VSU program hopes to increase retention rate for Black men
VSU program hopes to increase retention rate for Black men By Jennifer Morejon | May 10, 2021 at 5:44 PM EDT - Updated May 10 at 8:17 PM
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - As you’re driving through Valdosta, you may have noticed a new Valdosta State University billboard.
It features a student hoping to inspire others.
“It’s a big accomplishment. Statistics would say I’m not supposed to be here, but I’m here today and it’s great,” said Breylen Taylor.
Taylor graduated from Valdosta State University recently.
He wants to shows other African-American men that it’s possible.
Savannah State University has promoted interim president Kimberly Ballard-Washington to the permanent position, the University System of Georgia announced Thursday.
Ballard-Washington is the sole finalist for the position she inherited after taking over for president Cheryl Dozier upon her retirement in 2019.
“Savannah State’s 130-year history could not be better served than with a candidate of Ms. Ballard-Washington’s leadership and determination to honor its legacy while helping students successfully complete their degrees in the 21st century,” said USG chancellor, Steve Wrigley in a statement Thursday. “Kimberly has invaluable experience gained from working at a number of public universities across the state, and understands the important role Savannah State plays as the oldest public HBCU in Georgia. She truly and deeply cares for SSU, its students and its mission.”
Caption A screenshot from the video in which Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that she would not be seeking reelection. Credit: dearatl.com
Friday on
Political Rewind: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has announced that she will not run for reelection. In a letter, Bottoms highlighted her proudest accomplishments in office, but gave no reason for her decision not to seek a second term. We’ll look at what her withdrawal means for the race for mayor of Georgia’s most influential city.
Plus, another significant withdrawal is in the news today: The search firm hired to find candidates for chancellor of the University System of Georgia has resigned from the job. The company gave no reasons for its decision, but controversy over reports that the position of chancellor may be offered to former Gov. Sonny Perdue has clouded the search from the start.
The former University System of Georgia regent who used his position and Augusta s landfill to further an alleged scam has been indicted on racketeering and forgery charges brought by the Georgia attorney general.
Clarence Dean Alford, an engineer and former state legislator, negotiated with Augusta officials for several years to build a $68 million waste-to-energy plant at the landfill that never materialized.
Doing business as Allied Energy, Alford said the Augusta Waste-to-Energy facility would convert garbage to biodiesel pellets, and investors sank millions into the scheme and others involving solar.
Alford resigned from the board of regents in 2019 after being charged with racketeering and theft. Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission entered a $10 million judgment against him for bilking investors.