Kelvin B. Bryant, Jr.
Kelvin B. Bryant, Jr. was named director of police administration for the Savannah Police Department in March 2024, after serving as interim director since Dec. 2023, exactly two years after earning a master in public administration from Savannah State University (SSU) in fall 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The entire experience was memorable due to the unique and complex challenges that COVID-19 brought to the institution,” said Bryant, who, along with his classmates, pivoted to online learning and communicating through GroupMe. “The platform allowed us to motivate and challenge each other while striving toward our degrees. We became like a family and continue to stay in touch through the platform.”
Prior to joining the Savannah Police Department, Bryant served as assistant to the city manager for the city of Savannah, where he oversaw relationship building and communications in the 2,400-employee unit. He credits SSU’s MPA program for preparing him with a strong foundation for his career.
“The MPA program absolutely prepared me for my roles as the assistant to the city manager and now director of police administration, he said. “The courses clearly defined the intricacies of what I would be doing in my roles.”
Dr. Otilia Iancu, professor and chair of SSU’s MPA program remembers Bryant.
“I distinctly recall Kelvin Bryant's exceptional dedication and preparation for every class,” said Iancu. “His strong work ethic and leadership potential were so evident that I told him one day he would be city manager. He took those words to heart and just two years later, Kelvin landed the prestigious position of assistant to the city manager of Savannah. He is a testament to the impact of motivation, focus and determination.”
Bryant, who grew up in Arlington, Ga., has reconnected with the campus as an adjunct instructor since December 2023. He is teaching undergraduate courses in the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Prior to joining the Savannah Police Department, Bryant served as assistant to the city manager for the city of Savannah, where he oversaw relationship building and communications in the 2,400-employee unit. He credits SSU’s MPA program for preparing him with a strong foundation for his career.
“The MPA program absolutely prepared me for my roles as the assistant to the city manager and now director of police administration, he said. “The courses clearly defined the intricacies of what I would be doing in my roles.”
Dr. Otilia Iancu, professor and chair of SSU’s MPA program remembers Bryant.
“I distinctly recall Kelvin Bryant's exceptional dedication and preparation for every class,” said Iancu. “His strong work ethic and leadership potential were so evident that I told him one day he would be city manager. He took those words to heart and just two years later, Kelvin landed the prestigious position of assistant to the city manager of Savannah. He is a testament to the impact of motivation, focus and determination.”
Bryant, who grew up in Arlington, Ga., has reconnected with the campus as an adjunct instructor since December 2023. He is teaching undergraduate courses in the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
“Teaching at SSU has given me even greater respect for our professors and instructors,” he said. “Students often don't realize how much preparation goes into building courses and teaching them with passion.”
He extends one piece of advice to students seeking a career in public administration: “Do it for the long haul and be packed with patience,” he said. “Public administration is not necessarily a field where there will always be instant gratification; some tasks and projects take time to develop, requiring patience. Secondly, trust that [you] are receiving a solid and sound education at Savannah State where you can apply those learned concepts to help you overcome the new challenges that you will face in new roles.”
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