Bennett Parten, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at ��èapp����, has been awarded the 2026 History Author of the Year Award from the Georgia Writers Association (GWA) for his work, “Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman’s March and the History of Emancipation.”

GWA’s Georgia Author of the Year Awards is an annual recognition celebrating authors statewide for their contributions to literature. For Parten, recognition from an organization dedicated to highlighting Georgia’s most influential authors is a meaningful recognition of his work.

“It’s a great honor. There were lots of exceptional books published – and it’s an honor to be mentioned among them,” Parten said.

Parten’s book is a deep dive into the rarely acknowledged perspective of thousands of enslaved people who experienced Sherman’s March to the Sea as a journey to freedom. With few accounts of the emancipation of formerly enslaved people recorded, Parten relied on creative research methods to uncover volumes of documentation to build the foundation of his work.

Many accounts of Sherman’s March to the Sea military campaign stem from the bureaucratic perspective of Union soldiers and personnel. However, Parten sought to shift the narrative, focusing heavily on creating a thought-provoking look at formerly enslaved people experiencing the march firsthand.

“I hope it is written in a way that is accessible and appealing to readers, but more than anything, I hope it is a topic that pulls them in and perhaps forces them to think differently about a well-known historical topic,” Parten explained.

When it comes to Georgia’s history, the march represents a quintessential turning point in the Civil War, setting the foundation for the state’s modern framework. As a historian, Parten says that understanding Sherman’s March to the Sea is critical for comprehending the modern state of Georgia.

“I think it is essential to hear the story of all people involved in emancipation,” Parten said. “I think this is unquestionably Georgia’s most important historical moment and the crucible that made the state what it is today in so many ways.”

Some students come to college determined to earn their degree. Spring graduate Jaylee Kilgo was determined to leave a legacy.

Arriving on ��èapp����’s campus, Kilgo already loved storytelling. Michael Van Wagenen, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of History, showed her how a degree in history could help her preserve and share stories in a meaningful way.

“Dr. Van Wagenen showed me all the things I could do with a history degree,” she said. “I had already been thinking about changing my major, and I felt like it was a sign. He helped me get an internship and really changed the direction of my education.”

Through her program, she received hands-on experience in research, preservation and interpretation of historical artifacts. Kilgo was especially drawn to projects featuring the stories of influential women at Georgia Southern. Her drive to uncover and share overlooked stories served as a defining part of her collegiate experience, leading her to work on projects including Georgia Brown Watson, the and a World War II memorial.

“One of my favorite things has been preserving the history of Georgia Southern,” she said. “I want students years from now to still have the opportunity to learn about the people and stories that helped shape this institution.”

Kilgo took her passion for history further by studying abroad at Georgia Southern’s Learning Center in Wexford, Ireland.

“Ireland was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” she said. “That was the first time I’d been abroad. The architecture is just absolutely beautiful in Ireland, and being able to walk to class while also walking in the middle of a town was really cool and unique to experience.”

While in Wexford, Kilgo attended classes and took educational excursions throughout Ireland. The unique structure allowed her to connect classroom lessons directly to real-world applications.

“Being able to learn about something in the classroom and then go see it for yourself was incredible,” she said. “Learning hands-on from the native Irish communities and experiencing their history, culture and landscapes was extraordinary.”

Kilgo never expected her college path to include so many opportunities for leadership, research and service, but she seized each one that came her way. From studying abroad in Ireland to serving as a Southern Ambassador, earning a role as Panhellenic president and preserving University history through archival projects with , she met every chance with open arms.

“I’ve lived every single day to the fullest that I could,” she said. “I have no regrets about my time here at Georgia Southern.”

Her engagement, including work with the , helped her appreciate just how special the Georgia Southern community really is. It was that bond to the Georgia Southern community that became the foundation for her experience.

She credits faculty members Howard Keeley, Ph.D., Brian Feltman, Ph.D., William (Bill) Allison, Ph.D., and Shana Bridges, Ph.D., as well as her advisors and staff members Daniel McBurney and Megan Bowen, and the teams within Special Collections and Fraternity and Sorority Life, as key to her success. From helping her navigate graduate school applications to supporting her research ideas or simply assuring her that she is doing amazing things, these mentors were crucial to her.

“There were plenty of times I would walk into someone’s office and just need guidance,” she said. “The people at Georgia Southern are always willing to help.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Kilgo doesn’t point to titles or accomplishments, but to her impact.

“I want to leave behind a legacy of someone warm and kind, but also made a difference in the people around her,” she said. “Having the opportunity to continue to have an impact on the institution through preserving Georgia Southern history and that potentially being a learning outcome for someone years down the road, that’s what I want to leave a legacy of.”

