VALDOSTA —
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new president at Valdosta State University. Dr. William J. McKinney became VSU president on July 1, taking the reins from Dr. Louis Levy who served as interim president for a year until someone could be selected to serve full-time in the role.
In a prior interview, Levy spoke highly of McKinney. “The VSU presidency is one of the best leadership positions in higher education today,” said Levy. “Dr. McKinney will bring national recognition to VSU and this community.”
On Tuesday, numerous area officials welcomed McKinney to South Georgia. The new president is meeting as many people as possible before the students return in the coming weeks.
McKinney most recently served four years as vice chancellor for academic affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Additional experiences include serving as dean of the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts at Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa., from 2001 to 2008, and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo., from 1997 to 2001. He has taught at these three institutions, as well as the University of Kentucky, Lexington.
All roles which the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia felt would serve McKinney and VSU well.
So, if you see the new VSU president at various functions or out and about in town, welcome him to Valdosta. Let’s show him the meaning of Southern hospitality and remember how important VSU is to our community.
What We Think
Welcome VSU President McKinney
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
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Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
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Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
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Thoughts on graduation
