Impressions - Fall 2015

S AVA N N A H S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y | Vol. 1, Num.
1, Fall 2015
A WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITY
TELL THEM WE ARE
RISING
GIFTS TO
LAST A
LIFETIME
DYNAMIC
DUO
Family Matters
PRESERVING
THE
PAST
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vol. 1, Num. 1, Fall 2015
04
A WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITY
International student Anni Joy Tapkida chats with SSU

President Cheryl D. Dozier, DSW, about the value of international travel.
06
HOMECOMING
Savannah State Universitys School of Teacher Education is preparing the next generation of STEM educators.
TELL THEM WE ARE
Retired SSU professor and historian Charles Elmore, Ph.D., and

local artist Jerome Meadows discuss the life and legacy of Richard R. Wright Sr., the universitys first president.
08
RISING
10
Family Matters
12
GIFTS TO
LAST A
LIFETIME
16
PRESERVING
Meet the Singletons, a family of eight siblings that all attended

Savannah State.
Scholarship funds established by SSU alumni Cyrus Jackson,

Clemontine Washington, Ph.D., Harold Washington, Rosalind Kent,
Jacquelyn Stephens, Ph.D. and Jimmie Douglas help make students
dreams come true.
THE
PAST
SSU is at the forefront of historic and cultural preservation

efforts thanks to the work of alumnus Emory Campbell and a
group of SSU faculty members and students.
20
DYNAMIC
DUO
22
Reflections
Members of the Savannah community pay tribute to Savannah

State on the eve of the universitys 125th anniversary.
24
HISTORY in
OBJECTS
Items on display in the SSU archives tell the story of the universitys rich 125-year history.
32
A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
Forty-year employee Mary Ann Goldwire reflects on her long and

fulfilling career at Savannah State.
Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson and City Manager Stephanie Cutter reminisce about their time as students at SSU.
Impressions is published by University Advancement,

which includes alumni relations, marketing and communications, special events, and development.
Senior Administration
Cheryl Davenport Dozier, DSW
President
Kimberly Sinclair Holmes, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Edward B. Jolley, Jr.
Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs
Phillip D. Adams
Vice President for University Advancement
F. Carl Walton, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Impressions Staff
Loretta D. Heyward
Assistant Vice President for Marketing and
Communications/Executive Editor
Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Staff Writer
Amy K. Pine
Project Manager/Writer
Hon Low
Art Direction/Design
Savannah State University Mission

Savannah State University, the oldest public historically black university in the State of Georgia,
develops productive members of a global society
through high quality instruction, scholarship,
research, service and community involvement.
The University fosters engaged learning and personal growth in a student-centered environment
that celebrates the African American legacy
while nurturing a diverse student body. Savannah State University offers graduate and undergraduate studies including nationally accredited
programs in the liberal arts, the sciences and the
professions.
An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). A unit
of the University System of Georgia.
www.savannahstate.edu
n behalf of Savannah State University,

I am proud to introduce the new edition
of the SSU magazine: Impressions. Our
students, faculty and staff are seriously
impressive and we are excited to bring you
their stories.
Since 1890, weve prepared smart, bold students
to succeed in their world. This year marks the 125th
anniversary of the founding of Savannah State, and
we are taking this opportunity to look back on our
past and celebrate the vitality of our present.
In this issue we examine how SSU is working
to preserve Gullah Geechee heritage, the legacy
of Savannah State families, the revival of teacher
education on campus and the fond memories from
community members.
We hope you enjoy the updated magazine. We
aim to impress.
Sincerely,
Phillip D. Adams
Vice President for University Advancement
A WORLD OF
OPPORTUNITY
International student Anni Joy Tapkida sat down with
Savannah State University President Cheryl D. Dozier,
DSW, to compare passports, so to speak. Tapkida, a junior
management major, is from Jos, Nigeria. She has traveled
to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the U.K. and Canada
in addition to her time in the United States. She asked
the president about her travels and how seeing the world
changes ones perspective.
s ava n n a h s tat e u n i v e r s i t y
Opposite page left: Anni Joy Tapkida is a junior management major from Jos, Nigeria. Opposite page right and above: SSU President Cheryl D. Dozier, DSW, shows Tapkida
relics from her overseas travels.
Tapkida: What is the value

of traveling internationally?
Tapkida: How many countries

have you visited? Which is
your favorite?
Tapkida: What was your first

trip outside of the United
States?
Tapkida: Why do you think it

is important for SSU students
to go abroad?
Dozier: Those born in
Dozier: Ive been to 17 coun-
Dozier: My first interna-
Dozier: I encourage students
America tend to think that the

American way is the only way,
but when you travel around,
you see other continents and
see the sacrifices and also
the contributions which they
made to the world. For example, the first writing comes
from Egypt, which is in Africa.
It is also home to the Great
Pyramids, which means there
was a knowledge of math,
physics and other sciences,
which enabled the Egyptians
to build those pyramids.
tries, at last count, including

Bermuda, Jamaica, Mexico,
Canada, Brazil, Togo, Benin,
Ivory Coast, Ghana, China,
Liberia, Cameroon and
Panama. Ghana is my favorite.
It is where I feel most comfortable. It feels like home. I
love the pride the people have.
They have a great work ethic
and have learned to use the
little they have and make the
most of it.
tional trip to Africa was to

Togo. It was the first time I
saw a carved stool, a sort of
throne for the native kings and
queens. I went to the markets
and it was fascinating seeing a
village built on the water.
to go abroad to see and learn

how to make do with less. I
see a lot of that when I travel
abroad. Sometimes water is
a challenge and the power
sometimes goes off, but in
order to understand the social
conditions under which others
are living, we have to live like
they do. I want our students
to be exposed to other ways in
which they can solve problems. All you need is a visa and
a passport.
HOMECOMING
By Amy Pine
Education Returns to Savannah State
eacher education has been an integral part of Savannah

State since the university opened its doors 125 years ago.
For more than two decades, Savannah State had a successful
teacher education program, but in 1979, the University System of Georgia moved the universitys education department
to Armstrong State University. The entire education faculty and
students in the program left the Savannah State campus and headed
across town.
On May 9, 2015, the university made history when Joshua Montgomery walked the stage at SSUs 186th commencement ceremony,
becoming the first student to complete a program of study in SSUs
newly launched School of Teacher Education (SOTE).
Montgomery, a native of Seattle, received a bachelor of science
degree in mathematics from SSUs College of Sciences and Technology (COST) and completed SOTEs Teacher Education Secondary
Certification Program. The innovative program prepared Montgomery to teach mathematics to students in grades 6-12.
SOTE has prepared me by giving me more than enough tools,
resources and strategies to implement in the classroom, says Montgomery. By holding me to such a high standard, the professors of
SOTE pushed me to perform at a very high level.
A STEM-Focused Approach
Programs in the School of Teacher Education, which are approved by
the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, focus on preparing

graduates to teach in STEM-related disciplines. STEM an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics has
gained national traction over the past decade, with secondary and
post-secondary institutions joining forces to produce more graduates and trained professionals in the four areas of study.
SOTEs program, which is offered in collaboration with COST,
enables students to pursue a four-year degree in biology, civil engineering technology, electronics engineering technology or mathematics, with a program track in teacher education. Upon completion
of the program, qualified students in the biology and mathematics
programs are prepared to teach students in grades 6-12, while those in
the civil engineering technology and electronics engineering technology programs are prepared to teach in preschool-12th grade (P-12).
Theres a need for STEM educators, and preparation of those preservice teachers is essential. says Interim Dean Marshalita Sims
Peterson, Ph.D.
A Well-Devised Curriculum
SOTE students take classes in both education and their respective
STEM areas. In addition, students must complete field experiences
and clinical internships that integrate theory and practice in classroom settings. Placing students directly in P-12 school classrooms is
integral to the teacher education program of study.
When thinking of teacher education, one must think in terms

of content and pedagogy. Its significant for our students (teacher
candidates) to know the content, but it is equally essential that as
students prepare for the field of education, they are equipped to
effectively teach the content, says Peterson, explaining that SOTE
has Memorandums of Understanding with 15 area school districts.
For Montgomery, who completed his clinical experience at Sol C.
Johnson High School in Savannah under the direction of mathematics teacher Brian Wilborn, the time spent in the classroom was both
enriching and rewarding.
[Mr. Wilborn] allowed me to make my mistakes and struggle
through it. This method was perfect for me, and he kept my confidence high at all times, Montgomery says.
Plans to Expand
In May 2015, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents
approved an initiative that would allow Savannah State to offer a
bachelor of science in education (BSED) degree through the School of
Teacher Education, and in October, the new degree program received
approval from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
We have made history for Savannah State University and the
Savannah community, says Peterson. A student will have the
opportunity to major in STEM biology education, math education
or they can major in engineering and technology education with a
bachelor of science in education. We are particularly excited as our
commitment to quality educators is expressed through actualizing
the SOTE conceptual framework theme Preparing Global, Reflective, Professional Educators.
SOTE will also begin offering a post-baccalaureate program for
college graduates who want to prepare for their teaching certificate.
The program, which launches this fall, will enable those who have
already earned an undergraduate degree an opportunity to take
education (teacher certification preparation) courses in the evenings
and online in the areas of biology, mathematics and engineering
technology. The program also includes an internship component in
which the post-baccalaureate teacher candidates will teach in area
public schools.
Innovative Initiatives
Since opening its doors in 2014, the School of Teacher Education
has launched several innovative programs, all with a similar goal: to
improve STEM teacher education at the preschool to secondary level
by providing rigorous training to students. The SOTE initiatives
align with the SSU Strategic Plan (Priority 1: Academic Engagement
and Achievement), SSUs Complete College Georgia plan (Strategy
One: Enhanced Partnerships with K-12 Community) and the USG
Strategic Imperative 1: (Academic Excellence and Degree Completion - Quality of Learning).
The National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which was launched last fall, includes an undergraduate scholarship for current or rising juniors, a summer internship
experience for undergraduates and a post-baccalaureate program
for STEM professionals. The scholarship program is designed to