Having crossed the stage at commencement, Kilgo leaves not only with a history degree and a communication studies minor, but also with a collection of memories. As she prepares for graduate school in Tennessee, she believes it is time to carry the impact of Eagle Nation beyond her home state of Georgia.

“My impact has already been made here,” she said. “Now it is time for me to go do that somewhere else.”

As for future students searching for their place on campus, her advice is simple.

“Just do it,” she said. “Get involved. Talk to people. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You only have a few years here, and before you know it, you’ll be graduating. Make every opportunity count.”

Thirty-seven ��èapp���� students will visit Germany this summer thanks to support from the Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) and the Halle Foundation. Thirteen students in the theater program will experience a five-week study abroad curriculum from Wittenberg to Berlin, while 24 students from the trumpet ensemble and The Sound ensemble will go on a two-week performance tour with stops in Nuremberg, Halle an der Saale, Detmold and Munich.

Students taking part in the theater trip will study the work of German playwright Bertolt Brecht whose signature style of “epic theater” differs from the more naturalistic style common in the U.S. Theater minor Bella Diaz is excited for the opportunity to study Brecht’s style in the place where it originated.

“When you are learning about something that is foreign to you, being able to immerse yourself not just in the culture, but in the people who live that culture, it makes you appreciate it more,” Diaz said. “Of course, I could never have the full perspective of a native German, but being able to look up from the textbook and think ‘that street sign is in German and those buildings do not look like anything in my hometown,’ I believe that will help me understand the content in a much deeper way than if I was studying it outside the place where it originated.”

Theatre professor Nick Newell knows firsthand how international learning can create a more profound appreciation. He looks forward to giving his students the same kind of experience he had when he studied overseas.

“I was very fortunate to have studied Shakespeare in England at Stratford-upon-Avon as an undergrad and (Anton) Chekhov and (Konstantin) Stanislavski at the Moscow Art Theatre School in graduate school,” said Newell. “I can say definitively that those experiences helped to shape me as an artist and scholar in a way that never would have been possible through reading about them because theater is an experiential art.” 

In addition to performing for German audiences, the music ensembles will take part in master classes and participate in master classes taught by German instructors. Principal Lecturer of Trumpet Tim Kintzinger, DMA, notes that the venues will be unlike anything the students have ever experienced.

“Think of a church that is older than your country, and that’s where you are going to be playing,” said Kintzinger. “Then our concert in Halle is going to be outdoors during a city festival, so they will be on stage in the town square where the whole town comes together for food and music.”

Georgia Southern has sent several groups to Germany in recent years thanks to grants from the Halle Foundation, coordinated by Jolyon Hughes, Ph.D., professor of communication arts and world languages and cultures. This year’s trips received a collective $80,000 from the foundation, along with $20,000 from ORED. Hughes said the partnership between the University and the Halle Foundation has created a mutual exchange of cultural and educational benefits.

“This grant process has allowed us to make quite a few connections in Germany, and we have been able to send many students there. We are also working on faculty exchanges,” said Hughes. “It has really broadened our partnerships with our German and European partner institutions.”

Kintzinger has seen many students go on previous trips to Germany. He knows the full value of the program is something that can only be felt and not described.

“This is a great experience for them and they cannot know how much they are going to get out of it until they actually do it,” said Kintzinger. “I just keep telling them, ‘you will come home changed.’”

Promise Oti-Okardie’s journey to ��èapp���� began while she was managing marketing campaigns at a leading digital marketing agency in Nigeria. Although she enjoyed working with major global brands, she realized she needed to make the transition from execution to leadership.

“I wanted to be equipped not only to communicate effectively, but also to lead with intention, make meaningful decisions and create environments where people can thrive,” she explained.

Oti-Okardie’s passion for communication and its impact on people, organizations and culture led her to pursue a Master of Arts in Georgia Southern’s Professional Communication and Leadership program. Raised in Nigeria as the eldest of five children, she assumed responsibility early, whether helping her siblings or organizing household projects.

“Growing up in that environment taught me to connect with different personalities, handle challenges and truly value relationships,” Oti-Okardie said. “Looking back, those experiences shaped how I show up today and how I think about leadership and community.”

After moving thousands of miles from her home country, the graduate student found a new community on the Statesboro Campus. She attended various student activities and events organized by the Office of Student Activities and International Student Admission and Programs. She also joined the Nigerian Student Association and served as its social director.

“Being part of that community was important to me because it gave me a sense of belonging and allowed me to stay connected to my culture while sharing it with others,” she said. “It created a space where I could build relationships, celebrate identity and feel at home even while being far away.” 

