April 2, 2025 – Springing into Spring!

April 2, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

It must be spring as my car has that green/yellow dust, spring showers are mixed with warmer days and sunshine, all reminding us we are in the latter half of the semester. It’s an incredibly busy time of year with events, concerts, spring athletic competitions, and most importantly celebrations of service, moments of remembrances, awards ceremonies, and ultimately, commencement.

April  holds special meaning for me—it marks the time I began my journey at Georgia Southern in 2019. As I complete my sixth year and begin my seventh as your President, I am filled with gratitude. I’m deeply thankful for you—my dedicated colleagues, our incredible students, faithful alumni, and the vibrant communities we serve. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated milestones, and achieved so much. Because of you, we are experiencing great success, growing, setting records, and transforming the lives of our students. There’s much to be proud of, and more to look forward to.

To that end, I want to acknowledge the incredible work of our SACSCOC reaffirmation team led by Dr. Delena Gatch, AVP for Institutional Assessment and Accreditation. Delena and her team prepared and readied our campus for the onsite visit March 10–13. I am proud to share that the outcome of the onsite reaffirmation review resulted in no recommendations, meaning the team found no areas of non-compliance. Additionally, the reaffirmation commended the work of our QEP team, led by Glenn Gibney and Caitlyn Cofer in Career Services and piloted by Deans Ryan Schroeder and David Owen in their respective colleges, describing it as a model plan—ambitious, impactful, and relevant. They even expressed interest in having us present at future conferences as a best practice. This is the moment in reading this letter that you should stand and applaud, as this is an extraordinary accomplishment. Congratulations to all!

We are proud to announce the hiring of our new Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee, who will join us on July 1. He brings a wealth of experience, currently serving as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marshall University, along with previous experience in the University System of Georgia as Dean of the College of Business at Clayton State University. I want to thank the search committee, including committee co-chairs, Dr. Alejandra Sosa Pieroni and Dr. Michael Huggins, as well as all involved in helping us through this important process.

This week also marks the conclusion of our 2025 legislative session. The state’s amended FY 2025 budget has been passed and signed by Governor Kemp, and we are closely tracking the progress of the FY 2026 budget as it moves through the legislative process. In the days ahead, we will continue to monitor both pending legislation and the bill review process for measures that have already passed as they go before the Governor for final passage or veto.

Soaring Beyond, Because of You!

Please also join me in congratulating the Georgia Southern Women’s Rifle Team on their outstanding performance and fifth place finish in the NCAA Tournament! Placing among the top teams in the country is no small feat, and it reflects the countless hours of training, focus, and teamwork these student-athletes have invested. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success in seasons to come. Go Eagles!

This month offers meaningful opportunities to come together as a community. On April 7 and 8, I invite you to join us for our Eagles Call ceremonies, as we honor and remember those we have lost this past year.

Later this month, on April 18, we will come together to celebrate the University Awards of Excellence, honoring and celebrating years of service and the outstanding accomplishments of our faculty and staff.

Lastly, Eagle Nation continues to cherish memories of our live eagle mascot, Freedom, who passed away this past weekend. Since 2004, Freedom has been more than a symbol—he’s been a living embodiment of Georgia Southern pride, resilience, and True Blue spirit. For over two decades, he inspired generations of students, alumni, and fans alike, taking flight at countless events and forging a special place in the heart of our University. His legacy will live on in the spirit of Georgia Southern, and he will be dearly missed.

We have so much to be thankful for at Georgia Southern. We are transforming lives, enriching communities, and serving as a catalyst for economic development throughout a growing region. Together, we will continue to Soar Beyond!

Sincerely,

Kyle

People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!