Perimeter News

Rakeb Tesfassellasie has already packed a lot into her college experience.
She has researched the impact that building design and windows have on migrating birds and has worked with a team to design a self-administered Pap test—a project for which she is continuing research. This spring, Tesfassellasie was recognized for her achievements and awarded the prominent national Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Paloma Hodje wants to be a changemaker. That’s why the recent graduate of Georgia State University’s Perimeter College has spent the last two years studying engineering and immersing herself in research.
Hodje, who is originally from Paris, learned in May that she has been awarded the Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Jeria Barnes always knew she wanted to complete her college education. She just didn’t realize it would take more than 20 years.
Barnes, now a 40-year-old resident of Riverdale, graduated from Perimeter College on May 8. Her first step toward getting a college education occurred 22 years ago.

The Onyeokoro family of DeKalb County has been touched more than once by the State Farm Scholars Program at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.
The scholarship program helped Paris Onyeokoro and her younger brother, Diamond, navigate through important milestones of their college education and provided them advice and experiences that continue to have value.

Two alumni of Perimeter College at Georgia State University have been awarded one of the nation’s largest private scholarships, the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

State Farm Scholar Yahshevah Wilson (A.S. ’25) plans to transition to the Atlanta Campus of Georgia State University to complete a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Geogia State University’s Perimeter College is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole L. McDonald, Ph. D., as an Assistant Dean.
The Assistant Dean has responsibility for implementing the college’s strategic plan, optimizing operational processes and ensuring optimal student achievement. Dean Johnson notes, “Dr. McDonald has a proven track record in strategic planning and accountability, policy development and implementation, operational excellence, and student persistence and completion.”

Daniel Smith is graduating from Perimeter College this spring and is excited to start attending Georgia State University’s downtown Atlanta Campus in the fall to continue studying exercise science.

Students in Dr. Romney Norwood’s sociology class opened a time capsule that Perimeter College buried 24 years ago.
During the re-dedication of the Decatur Campus Student Center, the capsule was vaulted on April 25, 2001, as a “gift to the future scholars” of the college.

Perseverance guided Jennifer Miller to her “dream job,” but it was a winding journey that required shifts, exploration and at least one do-over.

Miller, now an assistant professor at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College, recently was awarded the institution’s 2025 Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. Ursula Thomas, professor of education online at Perimeter College and the winner of the college’s 2025 Cole Fellow Award, has a strong family history of social justice and education. She takes her work to heart.
“I believe education is a calling,” she said, “and I was called at an early age to be an educator.”

Dr. David Yenerall’s earliest memories are about pondering humanity and wanting to know more.
“Since I can remember,” said Yenerall, recipient of Perimeter College’s 2025 Global Engagement Award, “I have been curious about our origin and our place in the universe and fascinated by human space flight.”

Dr. Sarah Harrell’s English classes at Perimeter College promote critical thinking – AND they are fun.

“She has a gift for engaging students and prompting enjoyment in the learning process,” Dr. Deborah Manson, a fellow English professor at Perimeter, said about Harrell.

Innovation is alive and well at Perimeter College. Three Perimeter faculty members were recently honored as part of Georgia State’s inaugural National Inventors’ Day event, which celebrated groundbreaking work across disciplines.

Malcolm Busin (A.S. '25) thrives on exploration. Since moving to America as a teenager — by himself — from his home country France, the 23-year-old has worked as an au pair and traveled extensively throughout the U.S.

Atlanta-area high school students and their parents received a crash course in the college admissions process, thanks to the Center for Outreach, Research and Engagement (CORE) at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.

Dr. Andrew Kim doesn’t wonder why he developed such an early interest in engineering. He knows why. The thanks go to his parents.
“From an early age, my father nurtured my engineering curiosity by explaining everything from how to use various tools to the principles behind rocket launches,” Kim said.

When Dr. C. Rett McBride needed a research proposal for a class in his Ph.D. program, he found his answer in his life as a volunteer.

McBride was pursuing a Ph.D. in Math Education. He volunteered at the Center for the Visually Impaired.

Dr. Melody Kelley has a reputation. People know her. They know she works hard. They know she completes tasks, and they know she succeeds.
Oh, and she’s also “awesome,” according to Dr. Scott Ross, Perimeter College’s Faculty Awards Committee chair

Richard Blackmon’s interest in history can be traced back to his hometown, Georgia’s oldest city, with its scenic and story-steeped town squares and fortifications.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University will celebrate 775 graduates during its spring 2025 commencement ceremony at the Georgia State Convocation Center on Thursday, May 8, at 5 p.m. Perimeter College is one of the state’s largest two-year colleges.

Soe Wai Yan, who was recently awarded the Dean's Award for demonstrating leadership through actions and character, is a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Paloma Hodje, a mathematics and engineering pathway student, stands out as a student researcher and semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Community College Innovation Challenge winner, Rakeb Tesfassellasie, is an engineering student and semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Nursing student Abubakar Jidda, a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, wants to complete his education so he can provide quality healthcare in Nigeria.

Intellectual curiosity led Bisma Malik to enroll as a computer science student at Perimeter College in Spring 2024, where she’s excelling and standing out as one of this year’s Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalists.

A passion for gaming led Prosper Olusegun-Joseph to explore computer science. He is now a frontrunner for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Six students from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College are the only students in the state selected as semifinalists for this year’s prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University recognized eight faculty members for their excellence in teaching, research and service during the school’s annual Faculty Excellence Awards ceremony.

Poetry, music, photography and Afrofuturism are among the topics for artful and conscientious talks scheduled for the Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.

