The 鈥淛azz at the Garden鈥� outdoor concert will showcase the student Jazz Ensemble, alongside retired U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note ensemble members and University of Arkansas-Monticello faculty Ben Patterson and Tim Leahey. The musicians will perform a repertoire of pieces by Glenn Miller and Chick Corea along with original compositions written by Georgia Southern students. Music education major and trumpet player Cameron Carter says being able to play alongside such accomplished musicians makes this concert a unique experience. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to work with musicians who are at such a high level,鈥� said Carter. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to be able to get outside of the classroom and instructional sessions to actually perform with people who are at the level I hope to be. I get to see what my future could look like.鈥�

Director of the Jazz Ensemble Nathan DuVall, DMA, says the music and atmosphere were carefully chosen to make this concert a special event for both the audience and performers.

鈥淭he Botanic Garden is a stunning venue and everything is in fresh bloom,鈥� said DuVall. 鈥淚 wanted to create something exciting and different to get the students out of the routine of the concert hall. I think the public will like it as well since it is a picnic environment where they can bring chairs, blankets and their own food.鈥�

Carter believes the informal venue and the improvisational nature of jazz will blend perfectly to make this concert a freeflowing musical conversation between the performers and audience.

鈥淎t our jazz concerts, we cheer each other on, laugh together and have a good time while making fun, energetic music,鈥� said Carter. 鈥淛azz has been my gateway for communicating through music. Instead of just sticking to what鈥檚 on the page, we really get into the performance and it never goes the same way twice. We just make music that fits the moment.鈥�

The free concert will be held at the Botanic Garden April 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Three students in 橘子视频鈥檚 multimedia and film production (MMFP) program will take part in the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas April 17-21. The conference brings more than 1,000 people from hundreds of institutions together to discuss the media industry and what they have learned from their own projects.

Multimedia and film production Professor Matthew Hashiguchi says participation in the BEA conference is just one example of the MMFP program鈥檚 commitment to experiential learning. 

鈥淭echnical skill is important, but we want to also develop the voices of our students,鈥� said Hashiguchi. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes our program unique. We really focus on giving students experiences so they can find what areas speak to them and then we support them as they pursue their passion.鈥�

As he heads to the BEA conference, MMFP student Ethan Bridger says the focus on hands-on learning has made all the difference in his own growth as a multimedia artist.

鈥淚n this field, you have to get out there and create,鈥� said Bridger. 鈥淵ou have to be able to do the work, so it鈥檚 great that we have so many opportunities to go our own way and get what we want out of the degree versus following a strict curriculum.鈥�

Alex Lee is among 100 students across the country chosen as a Radio Advertising Bureau scholar to receive complimentary registration for the BEA conference. Lee echoes the sentiment that creating original work, rather than just studying the work of others, helps students find the right career path while in the MMFP program.

鈥淚 began the program thinking I would focus on cinematography and video work,鈥� said Lee. 鈥淣ow that I am about to graduate, I am leaving with a focus on sound design and scriptwriting. It鈥檚 a complete flip in direction and I figured it out through the experiences I have been able to have in the program.鈥�

The work of Georgia Southern鈥檚 MMFP students and faculty caught the eye of BEA members even before the conference began. Recently, Dominic Thomas earned an award of excellence in narrative audio from the BEA for the podcast episode 鈥淭hrough the Storm.鈥� Bae Allen garnered a BEA award of excellence for short-form documentary for 鈥淎rmadillo Olympics.鈥� Joshua Johnson, Bud Poulos, Ethan Bridger and Chandler Crosby鈥檚 work on a texting and driving prevention campaign with the Bulloch County Fire Department came in second place in the BEA spots category. Hashiguchi earned best of competition in the faculty documentary category.

Three Georgia Southern students are taking part in the University System of Georgia annual聽Regents Cup Debate Series. Alexander Millstone, majoring in business and religious studies, Annelise Hughes, a political science major, and Niyah Sanchez (alternate), a public relations major, earned a place in the statewide event by reaching the finals of the 橘子视频 debate competition.聽

Millstone helped revive the Debate Club at Georgia Southern and says the experience has been聽invaluable in shaping his career goals.

鈥淚 believe debate is a skill that is universally beneficial,鈥� said Millstone. 鈥淲hether you’re an analyst who needs to translate data to an audience through a presentation with lots of visualization, or a manager who needs to explain the breadth of the role to your new hire, the logic and structure of speech that debate teaches is undeniably useful.”

