The College of Arts and Humanities at ����Vlog will host the next event in its “Moveable Feast” lecture series, featuring a discussion on an iconic American instrument. Matthew Hill, Ph.D., will present “Strum and Twang: The Improbable Yet Inevitable Rise of the Electric Guitar Since 1750” Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at Plant Riverside District in Savannah.

“Many people think they know the history of the instrument, but they don’t,” said Hill. “There are lots of myths and legends that are just not true, but the real story is even weirder.”

Hill’s presentation will take attendees on a journey from bizarre instruments powered by static electricity that predate the Revolutionary War to the wild days of the rock ’n’ roll revolution. Participants will also experiencehear special instruments that Hill has built to replicate the strange sounds of the past and new ones he has created.

“These instruments have been evolving for centuries,” explained Hill. “The electric guitar is not just part of music, it’s part of popular culture. People constantly bring it with them into whatever the new modern era is. These days you can go online and learn so many ways to modify them and make something new.”

The Moveable Feast series is an immersive learning experience by bringing lectures into spaces relevant to their topics. Hill’s presentation will take place among the many guitars displayed as part of “That Great Gretsch Sound!” collection in the District Live lobby within Savannah’s Plant Riverside District. Hill is the curator of the collection that is maintained by the Georgia Southern Museum.

The event is free and open to the public. 

����Vlog and the City of Statesboro’s partnership to recruit more retail businesses to the area has been nationally recognized by the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) as a finalist for one of its annual Awards of Excellence. 

The partnership, officially named the “Retail Recruiter Program,” is a collaboration between Georgia Southern’s Business Innovation Group and the City of Statesboro.

The program earned a final spot in the “Place” category. The UEDA defines this category as “the many and diverse ways in which institutions contribute to making attractive, competitive communities—places where people want to live, create and take jobs, raise their families, participate in civic life, and age and retire.”

Mayor of Statesboro Jonathan McCollar said the city is thrilled with the growth and revitalization brought on by its partnership with the Retail Recruiter Program. One example is the renovation of the space previously occupied by Kmart on Northside Drive, which will now be home to the national home furnishings chain HomeGoods. In May of this year, McCollar noted the impact this will have on the city.

“Our city is growing by leaps and bounds every day,” he explained.“This retailer’s decision to invest in Statesboro is a testament to the hard work of our team and the undeniable potential of our community. It’s about more than filling a vacant building; it’s about showing investors and developers that Statesboro is a thriving, vibrant city with a bright future.”

In just the first two and a half years, 26 retailers have toured the city, and nine of those are actively looking at area locations.

Additionally, Georgia Power designated Statesboro as “retail-ready” in June, as part of its new initiative to help communities outside the Atlanta metro area attract retailers. They consider Statesboro a catalyst for growing the initiative.

A planned collaboration with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority could further the program, potentially bringing several million dollars of construction to the Main Street corridor, said Alan Gross, head of the Retail Recruiter Program for Georgia Southern.

Gross believes this is just the beginning, and recognition from the UEDA means similar programs could be replicated nationwide.

“It’s taken a while, but we’re finally starting to see some success,” he said. “Being a UEDA Award finalist is a chance to showcase that success, and more importantly, serve as a model for other communities.”

����Vlog has expanded its Sponsored Student Programs portfolio with a new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education dedicated to serving first-generation and low-income students with disabilities. 

The new program will serve students on the Armstrong, Liberty and Statesboro campuses. Georgia Southern also secured renewal of its longstanding TRIO SSS program, which serves first-generation and low-income students on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses. 

Together, the two SSS programs provide more than $2.7 million in federal funding over the next five years to strengthen student support services.

These awards complement Georgia Southern’s TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, funded at more than $1.3 million over five years, and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, funded at $1.6 million over four years. Collectively, the four initiatives represent an investment of more than $5.6 million in Sponsored Student Programs to expand access and improve academic outcomes for program participants.

“Our Sponsored Student Programs are central to Georgia Southern’s pursuit of academic access and excellence,” said Dominique A. Quarles, Ph.D., associate vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement. “By securing both TRIO SSS grants, continuing the McNair Scholars program, and supporting parenting students through CCAMPIS, we are enhancing a comprehensive system of support that empowers our students to thrive in college and beyond.”

The new TRIO SSS program for students with disabilities will provide individualized advising, tutoring, mentoring and academic resources tailored to help students reach their educational and career goals.

“This grant will allow us to provide dedicated and individualized support to 100 students with disabilities,” said Jazzkia Jones, director of Institutional Engagement. “It represents a significant investment in our students and expands upon the opportunities we have for students to engage.”

����Vlog’s College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) received approval from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) to launch a Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical sciences degree. The Board of Regents approved the academic program during a meeting on Oct. 14. Pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), classes will begin in fall 2026 on both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses.