Dr. Jordan Dopkins spent weeks last fall preparing the first-ever team of Perimeter College students to compete in the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) Online Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Perimeter College recently received national recognition for its work to protect these two vital natural assets--bees and trees.

Beverly Wright, Ph.D., and vice president of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) for Wavicle Solutions, will keynote the annual Daffodil Festival & Symposium at Georgia State University’s Newton Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m.

The Prevention Research Center at Georgia State is focused on identifying solutions for a growing health threat in the U.S. — social isolation.

Engineering pathway student Winnie Amani (A.S. ’24) is among nearly 700 graduation candidates who’ll receive their associate degrees from Perimeter College on Dec. 19.

LaTonya Brown (B.S.E. ’95, M.Ed. ’98) — an Honors College alum — leads a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the educational needs of underserved students.

Khoa Dang is completing his Business Administration pathway at Perimeter College, and this spring will continue his studies at Georgia State's downtown Atlanta Campus. Since reaching the U.S., he has begun a list of achievements that shows no sign of stopping.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University will host its fifth annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium Feb. 17-21, 2025, with a keynote address from Tim Fielder, an award-winning illustrator, concept designer, cartoonist, animator—and Perimeter College alumnus.

Perimeter College students attend the Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference, benefitting from engagement with industry leaders and more.

Environmental enthusiasts and volunteers gathered in October on the Decatur campus of Georgia State University Perimeter College to plant 60 trees in celebration of the college’s 60th anniversary.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University will host its fall commencement ceremony at the Georgia State Convocation Center on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University is one of 16 schools selected internationally to receive the Partners in Peace designation.

The intersection of African American music and literature will highlight the fall 2024 Sarah Larson Lecture Series at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.

Perimeter College students travel to Indonesia to study primates.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University marked its 60-year anniversary with events and activities for faculty, staff, students and community partners.

Georgia State University cut the ribbon Wednesday (Sept. 25) on a new $6.3 million dental hygiene clinic located on its Dunwoody Campus.

Perimeter College will mark its 60-year anniversary with events and activities on each of its five metro Atlanta campuses.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University celebrated six staff members during its annual Staff Day event.

Perimeter College recently hosted its inaugural STEM Summer Enrichment Camp, sponsored by the Center for Outreach, Research and Engagement (CORE), for area high schoolers.

Researchers from Georgia State University and Georgia State’s Perimeter College are working to collect and test samples of plants native to Ethiopia for their potential to fight disease.

Students at Georgia State University Perimeter College get the rare opportunity to participate in research as two-year college students.

Perimeter College engineering pathway alumnus Min Khant Zaw has been named a 2024 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipient.

Perimeter College Honors Online student Angelique Van Der Walt and her mom traveled all the way from her home in Johannesburg, South Africa, to her graduation ceremony.

As a contender for one of the nation's largest scholarships, Rakeb Tesfassellasie has her sight on becoming an industrial engineer.

After moving a lot during her childhood, Kulsum Saber has found her place and her passion in engineering at Perimeter College. The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Semifinalist hopes to one day establish a global sustainability hub for green initiatives.

Min Khant Zaw, a Perimeter College engineering student, is a semifinalist for one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships.

Perimeter student Shalom Ejiwunmi is vying to become a 2024 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship winner.

Perimeter College graduate Isabel Mejia looks forward to a busy summer as an intern at a New York private equity firm. She's been accepted to the Robinson College of Business where she'll continue her undergraduate degree in the fall.

Rafaela Berry is strong contender for national Jack Kent Cooke scholarship for undergraduate students.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University is set to graduate 600-plus graduates on May 2.

At age 46, Memunata Bah will be graduating from Perimeter College’s Associate of Nursing degree program, cheered on by three children and her husband, and receive her nursing pin Tuesday, April 30, during a special ceremony on the Clarkston Campus.

Prevail Olusegun-Joseph is a frontrunner for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, one of the nation's most prestigious awards for two-year college students.

Two Georgia State students were recognized for their passion for research with the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. Sara Guedez Suarez and Rashawn Thomas are among 438 undergraduates from across the nation who received this award.

Perimeter College student Sofia Saavedra Bonilla is among a select number of semifinalists for one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships for undergraduate students.

Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalist Haneen Ahmed is a high energy student who hopes one day to become a mechanical engineer with the goal of helping the environment.

Eight students from Georgia State’s Perimeter College are frontrunners for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, making them the only semifinalists from the state of Georgia.

The programs on Clarkston and Dunwoody campuses will include career fairs with interactive games and giveaways. Students can check out different pathways under the health professions umbrella, as well as meet with working professionals in dental hygiene, exercise science, health informatics, kinesiology, pharmacy, physical therapy, nursing and sport management. After each panel, there will be a reception with light refreshments.

Helping students succeed is the driving force behind the 2023-24 Perimeter College Faculty Award recipients. Many of the winners see themselves in their students; others help their students to actively engage in their communities.

Perimeter College faculty and staff have been active in research and obtaining grants to further the mission of the college and increase student success.

Dr. Vivian Mativo has always loved research, and she tries to imbue that enthusiasm for research in her Chemistry courses and in working with other faculty. She is the 2024 Faculty Professional Award winner for Perimeter College.

Teaching Excellence Award winner Barbara Robertson has taken her own passion for American Government and developed ways for her students to understand how it works, through working polling precincts to visiting the nation's Capitol and meeting legislators in person.

Perimeter mathematics associate professor Dr. Nikita Patterson was inspired to become a math professor by her mentor at Spelman College. She was recently named the 2024 Perimeter Service Excellence Award winner.

Tamra Ortgies-Young has received the Cole Fellow Award, the highest distinction a Perimeter faculty member can receive. The Cole Fellow is named in honor of former college president, Marvin Cole.