help increase the number of high-quality, education-certified STEM
teachers in high-needs classrooms.
In spring 2015, the School of Teacher Education launched the
SOTE Academy, an advocacy, recruitment and transitioning experience for high school students interested in teacher education in
STEM areas. In addition, SOTE developed the STEM Teacher Education Teaching & Learning Lab, which engages students in STEM
teacher preparation and integrated processes for effectively teaching
students in grades P-12. The lab provides a synergistic environment
where future STEM teachers apply their knowledge and skills in
preparation to teach biology, mathematics and engineering technology and serves as a maker-space for P-12 students in participation
with SOTE Academy activities.
Following in Their Footsteps
There are currently 58 students enrolled in courses in the School of
Teacher Education, with six teacher education candidates scheduled
to graduate in May 2016. The students will follow in the footsteps
of numerous Savannah State alumni who have pursued successful
careers in the field of education.
Throughout the years, Savannah State alumni have gone on to
serve as teachers, administrators, principals and superintendents
at schools and school systems around the globe. These individuals
have made a lasting impression on the students whose lives theyve
touched, says SSU President Cheryl D. Dozier, DSW. Our students
in the School of Teacher Education are tasked with educating the
next generation of STEM scholars. There is perhaps no greater
charge and no greater challenge for educators in the 21st century.
These students are prepared for the challenge and epitomize Savannah States motto, Smart, Bold and Proud. g
Marshalita Sims Peterson, Ph.D., has served as interim dean of the School of Teacher
Education since January 2015. In November, Julius Scipio, Ed.D., will assume the position
of interim dean.
Opposite page: School of Teacher Education faculty, from left to right. Cora Thompson,
Ed.D., Keenya Mosley, Ph.D., Andrea Moore, Ph.D., Kisha Cunningham, Ph.D., Interim Dean
Marshalita Sims Peterson, Ph.D., and Mihaela Munday, Ph.D. Above: Joshua Montgomery,
the first student to complete the SOTE program of study, chats with his faculty mentor
Mihaela Munday, Ph.D.
ichard R. Wright Sr., Savannah

States first president, was born into
slavery on May 16, 1855, in a log
cabin outside of Dalton, Ga. Though
functionally illiterate until he was
11 or 12, Wright graduated as valedictorian of
Atlanta Universitys historic first baccalaureate class in 1876.
Wright served as president of Savannah
State (then called Georgia State Industrial
College for Colored Youths) from 1891
to 1921. In his later years, he moved to
Philadelphia, where he founded Citizens
and Southern Bank and Trust Company
in Philadelphia, one of the first AfricanAmerican-owned banks in the North at the
time. In 1941, Wright lobbied to establish
a national holiday in commemoration of
President Lincoln signing legislation to abolish slavery (13th Amendment) on February 1,
TELL THEM WE ARE
RISING
Historian and Sculptor
Discuss Wrights
Life and Legacy
1865. Wrights efforts led to President Truman

signing a bill in 1948 proclaiming February 1 as
National Freedom Day. Wright died in 1947.
In 2013, Savannah State University
honored its first president by naming its
newest residence hall Richard R. Wright
Sr. Hall. The modern, two-story edifice was
dedicated on April 11 during a ceremony
attended by Wrights great-granddaughter,
Rev. Carolyn V. Jordan. To mark the occasion, the university unveiled a bronze bust
of Wright, sculpted by prominent Savannah
artist Jerome Meadows.
Here, Jerome Meadows and Charles
J. Elmore, Ph.D., retired SSU professor
emeritus, historian and author of a 1996
biography on Wright, reflect on Wrights
inspirational life, the artistry behind the
bust and the lesson todays students can
learn from his legacy.
By Amy Pine
On Richard R. Wrights Early Life

Elmore: Richard Wright was the quintessential modern man He
rose from the ashes of slavery like a phoenix bird He was enrolled
in the Boxcar School in Atlanta, where at about the age of 12 he
began to learn to read and write. General Oliver Otis Howard was
at one of the Boxcar Schools in his capacity as the director of the
Freedmens Bureau. He gave an impassioned speech to the young
charges there and many adults who could not read and write. He
posited a question, What shall I tell the white people in the North
about the black people in the South? This spindly very dark boy
who was Richard Wright Sr., about 11 or 12 years of age, I imagine,
stood up and told them, Tell them we are rising.
On Richard R. Wrights Legacy at Savannah State University
Elmore: On October 7, the first Wednesday in October, 1891, Wright
came here with eight students who were graduates of Edmond Asa
Ware High School, where he was principal in Augusta. Savannah
State began as Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youths,
June, 1891, in the Baxter Street School building in Athens, Ga., after
the Georgia General Assembly created the college on November 26,
1890. When Wright arrived in Savannah, he had to debate with the
Board of Commissioners about what kind of curriculum could be
offered. He formulated a curriculum based on the Talented Tenth
philosophy of W.E.B. Dubois, the self-reliance and vocationalism of
Booker T. Washington, and the model of the New England college
under which he was trained at Atlanta University. He formulated
a curriculum based on the seven ancient medieval liberal arts the

trivium, which is grammar, logic and rhetoric, and the quadrinium,
which is arithmetic, geometry, astrology and music. The original
curriculum has transitioned to what we see at present in Savannah
States three academic colleges and School of Teacher Education.
On the Inspiration Behind the Bust Commemorating
Richard R. Wright
Meadows: The challenge of doing a bust of someone, particularly
someone of his stature and with his history, is that theres so much
there, theres more there than you can put into one piece of sculpture. His history was already impressive to me, but I was also
inspired by the fact that the bust would be here on campus and that
there wasnt one already here. I kind of heard him speaking to me as
I was working on the bust, saying, Finally, finally. That was a big
inspiration. He was coming home to the institution that he formulated, and I was responsible for bringing it into existence.
On Creating the Busts Foundation
Meadows: There was an interesting opportunity with the pedestal.
When we first started to commission for the bust, we hadnt talked
about what it was going to be set on. The more I worked on the
sculpture and the more inspired I became by Mr. Wright, the more
it impressed me that the pedestal should represent his strength of
character and the rich history. So I procured a piece of granite, which
if you know anything about stones, is one of the hardest ones. It
has that durability. And I took the opportunity, on a personal level,

to carve the pedestal myself. This was an additional way for me to
honor Mr. Wright and express the character of this person, this
heroic bedrock of American society.
On the Dedication of Richard R. Wright Sr. Hall and the
Unveiling of the Bust
Elmore: One of the finest days of my life was April 11, 2013, when
I had the occasion to be with Mr. Meadows; Dr. Cheryl D. Dozier;
Reverend Jordan the great-granddaughter of Richard Wright
and Angela Vann, her niece; my wife, Juanita; and Edna Jackson, my
classmate, the first black female mayor of Savannah, to witness the
dedication of this beautiful building and Richard Wrights bust. That
was a pinnacle moment for me in my 70 years of living.
On What Todays Students Can Learn From Richard R.
Wrights Legacy
Meadows: Theres way more history than one piece of sculpture can
convey, so what I had the honor and opportunity to do in rendering
the sculpture was to add to the celebration of what the person stands
for, add to the commemoration of what that person has done not
only for Savannah and Savannah State but for black folks in general.
I hope that what students will get from this sculpture is that Wright
is someone who is worthy of celebration and that that celebration is
not simply on the day of the unveiling but is a daily, on-going thing.
When you look at that bust and you look at him as an individual and
learn the history, you realize this is something worth celebrating.
Theres so much that we have by way of struggle and in many cases

failures, sometimes it looks like were sliding backwards. I think part
of how we can counter that is to remind ourselves of the accomplishments that have been made, and not just quietly, but in a celebratory
way, and to collectively honor those things that are proactive parts
of our history. These are the things, this is the energy, this is the collectiveness that will take us forward. And ultimately if we cant move
forward, all of this has been in vain.
Elmore: For many years I taught freshman composition I had
a lecture called Tiger Pride 101 and my simple message was this:
if Richard Wright could rise above the institution of slavery and
come here and leave you this place called Savannah State, how
could you do less? You have to ask yourself, In my life what shall
I do? I cannot do less than what this man left for me. Wrights
legacy is all-inclusive, and now includes whites and blacks who
matriculated. I think students should take from Richard Wright,
Go to your classes, study, learn to read and write and think standing on your feet. Take that from Richard Wright. Take the never
give up, never quit attitude. Pursue whats right. Pursue knowledge. Its like Tennyson said, We have to follow knowledge like a
sinking star, beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
Meadows: If I could add to that, how many of the students here now,
20, 30, 40 years out, will have busts created for their accomplishments? How many Richard Wrights are here now? The future is
really what its all about. g
Prominent local artist Jerome

Meadows (left) and retired SSU
professor and historian Charles J.
Elmore, Ph.D. (right), discuss the life
and legacy of Richard R. Wright Sr.
Family Matters
You might say that Savannah State runs in the Singleton familys genes. Four generations
of the family have attended the university, including all eight of the Singleton siblings.
By Amy Pine
suspect the Singleton family

holds one of the top records for
the most members of one family
to attend Savannah State, says
Barbara S. Myers, the universitys
director of alumni relations.
The Singletons relationship with Savannah State began with the familys patriarch,
the late Leroy Singleton Sr., who attended
what was then called Georgia State Indus-
trial College. His wife, the late Angela

Greene Singleton, followed in his footsteps,
receiving a degree in elementary education
from Savannah State in 1958. She later went
on to receive a master of elementary education degree from the joint graduate program
of Savannah State and Armstrong State
College (now Armstrong State University)
in 1976. She retired from the SavannahChatham County Public School System
(SCCPSS) after a 31-year teaching career.