Hughes agrees that participating in the Debate Club provides exceptional experience beyond the classroom. She is especially excited about the opportunity for networking at the Regents Cup.

鈥淚 love meeting like-minded people as well as intellectual students and I’m very excited to make new connections there,鈥� said Hughes. 鈥淚 eventually want to attend law school and I intend to use this opportunity at the Regents Cup to expand opportunities for meeting experts in the law field.鈥�

Millstone notes that although debate can seem confrontational, the spirit of connecting and communicating is actually the focal point of a good debate event.

鈥淒ebate is about two peers working together to search for the objective truth about a topic,鈥� said Millstone. 鈥淚t has a negative connotation to many people, and that confuses me, because debate is a constructive thing.鈥�

The 2026 Regents Cup takes place April 14 and 15 at Columbus State University.

橘子视频’s theatre program will bring an alumna-directed production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage to the stage at the Performing Arts Center in Statesboro April 9-11.

In her first directorial role at the University, Teresa-Michelle Jackson (’04) will serve as the guest artist director for the production, which explores themes of class, race and labor.

Jackson studied under Georgia Southern Assistant Professor Emeritus of Theatre Mical Whitaker, who she credits with broadening her view of theatre and inspiring her to pursue directing. She grew to love productions that are rooted in emotion. 

鈥淚’m a creative storyteller who likes to tell really hard stories,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淏lack Theater will always have a special place in my heart, but it doesn’t have to be Black Theater. It’s more about sharing a perspective of a lived experience.鈥�

Jackson hopes that through the telling of this story, the audience will walk away with a better understanding of the importance of differing points of view. 

鈥淲e are definitely in a place in our world where this play is hitting on a lot of hot topics we’re experiencing today,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淎nd it’s not to be political, but it’s to really think, what are people’s points of view to get them to land where they are?鈥� 

Jackson brings professional experience in theater and television to share with students working on the production. Working with students and giving back to a community that gave so much to her has been “like a dream,” Jackson said.

鈥淎s much as I hope I鈥檓 pouring into the students, it’s really pouring into me,鈥� said Jackson.

After graduating from Georgia Southern, Jackson went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, where she now serves as a communication coach. Previously, she was a theatre professor and associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Savannah State University for 16 years. She has worked in the film and television industry with companies such as Warner Brothers and Showtime. 

鈥淪weat鈥� will begin at 7:30 p.m. each day during its run. To purchase tickets for 鈥淪weat,鈥� visit Georgia Southern鈥檚 Performing Arts Center box office, order them online at PAC Box Office, or call 912-478-7999. 

Four 橘子视频 faculty from the College of Arts and Humanities will come together to highlight Savannah native and renowned author Flannery O鈥機onnor during the next installment of the Moveable Feast Lecture Series at 6 p.m. April 13 at St. Vincent鈥檚 Academy in Savannah.

The free event will feature professors Benjamin Drevlow, Tony Morris, Christina Olson and Laura Valeri leading a discussion on how O鈥機onnor鈥檚 unique Georgia roots inspired her work and how her writing continues to inspire today鈥檚 writers.

鈥淚鈥檓 drawn to O鈥機onnor again and again because of who she was: an unrepentant iconoclast in a time and place where such rebellion wasn鈥檛 typical,鈥� said Olson, professor of creative writing. 鈥淪he is always on the short list of authors I recommend to Georgia Southern students. Aspiring authors need to be aware of the rich literary history that they themselves work right in the middle of.鈥�

A core element of the Moveable Feast series is creating an immersive experience by hosting lectures in places that directly connect with the subject. O鈥機onnor grew up on Charlton Street near St. Vincent鈥檚 Academy where she was a student for several years. Professor of writing Valeri said hosting the discussion inside the very walls where a young O鈥機onnor learned to write is a unique treat.

鈥淚t’s a rare privilege to be able to discuss such an influential literary genius in her own stomping grounds,鈥� said Valeri. 鈥淲e get to soak up Savannah’s loveliness in the beautiful St. Vincent’s gardens, and right as spring blooms.鈥�

Surrounded by the beauty of Savannah鈥檚 parklike squares and the architecture of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, senior English lecturer Drevlow said attendees will appreciate how the city鈥檚 distinctive culture produced O鈥機onnor鈥檚 signature style of Southern literature. He noted that O鈥機onnor鈥檚 status as somewhat of an outsider, and being a devout Catholic in a largely Protestant region, gave her a unique lens to view Southern society, something he personally connected with.