Global Engagement Award winner Dr. Luise Strange de Soria combines her love of all things international in her chemistry classes and as a faculty advisor to several clubs.

Hosanna Fletcher, the 2024 Civic Engagement Award winner, enjoys helping students to understand the issues surrounding their communities through real action and involvement.

As the child of an immigrant, Jennifer Meeks accompanied her father to classes at a community college, and she identifies with many of her students who are on a similar educational journey. And as a parent herself, she understands what it's like to juggle family and studies, so she tries to schedule her courses to accommodate her students' busy schedules.

Outstanding Senior Faculty Award winner Dr. Kimmy Kellett capitalizes on the beautiful Dunwoody Campus to help her biology students understand environmental issues.

From her own roots as a First Gen students, to helping students success, Perimeter Dean Barbara Johnson reflects on some of the things that are important to her in a brief Q & A.

Nine faculty representing disciplines in STEM, the Humanities, English, Political Science and History and Cultural and Behavioral Sciences were honored with the college's top awards recently.

Perimeter Students in Barbara Robertson's American Government and Perspectives courses have qualified as poll workers in Newton and Rockdale counties are ready to work early voting and the March presidential primary.

Honors student Rashawn Thomas discovered a passion for doing research at Perimeter College. She is now studying a rare disease called myositis/dermatomyositis and has designed an anonymous research survey to help determine if lifestyle and demographics play a role in the disease.

"Be Kind to Your Mind," is the focus of this year's Daffodil Festival on the Newton Campus. The annual event celebrating the hundreds of campus daffodils will bring mental health professionals together to talk about improving mental health and resiliency. The event is free and open to the public.

Renowned soprano Maria Clark will sing during a special production highlighting the life, words and songs of Black activist Fannie Lou Hamer at Georgia State University's Decatur Campus Feb. 21. The play is part of the college's annual Bennekin Symposium, Feb. 19-23.

The three-year National Endowment for the Humanities grant will support the creation of experiential learning courses and community-based student projects across all Perimeter College campuses.

Georgia State’s 40 Under 40 program annually celebrates the most influential and accomplished Georgia State graduates who embody the values of the university.

Daniel Black, an award-winning novelist, professor and activist, will keynote the upcoming Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College.

Johnson, the executive vice president and provost at Talladega College in Alabama, will begin her new role as dean of Perimeter College Feb. 12, 2024.

Abby Whittle will graduate from Perimeter College at Georgia State University Dec. 14 with an eye toward becoming a fish and game warden.

Mandi Shelnutt, a single mom of three, will graduate from Georgia State University’s Perimeter College Dec. 14.

The annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium at Georgia State University's Perimeter College is scheduled for Feb. 19-23, 2024.

D'Erick Lee (A.S.N. '23) was inspired to become a nurse by his fiancée and in December will join 36 other nursing students in a special pinning ceremony on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia State.

The Cradle to College program has expanded to include more elementary and middle school students, who take part in a day of activities in different classes. The program is designed to introduce students early to the idea of going to college.

Award recipient Dr. Salli Vargis has long been a proponent of international education, developing programs for both students and faculty over the decades.

Renee Davis started college 40 years ago, but left to pursue a military career. Now she's back in school to finish the job, as a music pathway student at Georgia State's Perimeter College. She is among the university's 2,500 military students and veterans who will be honored during the Veterans Recognition Ceremony on Clarkston Campus on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Featuring top national speakers on student engagement for online learning, the weeklong hybrid conference will provide faculty and staff with the necessary tools and strategies to enhance student engagement and cultivate a stronger sense of belonging to enhance their academic success.

Pulitizer Prize-winning author and film producer Douglas A. Blackmon will lead a talk about segregation in America following a special screening of his documentary “The Harvest” on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. on the Georgia State University Perimeter College Clarkston Campus.

The Connect-to Care health care events on the Perimeter College Clarkston and Decatur campuses will free some dental, hearing and health care services for community residents. The program is in partnership with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, which is providing funding for the events.

The artwork of Atlanta artist and muralist Joe Dreher, aka Joe King, is on display in the Fine Arts Gallery at Perimeter College in Clarkston until December 11.

Jennifer Jenkins was an alumna of DeKalb College (now Perimeter College)and served as Fine Arts Department production manager. She worked "backstage" at college 38 years, shepherding dozens of theatre, music and commencement productions. Jenkins' legacy will be remembered during a special naming ceremony of the stage she supervised at the Cole Auditorium Saturday, Oct. 21.

“Innovative Mentoring Plus Academic Success Coaching Transforms to Success,” is part of a $3 million U.S. Department of Education grant that connects Black male faculty as mentors to African American male students enrolled in introductory mathematics courses at the college. The program also supports students with study and life skills.

Perimeter College engineering students gathered recently to gain career and industry insight from a group of Chevron engineers. Chevron has funded 19 scholarships for Perimeter STEM students.

The four-year NSF grant-funded program, which launches in January 2024, is designed to encourage students to try basic research with the idea of progressing to more sophisticated research in the future.

A multidisciplinary research team led by the City of Atlanta and Georgia State University was recently announced as one of four statewide winners of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation’s 2023 Community Research Grant.

Events across Perimeter College celebrate the U.S. Constitution and all that it represents, to commemorate the date of the ratification of the country's abiding legal document.

Georgia State football players will hit the field this season wearing custom mouthguards created by students in the university’s Dental Hygiene program at Perimeter College.