Leroy retired after a 28-year career at the
Central of Georgia Railway Company.
Leroy and Angela Singleton were blessed
with eight children, all of who followed in
their footsteps. Their eldest daughter, the
late Edith Singleton Hagans, graduated from
Savannah State in 1963 with a degree in
elementary education and retired from the
SCCPSS, where she served as a teacher.
The Singletons, top row (left to right): Leroy Jr., Rosemary, Harold, Carol, Pearl and Walter. Bottom row (left to right): Emily, Angela, Leroy Sr. and Edith.
10
Harold and his wife, Serdalia, attend 100 Celebrity Men

Who Cook.
Harold (back row, third from left) at an SSU Glee Club

alumni event.
Walter (left), Pearl and Harold on the SSU campus.
The late Emily Singleton Chisholm

graduated from Savannah State in 1961
with a bachelor of science degree in
biology. She went on to earn a master of
public health degree from the University
of Michigan. Emily, who received the SSU
National Alumni Associations National
Alumnus of the Year award in 2001,
retired after a 33-year career as a research
scientist with the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control in Atlanta.
Son Leroy Singleton Jr. studied business
administration at Savannah State from
1956-59 before serving in the United States
Army. He went on to serve as founder and
president of Cougar Chemical Corporation,
a successful business in Washington, D.C.
His wife, Pauline Smith Singleton, received
a bachelor of business administration
degree from Savannah State in 1960.
Rosemary Singleton Whitson graduated
from Savannah State in 1961 with a bachelor
of business administration degree and later
worked as a secretary in the colleges office
of alumni affairs. She moved to Washington,
D.C., where she worked at the Department
of the Interior. Rosemarys husband, the
late William Whitson, worked as a Foreign
Service officer with the Voice of America.
The couple traveled extensively and lived in
Africa for two years.
Pearl Singleton Reddick received a
degree in elementary education from
Savannah State in 1963 and a master of
elementary education degree from the joint
graduate program at Savannah State and
Armstrong in 1973. After obtaining certification to teach English to Speakers of Other
Languages from Georgia State University,
she went on to serve as an ESOL teacher for
23 years and retired from the SCCPSS after
teaching for a total of 41 years.
Harold Singleton graduated from Savannah State in 1967 with a degree in health,
physical education and recreation and a
master of education degree from the joint
program at Savannah State and Armstrong
in 1975. He worked at Savannah State in
several capacities over the years, including
bookstore manager and director of auxiliary

services. Harold currently works as a deputy
in the Chatham County Sherriffs Department. Harolds wife, Serdalia Gordon Singleton, is also a 1967 graduate of Savannah State
and earned a master of elementary education degree in the joint degree program in
1973. She is a retired teacher.
Walter Singleton, who served in the
United States Air Force during the Vietnam
War, is a 1974 graduate of Savannah State
with a bachelor of business administration
degree. He managed two major drugstore
companies in Savannah before retiring.
His wife, LaRosa Hall Singleton, graduated
from Savannah State in 1976 and retired as
a teacher from the SCCPSS.
Leroy and Angela Singletons youngest
child, Carol Singleton Montgomery, graduated from Savannah State in 1973 with a
degree in sociology and a minor in mass
communications. She went on to become
the first woman and the first AfricanAmerican to serve as a news anchor in
Savannah during her years with WSAV-TV.
She also hosted the WSAV show Ebony
Edition for eight years. From 1979-86, she
worked as director of alumni affairs for
Savannah State, then went on to work for
Clayton State University, from which she
retired in 2010.
The Singleton siblings have 15 grandchildren, six of whom attended Savannah
State, including the late Kevin Chisholm,
Rene Le Maitre, Allegra Dorman, Shaina
Washington, Charles LeValle and Marc
LeValle. Daniel Le Maitre, son of Rene and
her husband, Garvin, is currently a student
at Savannah State, working toward a degree
in computer science.
My mother guaranteed that every child
[in our family] had the opportunity to go to
college, and it had to be Savannah State,
says Harold Singleton. Our family had
a great experience at Savannah State. I
always say that if a person doesnt go to college, they lose half their life. To me, college
is one of the best things that ever happened
to me in my life. g
11
By Amy Pine
GIFTS TO
LAST A
LIFETIME
Cyrus Jackson
Cyrus Jackson
If youve ever perused the ethnic hair care section of any store,
chances are youve seen a product created by Savannah State alumnus Cyrus Jackson.
Jackson, a 1977 graduate of Savannah State, is known within the
ethnic hair manufacturing industry for revolutionizing care for
natural ethnic hair. Though the entrepreneur sold his extremely
successful company, Professional Products Unlimited, Inc., last year,
12
avannah State University

has produced some seriously
impressive alumni over the
years. Not only have these
alumni gone on to distinguished
careers around they world, they have
remained involved with the university
and left lasting legacies that will impact
future generations.
the products created under his direction still dominate the market.
A native of Savannah, Jackson was the first Savannah State student to receive a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing. After earning his degree, he relocated to Atlanta and entered
corporate America, accepting a position at Whitehall Laboratories,
a major consumer products organization. Jackson rose through
the ranks at Whitehall Laboratories, becoming the highest-ranking
African American in the company.
During Jacksons tenure at Whitehall Laboratories, the company
launched Advil, the No. 1 selling ibuprofen pain reliever, in 1983.
Jacksons relentless field sales and sales management leadership
contributed to the brands unprecedented sales volume and top
market positioning.
In 1986, Jackson started his own sales and marketing company, B
& J Sales, and in 1992, he launched Professional Products Unlimited,
Inc., and began manufacturing his own line of hair care products.
I always had the desire to own my own brand. It was one of my
motivations for going to college and studying marketing, says Jackson, who founded the company with his wife, Brenda.
Under Jacksons leadership, Professional Products Unlimited
manufactured and sold as many as 150 items, including the Jamaican Mango & Lime line of products, the No. 1 selling brand in
the U.S. and abroad (including the Caribbean, Africa and London).
The popular product was created specifically for grooming locs and
twists, a hair trend that has emerged as a mainstay in ethnic hair
styling.
Within the industry, Jackson is known for advancing natural hair
care from trial-and-error maintenance into commercially viable
hair care products. His innovation has led to numerous competitive
brand entries, which now occupy desirable retail space and positioning within drug, food and mass merchandising retail outlets. In 2014,
Jackson sold the highly profitable company to Universal Beauty Prod-
ucts in Chicago, Ill. Today, Jackson still owns a plant, located outside
of Atlanta, which manufactures products for other companies.
Jackson credits his experience as a marketing student at
Savannah State with much of his success. He was able to leverage the elements of marketing he learned at SSU to create brand
campaigns to drive sales of the natural ethnic hair care brands he
developed.
Jackson and his wife, Brenda, are the parents of three daughters
and reside in Atlanta. To give back to his alma mater, Jackson and
his family established the Fred and Mattie Jackson Foundation fund
in 2014. The fund pays tribute to his father, a laborer, and mother, a
homemaker, who sent their children to SSU with limited resources.
Savannah State is really dear to my family, says Jackson, one
of 13 family members (including six siblings and one daughter) to
graduate from the university.
The scholarship is geared toward first-generation college students
who are interested in pursuing a career in education. Jackson
envisions that the scholarship and his continued involvement with
Savannah State will inspire students in two areas that are paramount in his life: education and entrepreneurship.
I want more young people to see the value of a good education
and to explore entrepreneurship, says Jackson. The college experience is important because it gives one discipline and training, and
the foresight to transform ones thoughts into creative, tangible
solutions to bring to the marketplace to address needs that exist
within our global communities. Im really looking forward to coming down to Savannah State, meeting incoming students and doing
anything I can to help.
Clemontine Washington, ED.D., and Harold Washington