“This new Ph.D. program creates an invaluable educational pipeline, completing the continuity of training we envisioned when we launched our undergraduate program,” said Michael Huggins, Ph.D., COSM dean. “Now, students can begin their journey with us as freshmen, engage in mentored research throughout their bachelor’s degree and seamlessly transition into a terminal degree that accelerates their progress toward becoming independent researchers.”

The Ph.D. in biomedical sciences program will cover a range of topics including immunology, virology, neuroscience and genetics. After completing core courses, students will select advanced courses with their faculty mentor, tailoring the students’ research to their areas of interest. The addition of the degree brings fresh opportunities for students and faculty alike to pursue research in a variety of fields under the biomedical umbrella.

“This new Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences is a testament to ����Vlog’s commitment to advancing health care innovation,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D. “By fostering top-tier research and cultivating skilled professionals, we are directly contributing to the economic vitality and robust health of our region and the broader health care industry.”

The addition of a terminal degree in the field of biomedical sciences will complement the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree added in 2025 and build on COSM’s strong research foundation. 

“The biomedical sciences Ph.D. is a major step forward, fundamentally strengthening our research enterprise,” said Huggins. “This program is specifically designed to address complex, cutting-edge challenges in biomedicine, which will attract top-tier faculty and secure greater external funding, solidifying our standing as a leading research institution.”

The new doctoral program adds to COSM’s degree program portfolio to now include three Ph.D. programs: biomedical sciences, environmental science and materials science. COSM offers state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, including geospatial technology labs, an aquatics lab, microscopy and mass spectrometry suites and Core Research Laboratory. Additional resources such as animal care spaces, greenhouses, a herbarium and an insectary further support faculty and student projects. The college also operates an undergraduate research office that encourages students to compete for grants and present at research symposia.

First year biomed student Ivy Nash said the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences  program was a perfect fit when she looked for options to start her college career.

“I wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t know what to major in at first,” said Nash. “So I did research and found the biomedical program. I love biology and I also love medicine at the same time, so putting those two together, I fell in love with the programs they have and what I can do with it.”

Since the program launched in fall 2025, demand for the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree at ����Vlog’s College of Science and Mathematics has been high with over 130 students enrolling in the program. It has proven to be popular with both newly enrolled students and upperclassmen who changed majors.

As the first group of students advance toward graduation, COSM leadership is working to support their next steps with a new pathways course. The class is designed to help students identify their specific interests in the field and chart a course to achieve a career or graduate level education to meet those interests. A portfolio course will also make its debut to make sure students are able to immediately enter the workforce or graduate school as soon as they receive their degree.

Program director Scott Mateer, Ph.D., feels a personal drive to help his students succeed. As a first generation college graduate, he found himself in uncharted waters after earning his bachelor’s degree. He decided to go on to earn his doctorate and begin teaching so he could help the next generation of scientists find their own path in life.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the students figuring out what’s important to them,” said Mateer. “Everything I do comes back to the students because they are always going to come first to me.”

To help students make connections and discover career opportunities in the field of biomedicine, Mateer hosts “meet and mingle” events where students can ask questions of professors and each other. Current biomed student Anya Bull appreciates the special attention the faculty have put into connecting with students.

“I’ve been introduced to a lot of new organizations that really get me ready with shadowing and now with research opportunities,” said Bull. “I’ve been getting more involved with my professors to have a more personal connection with them. Overall, I’ve found myself taking my education a lot more seriously now that I know how to plan for the future.”

The Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree is available in person at both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses.

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at ����Vlog will celebrate its fifth anniversary with two feature concert performances by student and faculty musicians.

The concerts will showcase two renowned campus musical groups – The Sound and The Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Both groups will perform Oct. 15 at the Performing Arts Center on the Statesboro Campus and Oct. 16 at the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah.

The Sound is an audition-only ensemble made up of student performers from the Armstrong Campus that focuses on modern performance techniques and musical styles from pop, rock, hip-hop and more. The group is directed by Benjamin Mathews, DMA, the Gretsch Distinguished Scholar of Guitar and Music Industry for the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music. 

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the most select of the University’s concert bands, with a membership limited to 50 to 55 of the most accomplished woodwind, brass and percussion student performers on the Statesboro Campus. Members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble perform repertoire of the highest caliber, representing all musical style periods from the Renaissance through the modern day, featuring works created by the finest composers for the historical and contemporary wind bands. The Ensemble is conducted by Darrell Brown, DMA, director of bands.

Jayson Brown, a junior music major and member of The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, is excited to be a part of the fifth anniversary celebration concerts. 

“I am most excited to be able to play in a different environment with musicians from the Armstrong Campus,” Brown said. “Educationally, I think it is beneficial to be exposed to various genres of music as well as many playing scenarios. I am also excited for the challenges and focus that will come with a shorter rehearsal cycle. The rehearsal process thus far has been incredible. There is so much great music-making going on in the rehearsal room. Dr. Brown is a great conductor, educator and mentor, and the way he meticulously dissects the music always results in beautiful music.”

