Winter 2022

Home of the Pirates

Georgia Southern to Open Armstrong Hall of Fame Exhibit on Savannah Campus By 2017, the Armstrong State University Pirates were an NCAA Division II sports powerhouse. It was their 50th year in collegiate athletics, during which time they won 11 National Championships, 97 Peach Belt Conference Championships, made 148 NCAA Championship appearances and produced 316…
Against the Current

Meredith Novack finds her lane at Georgia Southern, breaks world record and convention Meredith Novack finds her lane at Georgia Southern, breaks world record and convention A professional swimmer and triathlete, world-record holder, coach, motivator and model, Meredith Novack has heard it all. You’re too short. You’re too small. You’re too old. And her personal favorite — you…
Championship Berth

Women’s Soccer Battles to the End in Team’s First Sun Belt Title Match In a close title match with defending champions South Alabama, the Eagles fought hard, but ended their first Sun Belt Championship run after a crushing second-half Jaguars score. South Alabama built a 10-1 edge in shots in the first half, but both…
A Winning Season

Eagles Quarterfinals Comeback Falls Short in Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament In just their fourth appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament since joining the conference in 2014, Georgia Southern fell just short of a comeback, losing to the University of Texas-Arlington, 3-2. The quarterfinal game, held on Nov. 19 in Foley, Alabama, was a rematch against…
Clay Helton is Georgia Southern’s New Head Football Coach

Georgia Southern University named Clay Helton the 11th full-time head coach in the Georgia Southern modern football era. Helton previously led the University of Southern California to a Rose Bowl title following the 2016 season and won a Pac-12 championship in 2017. In announcing his hiring, Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko said, “Clay…
Sidelines

MEN’S TENNIS NEW COACH IN CHARGE Georgia Southern director of athletics Jared Benko named Jeremy Bayon head coach of the men’s tennis team. Bayon comes to Statesboro after two successful seasons as an assistant coach with the Nebraska women’s tennis program and has 11 years of experience coaching men’s tennis in the Southeastern Conference. At…
An Unbelievable Memory

At 91, Triple Eagle Alice Gerber Still Supporting People with Parkinson’s Disease Just Another Monday It was a hot, late-summer day at the Farmers Market in Tybee Island, Georgia. Perched under the protection of a broad-brimmed hat sparkled the bright hazel eyes of Alice Gerber, Ed.D. (’74, ’06,’06). The 91-year-old was cheerfully preparing her stand to…
When a City Gets Hacked

Alumnus Barry Hensley Leads the Defense Against Cyber Attacks In 2018 when the Atlanta city government was targeted by a disastrous ransomware attack, the city turned to a Georgia Southern alumnus for help. Cybersecurity expert and retired Army Col. Barry Hensley (‘86), acted as incident commander, briefing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and her staff…
A Connection from the Heart

Alumna Dee Dixon is Georgia Red Cross CEO When Dee Dixon (’88) began her first Red Cross job as chief development officer, she wasn’t sure how long she would stay. Dixon was uncertain that she was cut out to move from the corporate world to the nonprofit world. Then Hurricane Michael came. Dixon and a…
Chronicles Winter 2022

Dan Cathy (’75), chairman of the Chick-fil-A board, will be inducted as a Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society and Gov. Brian Kemp at a spring gala in Savannah. The honor recognizes Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of the Georgia Trustees. It is the highest honor…