“At Perimeter, I found my passion and got advice to be involved," said Newton Campus student Isabel Prieto. "That’s when every door flew open. How much effort you’re putting in is what’s going to be coming back to you. That’s what’s going to be the biggest difference.”

Kyungeh An, Ph.D, RN, FAAN, FAHA, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Nursing, has formally accepted the position of associate dean of the Lewis College School of Nursing and is expected to assume her position Oct. 1.

Perimeter College hit a record in sponsored grants during FY 23. One of those grants was a $600,000 Georgia Health Care Workforce grant for the college's nursing program to fund new simulators for student clinical practice.

Patrick Rodriguez is among the first cohort of 100 emerging changemakers selected to participate in the Obama Foundation’s Leaders USA program.

Lisa Boyd brings a wealth of experience working with veterans and military-affiliated students to her new role as director of Georgia State's Military Outreach Center.

Mandy Yang, a dual enrollment student taking classes online at Perimeter College, is experiencing the summer of a lifetime participating in a study abroad language program in Jordan. Among other cultural and travel experiences, she rode a camel in the desert.

Dental hygiene and nursing students will host clinics to serve residents in underserved communities as part of the Fulton-DeKalb County Hospital Authority grant.

This is the second year of the radon workshop at Perimeter College, which is designed to promote more hand-on science projects for middle and high school teachers to bring to their students, while also teaching about the effects of chemicals and radon in the environment through experiments and testing.

Three alumni from Perimeter College at Georgia State University are among a select group of students receiving the national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship for 2023.

Working in the theater--both onstage and behind the scenes--inspires Ariel Ford, who is a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. She is one of 10 Perimeter College students nominated for the prestigious national scholarship.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University will host its spring commencement ceremony at the Georgia State Convocation Center on Friday, May 5, at 5 p.m.

Nine students at Walker State Prison in Rock Spring, Ga., will receive their associate degrees in general studies. The students participated in Georgia State University’s Prison Education Project, which provides college courses in prisons.

Negar “Arianna” Yazdanpanah credits resiliency and hard work for getting her to the graduation finish line. She'll receive her associate degree in dental hygiene from Perimeter College on Friday, May 5.

Julian Umana-Bernal sees his future in helping people by developing medicines. " I knew I wanted to help people and after the experience as a (medic), I knew what I wanted to do—I want to create better products for helping people by focusing on creating medicines to solve health problems,” he said.

Madeline Jeffocoat is one of more than 50 Perimeter nursing graduates. She is excited about her future. "The healthcare industry is constantly moving forward, and because of this, nurses can learn new skills and expand their area of expertise. I want to have a career with that kind of possibility."

Serin Kim is a Perimeter College alumna and semifinalist for one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships, the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer award.

Paula Gil is an Honors student and one of 10 Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalists, is an engineering student and president of the Women in STEM Experience club, and is active in the SPACE club. She is interested in studying biomechanical engineering.

One of 10 State Farm Scholars graduating in May, Paris Onyeokoro, 19, has balanced her academics with caring for her ill mother and father, running a household and working part-time as a caretaker for developmentally disabled individuals. It’s a load she has shouldered willingly, but it hasn’t always been easy.

Tsinat "Ruth" Nure is an international student studying business at Perimeter College. She's also in the running to receive one of the nation's most competitive scholarship awards.

Tierra Grant is a psychology student at GSU's Perimeter College and a frontrunner for one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships for two-year college students.

Just four years ago, Kseniya Harrington took her first college science course. Today she is an honors student and an astronomy and physics researcher studying black holes. She was recently named one of 10 semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Engineering scholar Areej Rizwan is one of 10 Perimeter students who are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Winners will be announced in late April.

Jack Kent Cooke scholarship semifinalist Madelief Tilder is passionate about helping others. She recently presented her poster research, “Reversing the Pipeline: How Prison Education Programs Can Transpose the Outcomes of the School-to-Prison Pipeline,” during the Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference.

Mensur Muzyin is a 2023 semifinalist for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer scholarship.

Max Budnick, a mathematics student at Georgia State’s Perimeter College, and Emily Smith, a neuroscience major on Georgia State’s Atlanta Campus, are among just 413 students nationwide who were recently named Goldwater scholars.

The Georgia State Native Plant Botanical Garden will be open for four weekends of plant sales beginning April 21. Native plants, flowers, trees and ferns are abundant throughout this 'hidden' gem of a garden on the Decatur Campus.

Perimeter College received a fruit tree and bush donation, as well as a garden grant, from Food Well Alliance. The resources will be used to expand the Decatur Campus Community Garden.

The ‘Give Kids A Smile’ dental hygiene day took place in the college's dental hygiene clinic and was geared toward children whose families may not be able to afford dental care. More than 70 children received dental exams, cleanings, and other dental services.

Ten students from Perimeter College at Georgia State University are in running for prestigious national scholarship award.

Perimeter College associate professor of history Dana Wiggins, Ph.D., is the featured presenter at the Sarah Larson Lecture Series on Georgia State University's Dunwoody Campus. The title of her talk is "Questioning Gender: Everything You Want to Know but Are Afraid to Ask."

This year's faculty Civic Engagement Award recipient wants her students to actively engage in what it means to be a part of a campaign and vote.

“I love teaching. And love learning myself and learning new concepts and teaching methods,” says Heather Zimbler-DeLorenzo, Perimeter College's 2022-23 Professional Excellence Award recipient.

The Cole Fellow, named in honor of Dr. Marvin Cole, president of both DeKalb College/Georgia Perimeter College from 1981-1993, is the highest college honor for a Perimeter faculty member to receive.

"One of the things I love about teaching English is watching the students improve their writing and watching them gain confidence that they can write," said Jane Sullivan, the recipient of Perimeter's Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award "That’s exciting to me."

