Elise Aleman, a ����Vlog Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate, spent much of her adult life in South Florida working as a graphic artist. She moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 2017 to pursue a new calling in painting. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Aleman decided she wasn’t done yet.

Aleman dreamed of becoming an art teacher, and she wanted to have a graduate degree to boost her applications. While looking for a master’s program, she was recruited by a friend to look at Georgia Southern. Shortly thereafter, she became a member of Eagle Nation.

As she developed her portfolio in the graduate program, she found herself going to a familiar source.

In the 1960s, there was a wave of immigration from Cuba into the U.S. This pattern of immigration was called the “Freedom Flights.”

When she was just seven years old, Aleman and most of her family were on one of those planes in July of 1967. 

The Communist regime believed all who left the island were deserting their nation, and they took many of the families’ belongings in retaliation. 

“When people would get on the flights, the military was at the airport,” she said. “They would go through all your bags, they take anything  that either they wanted to keep for themselves or just to be spiteful. A lot of the time, they would take photographs and just throw them out.”

To avoid losing their family pictures, Aleman’s mother left their photos with relatives in Cuba.

After landing in the U.S., they settled in a small community in New Jersey where they learned a new language and way of life.

Over time, deliveries began arriving in their new home in the Garden State. They held the family photos they had left behind, sent by relatives who had been protecting them.

“I use the photographs from Cuba that were sent to us when we came in,” she said. “There’s a series in my scope that I did that is about those photographs and immigrating here. I wanted to make people see them and really connect with it in their own way.”

Those paintings were featured in a recent art exhibition, “Theopoetics Prothesis,” on the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah, which explored the intersections of her faith, exile and transformation through two parallel yet interwoven bodies of work. One aspect reflected on her family’s immigration from Cuba, and considered how cultural displacement shapes identity, memory and faith. The other engaged directly with biblical themes, using scripture as a foundation for conceptual exploration.

“My goal was to make both scripture and personal history compelling and relevant,” she said. “The Bible is more than just a religious text—it’s a multidimensional tapestry of history, poetry, prophecy and metaphor. Likewise, the story of exile and displacement is not just my own but a universal narrative of survival, adaptation and faith. I wanted viewers to engage with these layered meanings, finding connections between the sacred, the personal and the collective.”

As Aleman prepares to graduate this week, she’s reflecting on the journey her family took to make it possible. She’s also grateful to the Georgia Southern community for welcoming her, despite the age gap between her and other MFA students.

“Those students, especially in the grad program, they just embrace you,” she said. “I never felt like an outsider. ‘Oh, there’s the old lady,’ you know? We have a very tight group in the fine arts program.”

The team is led by J. Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., a professor and associate dean for the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. He explained that their research centers on using organisms in rivers, streams and wetlands as bioindicators of ecosystem health. By examining the diversity and abundance of invertebrates, the team can determine how well these environments are maintaining their ecological balance, particularly in areas that have undergone forestry management.

“All of us depend on clean freshwater,” said Colón-Gaud. “Everybody that lives and depends on freshwater resources needs it for drinking water, but it could also be the recreational and aesthetic pleasures or services that we get from the ecosystem.”

The NCASI grant will also financially support two additional senior graduate students and offer them direct mentorship opportunities and the life-changing experiences that brought Vaglienti to the field in the first place.This project is being conducted by students, faculty and staff at ����Vlog’s Department of Biology. Information on degrees, career opportunities and applications can be found here.

In the spirit of academic cooperation, Georgia Military College (GMC) and ����Vlog (GSU) have solidified an articulation agreement, emphasizing their commitment to academic collaboration. The agreement streamlines the transition of GMC Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) graduates into graduate programs offered at GS through the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and the Parker College of Business.

Georgia Military College is dedicated to expanding avenues for students to realize their educational aspirations beyond the undergraduate level. In harmony with this ethos, ����Vlog extends its graduate programs to GMC BAS graduates, opening doors to advanced academic pursuits and career opportunities. Georgia Southern offers a diverse range of degree programs tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

“We are excited about this collaboration with Georgia Southern, which will undoubtedly enrich the academic landscape for our students and contribute to their professional growth,” said Lt. Gen William B. Caldwell, IV, USA (Ret), president of Georgia Military College. “This partnership offers a well-defined and supportive pathway for students pursuing graduate degrees, with both institutions committed to guiding and assisting students at every stage of their journey.”

