Savannah State University News

SSU Faculty Members Selected as Governor’s Teaching Fellows Dr. Serajul I. Bhuiyan and Mr. Frank J. Mendelson Attended May Symposium Savannah State University’s Dr. Serajul I. Bhuiyan Mr. Frank J. Mendelson were selected as a Governor’s Teaching Fellow for the May 2024 Symposium, "Artificial Intelligence in the Holistic Classroom." The symposium focuses on tools, strategies, and ethical practices for integrating AI into course instruction to develop students’ capacity to understand and use AI effectively and responsibly. As two of 16 faculty members from institutions of higher education across the state, Bhuiyan and Mendelson were selected in a highly competitive application and review process. Each selected fellow was endorsed by their institution’s president or provost and provided compelling evidence of instructional innovation. Fellows represent a diverse range of Georgia institutions and disciplinary fields. Bhuiyan, a professor of Mass Communications, teaches such cour...

(L-R) Jordan Ewing, Kareem McMichael, Dr. Angela Mathis, Chloe Gallivan,  Eden Turner,  William Martin, and Keleigh Arrington. Center for Journalism & Democracy Awards $22,000 to SSU Student Newsroom Savannah State University’s (SSU) Department of Journalism and Mass Communications received a $22,000 grant from the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University via its Newsroom Innovation Challenge. SSU is one of only ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to receive funding from the center. The grant will support the Tiger’s Roar student-run newspaper and Tiger’s Roar-TV. The Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University invested nearly $200,000 to help improve campus newsroom technology, business operations, audience engagement, and reporting. “HBCU student newsrooms brim with talent but often lack the resources needed to give students access to the cutting-edge technology and operational support that so many of their peers...

  Savannah State University Unveils New “SSU Forward” Committee Savannah State University (SSU) recently assembled a university-wide committee to foster greater communication and cohesion across departments to address topics that effect the entire campus community. The SSU Forward Committee will determine and prioritize issues of interest, collect input and brainstorm creative solutions and report back to the President and SSU leadership team to increase the institution’s responsiveness to the needs of its students, faculty, staff, and community. “The SSU Forward Committee is a very important initiative to create synergy across departments so we can move forward together,” said SSU Interim President Cynthia Alexander. To ensure a fair and balanced approach, Alexander appointed two co-chairs, one from the faculty side and one from the staff side. Committee Co-chair Dr. Andrea Moore is Professor of Biology and immediate past president of the Faculty Senate. Moore has a long history ...

Publix Charities donates $5,000 to the STAR program Publix Charities has donated $5,000 to support the Tiger Food Pantry at Savannah State University for a second consecutive year. The donation significantly enhances the university’s ability to help low-income students who face food insecurity during the summer break. These students will have access to fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, water and bread. According to a study by the Hope Center, college students from marginalized communities are more likely to experience basic needs insecurity. Some 75 percent of indigenous, 70 percent of African Americans, and 70 percent of American Indian or Alaska native students experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity, and homelessness across two- and four-year universities [MoveforHunger.org]. The Tiger Pantry mirrors the broader community pantries by supplementing food items to members of the campus community. It provides a lifeline for both local and international students who stru...

Jalen (left) and Jasen Magee graduated in May 2024 with matching degrees in computer science technology with a concentration in cybersecurity. Growing up in a family of educators, Jalen and Jasen Magee had a crisp understanding of parental expectations. Raised by a mother who is a high school assistant principal and a father who teaches social studies, there wasn’t much room for mixed signals in the Magee household. “We grew up with high expectations and over time you grew to accept them and it made you want to make your family proud,” said Jasen, who, together with his twin brother, Jalen, will graduate in May 2024 with a degree in computer science technology with a concentration in cybersecurity. Yes, both are earning the same degree and both are graduating with institutional GPAs hovering in the 3.6 – 3.7 range. The Stockbridge, Ga., twins found their way to Savannah State University after college visits that took them to several other HBCUs in and outside of Georgia. It was raining...

Dr. Otilia Iancu, chair of the  Department of Political Science and Public Affairs  is the recipient of the 2024  Educator Award Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The walls in Dr. Otilia Iancu’s office, just off the first-floor atrium in the Social Sciences building, are covered with collages of pinned-up notes, photos, and keepsakes celebrating her former students. For the first-time visitor, it’s an invitation to lead with questions. On the wall to the left of the door, there is a Georgia Senate press office postcard showing the face of Senator Derek Mallow. Next to it, one sees a business card belonging to Kelvin Bryant, director of police administration for the Savannah Police Department. An image of Eunicia, communications director for the City of North Miami, is there. The face of Aaron “Adot” Whitely, Chatham County commissioner for District 6, is also visible. One also finds Antwan Lang, Southeastern United States government affairs lead for Lime, makers of electric...

  Savannah State University honored several outstanding alumni and friends of the university at the 25th Anniversary Scholarship Gala on May 4, 2024 at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront.  Savannah State University Honored Alumni, Community Leaders During 25th Anniversary Gala Savannah State University (SSU) honored distinguished alumni and community leaders during its 25th Anniversary Scholarship Gala on May 4, 2024 at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront. The annual event celebrated the generosity of the SSU community and with the support of SSU’s Foundation, The First Bank, Hyundai Motor America and charitable community members, the University raised $412,000 in scholarships at this year’s gala. Nearly 90 percent of SSU students use some form of financial aid. Special thanks to Michael Williams, class of 1980 and president of Atlanta-based Jetaire Group, and David Paddison, Savannah native and president of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, co-chairs of this successful event. “For 25...

Grace Curry is the director of WHCJ 90.3 FM Life and Work with Grace Curry Source:   Life & Work with Grace Curry - Voyage Savannah Magazine Today, we’d like to introduce you to Grace Curry. Hi Grace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. I have been in non-commercial, educational radio for nearly 20 years. I choose radio as a career because music has always been an integral part of my family’s life and, therefore, mine. Radio provides so many great memories for me. One of my best memories was family get-togethers. There was always music playing and people dancing. Another thing I used to listen to was the radio to hear my favorite songs, record them, and create my show on my double cassette boombox. Fundamentally, I have always been a very shy person. Radio has allowed me to come out of my shell and gain confidence. Additionally, radio has allowed me to help othe...

"Pinky" Cole Hayes   PINKY COLE HAYES GIVES 2024 SAVANNAH STATE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AND GIFTS GRADUATES AN $8.75 MILLION “ENTREPRENEURIAL STARTER PACK”  IN COLLABORATION WITH JOHN HOPE BRYANT AND ONE MILLION BLACK BUSINESSES  The Savannah State University Class of 2024 will each receive over $25,000 of in-kind services with Operation HOPE and Shopify Pinky Cole Hayes ,  renowned entrepreneur, 2023 TIME100 Next honoree, and founder of Slutty Vegan  and Bar Vegan, gave an inspiring commencement speech for the Savannah State University 2024 graduating class, and surprised the graduates with a very special surprise. In collaboration with  Operation HOPE  and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) , Pinky Cole will give every graduate of Savannah State University a membership to 1MBB and the class will receive $8.75 million dollars worth of in-kind services with Operation HOPE, which will include: Entrepreneurial Educational Resources Mentoring From 1M...

SSU's 204th  Commencement Ceremony WHAT: Savannah State University holds its 204th commencement ceremony. WHO: “Pinky” Cole Hayes, owner of the Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan Restaurant chain, will deliver the commencement address. WHEN: Friday, May 3, 2024 at 9 a.m. WHERE: T. A. Wright Stadium on the SSU campus, 3219 College Street, Savannah, Ga. 31404 Click HERE to Watch the Live Stream