It was the first "Raiders of the Lost Ark" movie that inspired Ernie Guyton, and college archeology professor who ignited his love for study ab The 2022-23 Faculty Teaching Excellence Recipient has many fond memories of teaching students at college for the past 25 years.

A former corporate accountant and certified public accountant Jennifer Miller, who received the Faculty Service Excellence Award, uses her real-life corporate experience to connect the dots for her students.

"Students often teach me what I've skipped, assumed, left out by asking questions, so I value these moments and leave a lot of room for their queries within my overall classroom," says Rosamond Rodman, the recipient of Perimeter's 2022-23 Junior Faculty Excellence Award.

The 2022-2023 Senior Teaching Excellence award recipient said it took a series of "fortunate mishaps" to learn that her purpose was to teach. Lanier Brown started teaching as an adjunct professor at Perimeter College in January 2010.

“Our economy is global and the impact of the decisions of any one country can be felt by many others," says Stephanie Langston, the recipient of Perimeter College's Global Engagement award. "Our students need to be prepared for this interconnectedness. They need to be sensitive to the perspectives and needs of others.”

Althea Sumpter is the featured speaker for the Susan Thomas Lectureship. She is a researcher and scholar who focuses on ethnographic documentation and cultural preservation of the Southern story in the United States. Her talk will be at Perimeter College's Cole Auditorium at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 7.

Georgia State Chemistry Professor Paulos Yohannes is helping to open the door to the power of Ethiopia's medicinal plants.

Newton Campus students Codie Harbin and Jason Barker teamed up to make a film to encourage first-time college students to learn how to forge their own path in college. The film premieres Wednesday, Feb. 22 as part of the campus Daffodil Festival events.

The expansion of the English language instruction program lays the foundation for access to post-secondary education, career success and improved health and well-being in the Clarkston, Ga., community.

The $300,000 grant will help fund new GSUPEP instructional classes at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary and expand current course offerings at Department of Juvenile Justice facilities in Georgia.

Perimeter College at Georgia State University will host its 3rd annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium Feb. 20-24 with a lively list of speakers.

An award-winning author, a thought-provoking roundtable discussion with college educators and state and county administrators, and a visit from a local film studio executive are just a few of the events planned for the Newton Campus event.

Started in 2018, Georgia State’s 40 Under 40 program annually celebrates the most influential and accomplished Georgia State graduates who embody the values of the university.

Young Gamechangers brings professionals from across the state together to work on the persistent challenges of one Georgia community. In 2023, Columbus-Muscogee County will host the group who develop specific recommendations for the community

The CCAMPIS program for Perimeter students who are parents of young children is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. It is expanding to include nine childcare centers across metro Atlanta.

Perimeter College viola instructor Amy Leventhal will direct "Our Sacred World," an opera that she composed, on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Georgia State University's Marvin Cole Auditorium on Clarkston Campus.

As part of the Carnegie fellowship, Paulos Yohannes will work with chemistry faculty at both Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and at Georgia State to help identify and analyze key healing ingredients in medicinal plants native to Ethiopia.

A team of Georgia State University researchers has received a three-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health to improve health services for non-native English speaking minority communities.

Eshe Sherley, black women's and labor history scholar, will keynote the 2023 Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium.

Nursing combined Nathifah Reid's love of caring for others, her interest in medicine and the variety she craved in daily activities.

Academic pathways for the 784 associate degree fall candidates at Perimeter range from health science professions, computer science and business administration to engineering, nursing and criminal justice.

Meghan Hood is among 12 faculty members across the state of Georgia chosen for the Governor's Teaching Fellow Program.

Georgia State hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a $6.3 million dental hygiene clinic under construction on the university's Perimeter College campus in Dunwoody, Ga.

After graduation, engineering grad Joanna Kawata will take part in a prestigious aerospace internship. Her sister, Manuella, who graduates from the Atlanta Campus with her degree in biology, plans to continue her education and pursue the field of occupational therapy.

The renewed grant funding from the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program will fund merit-based scholarships at all the university's campuses and six new awards for seniors who have unmet financial need.

The Veterans Recognition Ceremony at Clarkston Campus was celebrating the more than 2,700 military and military-affiliated students who attend Georgia State and Perimeter college campuses.

Chris Colmenero is one of more than 2,700 veterans and military-affiliated students attending Georgia State. The university will honor all veterans and active military students at its annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony November 9 and 10 on the Clarkston and Atlanta campuses.

Dr. Melody Kelley, associate professor of chemistry, engaged attendees with presentation on “Creating Safer Spaces in STEM: Failure-Centered Pedagogy as a Tool for Inclusive Teaching" at the Southern Regional Education Board's Institute of Teaching and Mentoring.

Vicente Della Tonia, an award-winning pianist and associate professor of music at Georgia State's Perimeter College, will host the college’s 2nd PianoFest Sunday-Saturday, Nov. 13-19 at Georgia State’s Clarkston Campus, 3735 Memorial College Ave.  

Professors at Perimeter College are working with local teachers and students to educate them about how to detect radon in their own communities.

Rosamond Rodman, Ph.D., assistant professor, humanities and religious studies, will present “Scripture, Subjectivity and the Second Amendment” on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 10-11:15 a.m. on Georgia State’s Dunwoody Campus, 2101 Womack Road, NC Building Auditorium (NC-1100).

“Squirrel Girl Goes to College” follows the adventures of Marvel hero Squirrel Girl, also known as Doreen Green, as she tries to make friends at college and succeed in her classes while hiding her super identity, according to CreativeDrama.com.