As a graduate assistant in the Office of Institutional Engagement, Oti-Okardie supported University employee engagement initiatives. The experience allowed her to apply what she was learning in real time, from planning events to analyzing data and creating programs to enhance the employee experience.

Some of her favorite University memories include participating in initiatives through the Office of Institutional Engagement, such as supporting the launch of the REACH for Southern Scholars program. Another important moment was assisting with the University Awards of Excellence, and she especially values the memory of taking a picture with University President Kyle Marrero.

“It may seem like a small moment, but it felt like a full-circle moment for me because it reflected how involved I had become and how connected I felt to the Georgia Southern community,” she said.

Oti-Okardie credits the University with providing her with a strong foundation in communications and leadership. Beyond the classroom’s real-world applications, she cherishes the memory of her late mentor, Department of Communication Arts Professor Pamela Bourland-Davis.

“Dr. Bourland-Davis had the most impact on me,” she acknowledged. “I genuinely enjoyed her class and learned so much not only from the course content but also from her experiences and her approach to leadership and life. She inspired me to become a more thoughtful, people-centered leader, and her impact on me is something I will carry for a long time.”

As she prepares to graduate, Oti-Okardie said she is proud of maintaining a strong GPA while balancing her responsibilities as a graduate assistant and adjusting to life in a new country. She is also grateful for the scholarships that supported her education and enabled her to graduate. She is confident about her next chapter.

“This experience helped me gain clarity about who I am, what I value and the direction I want my life and career to take,” said Oti-Okardie. “My long-term goal is to grow into an executive leadership role that helps shape strategy, culture and organizational impact. I am particularly interested in roles that sit at the intersection of communication, people and business strategy. I want to be part of building organizations that are not only successful but also intentional in how they engage people, make decisions and create value.”

As the first in her family to earn a master’s degree, Oti-Okardie attributes her accomplishment to the support and sacrifices her loved ones provided along the way. 

“It means a lot to them to see me pursue my goals and create new opportunities,” she said, adding that they will feel proud, happy and fulfilled once her diploma is in hand.

The “Jazz at the Garden” outdoor concert will showcase the student Jazz Ensemble, alongside retired U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note ensemble members and University of Arkansas-Monticello faculty Ben Patterson and Tim Leahey. The musicians will perform a repertoire of pieces by Glenn Miller and Chick Corea along with original compositions written by Georgia Southern students. Music education major and trumpet player Cameron Carter says being able to play alongside such accomplished musicians makes this concert a unique experience. 

“It’s exciting to work with musicians who are at such a high level,” said Carter. “It’s amazing to be able to get outside of the classroom and instructional sessions to actually perform with people who are at the level I hope to be. I get to see what my future could look like.”

Director of the Jazz Ensemble Nathan DuVall, DMA, says the music and atmosphere were carefully chosen to make this concert a special event for both the audience and performers.

“The Botanic Garden is a stunning venue and everything is in fresh bloom,” said DuVall. “I wanted to create something exciting and different to get the students out of the routine of the concert hall. I think the public will like it as well since it is a picnic environment where they can bring chairs, blankets and their own food.”

Carter believes the informal venue and the improvisational nature of jazz will blend perfectly to make this concert a freeflowing musical conversation between the performers and audience.

“At our jazz concerts, we cheer each other on, laugh together and have a good time while making fun, energetic music,” said Carter. “Jazz has been my gateway for communicating through music. Instead of just sticking to what’s on the page, we really get into the performance and it never goes the same way twice. We just make music that fits the moment.”

The free concert will be held at the Botanic Garden April 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Three students in ��èapp����’s multimedia and film production (MMFP) program will take part in the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) annual conference in Las Vegas April 17-21. The conference brings more than 1,000 people from hundreds of institutions together to discuss the media industry and what they have learned from their own projects.

Multimedia and film production Professor Matthew Hashiguchi says participation in the BEA conference is just one example of the MMFP program’s commitment to experiential learning. 

“Technical skill is important, but we want to also develop the voices of our students,” said Hashiguchi. “That’s what makes our program unique. We really focus on giving students experiences so they can find what areas speak to them and then we support them as they pursue their passion.”

As he heads to the BEA conference, MMFP student Ethan Bridger says the focus on hands-on learning has made all the difference in his own growth as a multimedia artist.

“In this field, you have to get out there and create,” said Bridger. “You have to be able to do the work, so it’s great that we have so many opportunities to go our own way and get what we want out of the degree versus following a strict curriculum.”