鈥淚 have a unique outsider’s perspective on all this with my Midwestern roots 鈥� growing up on a farm in rural northern Wisconsin and with my family’s roots in Minnesota; 鈥楳innesota nice鈥� being very comparable to 鈥楽outhern hospitality,鈥欌�� said Drevlow. 鈥淲hen I got down here and saw all the things I’d read about going to school in Minnesota and Wisconsin, it almost became bingo for me. I might be from the cold, cold North, but in so many ways, rural is rural, and religion is religion.鈥�

Attendees can begin the evening at the Flannery O鈥機onnor Childhood Home Museum, which will open at 5 p.m. for self-guided tours. Moveable Feast organizer Bill Dawers noted it is a fitting prelude to the lecture, given the strong connection between the author鈥檚 home and the Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus. 

“The work to establish her home as a museum was led by Armstrong State faculty,鈥� noted Dawers. 鈥淧rofessor Bob Strozier brought the idea to Armstrong President Bob Burnett, and they teamed with Professor Hugh Brown to set up a foundation to preserve the home. Since then, many faculty have served on the board because it鈥檚 an important piece of Savannah鈥檚 history.鈥�

Georgia Southern junior Ariana Taylor-Williams will spend her summer in New York City after earning a Schomburg-Mellon fellowship. This prestigious opportunity will allow her to advance her undergraduate research on the Harlem Renaissance by giving her access to unique documents in the New York Public Library鈥檚 extensive archives.

鈥淏eing able to do research with primary sources is a big deal,鈥� said Taylor-Williams. 鈥淭his will be the highest level of research I have gotten to do and I鈥檓 really excited for the opportunity. It鈥檚 exactly what I need to be able to advance my thesis.鈥�

The Schomburg-Mellon fellowship is given to 10 rising college seniors annually.

Taylor-Williams is an Honors College student double-majoring in history and English while working as an archivist in the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. She is the head delegate of the University鈥檚 Model United Nations team and the vice president of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. Her research into the effects of Cumberland Island鈥檚 commercial development on the Gullah Geechee community earned her the history department鈥檚 Richard S. Beene Scholarship. Now she is preparing her Honors thesis: 鈥淗arlem鈥檚 Federal Writers: Transnationalists, Humanitarians, and Public Historians,鈥� which examines how the work of African American authors in the 1930s contributed to the preservation of American history. 

Associate Professor of History Julie de Chantal, Ph.D., noted that Taylor-Williams took her work beyond expectations when teaming up with graduate students to produce an exhibit on American Independence.

鈥淪he operates at a level I have never seen before and she is tenacious like no other,鈥� said de Chantal. 鈥淪he has a profound ability to read text and subtext, so she finds patterns nobody else sees.鈥�

Taylor-Williams believes her success in so many fields comes from the supportive environment created by Georgia Southern faculty.

鈥淎ttending Georgia Southern is one of the best decisions I have made,鈥� said Taylor-Williams. 鈥淚 feel very lucky to have gotten these opportunities because not many students, especially in my field of archives, get to do this as an undergraduate student. All of the different extracurricular activities I have been able to hold leadership positions in, that鈥檚 not something you see at a lot of other universities.鈥�

De Chantal notes that a common theme in Taylor-Williams鈥檚 studies is using her own success to help others grow.

鈥淣ot only does she excel in her own work, she helps others to accomplish their goals too,鈥� said de Chantal. 鈥淲ith the Model U.N., she鈥檚 not only using the feedback that the faculty give her on her submissions, she shares the lessons that she learns with high school students whom she mentors. She does not just take knowledge in, she gives it back.鈥�

As Taylor-Williams prepares for a busy summer filled with rare books and handwritten notes, she already has her sights set on her next educational challenge. 

鈥淚 plan to get my master鈥檚 in history and library science because I really want to pursue a career as an archivist,鈥� said Taylor-Williams. 鈥淥nce I started working in Special Collections at the library, I realized it combines both history and English, so that became my goal. I want to do hands-on work that will help preserve historical documents for future generations to make their own discoveries.鈥�

The 橘子视频 College of Arts and Humanities will host the next installment of the Moveable Feast lecture series with an in-depth discussion of the evolution of combat training from the tumultuous Middle Ages to the modern-day military.

Professor of Spanish Grant Gearhart, Ph.D., will present 鈥淪teel and Sweat: Knights, Soldiers and the Making of the Tactical Athlete鈥� Feb. 19, at 6 p.m., at Service Brewing in Savannah.