Under this transformative agreement, GMC BAS graduates with enthusiasm for academic advancement can explore various program options at GSU, including the Georgia WebMBA® (WebMBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (MSLSCM), Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology (MSCIC), Master of Public Administration (hybrid -track) (MPA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH), alongside Graduate Certificates in Cybersecurity (CCyb), Logistics and Transportation (CLT), Nonprofit Management, Leadership, and Innovation (CNMU), and Public Health (PHC).

“����Vlog is committed to providing leading-edge educational opportunities that ensure student success while meeting industry demands,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “We are proud to partner with Georgia Military College to offer a clear pathway to academic and career achievement with Georgia Southern’s valuable graduate degrees.”

For further details on the expansive opportunities made available through this agreement, interested parties are encouraged to contact either academic institution.

Georgia Military College is an accredited public-independent liberal arts college with multiple satellite locations throughout the state of Georgia, a Global Online Leadership College, and a main campus in Milledgeville serving both residential cadets and non-cadet/non-residential commuter students and intercollegiate athletes. GMC is a federally recognized Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) with 56% of the student body being minority students. A primary focus of Georgia Military College is awarding Associate Degrees and preparing students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.  A second focus is to provide pathways for students to attain their four-year Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degree. Georgia Military College’s mission is to produce educated citizens and contributing members of society in an environment conducive to the development of the intellect and character of its students. “Start Here…Go Anywhere!” For more information about Georgia Military College, visit . Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/georgiamilitarycollege, follow us on Twitter @GaMilCollege and Instagram @_georgiamilitarycollege.

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 155 different degree programs serving more than 26,100 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty, the University is focused on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit .

It’s not much of a “groundbreaking” project, but more of a “ground-building” project. 

����Vlog has partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Yamaha Rightwaters to rejuvenate a section of the Savannah waterways for oyster beds. As part of these efforts, Eagle faculty and students recently installed bags of oyster shells along the coastline to build shelters for budding populations.

Oyster reefs are pivotal to coastal environments and offer a multitude of benefits. While they are a sought-after delicacy, their significance extends far beyond the dining table. 

“Oyster reefs serve as thriving ecosystems, safeguard shorelines from erosion, and even play a role in carbon sequestration,” said John Carroll, Ph.D., an associate professor of biology at Georgia Southern. “The oyster population in Georgia remains robust. However, our primary focus is habitat restoration. We’re targeting areas where oyster harvesting is absent, creating sanctuaries for oysters to flourish and fostering marine biodiversity.”

The choice of material was critical to constructing these vital reefs, and the solution was right under their nose: they could use oyster shells to build oyster habitats.

According to Carroll, oyster shells possess the natural shape and complexity that attracts oyster larvae, facilitating their growth. Although alternative materials like concrete or rocks are used in some projects, oyster shells are still the substrate of choice in Georgia.

Beyond habitat restoration, this project has piqued Yamaha’s interest due to its potential for carbon sequestration.

“Addressing climate change is imperative,”Carrol said.” Oyster reefs play a pivotal role by capturing sediment rich in organic matter, effectively locking away carbon. Adjacent marsh grasses absorb carbon from the atmosphere, creating a powerful synergy.”

Students are integral to the project’s success. They have assisted in various tasks, from bagging oyster shells, sourced from a shell recycling program and neighboring states,  to data sampling and analysis. It was a hands-on experience they hope will shape the next generation of environmental stewards.

“Our hope is that this initiative sets a precedent for future restoration projects along the Georgia coast,” Carrol noted “By reviving these oyster reefs, we are not only bolstering local ecosystems but also addressing the urgent need to combat climate change. It’s a win-win for both nature and humanity.”

In 1993, Marguerite McCoy graduated from ����Vlog with a bachelor’s in food service management with an emphasis in hospitality administration. She would soon take her talents to San Francisco to attend culinary school. 

After more than 20 years of working in the food and hospitality industry, McCoy is a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) student and on pace to become a Double Eagle. Her work is currently featured in “Outlook: An MFA Showcase.”

“Outlook: An MFA Showcase” is an exhibition of work by current MFA students at Georgia Southern that is open now through Sept. 9 at the Fine Arts Gallery in Fine Arts Hall on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah.

The exhibition features work ranging from physics-inspired and ecology-inspired painting to identity-focused video, from traditional to experimental ceramics, drawing, photography, paper quilling and 2D sculpture.