With the theme of “Recalibrating Student Success,” the day-long GOSS conference covered 16 breakout sessions. Topics included “Awaken the Champion Within: Taking Students from Average to Greatness,” to discussions of what the term “compassionate pedagogy” means.

The IAspire program is aimed at helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) faculty from underrepresented backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at colleges and universities.

Patrick Rodriguez, Georgia State Prison Education Project's interim director, was recently named a Georgia Trend 40 under 40 recipient for his work on bringing higher education to prisons in Georgia.

Dr. Karen Wheel-Carter, associate dean for strategic initiatives at Georgia State University Perimeter College, has been accepted to the Weekend HERS Leadership Institute 2022-2023 cohort.

The engineers' visit and career talk was an extension of Chevron’s support of Perimeter students: In 2018, the company established a scholarship for Perimeter engineering students and has also helped fund student trips to the National Society of Black Engineers conferences.

Perimeter College chemistry instructor Dr. Ben Tovrog and his family established the T2W2 scholarship to support student success at the school.

The National Science Foundation Build and Broaden 3.0 Initiative grant will enable Perimeter students to conduct research both in Georgia and in Indonesia. The students will be fully funded to participate in research abroad.

The new center on Clarkston Campus has computers, workstations, a photo booth for professional photos and a “career closet” boutique with professional clothing and shoes for both men and women.

From collecting and donating books, to providing fresh produce for a food bank, students on the Newton Campus connect with community organizations to fulfill specific needs as part of the Academic Community Engagement program.

Congressman Hank Johnson recently visited Clarkston to hear how the Georgia State University Prevention Research Center is helping improve health and well-being.

The Georgia State University Alumni Association has named three new members to its Board of Directors and 18 new members to the Young Alumni Council board.

Butterflies, bees and dragonflies are just some of the pollinators volunteers will be counting as part of the Great Georgia Pollinator Census Aug. 20 at the Native Plant Botanical Garden at the Decatur Campus.

Research experiences are usually for graduate students, but a group of Perimeter College students got to delve into computer science research with peers from across the country as part of a Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the university.

Damion Carpenter (A.S. '21), a long-time Atlanta Braves employee and a Georgia State Sport Administration student, received a replica of the diamond-studded version given to the 2021 Braves World Champion team.

Maryann Douglass is a proud graduate and big supporter of Perimeter College, where she now sits on the Dean's Board of Advisors.

Perimeter College professor and associate dean, Ken Johnson, shares his motivation for giving to the college through its Development Office efforts.

Two separate $50,000 seed grants awarded to Perimeter faculty members through President M. Brian Blake's RISE Challenge will help create a culture of research through scholarly teaching and learning, as well as support a university-wide project to create an infrastructure to help inform polices and reduce disparities in urban health in the Southeast.

Georgia State University is one of four U.S. institutes to be awarded an almost $500,000 grant from the Alfred P Sloan Foundation to boost diversity, equity and inclusion in pathways toward graduate programs in STEM fields.

More than a dozen high school students recently found out they'll be Perimeter College State Farm Scholars.

Two years ago, Conyers resident Zane Jones wasn't even thinking about college. Today the Perimeter College graduate has a choice between two Ivy League universities to further her undergraduate education.

The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholarship Awards up to $55,000 a year for scholars to complete their undergraduate degree

Far from the typical classroom experience, a number of Georgia State’s undergraduate and graduate courses offer students unexpected lessons — sometimes in unexpected places.

Ten Perimeter College State Farm Scholars graduate and will continue on their educational journeys, thanks to the benefits of a student success program than began five years ago.

On May 4, 24 students will graduate from Perimeter College’s Dental Hygiene program. The class recently received 100 percent pass rate on their clinical National Board Dental Exam, preparing them to go into the workforce.

Nearly 900 candidates are set to receive their associate degrees from Georgia State University's Perimeter College on May 4.

Papa Ebo Quainoo arrived in the United States from Ghana, knowing no one except his father. “I was determined to achieve my goal no matter what it took — that was my dream,” he says. He is on his way. Quainoo was recently named a semifinalist for the competitive Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Ebony Milner has gone from homelessness to becoming a semifinalist for one of the nation's most prestigious scholarships.

Set to graduate with an associate of science from Perimeter College, Fatin Bakhouy is one step closer to her dream of becoming a nurse.

High-Achieving Perimeter Student is National Scholarship Contender

Shirley Ortega is a top contender for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a competitive award for the nation’s top community (two-year) college students.

Paula Gil came from Colombia with a dream to one day help people live better. She is on her way to achieving her dream at Perimeter College.

The third time was the charm for Connor LaChappelle, who was nominated for his appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice. LaChappelle is an honors student on the Georgia State University Newton Campus. He'll report to cadet training in late June.

Anant Honkan has established Perimeter College’s largest ever planned gift and a scholarship in his mother’s name.

Four Perimeter College students and a recent graduate are top, national contenders for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer scholarship.

The Georgia State University Prison Education Project can expand to offer more classes and programs, and the Place and Race Initiative will offer programs in the Summerhill community, thanks to the gift from the American Family Insurance Institute.

Jeffrey Ogbar, known as the hip-hop professor, will keynote the 2022 Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium hosted by Georgia State University's Perimeter College.

The daffodils are in full bloom on Georgia State's Newton Campus, heralding the return of the annual Daffodil Festival and Symposium. This is the 14th year for the festival named in honor of the hundreds of blooms that emerge on campus every February.

The 40 Under 40 program honors, recognizes and celebrates the most influential and impactful Georgia State graduates under the age of 40 who embody the values of the university.