Gearhart, who is also the coordinator of experiential learning for the Department of World Languages and Cultures, says the presentation is all about connecting modern military training with the physical contests of centuries past.

鈥淚 wanted to bring back interest in research on the Middle Ages, considering there is a declining interest in the topic within academia,鈥� Gearhart explained. 鈥淭o connect the past with present in a way that鈥檚 digestible for all audiences is something that I feel passionate about bringing to the public.鈥� 

His research focuses on the evolution of fighting styles and explores how these styles reflect the ethics and values of the cultures in which they were developed.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 soldiers are more than just military personnel, they are athletes,鈥� said Gearhart. “Being a former college athlete sparked my interest in doing this research on the connections between athletics and warriors. I want to show how our modern ideas of soldiers as tactical athletes have historical grounding in the Middle Ages.”

The Moveable Feast series is an immersive learning experience that brings lectures into spaces relevant to their topics. The event is free and open to the public.

Two faculty members from 橘子视频鈥檚 College of Arts and Humanities will be featured presenting authors during the 2026 Savannah Book Festival on Free Festival Saturday, Feb. 7.

Kendra R. Parker, Ph.D., from the Department of English, will present her book, 鈥淯nderstanding Octavia E. Butler,鈥� at 11:40 a.m. Parker鈥檚 work offers insight into the life and literary legacy of Octavia E. Butler, exploring the cultural and imaginative power of one of science fiction鈥檚 most influential voices. 

Later that afternoon, Bennett Parten, Ph.D., from the Department of History, will present his book, 鈥淪omewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman鈥檚 March and the Story of America鈥檚 Largest Emancipation,鈥� at 2:20 p.m. Parten offers a different perspective of Sherman鈥檚 March to the Sea by delving into the often overlooked story of thousands of enslaved people who experienced the march as a journey into freedom.

Parker and Parten are among more than 40 nationally recognized authors who will present their works during the Free Festival Saturday. All presentations, which are followed by Q&A sessions and book signings, are hosted at venues throughout historic downtown Savannah and are free and open to the public. 

The Savannah Book Festival is one of the Southeast鈥檚 premier literary events, drawing thousands of attendees each year.

鈥淚f I can run 100 miles, I can finish this degree,鈥� said Katie Logsdon, a recent graduate of 橘子视频, avid ultramarathon runner, local business owner, and, proudly, a mother of four children.

In December 2025, Logsdon earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in interdisciplinary studies from Georgia Southern at 47 years old 鈥� a finish line she reached nearly 30 years after she began. Like many students, after graduating high school, she began taking college courses at what was then Armstrong State College and had completed all of the prerequisite courses required for her degree. With one final left to go in the semester, she looked forward to completing her program in the near future.

鈥淭he final was supposed to be in early December 2002, but it got pushed back. I took it days before my water broke, and I was in labor for 18 hours,鈥� stated Logsdon.

After her daughter was born, she made the difficult decision not to return to school. At the time, she felt that motherhood seemed more important than finishing her degree. When her youngest was born, Logsdon discovered that her daughter had multiple exceptionalities that required ongoing medical care.

鈥淎fter the birth of my first child, I wasn鈥檛 sure I wanted to finish my nursing degree,鈥� she said.

Motherhood was fulfilling, but the desire to finish college stayed with her 鈥� shadowed by insecurity about whether she was capable of doing it. For years, doubt outweighed ambition.

But the obstacles Logsdon faced throughout her life were a reminder of her incredible ability to overcome and persevere.

鈥淚 was meeting my daughter, who is also a student at Georgia Southern, across the street from the Armstrong Campus one day, and chose to walk into the Admissions Office and see if any of the credits I earned years ago might transfer.鈥�

That single decision would lead to a new, exciting chapter for Logsdon.

Following a conversation with Georgia Southern admissions and financial aid officers, she was told that with two children also attending college, she could receive substantial financial aid to return to school. Additionally, many of those credits she had earned nearly 30 years ago could transfer toward a degree.

鈥淏etween my former pre-requisites for the nursing program and taking care of my youngest daughter, I had an interest in the medical field, but felt nursing school wasn鈥檛 exactly the right path for me at the moment. Owning my own business and being a single mom, I needed a flexible program that could be done online that capitalized on my lived experiences,鈥� she said. 