“Our graduate program is quite diverse in terms of approach, ideas and medium,” said Gallery Director Jason Hoelscher, Ph.D. “When the opportunity arose to exhibit a sampling of that work I jumped at the chance to offer a glimpse of what the emerging artists of today have in store for their explorations of, and contributions to, the art world of the future.”

In addition to McCoy, the exhibition features work by Jalen Ash, Jacquelyn Bolton, Austin Buchanan, Jessica Cartwright, Stephen Harmon, John Lewis, Robert Miller, Amy Nelson, Pam Reynolds, Haley Scarboro, Ashley Smith and Kathy Varadi.

“I think in art there’s an expectation of what art should be and what real art looks like,” she said. “The biggest thing for me is to diminish these fixed ideas and attitudes surrounding art because most people think art is an untouchable thing. And I’m trying to change that.”

For more information on the MFA program, .

“Celebrate and support your community.”

That’s the message from Double Eagle Jean Gray Mohs, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting in 2002 and later earned her Master of Fine Arts in teaching in 2008.

This mantra of supporting and engaging with the community began while she was still a student herself. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she and a group of her colleagues launched their own artist collective, Stillmoreroots, around the state.

“It was a really meaningful community to help explore what we were, to create challenging, accessible art, and to create a space for dialogue with the community,” said Mohs. “There’s an internal support group that you could always throw any idea out and be accepting of.” 

“Continuum” highlights the diverse professional art practices and continued creative endeavors of BFSDoArt alumni. The exhibition showcases an interdisciplinary selection of painting, drawing, small metals, digital design, ceramics, photography, prints, textiles, sculpture and more.

“This is a fantastic showing of what our alumni are up to these days” said Gallery Director Jason Hoelscher, Ph.D. “The exhibition features work ranging from relatively recent graduates to those who finished their studies in decades past. Given this breadth, it’s interesting to see the spectrum of approaches–not only in terms of discipline or medium, but also in terms of those continually exploring new artistic approaches, and those who relentlessly refine and perfect their technique to open up new areas of what might otherwise seem to be established modes of artmaking.”

The exhibition features new and recent artwork by Ashley Anderson, Elizabeth Debban, Mariana S. Depetris, William T. Dooley, Lindsey Gerow, Thyatira Grant, Susan Harmon, D’Antre Harris, Nikolaus James, Nicole James, Zak Kelley, Tyre McDonald, Jean Gray Mohs, Cynthia L. Rodday, Brian Russell, and Jing Zhou.

In a constantly changing world with new mediums for communication, it’s critical for professionals to be adaptive to the latest communication strategies. ����Vlog is continuing to lead the country in this digital transformation by expanding its Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Professional Communication and Leadership to online platforms.

The Master of Professional Communication and Leadership is designed to further professional development through coursework in written and verbal communications skills, critical thinking and leadership. The program is directed toward both traditional and nontraditional students who are either already in the workforce or are making the transition from an undergraduate degree to a professional setting. More information can be found .

More than 70% of college students are enrolled in at least one course offered exclusively online, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. Many experts believe this is not a short-term adjustment, but instead a reflection of a new norm in higher education.

Even before the pandemic, ����Vlog has been expanding accessibility to its undergraduate and graduate programs across all of its campuses and online. Now, another program is added to that list.

“If you’re already in a career and perhaps it’s too far to commute, this allows you to get an advanced degree, and then apply for that next step in whatever field you’re in,” said Pamela Sears, Communication Arts interim chair. “It’s beneficial to a great number of different industries.”

Previously, the program was a hybrid consisting of online and in-person courses. The addition of a fully online curriculum opens the door to an expanded student population.

����Vlog’s College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) now offers a master’s degree in environmental science and will begin recruiting for the inaugural class of doctoral students in environmental science for the fall 2023 entering class. The post-graduate degrees supplement the recently approved bachelor’s degree in sustainability science. Housed in the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science, every department in the college will play a role in this interdisciplinary trio of programs.

The first M.S. degrees are expected to be awarded in spring 2024, with the first Ph.D. degrees likely to be conferred in spring 2027.

Will Lynch, Ph.D., COSM interim dean, believes this will provide students with the opportunity to grow and discover academically and perform cutting-edge research that will have a major impact on the environmental vitality of the southeast and the Georgia  coast as well as many other areas of environmental significance.

“There are a number of opportunities for students to study water, land, ecosystem, and ocean dynamics, but also to contribute to the effective management and long-term resiliency of our coastal plain and environment,” he said. “These are the type of focal areas that the research will be tied around, but certainly other areas, such as green sciences, sustainability issues and improved recycling and reclamation methods, will also become part of the programs.”