Four years ago, Clemontine Washington, Ed.D., approached her husband and son with a proposition that had been on her mind for some
time. Washington, currently serving in her second term as mayor of
Midway, Ga., wanted to establish an endowment at her alma mater,
Savannah State University.
The Washington family had always contributed to SSUs various fundraising campaigns over the years, but Mayor Washington
wanted to do something more she wanted to leave a legacy for
future generations.
I believe in carry-over value. I got a lot of carry-over value at
Savannah State, says Mayor Washington, who has served in various
alumni leadership roles at the university since graduating in 1966
with an undergraduate degree in health, physical education and
recreation.
Mayor Washingtons husband, the late Richard Washington, and
their son, Harold, both Savannah State graduates themselves, took
just a few minutes to think about her proposal before agreeing to
begin saving money for what is now the Washington Family Educational Endowment.
One of the scriptures that we read is Proverbs 13:22 that a good
man leaves his inheritance to his childrens children, says Harold,
Clemontine Washington, ED.D., and Harold Washington

who received a bachelor of business administration degree in management from SSU in 1998. My father lived his life for his grandchildren, and so now Im living mine for my [future] grandchildren to try
to be able to change a whole generation.
Formally established in 2015, the scholarship will be awarded to
rising junior and senior athletes majoring in an education-related
discipline. The family chose to honor athletes pursuing careers in
education because of their own backgrounds. Harold Washington,
who ran track at SSU, currently serves as an assistant principal at
Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga. Richard Washington, a 1956
graduate of Savannah State with an undergraduate degree in social
studies, was a former state championship basketball and football
player who spent much of his career as a health and physical education teacher in the Chatham and Appling county school systems.
He passed away in July 2015 at the age of 81. Mayor Washington, a
former basketball player and track and field star, retired after a long
career as a school administrator.
Harold hopes that the first recipient of the Washington Family
Educational Endowment fund will be named in Fall 2016. Meantime, the family has several ideas to raise additional money for the
endowment, including fundraisers and a scholarship gala.
It feels really good to be in a position to be able to give back and
help some kids along the way, Harold says. When you get to the
point that youre able to help someone, how dare you not reach back
and help someone, because someone helped you.
13
Rosalind Kent
Rosalind Kent
Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Ph.D.
During her long career as a professor and reading coordinator at

Savannah State University, Rosalind Kent always put students first.
When she passed away in 2014 at the age of 61, Kent left a lasting
legacy that would impact her beloved students for years to come by
donating a portion of her estate to the university to establish what is
now the Rosalind M. Kent Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
Colleague and close friend Mary Ann Goldwire, SSUs interim
director for the Center of Academic Success, fondly recalls Kents
unwavering devotion to her students.
She mentored students and was engaged with student organizations and became a part of many different things on campus,
says Goldwire, who along with Kent helped start the universitys
academic advising and mentoring program. We did not have to
communicate or say anything, but when we looked at each other,
we knew that we were thinking about the same kind of things:
what would be best for the students and how we can better serve
Savannah State.
Kent earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Savannah State in 1979 and went on to receive a masters
degree from Georgia Southern University. She began her career as
a teacher at Springfield Elementary and Effingham County Middle
schools before embarking on a 21-year career at Savannah State.
Kent first served in the universitys Learning Support Division as
reading coordinator, and in 1995, she became an assistant professor
of reading, a position she held until her retirement in 2011.
But Kents devotion to Savannah State extended beyond the classroom. She was a life member of the SSU National Alumni Association (SSUNAA), serving two terms as the organizations national
recording secretary and two years as chaplain. She also served a
three-year stint as recording secretary of the Savannah Chapter of
the SSUNAA.
In addition to her service at Savannah State, Kent retired from
the 117th Unit of the Air National Guard, served as a motivational
speaker and was a licensed minister in the African Methodist
Episcopal (AME) Church, serving as pastor of St. James AME in
Savannah.
The Rosalind M. Kent Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established October 2014, just one month after her death. The scholarship
will be awarded to a student enrolled in Savannah States Learning
Support program to honor Kents love of learning and mentorship.
She had a deep love for her family and for Savannah State, Goldwire says. She would be really proud and shes probably looking
down smiling that someone would benefit with what she left behind
for the school to use for scholarship purposes.
Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Ph.D.

When it comes to Savannah State University football fans, there
may be no one more dedicated than Jacquelyn W. Stephens. In
1960, she married the late Jolly Stephens, an all-college offen-
Jimmie and Ellen Douglas

14
sive guard on the Savannah State football squad. She and her
husband cheered on the team at every single home game except
for the years she spent out of Savannah working on her advanced
degrees. In the ultimate act of devotion to her beloved Tigers,
Stephens established the Jolly L. Stephens Football Scholarship
Endowment in 2013.
I wanted to [establish the scholarship] to honor [Jolly] as an
all-conference player with Savannah State and to help others with
their scholarship needs and to improve the football program,
Stephens says.
Jacquelyns affiliation with Savannah State began when she
enrolled as a student in 1956. Jacquelyn met Jolly during Savannah
States freshman orientation week, and the couple dated for four
years before getting married two months after earning their degrees
in elementary education and physical education, respectively.
Jacquelyn went on to earn a masters degree in reading education
from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. in reading education from
the University of Oklahoma. She returned to Savannah State in 1969,
serving as acting head of the Elementary Education Department
before the department and all of its professors were transferred to
Armstrong State College (now Armstrong State University). Jacquelyn enjoyed a long career at Armstrong, retiring in 1990 as a professor of education and gaining emerita status.
Jacquelyns involvement with Savannah State has continued over
the years. In 2014 she received the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) Distinguished Alumni Award during the MEAC Basketball
Tournament in Norfolk, Va.
Jollys professional career revolved around athletics. He worked
as a physical education teacher with the Savannah-Chatham County
Public School System for 30 years and served as a coach for the
recreation department in his spare time. His little league football
team won the city championship game for 10 consecutive years. Jolly
also had a 40-year career as referee for a variety of sports including
football, basketball and volleyball. In 2007, he was inducted into the
Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame.
Despite busy schedules, the Stephens always made time for Tiger
football, supporting the team through both winning seasons and losing seasons. Jolly explained the rules of the game to Jacquelyn, who
became a die-hard fan in her own right.
After 47 years of marriage, Jolly passed away in 2007. Jacquelyn
knew that she wanted to eventually do something special to honor
her late husband and the Tiger squad that was so near and dear to
the couple.
The scholarship is awarded to a member of the football team with
a qualifying grade point average who best exemplifies the qualities of
leadership, sportsmanship and community service.
Jacquelyn thinks that Jolly would be pleased with the scholarship
shes set up in his honor.
Hes smiling down from heaven, she says. We both loved football so much and we both loved Savannah State.
Jimmie Douglas
With nothing more than $20 and a note written by his father, Jimmie
Douglas headed to Savannah in hopes of enrolling in Georgia State
College (now Savannah State University). The year was 1944 and
Douglas, the son of farmers, had just graduated from high school in
Wayne County, Ga.
Douglas was given a private interview with President Benjamin F.
Hubert, who read the note and asked the young man why he wanted
to attend college.
I told him that I had a pretty hard life on the farm and I want to
improve myself if I can, Douglas reminisces.
But Douglas $20 would only cover one quarters tuition, which
was $15 at the time. The $5 left over wouldnt go very far. Hubert
came up with a plan for Douglas to earn money by feeding livestock
and cutting grass on campus for 10 cents an hour.
Later Douglas was awarded $800 in grant money, which he supplemented with a job on the weekends earning $1 a night. That grant
money, plus the money he earned during his weekend job, enabled
Douglas to work toward his degree in agriculture. He graduated in 1948
and has always been appreciative of the opportunity he was given.
I said then if I ever get any money, Im going to give Savannah
State a donation, Douglas says.
He made good on that promise. In 2013, Douglas and his wife, Ellen,
established the Jimmie C. Douglas Scholarship Endowment. The
scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate strong financial
need and best exemplify the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship
and community service. Preference is given to residents of Jenkins
County and Millen, Ga., where Douglas and his wife reside.
Ive been blessed, and Im still going to give some more, adds
Douglas, who celebrated his 65th college reunion in 2013.
After graduating from college, Douglas became an agricultural
teacher in Toombs County. While there he met Ellen Hopson, an
event he calls the best thing that ever happened to me, and the
two married in 1950. Douglas spent two years in the U.S. Army, then
began working as an extension agent in Washington County. He later
assumed the same position in Jenkins County, assisting citizens with
crop production, vegetables, lawn care and other horticulture issues.
Douglas retired in 1984. Throughout his career, Douglas farmed on the
side and continues to work as a farmer today.
Douglas has been a fixture in the Millen community over the years.
He served for 12 years on the Jenkins County Board of Commissioners, including five years as chairman, and also was a member of the
Swainsboro Technical College Board.
He enjoys visiting the Savannah State campus every year for
homecoming and especially enjoyed catching up with old friends at
the Class of 1948 reunion.
Some of [my classmates] I hadnt seen since 1948. One of them
was my old roommate, says Douglas. The campus has changed for
the better. Its a beautiful campus. Were proud of Savannah State.
g
15
PRESERVING
THE
PAST
Alumni, faculty and students work to preserve African-American cultural heritage
By Amy Pine
EMORY CAMPBELL:
SAVING HIS PEOPLE,
SAVING A CULTURE
bridge opened up Emory Campbells world.