Erica McGuire, a 2021 Georgia State University Perimeter College graduate is following in her mom’s and sisters' footsteps by finishing from GSU.

A successful businesswoman and community volunteer, Victoria Prevatt says her experiences as a Perimeter College student are—in part—the reason for her ‘can do’ attitude.

Larry James will become a college graduate this week—and he credits his disabled twin brother as well as his mom, with inspiring his success.

A $1.1 million Department of Education grant will lift up underserved students struggling with English studies, and also focus on research opportunities.

Noted historian and author Dr. Jeffrey Ogbar will keynote the annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium to be hosted by Georgia State University’s Perimeter College Feb. 21-25, 2022.

The pandemic, plus a marriage break-up, posed challenges to nursing student Latrice Smith, but the challenges were faced with a certain resilience of spirit. Smith graduates this month with three job offers.

For Estell Halliburton, a 76-year-old grandmother and a newly published author, walking across the stage to get her diploma from Perimeter College will be an extra special moment in her incredible journey.

Erica McGuire is succeeding in the classroom and on the home front. As a full-time, single mom to 8-year-old Keaton Rae, she admits it can be tough focusing on both studying and parenting.

Osi Zelaya can't believe she's living her dream of going to college. She's a first-generation student with a 4.0 grade point average and a fierce desire to help other students succeed as well.

The terror attacks of 9/11 cemented Richard Guan's desire to serve his country. Guan and more than 2,800 military-connected students at Georgia State will be honored during special Veterans Recognition ceremonies at Georgia State's Clarkston and Atlanta campuses this week.

Astronomer and Perimeter College assistant professor Jay Dunn helps his students achieve career liftoff by drawing them into research.

Students at Newton High School marked their campaign to stop opioid abuse with a permanent mural at the high school. The #NOpioids campaign was created in collaboration with Georgia State University's Perimeter College Newton campus students.

Live theatre returns to Perimeter College at Georgia State University this fall—with a twist.

The Theatre Arts Guild will present its production of “The Garden Cycle” outdoors Friday-Sunday, Oct. 22-24 at the Native Plant Botanical Garden located on Perimeter’s Decatur Campus, 3251 Panthersville Road.

The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College is accepting new patients at its facility, which features state-of-the-art technology and radiology equipment. The clinic, located on Perimeter’s Dunwoody Campus, offers dental hygiene services to Georgia State faculty, staff and students, as well as the general public.

The grant funds the project "Innovative Mentoring Plus Academic Success Coaching Transforms Success" (IMPACTS), which targets African American males enrolled in introductory mathematics courses.

The Georgia State University Military Outreach Center will honor fallen first responders and Georgia military who died in action in Afghanistan and Iraq with a special reading of names to commemorate the 9/11 attacks on Tuesday, Sept. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. on the Clarkston Campus. The public is invited.

With a fully vaccinated rate of nearly 42%, Clarkston is outpacing neighboring communities that are similarly stressed, with low household income, low literacy and language ability, high density housing, and limited transportation.

Perimeter College history professor Richard Blackmon unearths Civil War history in Atlanta city parks by marking battlefield trenches used by both Union and Confederate troops.

Developed by Georgia State’s School of Public Health and Adult Literacy Research Center at the College of Education & Human Development, the toolkit contains videos and brochures on diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and healthy eating published in 13 languages.

Georgia State’s National Institute for Student Success is moving towards its next implementation phase thanks to a transformational $2 million gift from The Kresge Foundation, a deeply committed supporter of student success initiatives at Georgia State and universities around the country.

The research team aims to identify behaviors and solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the city's African American and refugee, immigrant and migrant (RIM) community.

Georgia State University is ranked the No. 1 veteran-friendly school in Georgia and No. 6 in the nation by Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges for 2021.

Georgia State Alumni Association 40 Under 40 honoree and rocket scientist Kavya Manyapu has been tapped to work with NASA’s Artemis program.

Georgia State University earned the 2021 VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer for its employment of veterans and others in the military-connected community.

Perimeter College students Awa Cisse and Gideon Melvin each were awarded the national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, one of the largest private scholarships in the country.

Elijah and Ezra Echols are the second set of twins in their family to attend the Newton Campus. They will be graduating from Perimeter College and transitioning to Georgia State's Atlanta Campus.

A chance meeting during Tigsty Abraha’s high school lunch period opened the door to college and changed the course of her life.

Moved by the power of aerospace and fueled by a love for STEM, first-generation student Amy Tu graduates from Perimeter College with her sights set on NASA.

Chasity Holstick – a mom, veteran and marathon runner who returned to college at age 42 – completes her first degree and fulfills a long-held goal.

Perimeter College plans its spring in-person commencement for May 11 at Georgia State University's Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

With the unexpected help of a kind stranger, Latonya Young (B.S. ’21) was finally able to finish her associate degree. Inspired by that stranger-turned-friend, she’s about to be the first in her family with a bachelor’s degree.

A virtual STAR Awards ceremony recognizes the academic and cocurricular achievements of Perimeter College students and advisers.

Siang Zaem is preparing for graduate school where she plans to develop a culturally appropriate child maltreatment prevention model for Myanmar refugees.

Gideon Melvin is one of eight Perimeter College students named as semifinalists for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Four years ago, a group of 40 high school seniors received the State Farm Scholarship at Georgia State’s Perimeter College. For many, it was the only way they could go to college. Now, they’re earning degrees at remarkably high rates, demonstrating that, with the right supports, all students can graduate.