Research opportunities are available for students in the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. The doctoral program also provides opportunities for teaching and research assistant positions, which are dependent on funding.

With a degree in this field, alumni would qualify for a variety of roles within different government agencies as well as the private sector. Lynch says there’s growing demand for skills such as problem-solving, creativity, innovation and critical thinking, each of which is embedded in the programs.

“Globally, there’s a renewed and urgent interest in solving environmental problems related to changing world,” Lynch said. “The metrics show science shifting from the traditional science disciplines toward interdisciplinary programs that provide students with the scientific knowledge from multiple disciplines as well as the opportunity to engage with a team that is tackling a global issue as part of a multifaceted team.” 

Jobs in the green sector have been exploding over the past decade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professions in soil and plant sciences and green technologies are expected to be among the fastest growing sectors of the economy over the next 10 years.

Recruiting for these new programs has already begun, and there is flexibility for students to find their path to their degree.

“If your interest resides in the STEM disciplines and the environment, there’s a place for you as a member of these programs,” he said. “It’s built very flexible for the students’ interests to be addressed through the coursework and/or research. That’s the beauty of this program.”

Over the summer, seven Georgia Southern athletic training graduate students have been helping the hometown Savannah Bananas. In addition to acquiring hands-on experiences with the local ball club, students are having the most fun summer with the most fun team in baseball.

“I have definitely been using it for bragging rights,” said Caitlyn Shoffer, one of the training students. “I’ll tell people I got to work with the Bananas and everyone immediately knows what I’m talking about, and they’re always so amazed and excited.”

Shoffer grew up in a sports family. Both of her parents were heavily involved in athletics, and that was passed on to Caitlyn, who was a high school cheerleader. However, she needed to have surgery following an injury during her senior year of high school.

While the injury ended her cheering career, she describes it as a “blessing in disguise.” The experience opened her eyes to a path that allowed her to stay in sports and help athletes avoid making the same injuries.

After graduating from ����Vlog with a degree in kinesiology, she returned to her alma mater to pursue a master’s degree in athletic training. That is how she connected with the Savannah Bananas.

“I never really had considered working baseball, honestly,” she said. “But I loved seeing how the baseball guys interacted with each other and how much they cared about the game and they cared about everyone around them. Getting to actually meet the guys and being a part of baseball made me really consider that maybe this is what I want to do now.”

The athletic training program is continuing to grow, which also helps it expand its impact on the community. In addition to working with the Bananas, students are also assisting local school districts and will be working with the newly formed ECHL hockey team, The Savannah Ghost Pirates.

The master’s program is intentionally designed to accommodate students with different majors, including and . It’s structured in a way where students have already fulfilled many of the prerequisites before entering the program. Those prerequisites and .

One ����Vlog graduate student has been exploring the coastal Lowcountry and visiting residents’ homes to reveal the maritime history where families live.

Public history major Sadie Ingram is studying the history of Gullah Geechee oystermen and their role in developing the region both economically and culturally.

“I didn’t realize exactly how broad the subject was when I first started it,” Ingram said. “Something I’m really interested in is looking at the effects of government regulation on independent oystermen and then the big canneries, and also looking along race lines. How did these government regulations affect African-American oystermen versus white oystermen?”

Knoerl, based primarily on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, has a history of exposing his students to adventures in the Lowcountry. His students have taken several trips to Gullah Geechee sites to find artifacts and study the maritime archaeology of the region.

His work has drawn the attention of national media companies and documentary producers, along with a strong reputation among his students.

“Sometimes you have questions while you’re reading documents or about what was going on in the past,” Knoerl said. “Until you put yourself in the physical environment that it was actually occurring in, sometimes you won’t even know the questions or the answers that you’re missing until you get out there and see it.”

Some students based on the Statesboro Campus enjoy the exploratory trips in the Savannah area because it adds that extra layer to their projects. Ingram is one of those students. She said it not only helps her apply her research, but it opens unexpected doors to advance her research.

“When you interview somebody and their family’s history, that’s not something that you always get that’s written down,” she said. “People don’t always just write down what their grandparents did or how these things came to be in their family. That’s something that you can find by going out to these different sites as well and getting those oral history interviews with those people.”
All of Ingram’s research will be completed next year, and will be put on display within the ����Vlog Museum’s larger exhibit, “Charted Worlds: The Cultural History of Georgia’s Coastal Plain.”