Alex Lee is among 100 students across the country chosen as a Radio Advertising Bureau scholar to receive complimentary registration for the BEA conference. Lee echoes the sentiment that creating original work, rather than just studying the work of others, helps students find the right career path while in the MMFP program.

“I began the program thinking I would focus on cinematography and video work,” said Lee. “Now that I am about to graduate, I am leaving with a focus on sound design and scriptwriting. It’s a complete flip in direction and I figured it out through the experiences I have been able to have in the program.”

The work of Georgia Southern’s MMFP students and faculty caught the eye of BEA members even before the conference began. Recently, Dominic Thomas earned an award of excellence in narrative audio from the BEA for the podcast episode “Through the Storm.” Bae Allen garnered a BEA award of excellence for short-form documentary for “Armadillo Olympics.” Joshua Johnson, Bud Poulos, Ethan Bridger and Chandler Crosby’s work on a texting and driving prevention campaign with the Bulloch County Fire Department came in second place in the BEA spots category. Hashiguchi earned best of competition in the faculty documentary category.

Three Georgia Southern students are taking part in the University System of Georgia annual Regents Cup Debate Series. Alexander Millstone, majoring in business and religious studies, Annelise Hughes, a political science major, and Niyah Sanchez (alternate), a public relations major, earned a place in the statewide event by reaching the finals of the ��èapp���� debate competition. 

Millstone helped revive the Debate Club at Georgia Southern and says the experience has been invaluable in shaping his career goals.

“I believe debate is a skill that is universally beneficial,” said Millstone. “Whether you’re an analyst who needs to translate data to an audience through a presentation with lots of visualization, or a manager who needs to explain the breadth of the role to your new hire, the logic and structure of speech that debate teaches is undeniably useful.”

Hughes agrees that participating in the Debate Club provides exceptional experience beyond the classroom. She is especially excited about the opportunity for networking at the Regents Cup.

“I love meeting like-minded people as well as intellectual students and I’m very excited to make new connections there,“ said Hughes. “I eventually want to attend law school and I intend to use this opportunity at the Regents Cup to expand opportunities for meeting experts in the law field.”

Millstone notes that although debate can seem confrontational, the spirit of connecting and communicating is actually the focal point of a good debate event.

“Debate is about two peers working together to search for the objective truth about a topic,” said Millstone. “It has a negative connotation to many people, and that confuses me, because debate is a constructive thing.”

The 2026 Regents Cup takes place April 14 and 15 at Columbus State University.

��èapp����’s theatre program will bring an alumna-directed production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage to the stage at the Performing Arts Center in Statesboro April 9-11.

In her first directorial role at the University, Teresa-Michelle Jackson (’04) will serve as the guest artist director for the production, which explores themes of class, race and labor.

Jackson studied under Georgia Southern Assistant Professor Emeritus of Theatre Mical Whitaker, who she credits with broadening her view of theatre and inspiring her to pursue directing. She grew to love productions that are rooted in emotion. 

“I’m a creative storyteller who likes to tell really hard stories,” Jackson said. “Black Theater will always have a special place in my heart, but it doesn’t have to be Black Theater. It’s more about sharing a perspective of a lived experience.”

Jackson hopes that through the telling of this story, the audience will walk away with a better understanding of the importance of differing points of view. 

“We are definitely in a place in our world where this play is hitting on a lot of hot topics we’re experiencing today,” said Jackson. “And it’s not to be political, but it’s to really think, what are people’s points of view to get them to land where they are?” 

Jackson brings professional experience in theater and television to share with students working on the production. Working with students and giving back to a community that gave so much to her has been “like a dream,” Jackson said.

“As much as I hope I’m pouring into the students, it’s really pouring into me,” said Jackson.

After graduating from Georgia Southern, Jackson went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, where she now serves as a communication coach. Previously, she was a theatre professor and associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Savannah State University for 16 years. She has worked in the film and television industry with companies such as Warner Brothers and Showtime. 

“Sweat” will begin at 7:30 p.m. each day during its run. To purchase tickets for “Sweat,” visit Georgia Southern’s Performing Arts Center box office, order them online at PAC Box Office, or call 912-478-7999. 

Four ��èapp���� faculty from the College of Arts and Humanities will come together to highlight Savannah native and renowned author Flannery O’Connor during the next installment of the Moveable Feast Lecture Series at 6 p.m. April 13 at St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah.

The free event will feature professors Benjamin Drevlow, Tony Morris, Christina Olson and Laura Valeri leading a discussion on how O’Connor’s unique Georgia roots inspired her work and how her writing continues to inspire today’s writers.

