Fort Valley State University

With more than 5,000 applications for fall semester 2008, Fort Valley State University’s campus population is growing exponentially. To accommodate the bumper crop of new students, additional student housing – Phase III of the Wildcat Commons – is under way. At 9:30 a.m. Friday, August 1, a groundbreaking for the new Wildcat Commons buildings will be held at the Wildcat Commons Clubhouse. The $16 million student housing complex will be adjacent to the existing dorms.

Mr. and Miss Fort Valley State University, accompanied by their royal advisors Annette Johnson and Sammie Haynes, attend a leadership conference in Winston Salem North Carolina. The conference, sponsored by the HBCU Leadership for Queens and Kings Konnection, was a four day event held July 17-20, 2008.

Don’t let the quiet, unassuming demeanor of Dr. James E. Glover fool you. The math scholar’s curriculum vita is packed with credentials and a rich background in computer programming. Glover attended Ivy League schools, worked for the nation’s top aerospace firms and through his designs, skills and knowledge assisted in facilitating safe space shuttle launches for the National Aeronautics and Space Agency. This month, he was hired as a professor and chair of Fort Valley State University’s Mathematics, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems Department.

Dmitri Young, star first baseman for the Washington Nationals National League Baseball Club, has stepped up to the plate to aid deserving Fort Valley State University students.

Following a chance encounter on a flight from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. with FVSU President Larry E. Rivers, Young has contributed $10,000 for student scholarships to be available for fall 2008.

“We struck up a conversation out of the blue,” Rivers explained. “This eventually led to a discussion about Fort Valley State and how critical was our need for financial aid funds in these hard times.”

By Brandon Mackey, student intern

Fort Valley State University’s Office of Financial Aid and Veteran affairs is using an all-electronic computer system this fall in an effort to prevent long registration lines. Director Eula Solomon expects to see great success with the kiosks. The eleven desktop systems were purchased through Title III funding, for a total of $9,191.00.

By Ayanna McPhail, publications editor/writer
Agricultural Communications Department

Parasites lurking in a seemingly healthy sheep or goat can wipe out a flock. The harmful internal worms can devastate the financial earnings of those whose livelihoods depend on raising and selling healthy animals.

On July 14, 2008 a package from the NCAA was hand-delivered to Coach Emory Lightfoot Jr., the interim head men’s basketball coach at the Fort Valley State University. The item is an NCAA plaque congratulating FVSU as the Division II Statistical Men’s Basketball Champion with an average of 12.3 steals per game for the 2007-2008 season.

By Jennifer Jordan, student writer
Agricultural Communications Department

Vivian Fluellen was awarded for her outstanding service for pioneering efforts toward faculty development in family financial planning for the 1890 Family and Consumer Sciences and Distance Instructional Alliance.

This assistant professor at Fort Valley State University received the award on June 10 at the Association of Extension Administrators and Association of Research Directors Land-Grant conference in Memphis, Tenn.

By Christina Milton
Marketing and Communications

Dr. Dawn DeVeaux is known for her upbeat personality, the ease with which she connects with students as a faculty member and her willingness to serve in any capacity. In June, DeVeaux took on a new role: assistant to the executive director of enrollment management. Working with Dr. Myldred Hill, executive director of enrollment management, DeVeaux will help increase enrollment on campus, recruit international students, and oversee the offices of financial aid, admissions and counseling.

By Ayanna McPhail, publications editor/writer
Agricultural Communications Department

Forestry Career Development Events for high school students are not a walk in the park.

To get some training for the challenging forestry events held at Fort Valley State University, 26 educators and students participated in a weeklong program geared toward teaching participants how to master the events.

Bioinformatics, a cutting-edge field which integrates biology and computer science, has enabled scientists to analyze the structure of DNA, develop new treatments for terminal diseases and grow insect-resistant crops. FVSU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science has received a $198,404 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions program to create a state-of-the-art bioinformatics laboratory housed in the W.W.E. Blanchet Computer, Technology and Mathematics Building.

Christina Milton
Marketing and Communications

After an extensive search and series of interviews at Fort Valley State University, a new associate vice president of academic affairs is named. Dr. Julius E. Scipio has been in a variety of leadership positions on campus, and this month, Fort Valley State University’s Office of Academic Affairs named Scipio its new associate vice president.

A popular master’s degree track for teachers is now making a comeback on Fort Valley State University’s campus. This fall, the university’s College of Education will offer a master’s degree in Middle Grades Education. The new program has been endorsed by the Georgia Board of Regents.

Assistant Professor of History Mark A. Smith has earned recognition in his field with the publication of his article, “Engineering Slavery: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and slavery at Key West” in the Spring 2008 edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly. The book is published by the Florida Historical Society and sponsored by the University of Central Florida.

Fort Valley State University’s Office of Financial Aid welcomes Charles Kendrick as its newest financial aid counselor. Kendrick enjoys supporting the educational endeavors of young people.

“We’re fortunate to have him aboard,” said Eula Solomon, director of the Office of Financial Aid.