensive coordinator in 1993-94. He was Savanna

SSU Names New Police Chief

Clarella “Meshia” Thomas is the new Chief of Police at Savanah State University. Photo Credit: Jordan Ewing Savannah State University has selected Clarella “Meshia” Thomas as the new campus Chief of Police effective immediately. Thomas brings to SSU a wealth of public safety knowledge and experience that spans 23 years. In appointing Thomas, SSU aims to strengthen its commitment to campus safety and public service to all members of the campus community, including more than 1,900 residential students. Most recently, Thomas served as chief of police and director of public safety at Wellesley College (Mass.) from 2021-2023 and Virginia Union University (Va.) from 2019-2021. Thomas’ public safety career began at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2001 where she rose through the ranks to become patrol services lieutenant. Additionally, she served at the University of Chicago as captain of patrol services from 2013-2016 and at Vanderbilt University as captain of professional standards