“I’m drawn to O’Connor again and again because of who she was: an unrepentant iconoclast in a time and place where such rebellion wasn’t typical,” said Olson, professor of creative writing. “She is always on the short list of authors I recommend to Georgia Southern students. Aspiring authors need to be aware of the rich literary history that they themselves work right in the middle of.”

A core element of the Moveable Feast series is creating an immersive experience by hosting lectures in places that directly connect with the subject. O’Connor grew up on Charlton Street near St. Vincent’s Academy where she was a student for several years. Professor of writing Valeri said hosting the discussion inside the very walls where a young O’Connor learned to write is a unique treat.

“It’s a rare privilege to be able to discuss such an influential literary genius in her own stomping grounds,” said Valeri. “We get to soak up Savannah’s loveliness in the beautiful St. Vincent’s gardens, and right as spring blooms.”

Surrounded by the beauty of Savannah’s parklike squares and the architecture of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, senior English lecturer Drevlow said attendees will appreciate how the city’s distinctive culture produced O’Connor’s signature style of Southern literature. He noted that O’Connor’s status as somewhat of an outsider, and being a devout Catholic in a largely Protestant region, gave her a unique lens to view Southern society, something he personally connected with.

“I have a unique outsider’s perspective on all this with my Midwestern roots — growing up on a farm in rural northern Wisconsin and with my family’s roots in Minnesota; ‘Minnesota nice’ being very comparable to ‘Southern hospitality,’” said Drevlow. “When I got down here and saw all the things I’d read about going to school in Minnesota and Wisconsin, it almost became bingo for me. I might be from the cold, cold North, but in so many ways, rural is rural, and religion is religion.”

Attendees can begin the evening at the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Museum, which will open at 5 p.m. for self-guided tours. Moveable Feast organizer Bill Dawers noted it is a fitting prelude to the lecture, given the strong connection between the author’s home and the Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus. 

“The work to establish her home as a museum was led by Armstrong State faculty,” noted Dawers. “Professor Bob Strozier brought the idea to Armstrong President Bob Burnett, and they teamed with Professor Hugh Brown to set up a foundation to preserve the home. Since then, many faculty have served on the board because it’s an important piece of Savannah’s history.”

Georgia Southern junior Ariana Taylor-Williams will spend her summer in New York City after earning a Schomburg-Mellon fellowship. This prestigious opportunity will allow her to advance her undergraduate research on the Harlem Renaissance by giving her access to unique documents in the New York Public Library’s extensive archives.

“Being able to do research with primary sources is a big deal,” said Taylor-Williams. “This will be the highest level of research I have gotten to do and I’m really excited for the opportunity. It’s exactly what I need to be able to advance my thesis.”

The Schomburg-Mellon fellowship is given to 10 rising college seniors annually.

Taylor-Williams is an Honors College student double-majoring in history and English while working as an archivist in the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections. She is the head delegate of the University’s Model United Nations team and the vice president of Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. Her research into the effects of Cumberland Island’s commercial development on the Gullah Geechee community earned her the history department’s Richard S. Beene Scholarship. Now she is preparing her Honors thesis: “Harlem’s Federal Writers: Transnationalists, Humanitarians, and Public Historians,” which examines how the work of African American authors in the 1930s contributed to the preservation of American history. 

Associate Professor of History Julie de Chantal, Ph.D., noted that Taylor-Williams took her work beyond expectations when teaming up with graduate students to produce an exhibit on American Independence.

“She operates at a level I have never seen before and she is tenacious like no other,” said de Chantal. “She has a profound ability to read text and subtext, so she finds patterns nobody else sees.”

Taylor-Williams believes her success in so many fields comes from the supportive environment created by Georgia Southern faculty.

“Attending Georgia Southern is one of the best decisions I have made,” said Taylor-Williams. “I feel very lucky to have gotten these opportunities because not many students, especially in my field of archives, get to do this as an undergraduate student. All of the different extracurricular activities I have been able to hold leadership positions in, that’s not something you see at a lot of other universities.”

De Chantal notes that a common theme in Taylor-Williams’s studies is using her own success to help others grow.

“Not only does she excel in her own work, she helps others to accomplish their goals too,” said de Chantal. “With the Model U.N., she’s not only using the feedback that the faculty give her on her submissions, she shares the lessons that she learns with high school students whom she mentors. She does not just take knowledge in, she gives it back.”

As Taylor-Williams prepares for a busy summer filled with rare books and handwritten notes, she already has her sights set on her next educational challenge. 

“I plan to get my master’s in history and library science because I really want to pursue a career as an archivist,” said Taylor-Williams. “Once I started working in Special Collections at the library, I realized it combines both history and English, so that became my goal. I want to do hands-on work that will help preserve historical documents for future generations to make their own discoveries.”