Before the bridge connecting
Hilton Head Island to mainland
South Carolina was built, Campbell
attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in a traditional and isolated Gullah
community. The bridge a two-lane toll
swing bridge that opened in 1956 enabled
Campbell to attend Michael C. Riley High
School in nearby Bluffton. He thrived, and
in 1960, he graduated as the schools valedictorian.
But bridges only connect two pieces of
land. It took determination, dedication and
an unwavering work ethic for Campbell to
make the journey off the island to earn his
degrees, embark on a distinguished career
as a public health advocate and become one
of the nations foremost experts on Gullah
culture.
Growing Up Gullah
One of the most unique cultures in the
United States, Gullah refers to a group
of people living in a coastal corridor that
extends from the Carolinas to Florida.
Gullah people descended from Africans
who were brought to America and enslaved
on coastal plantations. Over the years, the
group developed a unique Creole-based
16
language known as Gullah and cultural

traditions that reflected their African heritage. Gullah communities were isolated
because of their geography, and thus, the
culture remained strong over the course of
several centuries.
Campbell was born and raised in an area
of Hilton Head near the bridge that connects the island to the mainland and can
trace his roots to the Civil War era when his
great-great grandfather was enslaved on the
island. Over the years, the community was
self-sustaining, with the population relying
on fishing, farming and other trades. Campbells family was grounded in Gullah culture,
and he grew up speaking the dialect.
Education was a priority in the Campbell
family. His grandparents and his mother
worked as teachers. Campbells father
attended Hampton University in Virginia,
and his mother traveled to Savannah State
to take summer courses to maintain her
teaching credentials. Campbell was the
sixth of 11 children and the first of his siblings to attend college.
The Journey to Savannah
Campbell left home in 1960 and headed
to Savannah, where he matriculated at
Savannah State. It was an exciting time in
Campbells life, though at times he felt like
an outsider. His fellow students noticed
his unusual accent, many assuming he had
come from Africa.
I was excited to be on a college campus,
explains Campbell, who stood out because
of his upbringing. In 1960, everyone was

trying to be urbanized. Rural folks werent
accepted as up-to-date.
Campbell eventually made friends with
another student who grew up in a Gullah
community and became deeply involved
in his major, biology. For his first year at
Savannah State, Campbell lived with his
brother, who had a house in Savannah.
When his brother moved, Campbell went
back to Hilton Head, commuting to his
classes for three years. He would grab a ride
to Savannah in the mornings with people
heading to work and would often hitchhike
home in the evenings.
We saw education as a roadmap to a
better life. It was a ticket to a better world,
says Campbell. The whole community at
Savannah State [felt] the same way.
In 1965, Campbell graduated from
Savannah State with a bachelor of science
degree in biology and a desire to learn
more.
Boston Bound
After graduating from Savannah State,
Campbell headed to Boston, working for
the Harvard School of Public Health from
1965-68. While he was there, he met his
future wife, Emma, who was also working
as a researcher.
Campbell knew that he wanted to continue his education and was subsequently
accepted into Harvard Medical School. But
he rejected the offer because he thought he
would be a more effective public servant
EMORY CAMPBELL
if he continued his studies in the field of

public health. He enrolled in a progressive program at Tufts University, earning a
master of science degree in environmental
engineering in 1971.
Campbell enjoyed his time in the
Boston area, but the call of home always
remained strong. He knew that if he one
day returned, he could affect change in his
community.
I wanted to come back to make a difference. That was the reason for our education, Campbell says. The question was
asked, what are you going to do with your
degree? [I would respond] Im going to go
back home and help my people.
Heading Home
Upon returning to Hilton Head, Campbell
took a position as an environmental health
engineer at Beaufort-Jasper Comprehensive Health Services (BJCHS) to fulfill his
mission of taking care of his community.
The position gave him the opportunity
to address numerous concerns that faced
Hilton Heads Gullah population and other
rural communities in the area
I was working in neighborhoods like the
one I grew up in. Poverty was very rampant
at the time, Campbell notes.
Campbells efforts to improve the lives
of those around him didnt go unnoticed.
When the Penn Center, one of the East
Coasts largest centers for the study of
Gullah culture, was in search of an executive director, he was recruited heavily for
the job.
The position of executive director of a

historical and cultural organization was a
bit of a departure for Campbell, who admits
he didnt particularly enjoy his required
history courses during his undergraduate
days at Savannah State. But taking the reins
of the Penn Center a designated National
Historic Site on St. Helena Island that
once served as a school for former slaves
required Campbell to delve into the history
of the Gullah people. It was nothing like
the Western civilization courses he took in
college.
I had to start learning my history all
over again. I read and read, redoubled
my efforts and relearned Gullah history.
Campbell was hooked.
A Distinguished Career
In Campbells 22-year career as executive
director of the Penn Center, he helped preserve the former school, restoring 15 of 21
buildings on campus. He also reorganized
the board of trustees, developed programs
for small farm land use planning, and
organized the Penn Center Heritage Days
Festival, one of the premier celebrations
of Gullah culture in the nation. He retired
from the Penn Center in 2002.
In 2007, Campbell was named to the
23-person commission overseeing the
Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. The Corridor, which was designated
by an act of Congress in 2006, was created
to recognize the important contributions
made by the Gullah and Geechee communities and to help preserve sites, historical
data, artifacts and objects associated with

the culture. Campbell served two terms
as chairman of the commission and still
serves as a commissioner today.
Campbell has received numerous
additional honors throughout his career,
including the Governors Award for Historical Preservation in 1999 and the Carter
G. Woodson Award for Civil Rights by the
National Education Association in 2006.
He was inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame in 1999 and was
awarded an honorary doctor of humane
letters by the Bank Street College of
Education in New York in 2000 and by the
University of South Carolina in 2012.
Campbell hasnt slowed down in his
retirement. He wrote Gullah Cultural Legacies, which was first published in 2002,
owns Gullah Heritage Consulting Service
and operates Gullah Heritage Trail Tours
with his family.
For Campbell, the dedication to preserving Gullah culture has been a labor of love
and a cause that he hopes will continue to
resonate with future generations.
Theres a saying in Gullah that if you
dont know where you come from, then
you wouldnt know where youre going,
Campbell says. I would tell [young people]
to know themselves, learn who they are and
[know] the whys as to their character. Find
out the reason for their speech, the reason
for the way they look. Theyll find that its
much easier to accept yourself. Once you
do that, confidence is there, and you can
find that life becomes easier. g
17
By Meaghan Walsh Gerard
HARRIS NECK:
RETURNING A LAND
TO ITS PEOPLE
n October of 2014, Savannah State

Universitys Otis Johnson, Ph.D.,
scholar-in-residence, Dionne Hoskins,
Ph.D., professor of marine sciences
and director of National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
sponsored programs, and Jolvan Morris,
Ph.D., Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) postdoctoral fellow, presented Coastal Citizens:
Where Ecology, Culture, and Politics Intersect as part of the Distinguished Lecture
series in the Asa H. Gordon Library.
The lecture focused on the ecology of the
southeastern seaboard, especially barrier
islands and marshlands, with a number of
Harris Neck Land Trust members in attendance. Those land trust members have
been fighting to return to the acreage that
is now a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge.
Hoskins and Morris have been gathering
oral histories from the Harris Neck residents and descendants. The African American Fisherman Oral History project is an
ongoing initiative, so we are in fact continuing to collect oral histories from Harris
Neck and several other Gullah Geechee
communities from North Carolina down
to Florida, Morris says. The oral history
project explores the role and importance of
fishing in these unique communities.
The History
The Georgia barrier islands have been
18
inhabited since early natives fished and

hunted there. It was permanently settled
in the 1750s by the Demetre-Harris family
as a Sea Island cotton plantation. Following
the end of the Civil War, owner Margaret
Ann Harris willed the estate to her freed
slaves. Many remained at Harris Neck and
established a small fishing community. The
small villages micro-economy prospered
and practiced sustainable farming and fishing techniques.
So they had a season and worked
within that environment and they preserved the environment. Now everything had to work in connection with
each other for you to get the maximum benefits from the environment.
I dont really think that they know that
they were environmentalists, but they
were good at it.
- Wilson Moran, resident
In 1942, the U.S. Government was looking to acquire property up and down the
coast for military use. Eminent domain
claimed hundreds of acres of strategic land
for use toward the war effort. Harris Neck
was one of those places.
A small airbase housed P-39s and P-40s
to scout the Atlantic for possible German
submarines throughout the war. In 1944,
the Federal Surplus Act was passed, which
released the properties condemned in 1942.
In 1948, Harris Neck was transferred to
McIntosh County, which accepted a provisional deed to keep the airstrip in working
order for the benefit of the county and sur-
rounding areas rather than transferring it

back to the former residents, as they claim
to have been promised.
From 1948 to 1961, Harris Neck became
a den of iniquity. The tarmac became a
drag strip. The old officers club held illicit
parties. The county commissioner illegally
grazed his cattle.
Meanwhile, former residents and their
descendants had forged new lives outside
of the fishing and aquaculture community.
When the federal government finally
caught up to the countys misdeeds, it
reclaimed the land in 1962, stating McIntosh County was in violation of the terms of
the airport requirements. It reverted to Fish
and Wildlife Services (FWS) and became a
National Wildlife Refuge, primarily on the
basis of a bird called the wood stork.
And my mother used to go down
there on low tide, when it was time
for the oyster season; she would go
down there and shed open oysters,
bring back and fix for us to eat, and
then she would take the little dip net
when the tide coming back in and
see the crabs comin, and shed put it
out there and catch them and put it in
the bucket. ... Yeah. Harris Neck was a
blessed place.
- Olive Smith, resident
Former residents and descendants of

