August 11, 2025 – Welcome to Fall 2025 – Let’s Soar Beyond Together

August 11, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Coming off of the joyful buzz of move-in weekend for our students, I am thrilled to welcome you to a new academic year at Georgia Southern University! Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, I’m excited to embark on another year of learning, growth, and achievement together. Our campuses are alive with energy as we greet the largest student body in Georgia Southern’s history.

This fall, more than 29,000 students have chosen Georgia Southern, including 9,519 new Eagles with a record 5,968 freshmen. These milestones reflect your hard work, dedication, and commitment to student success. Thank you for helping with Operation Move-In, supporting New Student Convocation, and creating the warm, welcoming environment that makes Eagle Nation so special.

I encourage each of you to take part in the vibrant life of our campuses by attending an athletic event, enjoying a concert or speaker series, and celebrating the many moments that make Georgia Southern unique. Please encourage our students to do the same.

Please also join me for the State of the University Address, where we will celebrate our successes and set the tone for an exciting year ahead!

• Armstrong Campus, Fine Arts Auditorium – Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 3:30 p.m.
• Statesboro Campus, Performing Arts Center – Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 p.m.

On July 1, we launched our new strategic plan, Soaring Beyond 2030, guided by our vision of People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others. This strategic plan gives us a bold and actionable roadmap to empower people, advance research excellence, fuel economic growth, and engage with purpose. Let’s soar beyond together through our aligned efforts and shared purpose.

As we prepare for FY 2027, our budget prioritization process will focus on engagement and transparency at every level. Departments, units, colleges, and divisions will submit prioritized needs and strategic budget redirections, aligning with both our new strategic plan and goals of market relevance, efficiency and effectiveness, and community impact. With projected recurring investments of $7M in Phase I, our focus will remain on critical positions, essential operations, and recurring funding for salary market equity increases, while continuing to seek operational efficiencies and cost savings for our students. Full details have been shared with divisional leadership. Please participate actively in your area’s discussions.

Soaring Beyond, Because of You

I’m proud to share that VIQTORY Media has once again named Georgia Southern a Top Military Friendly^® College. This national recognition places us among the very best universities in the country for supporting active-duty service members, veterans, and military-connected families. This is a point of pride for Eagle Nation and a direct result of your work every day to create an environment where all of our students can thrive!

I’m also proud to share that two Georgia Southern University faculty members have been recognized for their student mentorship by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Dr. Olivia Carr Edenfield, professor of English, has been named the 2025 Arts & Humanities Faculty Mentor Award winner, a national honor recognizing her decades of guiding students to publish, present, and lead on major stages. Dr. Shainaz Landge, associate professor of Organic Chemistry, was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Silvia Ronco Innovative Mentor Award for her visionary approach to engaging students in hands-on, inquiry-based learning. It’s a powerful reminder that here, our students are supported by a community that invests in their success and helps them reach their highest potential.

This is a year of records, milestones, and opportunity. Together, we will continue to transform lives, enrich communities, serve as a catalyst for economic growth, and reach new heights!

Sincerely,

Kyle

People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!