In February 2021, Georgia Southern received a transformational gift from Fred and Dinah Gretsch. Their $3 million pledge, along with their personal Gretsch Collection of historic guitars, drums and archives, led to the creation of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music, named in their honor. 

“What began as a partnership rooted in a shared passion to, as Fred often says, ‘be musical,’ has grown into a legacy that continues to shape the future of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Fred and Dinah Gretsch believed in our students and in the promise of what we could build together. Five years later, that vision lives on in every note played, every new music educator entering our schools, and in the nationally celebrated reputation of our program.”

“​�ċThe Gretsch family is incredibly supportive of music education,” Mathews said. “Our partnership is generating unprecedented opportunities for music students. Thanks to these gifts and the Gretsch family’s continued involvement, we can provide modern music education at an incredibly high value for students, collaborate and network in innovative ways, and help students jump-start real-world music industry careers​�ċ.”

Along with the gift, the Gretsch family also donated a collection of instruments, which is included in “That Great Gretsch Sound!” museum, housed in the Plant Riverside District in Savannah. It showcases more than a century of iconic Gretsch instruments, from banjos and early drums to guitars played by legends like George Harrison and Malcolm Young. The Gretsch family also donated three major additions to the archives to the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections, including Gretsch Company Records, Gretsch Audio-Visual Collection and Musical Industry Reference Collection. 

For the Gretsch family, it’s all about building a legacy that will stand the test of time.

“In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing to develop and mature the community music program here and being a beacon to the whole U.S. and worldwide as well,” said Fred Gretsch. “There are well known schools of music across the country. The one at ����Vlog, a hundred years from now, will absolutely be number one in the world.”

“We wanted a partner that we could work with to leave our legacy and Georgia Southern has been wonderful to work with,” said Dinah Gretsch. “We’ve built a lot of programs and continue to increase what we do today.”

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music creates an environment rich in musical diversity with endless opportunities. The School of Music offers a variety of ensembles ranging from bands, choirs and orchestras to commercial music, jazz, opera and chamber ensembles. 

“With their gift, the Gretsches enabled a historic Department of Music to look forward to a greater future, with the finest faculty, students and facilities,” Chair of the School of Music Terre Johnson, Ph.D., said. “As a result, in the last five years, the Gretsch School of Music has seen record growth on both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses, as well as international recognition for its ensembles.”
Both concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music homepage.

����Vlog and Wexford County Council in Ireland broke ground on the redevelopment of the historic Adoration Convent in Wexford Town on Sept. 30. The project will create new student housing and expand opportunities for international study. 

The $7 million project will transform the 1886 convent into modern accommodations for up to 56 Georgia Southern students studying abroad in Ireland. When complete in early 2027, the refurbished site will include study, recreation, cooking and laundry facilities, creating a vibrant international student hub in the heart of Wexford. 

“Today marks both an ending and a beginning,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “For 133 years, this convent was home to the Adoration Sisters, whose presence filled it with purpose and service. As we reimagine this space, we honor their legacy while creating a home away from home for our students. This project embodies gratitude for the past and confidence for the future, strengthening the bonds between Wexford and Georgia.” 

The redevelopment follows a 15-year lease agreement between Wexford County Council and Georgia Southern, deepening a partnership that began in 2019 when the University established its permanent overseas campus in Wexford — the first U.S. public university to do so in Ireland. 

“This project represents an investment in both heritage and education,” said Eddie Taaffe, chief executive of Wexford County Council. “����Vlog has been a valued part of our community since 2019, and friendships have formed between students and local residents. Today’s groundbreaking deepens that relationship — providing a long-term base for their students and strengthening ties that will endure for generations.” 

Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach (chairperson) of Wexford County Council, also offered remarks. 

“Today marks not just the beginning of a building project, but the start of an exciting new chapter for one of Wexford Town’s most iconic and beloved landmarks,” he said. “The redevelopment of the Adoration Convent is a symbol of continuity and renewal, preserving the fabric of our history while adapting it to meet present and future needs.” 

Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus has become central to the University’s international programs, empowering students as global citizens by offering immersive experiences in Irish culture, history, business, public health, environmental science and more. The expansion underscores Georgia Southern’s commitment to providing transformative learning experiences that prepare students to lead and serve in a connected world. 

“Today, as we turn the ground on the Adoration Convent, we do so with gratitude for the past and confidence for the future,” Marrero said. He also noted the “full-circle” nature of the occasion, for hundreds of Wexford people emigrated directly to Savannah during the 1840s and 1850s. 

Waterford, Ireland-based Nevin Construction was awarded the contract to deliver the project.