those who lived on the small barrier island
formally established the Harris Neck Land
Trust in 2006, but they had been challenging the federal decision since it was made
Photos by Meaghan Walsh Gerard
Left: Runways still remain from the days of the U.S. Army airfield. Right: Goulds Cemetery remains. It dates back to the early 1800s.
in the 1960s. Congressional legislation

never made it out of committee for a vote.
In 1980, a small group sued the government
in Edgar Timmons, Jr. v. United States of
America.
Our community plan will protect and
preserve the wildlife, land and waters
of Harris Neck. It sets aside, for permanent protection, all the ponds created by FWS and puts a buffer zone
around Woody Pond, the main bird
nesting pond, that is twice the setback distance recommended by the
scientific studies. - David M. Kelly,
project coordinator, Harris Neck
Land Trust, U.S. Congress subcommittee hearing, December 2011.
Today the Harris Neck Land Trust

continues to lobby for the ability to return.
They held a symposium on the campus of
Savannah State in February 2014. The conference explored the history of Harris Neck
since 1863 and the environmental justice
movement in Harris Neck since 1942.
A Teaching Moment
In 2014, the wood stork was down-listed
from endangered to threatened, due in large
part to the protected rookeries at Harris
Neck Wildlife Refuge. It is one of a string of
coastal marshes and forests protected for
migratory birds and other wildlife.
Tara Cox, Ph.D., professor of marine sci-
ences, gave her students real-world experience. She asked them to create a plan that
accounted for the Harris Neck Land Trusts
requests as well as the concerns of U.S. Fish
and Wildlife. Students are encouraged
to choose group projects that have actual
applications in coastal zone management
(CZM) class, Cox says. As I was investigating ideas for group projects for fall 2014, I
was working with my Conservation Biology
class on the Harris Neck project. The site
plan seemed like the perfect fit for the
CZM class they needed to understand
and incorporate all aspects of coastal zone
management into the plan and it could
benefit multiple parties the Harris Neck
Land Trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Coral Thompson, master of science in
marine sciences candidate in Coxs class,
recalls the difficulty in balancing the two
objectives. My focus throughout undergraduate school was biology and I never
thought about the politics involved or the
social side of science, she says. The curriculum of the CZM class encompassed the
laws regarding natural resources, and Dr.
Cox encouraged the class to consider the
impact of these laws and restrictions on the
people living along the coast.
This project was both grueling and
rewarding, she continues. I did a lot of
research on the culture of the Harris Neck
Land Trust and their ancestors. As a person, the easy solution is to tell the government to simply return the land that was
wrongfully taken. But the laws regarding

wildlife refuges do not allow for the answer
to be so simple. In the end, our group
wrote out a possible agreement for the two
involved parties where only a small portion
of the land would be leased to the land trust
and the refuge would be gaining volunteers.
The classs carefully crafted plan was
submitted to the Department of the Interior
for consideration. It included a site map,
accounting for refuge areas, a small number
of environmentally sustainable houses, a
working oyster factory and a heritage center.
The proposal was recently rejected by
the Department of the Interior. The Harris
Neck Land Trust is working on future plans
but they are not yet releasing the details.
They are determined to find a way to live in
harmony with the land once again. g
Further reading: Voices from the Fisheries NOAA Oral
History project https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/humandimensions/voices-from-the-fisheries/index
19
DYNAMIC
DUO
SSU alumnae hold top spots in city government
ince its founding in 1890, Savannah State University

has produced countless leaders who have served the
local community. From prominent civil rights leaders Curtis Cooper and W.W. Law to elected officials
including former Savannah City Councilman Clifford E. Hardwick III and retired Savannah-Chatham County
Public School Superintendent Virginia Edwards Maynor,
Savannah State graduates have taken a leading role in moving
the city forward.
Today, a new generation of Savannah State University
alumni have risen through the ranks, assuming some of
the top positions in the city and county governments,
among them Mayor Edna Jackson and City Manager
Stephanie Cutter.
Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson
It took the NAACP to get Edna Jackson back to Savannah State.

The teenager had enrolled at Savannah State right after
graduating from Alfred Ely Beach High School, but when family
finances became a concern, she changed her path. Jackson, who
already had had a taste of working in the civil rights movement
in Savannah, decided her place was in the front ranks as the
struggle intensified in the 1960s. The NAACP hired Jackson
and assigned her to Florida, where she traveled throughout the
state training young people in non-violent demonstrations and
organizing events. Just shy of her 19th birthday, she chaperoned
an integrated group of young people to the August 1963 March
on Washington.
My boss called me and asked, Edna, when are you going back
to college? and I said, When I get my freedom. And then he said
What are you going to do then? Savannahs mayor recalls.
Thanks to the groups encouragement, Jackson returned to
Savannah State and continued crusading for civil rights, working for the NAACP on weekends. Her experience working for
the organization ultimately led her to reconsider her academic
pursuits, changing her major from mathematics to sociology.
20
First a Degree, Then a Career

Jackson earned her degree in sociology
in 1968, but her involvement with Savannah
State was just in its infancy. After working
for three years as a social worker for the
Economic Opportunity Authority, her
alma mater came calling. Savannah
State President Prince Jackson, Ph.D.,
asked her to administer a new grant,
the Emergency School Assistance
Program.
They were integrating schools in
Savannah and this was a federal
grant that dealt with how do
we ease the tension in the
schools. It was our responsibility to get into the
schools and get the kids
talking to each other and
not fighting with each
other, Jackson says.
During that time we
organized advisory
boards within the
schools and they
worked on their own
situations.
Administering that
grant launched Jacksons 30-year career
at the university.
I never applied
for a job at Savannah
State Ive always
been asked, she says.
Those assignments took
her to many offices, including the counseling center,
admissions, financial aid
and alumni relations, where
she served as director. Along the way, she

earned a masters degree in political science
education from a joint Savannah StateArmstrong State University program.
Jackson served three terms as an alderman at large on Savannahs city council,
including serving two terms as mayor
pro-tem. In 2011, she was elected the 65th
mayor of the City of Savannah, becoming
the first African-American woman to hold
the position. In 2012, she was named the
recipient of Savannah States Richard R.
Wright Award of Excellence, the universitys highest honor. She currently serves as
1st vice president of the Georgia Municipal
Association and will be inducted as the
president in 2016. In addition, Jackson has
been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Most
Influential Georgians.
Most of Jacksons political education
came from the civil rights movement and
the person-to-person teachings of people
like Eugene Gadsden (later a Superior
Court judge) and W.W. Law (president of
the Savannah Chapter of the NAACP), she
says, but Savannah State played a role, too,
since the institution was deeply involved in
the movement.
Savannah State has always been a school
that is more like a family, Jackson says. If
people saw something in you, they would
move you forward. g
SSU writers interviewed the mayor for this article.
City Manager
Stephanie Cutter
By Amy Pine
Stephanie Cutter expected nothing less

than an A on a paper she wrote about the
school bond referendum as a graduate
student at Savannah State University. When
the studious master of public administration candidate saw that her professor only
gave her a B+, she was determined to find
out what went wrong.
Cutter approached Willie Johnson, Ph.D.,
a longtime public administration professor
at SSU who retired in 2010, for an explanation. Though Cutter had written a wellresearched paper, Johnson said she had
neglected to take into account the opinion

of taxpayers without children enrolled in
the public school system.
That taught me a very valuable lesson: to
be thorough and to examine an issue holistically. Thats what makes good research
meaningful, Cutter says.
That lesson has followed Cutter through
her esteemed career with the City of Savannah. Today as city manager, Cutter works
diligently to move the city forward by rallying support from her staff and the community. No one is too big or too small to get her
attention; she takes into account all citizens
of Savannah when planning and making
decisions.
A Born Leader
Cutters reputation as a team builder can be
attributed to her upbringing. Her mother
was a caring and unselfish woman who
always extended herself to help someone
else. Those same instincts were inborn in
Cutter, and the example of her mother was
ingrained in her at an early age.
Its not about me, its about taking good
care of employees and the community and
adding to the quality of life, for all of our citizens, says Cutter, a native of Savannah who
graduated from Windsor Forest High School.
In addition to having a natural inclination as a team builder, Cutter also learned
early on how to juggle a busy schedule.
During her years as an undergraduate
accounting major at Savannah State, she
worked full time for the State of Georgia as
a clerk typist. Cutter would come to campus
on her lunch break, taking classes whenever
she got the chance. She graduated with a
bachelor of business administration degree
in accounting in 1983.
Cutter went on to SSUs master of public
administration program, graduating in 1989.
She received her MPA degree on a Sunday,
interviewed with the City of Savannah on a
Wednesday and was offered a job the following day. Shes worked there ever since.
Cutter started out as a budget analyst and
over the next decade was promoted to several positions within the city government.
She was appointed acting city manager in
2012, and in April 2013, Savannahs City