With guidance from Georgia Southern鈥檚 admissions counselors, she was able to find a degree program that could build on her completed courses, while also complementing her experience as a business owner. 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I found out about a bachelor’s degree in an interdisciplinary studies program where I could choose a concentration of human development and family science, health promotion and business.鈥�

Logsdon’s determination goes beyond academics. As a dedicated ultramarathon runner and active member of Savannah鈥檚 Rough Runners, supporting others who use running as therapy comes naturally. She aims to set a precedent for her family and anyone facing similar challenges.

鈥淚 think of myself as an example, not just for my children, but the people around me,鈥� Logsdon explained. 鈥淚f I say I鈥檓 going to do something, I鈥檓 going to do it.鈥�

And, in December 2025, she reached the finish line of a goal she set nearly three decades ago. 

Crossing the stage, Logsdon proudly carried the ashes of her father and stepfather while her mother and four children watched her receive the degree she fought so hard to earn. An emotional moment for all, she was thankful her family always had her back and could be with her in person and spirit during the ceremony.

Above all else, Logsdon wants people struggling with the idea to go back to school to know, 鈥淚f it scares you, that means you鈥檙e meant to try it.鈥�

For Laura Santiago, 橘子视频鈥檚 2025 Fall Commencement, marks the completion of a journey she began 30 years ago. The 49-year-old married mother of two began her college education straight out of high school but early motherhood changed her course and prompted her to put her studies on hold.

鈥淚 love school, but I didn鈥檛 want to take away from my kids,鈥� Santiago said. 鈥淥nce I had them, I didn鈥檛 want to miss their after-school activities. I just didn鈥檛 want to take time away from them. I felt like I had my chance.鈥�

Santiago was born in Puerto Rico, the middle of six children. Her family moved to New York when she was 4 years old and returned to Puerto Rico when she was 12. Her parents never finished high school, but she did 鈥� and now, by earning a bachelor’s degree in World Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish, Santiago is rewriting her family鈥檚 story.

鈥淚鈥檓 the only one in my mother鈥檚 household to graduate from high school and earn a college degree,鈥� she said.鈥� At this age, I feel it would have been easier to do it when I was younger, but my family is really proud of me.鈥�

Santiago never let go of her academic goals and she returned to school once her own daughter entered college.

鈥淎s soon as my daughter graduated high school and went to college, I thought, 鈥榶es, I鈥檓 going to college too,鈥欌�� she recalled. She earned an associate degree then paused again. After several more years passed, she realized, 鈥淭he years are going to continue passing me by whether I do it or not. I might as well finish so I can be in the position that I want to be.鈥�

In the summer of 2023, she enrolled at Georgia Southern as a first-generation, fully online student in the College of Arts and Humanities.

鈥淚’ve grown so much, while I’ve been here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel empowered. I鈥檓 more confident in my knowledge and abilities. The professors are so knowledgeable and passionate about their subject areas, and they were so supportive. I’m going to remember them. I’m going to take them with me.鈥�

Santiago, who lives in Woodstock, Georgia, works full-timefull time as a middle school instructional support paraprofessional. Her goal is to become a Spanish/ESOL teacher.

鈥淲orking with special needs kids is the most rewarding thing,鈥� said the future alumna. 鈥淪eeing a child who believes 鈥� along with their parents 鈥� that they鈥檙e limited or incapable, then watching them accomplish milestones they never thought possible is incredibly rewarding.鈥�

While attending Georgia Southern, Santiago excelled in her studies despite her full-time job and full course load. She earned her place on the President鈥檚 List and received an 鈥淎鈥� in all but one course. It required discipline, sacrificing time with family and friends, careful scheduling and the ability to solve problems independently as an online student. She also credits her supportive husband who took on laundry, cooking and other household responsibilities.

Closing in on the finishing line, Santiago expressed how her college experience expanded her sense of what she can achieve.

鈥淚t’s helped me realize that I can do more than I think that I’m capable of,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can still learn 鈥� there鈥檚 so much that I don’t know. When you’re not going to college, you live in a little bubble and just what’s around you. A world languages and cultures major opens your eyes to what’s happening around the world. I appreciate learning about other cultures. It鈥檚 been very enriching to understand and see things from different perspectives.鈥�

Now, her decades-old journey will culminate with a well-deserved walk across the commencement stage at Georgia Southern.

鈥淚 already have my cap and gown,鈥� Santiago said. 鈥淚 was debating it, but my family said, 鈥榊ou’ve worked so hard 鈥� you deserve to go and walk.鈥� So, I said, 鈥榦kay, let’s do it.鈥欌��