Khea Archer is one of eight Perimeter College students named as semifinalists for the national 2021 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

April Breedlove is one of eight Perimeter College students selected as semifinalists for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Afnan Abu Sarar is one of eight Perimeter College students named as semifinalists for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Awa Cisse is one of Perimeter College’s eight semifinalists for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Zaida Crosby is one of Perimeter College’s eight semifinalists for the 2021 national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Perimeter College students represent all but one of the semifinalists chosen from Georgia for the national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

A scientist at heart, Nitheyaa Shree is a campus standout. The senior neuroscience major is a Presidential Scholar, Barry Goldwater Scholar and Georgia State’s very first Marshall Scholar.

Faculty in the College of Education & Human Development’s Adult Literacy Research Center received a $15,000 grant from the Atlanta Global Research and Education Collaborative to adapt a trauma intervention program for culturally- and linguistically-diverse communities.

The Honors College at Georgia State University has created a scholarship program to help two-year honors students at Perimeter College successfully transition to being four-year honors students on the university’s Atlanta Campus.

Georgia State University’s Perimeter College will celebrate African American art and literature with the inaugural Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium Feb. 15-19. The theme is “The Harlem Renaissance: Roots & Reach.”

Two planets will align so closely on Dec. 21 -- the shortest day of the year -- they will appear as one bright star in Georgia’s southwestern night sky.

Bavisha Rajesh, a Dual Enrollment and Honors College student, is Georgia's only recipient of the 2020 Women in Technology (WIT) Girl of the Year award.

Georgia State University's Perimeter College is set to celebrate its graduates via virtual and in-person ceremonies on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

Education company EAB has named Georgia State University’s Perimeter College the winner of its Student Success Collaborative Return on Education Award.

Beginning January 2021, Georgia State will offer a new streamlined L.P.N. to B.S. degree program, leveraging the nursing programs in Perimeter College and the Atlanta Campus. This new program is a unique solution to the nursing shortage for one Atlanta area healthcare organization.

A popular annual symposium on black history, organized by Georgia State University’s Perimeter College, has a new name: “The Mario Bennekin Black History Symposium.”

Misty Mattingly, a graduate of Perimeter College’s dental hygiene program, is one of 11 appointees to the Georgia Board of Dentistry.

With a love of film nurtured when she was child in Zimbabwe, Sue-Ellen Chitunya (A.A., A.S. ’05; B.A. ’10) has carved out a successful career in cinema working on Hollywood blockbusters and as a producer of independent films. Now, she’s a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will help pick next year’s Oscars.

Georgia State faculty have come together to study how the pandemic is affecting refugees in Clarkston — and help address the community’s unique needs.

Georgia State University has been named the No. 1 Online Military-Friendly School in the nation, receiving the top ranking among 100 online military-friendly schools.

The Prevention Research Center at Georgia State has teamed up with the city of Clarkston, Ga., to distribute multilanguage lawn signs on COVID-19 protections in high-pedestrian areas to help curb the spread of the disease.

November’s national, state and local elections appear to be attracting the interest of a larger than usual number of young voters.

Cheryl Lowman, Georgia State University police sergeant and Perimeter College student, advocates for breast cancer awareness after surviving her personal fight.

A national organization is offering free coronavirus tests to the public on Georgia State University’s Clarkston Campus Oct. 8-10.

Perimeter alumnus Brian Lovell heads the 18-member Board of Advisors that supports Perimeter College and the college dean’s priorities.

An effort is under way to honor the late Mario Bennekin, Perimeter College history and political science department chair, through Black history symposium.

During the last year of their undergraduate journey at Georgia State University, Mia-Simone Green hopes to use their experiences in the Honors College to advise and shepherd other students who are just starting on their own path.

Georgia State University President Mark Becker, who has led the university through the most dynamic period of growth and development in its history, has announced his plans to leave the presidency at the end of the academic year.

Dr. Clarence Massie Jr., psychology lecturer at Perimeter College, offers tips for students navigating college during the pandemic.

Constitution Day will be celebrated Sept. 15-17 with a slate of virtual events hosted by Georgia State University's Perimeter College.

Nestor Kaputo, a recent Perimeter College honors graduate, knows the right guidance can make a big difference.

State Farm Scholarships at Perimeter College have three loyal fans in the Hussein family: Abdirahman Hussein, 22; Adar Hussein, 18, and Samiro Hussein, 21.

Students in the African-American Studies (AAS) pathway will take core curriculum and African American-focused courses to earn an associate of arts degree in a new degree pathway program this fall.

Georgia State University is among the first three schools chosen to begin planning to become a Next Generation Public Service Academy.

Perimeter College student Devin Jordan experienced a summer of firsts, thanks to his undergraduate research project involving dolphins.

Georgia State University’s Perimeter College welcomes five new members to its Dean's Advisory Board. Their two-year terms began July 1.

Gideon Melvin, a political science student at Perimeter College student, has been awarded a Congressional Black Caucus Scholarship.

Perimeter College student Tiffany Watts-Ferguson spends her workdays calling those who have taken a COVID-19 test to tell them the results.

Xhenet Aliu’s debut novel, “Brass,” a “wise and wisecracking exploration of working-class mothers and daughters,” is the winner of the 2020 Townsend Prize for Fiction.

The Latino Leadership Pipeline program aims to increase the number of students of Hispanic or Latinx heritage graduating from Georgia State University.

More students will be able to participate in the Georgia State University Prison Education Project, thanks to the federal Second-Chance Pell grant program.

Keianna Moyer, 18, is graduating from DeKalb Early College Academy and Georgia State's Perimeter College. She is a recipient of Georgia State's Presidential Scholarship.

David Gaines, 16, the youngest graduate candidate in Perimeter College’s Class of 2020, plans to be a neurologist, a neurosurgeon and an attorney.