Council voted unanimously to appoint
Cutter city manager, choosing to forgo a
nationwide search.
Since taking the reins as city manager,
Cutter has worked tirelessly on behalf of
the city and has continued to receive praise
across the board. Shes also had the opportunity to work closely with fellow Savannah
State graduate Mayor Edna Jackson.
We are proud of what we learned at
Savannah State. We feel proud that we
were able to receive our education there
and to have the opportunity to hold the
positions that we hold, Cutter says. I feel
that the education I received at Savannah
State is just as good as an education that
I would have received at an Ivy League
school because of what I invested into the
opportunity. g
21
In 1999, Savannah State University was entrusted by the City of Savannah to be the premiere
presenter of the Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival*. Through the festival, SSU has opened
eyes and enhanced knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the significant contributions of African-Americans to the growth and development of the cultural arts in our country.
Thousands of persons of all backgrounds and ages from throughout the city and the region are
engaged in this event that is free and open to the public, and one that has grown into a three-week
experiential experience that celebrates how the influences of African-Americans are entrenched
in all genres of the cultural arts.
*The Savannah Black Heritage Festival, founded in 1989 by the late Westley W. Law, enters its 27th year in 2016.
It is presented by Savannah State University and the City of Savannah-Department of Cultural Affairs.
Shirley Barber James

Festival Coordinator, Savannah Black Heritage Festival
REFLECTIONS
Savannah State University, its administration, its professors and its students are
all engaged in a noble cause, that of expanding young minds and preparing students
for lives of significance. I could not be more pleased that in our midst we are fortunate
indeed to have an institution that, for 125 years and counting, has proffered higher
education to eager young students from not only Georgia and our great nation, but
from many other parts of the world as well. GO TIGERS!!
Robert S. Jepson Jr.
Chairman of the Board of Visitors, Savannah State University
Savannah State is Georgias oldest public HBCU, nestled in historic Savannah Georgias first
city! With a distinctive and impressive history, Savannah State University is committed to
investing in the future by creating opportunities for students in the community and the region,
preparing young people to run the world.
Shirley McDuffie, Ed.D., c/o 1968
High school educator, Clark County (Athens, Ga. Board of Education)
Former SSUNAA president, 2005-09
22
Savannah State University continues to make a significant difference in the lives

of deserving students who aspire to reach their potential in life. SSU is providing
opportunities that are enabling our students to become educators, business professionals and leaders in their state, nation and abroad.
Clyde A. Newton, c/o 1993
Employee Development Coordinator, Georgia Power
President, Savannah State University National Alumni Association
One of Savannah State Universitys greatest contributions to Savannah and Chatham County has been the leadership it has delivered consistently over time. The university has graduated many strong leaders and attracted others to the community as faculty
or staff, men and women dedicated to improving the community, the state and the world.
Brynn Grant
Chief Operating Officer, Savannah Economic Development Authority
Vice President, World Trade Center Savannah
Community members reflect on Savannah States first 125 years
On behalf of the Savannah State University Foundation, Inc. (SSUF), I want to congratulate SSU on celebrating 125 years of higher educational achievements. The SSUF continues
to provide scholarships and academic resources for SSU faculty and students and appreciates the many donors and supporters who have provided assistance over the years.
Charles G. Young, c/o 1976
Chairman, Savannah State University Foundation
Education is the key to success for many people in America today.

We are blessed to have an institution such as Savannah State University in our community providing the foundation for success for youth in our region. Savannah State has
proven to be a great partner with our United Way and we are excited about their future.
Gregg Schroeder
President and CEO, United Way of the Coastal Empire
23
HISTORY in
OBJECTS
On the second floor of the Asa Gordon Library is a quiet

room with shelves full of acid free boxes waiting to be
explored. Among the papers and photographs that comprise the archives, are displays featuring items from
Savannah States past. Each item reveals a chapter of the
schools history. They tell stories to anyone who will take
time to look and listen.
By Meaghan Walsh Gerard
24
THE CANE
Richard R. Wright probably never leaned on anyone or anything else in his entire life. His cane,
with a gold band engraved with his name, became
a common sight in his later years.
Wright was born into slavery in 1853 (or possibly 1855). After the Civil War, he and his mother
walked nearly 100 miles to enroll him into school
a school held in an abandoned train car. Wright
never took the opportunity to learn for granted
and spent the next four decades devoted to education for African-Americans.
He served as the first president of Georgia State
Industrial College for Colored Youths now
Savannah State University from 1891-1921. Well
into his 60s, he left Georgia and joined his son in
Philadelphia where he founded a bank.
After he graduated from the Wharton School
of the University of Pennsylvania, Wright opened
the Citizens and Southern Bank and Trust Company on the northeast corner of 19th and South
streets. At the time, it was one of the only AfricanAmerican owned bank in the North. The bank
survived the Great Depression and had assets
of more than $5 million when it was sold after
Wrights death.
Wright was not idle in his retirement. In addition to acting as president of the bank, he also
founded and ran the Haitian Coffee and Products
Trading Company. He registered its copyright
with the Library of Congress in 1935, encouraging
shoppers to try something new in coffee and to
try genuine, unadulterated Haitian coffee.
Pictured here, Wright can be seen with his cane,
boarding a plane to visit Haiti.
Wrights cane, never a crutch, remained at his
side until his death in 1947.
25
The Saw
A massive crosscut saw, needing two men to work it,
is quiet today. At one time, it was used to build the
campus of Savannah State. Many of the buildings on
campus, still in use today, were built by students
and faculty.
Hill Hall, the landmark building on campus,
embodies the history of Savannah State. The brickand-beam edifice is tall and stately, with arched windows on the third floor. Built as a dormitory for boys,
Hill Hall now houses administrative offices.
The industrial department masonry, woodwork
and metal work began construction in 1900. Hill
Hall was completed in 1901. Local papers at the time
encouraged neighbors to watch the building underway. You must go and see the new dormitory building
resplendent in its beauty and importing in its proportions, wrote the Savannah Tribune. In 1981, it was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Morgan Hall, opened in 1936, housed classrooms
for teaching trades such as carpentry, drafting, painting, industry, shorthand and bookkeeping. Adams
Hall was constructed between 1929 and 1931 and
became the kitchen and dining area for the entire
college. Hammond Hall, now the headquarters for
networking and computer technology, was home to
shoemaking, tailoring and, later, home economics.
The Willcox-Wiley Physical Education Complex was
completed in 1936 and has undergone numerous
additions and renovations since.
Each building is a tangible demonstration of the
impressive ingenuity of Savannah State.
Hill Hall
Hammond Hall
Masonry class
26
The Uniform
Savannah State has fielded sports teams
and promoted extracurricular activities
since its inception.
In 1921, the university won the state
championship in football under the guidance of Coach Waters. The Willcox-Wiley
Physical Education Complex, opened in
1936, was known to be the best indoor
basketball facility in the state and hosted
a high school tournament each spring.
Students from Augusta, Atlanta, Macon
and beyond attended.
Ted Wright came to Savannah State
in 1947 and developed the universitys
first varsity track and field team. He also
coached the mens basketball team to 10
conference championships between 1948
and 1962. Savannah State is now home to
15 mens and womens teams that compete in NCAA Division I, including tennis,
cheerleading, golf, football and basketball.
Savannah State wasnt only known for

its talent on the field.
In its early days, Savannah State also
built on the schools reputation as an
agricultural college. President Wright led
an initiative to host a state fair. The group,
known as the Georgia State Colored
Agricultural and Industrial Association,
was founded in 1906 and sponsored the
annual demonstration. It was an immediate success. Shareholders were paid 5
percent dividends the first year.
Savannah State then Georgia State
Industrial College sent delegates and
projects from the agricultural, sewing and
industrial departments, including wagons
and buggies, shows, suits, brickwork and
produce.
These and hundreds of other efforts
served to enrich the education and lives
of the students and the surrounding
community.
27
The Skyhawk
Near the main entrance to Savannah
State University is a mounted fighter jet.
The bright blue plane is an A-4 Skyhawk,
outfitted in the colors of the special Naval
division known as the Blue Angels.
Lt. Cmdr. Donnie Cochran graduated
from Savannah States NROTC program
in 1976 with a civil engineering degree.
He went on to become the first AfricanAmerican commander of the Blue Angels.
The university has a long history of
military service.
In August 1898, President William
McKinley approached and requested
Richard R. Wright Sr. to act as paymaster of United States Volunteers in the
United States Army. He was the first
African-American to serve as an Army
paymaster. Earning the rank of Major,
28
he was the highest-ranking AfricanAmerican officer to serve during the

Spanish-American War.
In the years preceding Americas
entrance to World War I, Savannah State
was one of a handful of institutions contracted by the United States government
to train African-American soldiers for
posts in the Army. The vocational instruction included mechanical repair, electrical
work and plumbing, and contained an
option for academic studies as well.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor,
the U.S. entered World War II. Savannah
State students once again took up the
cause. In addition to those who trained
for combat, many chose vocational
paths on the home front. The business
department trained scores of women
to be typists and secretaries and to run
small businesses while the men were

away. Young men learned trades like ship
building, arc welding and radio repair, all
greatly needed during World War II.
The current NROTC program was
established at Savannah State in 1971.
Since then, the unit has commissioned
nearly 300 officers into service as Navy
Ensigns and Marine Corps Second
Lieutenants.
The Olympic Costume

