Otis Johnson, Scholar in Residence, Marshals Parade

Dr. Otis Johnson, former mayor of Savannah, will act as the grand marshal of the 2nd annual TybeeMLK Parade.

Johnson currently works as a scholar in residence at Savannah State University, one of the many educational institutions he has attended in his career.

The parade begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 10 and will process from the Tybee Walker Parker Pier to the Old School Cafeteria - YMCA.

Other participants include SSU Homecoming Queen Miss Morgan Wilson, the Johnson High School Marching Band, and the Savannah Country Day Diversity Club.

TybeeMLK is a grassroots organization dedicated to honoring service to humanity and community as reflected in Dr. King’s quote, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” 

Federal Research Permits Granted

Assistant Professor Tara Cox in marine sciences has been granted continuing permits for the study of bottlenose dolphins. The federal permits are required to carry out research that results in interaction with marine mammals.

These renewals allow professors and students to:

to conduct close approach, photo-identification, behavioral observations, passive acoustics, and focal follows of coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic and pantropical spotted dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, beaked whales, and Risso's dolphins in estuarine and coastal waters of Georgia and South Carolina. The study is designed to continue research on dolphin-human interactions related to coastal fisheries, foraging ecology, and social structure of the local bottlenose dolphins.

Read the entire notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and SSU's marine science research project here.

SSU Faculty and Staff Donate to Local Charities

A gathering for all faculty and staff was held on December 2 to celebrate the season of giving. Everyone was invited to bring an unwrapped toy or gift, based on requests received from children in need.

Donations were given to Greenbrier Children's Center and Union Mission. 

SSU Professor Exhibits Paintings

Karla-Sue C. Marriott, professor and coordinator of forensic science and chemistry at Savannah State University will exhibit her latest paintings January 19 - February 20, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the gallery located in the Social Sciences Building. An opening reception will be held on Friday, January 20th at 6:00 p.m.

The exhibit, entitled Dancing with Nature: Being Human, focuses on naturalistic works that include selections and treatment of subject matter from nature.

Dr. Marriott states:

“I started out dabbling just for fun. I needed something different to do outside of my profession as a chemist. If anything is to be fun, there has to be freedom, no limitations, and no time constraints. So, in January 2010, I decided to try painting with acrylic on canvas. I did not know what to paint and I didn’t know how to paint. So, I decided I would try abstract. Abstract eventually evolved into me painting images that represented feelings. In October 2013, I challenged myself with portraits. My very first portrait, titled “Hemingway” was a blissful experience, during which I painted energized all night long until morning for four days straight while on fall break. With that experience, I knew there was no turning back. In January 2014, I stepped out into my backyard, I looked up, and I saw images formed by the clouds. I fell in love. That initiated my first piece inspired by nature titled “Heavenly Love.""

SSU Upward Bound Support Fight Against Diabetes

The SSU Upward Bound Program and the Upward Bound Parent Association exceeded their fundraising goal for the fight against diabetes. Upward Bound is a division of TRIO and supports high school students with the transition to college. This fall, Upward Bound dedicated itself to diabetes awareness. They set a goal of $250 and were thrilled to have quadrupled that amount by the morning of the walk. During the morning of the walk the Upward Bound program was awarded the GOLD Champion medallion for raising more than $1,000.00.

In the weeks following the walk, Upward Bound continued to fundraise to support the fight against diabetes. The campaign has now raised $1643.00. These generous donations will assist in the continuation of important research and awareness efforts.

SSU Recognizes World AIDS Day

“Get in the Know” HIV & Substance Abuse Prevention presents World AIDS Day Recognition on Monday, December 1. There will be free HIV Testing from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Student Union, Room C. Test results will be available in 20 minutes and the confidential testing will be done by  members of the Chatham County Health Department.
At 6:30 p.m., there will be a performance of “Beyond Betrayal” in Student Union Ballrooms A/B/C. The play will be followed by a discussion panel and refreshments. These activities are FREE and open to the public, made possible by funding from SAMHSA/CSAP. For more information, please call Johnnie Myers, Ph.D. (912) 358-3227.

SSU Employee Elected to International Board

Sametria McFall-Dickerson, assistant dean of the college of liberal arts and social sciences at Savannah State University (SSU), recently accepted an appointment to the board of directors for the Council of Colleges of Arts & Sciences (CCAS). She will serve for three years. The group’s membership currently represents more than 700 deans from 500 colleges around the world.

Students Encouraged to Apply for Honors Program

The program will offer students an opportunity to take honors-level courses, join in co-curricular activities, earn merit-based scholarships, enroll in a national honors society, partake in research opportunities with faculty, acquire graduate school application assistance, and achieve an ‘Honors Program’ notation on their final transcript.  Students who meet the requirements will be invited to apply. Application does not guarantee admission to the program.

For further information visit the Honors at SSU website:
http://www.savannahstate.edu/cas/HonorsatSSU.shtml or by following @HonorsatSSU on Twitter.

More E-learning Opportunities at SSU

Savannah State University is now a member of the eCore family. eCore® allows University System of Georgia (USG) students the opportunity to complete the first two years of their collegiate careers in an online environment. eCore® courses are taught entirely online, except for the occasional proctored exam, and are designed, developed and supported by faculty and staff from the USG.

For more information, go to http://www.savannahstate.edu/elearning/index.shtml

University Students Garner Presentation Award

On November 5-7, thirty-one students from Savannah State University (SSU), along with staff from the student affairs department, attended the HBCU Career Development Marketplace, a national business conference in Washington, D.C.
In addition to the numerous contacts made during the three days, one of SSU’s student leaders received a job offer from Ricoh Software USA, upon graduation in May. As a group, SSU brought home first place in the oral presentation contest on the topic of unemployment.

SSU Attends National NOAA Conference

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program (EPP) held its seventh Biennial Education and Science Forum on October 26-29, 2014. Savannah State University (SSU) was represented by a group of ten members, led by Dr. Dionne Hoskins, director of NOAA-sponsored programs. The delegation included two undergraduate students (Darius Stanford and Shaneese Mackey), six graduate students (Keya Jackson, Emma Schultz, Chelsea Parrish, Jennifer Gϋt, Tiffany Ward, and Sanya Compton), and one postdoctoral fellow (Dr. Jolvan Morris).

Two Professors Share Their Marathoning Secrets

Dr. Frank Brevik teaches Shakespeare and British Literature here at SSU. He has run the half-marathon before and is excited to see if he can manage the full distance. He hopes to finish in under 4:30:00.
— What do you eat to prepare for a race?
Chicken and pasta, lots of water.
— What training tips do you have?
If you have a family and a busy work schedule: be realistic!
— What’s on your iPod playlist?
Nothing. I'm a Luddite and prefer the sound of my own steps and breath!


Chad Faries teaches creative writing and literature at SSU. He is also a published author and editor of Estuary literary magazine. This will be his fourth marathon.
— When you are so very tired, what keeps you going? Well, I have to use reverse psychology. Whenever I feel tired, I just go a little faster! I also try and focus on breathing, pace, and sing songs to myself!
— What has running taught you about life?
Breath. Focus on your surroundings and know the relationship you have to the ecology, architecture, history, biology, and everything else we tend to neglect in our daily lives.
-- Will you win a bet if you finish by a certain time?
Well, I will prove my girlfriend wrong!

View Images from the Opening of the Confucius Institute

View photos from the event here.