Savannah State University News May 2012 Dr. Cheryl D. Dozier named president of Savannah State University Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier has been named by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents as the permanent president of Savannah State University. The regents' decision followed a recommendation by USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby and ends the interim status she has held at SSU since April of 2011. "Dr. Dozier has demonstrated a great capacity for leadership and a clear ability to unite the campus and the community," said Huckaby. "Her work as interim has been impressive and it is the right decision to allow her the opportunity to provide permanent leadership for the University." In expressing appreciation to the board and chancellor for their confidence in her leadership, Dozier said, "I am proud of the progress that has been made thus far but the pursuit of excellence is far from over. With the commitment, engagement and involvement of all of our stakeholders, I am certain that Savannah State University will continue to thrive and flourish as it fulfills its mission to develop productive members of a global society." Since taking charge as interim president, Dozier has launched a number of programs dealing with improving graduation and retention rates, customer service, and strengthening external relationships. For example, Dozier launched the "Closing the Gap" initiative, which provides one-time financial assistance to graduating seniors who have an outstanding balance of $1,500 or less and exhausted all other financial aid options. The program aims to ensure deserving students are able to successfully complete their Savannah State University education despite any last-minute financial crises or hardships that may threaten their graduation. Prior to being named interim president at Savannah State, Dozier served as associate provost for Institutional Diversity at the University of Georgia from 2006-2011 and assistant vice president of Academic Affairs at the Gwinnett University Center from 2002-2006. She is a tenured Professor in the School of Social Work. She is the co-principal investigator for the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a $10 million National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program at UGA that broadens the participation of minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at SSU and six other USG institutions. Dozier is an active member of numerous professional and civic organizations, including President of the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education, the board of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah Economic Development Authority Advisory Council (newly elected), CEO Council of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and NCAA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents. She earned a Doctorate in Social Welfare from Hunter College, at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and received a Masters in Social Work from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta), School of Social Work and a bachelor's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ. Other highlights of Dozier's first year at Savannah State: * Established the President's Faculty Mini-Grant Initiative to support activities and programs both at the university and in the community during the spring and summer semesters. Full-time faculty members could submit proposals to receive grant funds ranging from $500 to $2,000, with priority consideration given to student-support, service-learning and professional development projects. * In keeping with the goal of Gov. Nathan Deal's "Complete College Georgia" initiative, met with the president of Savannah Technical College to discuss developing joint programs and technical college assistance in helping SSU meet the learning support needs of its students. Additionally, oversaw the hiring of a military liaison to better serve older adults with some college experience who are retiring from the military and looking to finish their degrees. * Launched a pilot partnership with Chatham Area Transit (CAT) that allows SSU students to ride any CAT bus for free with their university identification card. As a result of this agreement, CAT also introduced the "Prowler," a weekend-night shuttle that provides late-night service between downtown Savannah and the university campus. * Continued to support ongoing efforts in the Office of Human Resources to provide customer service training workshops to SSU faculty and staff each semester. The training workshops can be customized to suit the needs of each individual division, department or unit. * Visited nearly 20 alumni chapter meetings to share university updates, listen to feedback and encourage support, including chapters in Indianapolis, Ind.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Norfolk, Va.; Charlotte; Columbia, S.C.; the Washington D.C. area; and Savannah, Atlanta, Columbus, Albany, Macon, Fort Valley and August, Ga., among others. Additionally, personally visited alumni in cities without permanent chapters to encourage the establishment of new groups, including graduates in Chicago and Orlando, Fla. * Represented SSU while giving speeches and keynote addresses to congregations at eight churches in the Savannah-Chatham community including St. John Baptist Church and St. James AME Church, among others, and Turner Monumental AME Church in Atlanta. * Represented SSU while giving remarks to members of four Savannah-Chatham community organizations: the Hungry Club Forum; the Economic Opportunity Authority; the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Inc.; and the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway; and spoke to participants at the 23rd annual National Youth-at-Risk Conference, held in Savannah. * Participated in five student recruitment events in the Atlanta metropolitan area with staff in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, and attended several other events at locations throughout the state of Georgia. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.