On display from time to time is a circular, surreal black and gold
costume. It was designed by Peter Minshall, a noted international carnival designer. Minshall was hired to create the costumes for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The costume is housed
in the Savannah State archives because it was worn by Loris
Boyd-Johnson, then a dance instructor and director of the SSU
Dance Ensemble.
Boyd-Johnson was invited to participate in the opening
ceremonies for the centennial games, quite literally bringing
Savannah States presence to a global stage. The Olympics is
such a worldwide event that you may get to be a part of only once
in your life, she recalls.
From the premier international event to individual experiences world wide, these vibrant international connections are an
inherent part of Savannah State.
Savannah State currently has 32 memorandums of understanding with foreign universities in 14 countries. And with the
newly opened Confucius Institute, students can learn Chinese
language and culture from native speakers and special guests.
Each year, SSU welcomes students from around the world. In
fall of 2014, 47 students from abroad chose to study at SSU for at
least a semester.
The English Language Institute was established at SSU to help
international students with language skills and with the transition to a new country. Students are able to practice their English
with native speakers and visit nearby cultural sites.
Throughout the year, SSU leads trips abroad. Students learn
outside the classroom in places like Vietnam, Paris, Liberia, the
United Kingdom and China. They come back with credits toward
their degree, a stamp in their passport and so much more.
29
Of Microscopes, Scales and Generators

Since its founding, Savannah State has engaged
in cutting-edge research. Early classes included
agricultural and technical training. The college
had a working farm that investigated the best fertilizers and crop seeds. Students learned how to
work with stone, build electronics and conduct
experiments.
Curriculum adapted to the needs of the era.
During WWII, radio repair was a main course
offering.
From the federal research program on phosphates in the 1930s to the solar project of the
1970s with the U.S. Department of Energy to
faculty-led biochemical experiments that traveled onboard the International Space Station,
SSU has brought together curious minds and
leading science.
Currently, students and faculty are studying
under more than $10 million in grant-funded
research. The findings are reported to partners
like the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, the
U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
30
With a Dress Form and a Sewing Machine

The idea of home economics is unfamiliar to todays
students. For years, it was a staple of the curriculum in
nearly every school. It went far beyond housekeeping.
Students learned how to can food and make preserves,
how to sew, how to host a guest and how to maintain
clothing.
These skills became significant during the Great
Depression and on into the 1940s. Knowing how to run
a household efficiently, help save money and perhaps
even sell small homemade goods was meaningful work.
The coursework was first offered in 1898 and called
Domestic Science, and it was required of all female
students, even those majoring in another topic. Initially,
the focus was dressmaking and sewing and included the
study of cloth, seams, hems, patches, drafting patterns,
constructing dresses, embroidery, millinery (hat making) and interior design.
In 1909, cooking was added. Students were taught the
science of proteins, starch, carbohydrates and digestion, in addition to ventilation, drainage, plumbing and
waitressing standards.
These women were able to find careers, and in some
cases bring in a second income for their families.
The class of 1900 was the first to include female
graduates. g
The marketing and communications staff thanks Ann Ogden, archivist

in the Asa Gordon Library Special Collections, for her tireless efforts
and assistance in creating this article. She has held numerous positions
at SSU. She is now responsible for all of the artifacts, documents, photographs and more that are being preserved for future generations.
31
32
A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
Mary Ann Goldwire
Celebrates 40 years of employment
any students have

walked the hallways and
paths of Savannah State
University, forging closeknit relations that have
enabled them to thrive and connect
with people all over the world. This
year, as Savannah State celebrates
125 years of greatness, the entire SSU
community shares gratitude and love
for the administrators who have tirelessly served the university, among
them 40-year employee Mary Ann
Goldwire.
Goldwire, a graduate of Savannah
State, has spent the past four decades
helping many university faculty, staff
and students in a variety of capacities.
Because of her dedication to ensuring
student success, many can say that
they feel at home on campus.
I am humble, appreciative and
grateful to be employed here at SSU
this long, she says.
Goldwire began as a secretary in
the Office of Extended Service, which
was a federally funded program. She
then worked as a GED instructor for
young mothers wanting to develop
skills to obtain their degree and
served a counselor for the Upward
Bound program, which is part of the
universitys TRIO programs.
Goldwire also worked as a reading

program assistant for the Department
of Special Studies, as an assistant coordinator for AMMP (Academic Mentorship Program) and most recently as
coordinator for academic advisement.
Today Goldwire serves as the interim
director for the Center for Academic
Success and is the e-Core liaison for
MOWR (Move on When Ready).
Technology for one has had a
major impact and has driven a lot of
the change academically, she notes.
Goldwire says her four decades at
SSU have been more than just a job.
The most important motivation for
me is seeing students walk across that
stage and come back for homecoming,
sharing their progress with me, says
Goldwire, who has a constant stream
of student visitors in her second-floor
office in Whiting Hall. This year, one
of my students brought her daughter
to student orientation. Seeing her
all grown up as a mother, that really
makes it all worth it.
Goldwire was a sociology major
during her time at Savannah State
and minored in early childhood
development education. She was
raised by her grandmother in Twin
City, Ga, and graduated from SSU
in 1974.
I guess that was my calling.

Sociology is all about analyzing the
importance of our personal lives and
studying human interaction within a
social structure, she recalls.
She was involved on campus as
well. She was a member of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority and Pi Gamma
Mu Honor Society for social science,
a peer counselor with student affairs
and a member of the Student Government Association.
Over the years, she has seen a
number of changes at SSU, but what
remains is the passion of the students
on campus. They are energetic,
expressive, smart and bold! Never a
dull moment.
Goldwire has many stories to share
and praises the people who have
paved the way for her. Most especially, I thank the administrators,
faculty, workers, family and friends
who have supported me. But most of
all, the glory goes to the Lord.
Savannah State University has
produced many individuals who
have gone on to do great things;
Mary Ann Goldwire is one of them.
After finding her path, she has
ushered generations of students
through college life, helping them
find their own.
Nandi Conteh, a junior mass communications major from Wrens, Ga., interviewed Goldwire for this article.
33
SmARt
Since 1890, Savannah State has prepared
BOLD
students for amazing careers whether its making scientific
breakthroughs, forging new business models or impacting our
local community. It all starts right here in Savannah.
College of Business Administration

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
College of Sciences and Technology
School of Teacher Education
www.SAVANNAHSTATE.edu
34
WE ARE SAVANNAH
Smart
Since 1890, Savannah State University has prepared
students for amazing careers whether its making scientific

breakthroughs, forging new business models or impacting our
local community. It all starts right here in Savannah.
SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE
WeAre.SavannahState.edu
Savannah State University is a unit of the University System of Georgia. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
S AVA N N A H S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y
Box 20439
S ava n n a h , G A 3 1 4 0 4
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 3016
ATLANTA, GA
I AM
SAVANNAH
PROUD
SAMANTHA HEFLEY IS PROUD OF THE COMPANY SHE KEEPS. As NROTC
Midshipman Company Commanding Officer, she was in charge of more than 100
midshipmen who call Savannah State home. Here, this California native gained the
leadership experience she needs to conquer her next challenge the Marine Corps.
Shes just one of our students making a difference in the world. Discover their stories:
WeAre.SavannahState.edu
SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE

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S AVA N N A H S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y | Vol. 1, Num.

TELL THEM WE ARE

Vol. 1, Num. 1, Fall 2015

International student Anni Joy Tapkida chats with SSU

TELL THEM WE ARE

Retired SSU professor and historian Charles Elmore, Ph.D., and

Meet the Singletons, a family of eight siblings that all attended

Scholarship funds established by SSU alumni Cyrus Jackson,

SSU is at the forefront of historic and cultural preservation

Members of the Savannah community pay tribute to Savannah

Forty-year employee Mary Ann Goldwire reflects on her long and

Impressions is published by University Advancement,

Savannah State University Mission

n behalf of Savannah State University,

Tapkida: What is the value

Tapkida: How many countries

Tapkida: What was your first

Tapkida: Why do you think it

Dozier: Those born in

Dozier: Ive been to 17 coun-

Dozier: My first interna-

Dozier: I encourage students

America tend to think that the

tries, at last count, including

tional trip to Africa was to

to go abroad to see and learn

Education Returns to Savannah State

eacher education has been an integral part of Savannah

the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, focus on preparing

When thinking of teacher education, one must think in terms

for STEM professionals. The scholarship program is designed to

ichard R. Wright Sr., Savannah

TELL THEM WE ARE

1865. Wrights efforts led to President Truman

On Richard R. Wrights Early Life

a curriculum based on the seven ancient medieval liberal arts the

has that durability. And I took the opportunity, on a personal level,

Theres so much that we have by way of struggle and in many cases

Prominent local artist Jerome

suspect the Singleton family

trial College. His wife, the late Angela

(SCCPSS) after a 31-year teaching career.

Harold and his wife, Serdalia, attend 100 Celebrity Men

Harold (back row, third from left) at an SSU Glee Club

Walter (left), Pearl and Harold on the SSU campus.

The late Emily Singleton Chisholm

bookstore manager and director of auxiliary

avannah State University

Clemontine Washington, ED.D., and Harold Washington

Clemontine Washington, ED.D., and Harold Washington

Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Ph.D.

During her long career as a professor and reading coordinator at

Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Ph.D.

Jimmie and Ellen Douglas

Alumni, faculty and students work to preserve African-American cultural heritage

bridge opened up Emory Campbells world.

language known as Gullah and cultural

of his upbringing. In 1960, everyone was

if he continued his studies in the field of

The position of executive director of a

data, artifacts and objects associated with

By Meaghan Walsh Gerard

n October of 2014, Savannah State

inhabited since early natives fished and