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Campus Review
May 7, 2013
Page 2
Pat Keane, Dr. James Keebler Named
Winners of 2013 Alice Smith Awards
by Erin Fender and John Shiffert, External Relations
Clayton State University Announces
The G. Robert Oliver Scholarship for Legal Studies
by Erin Fender, External Relations
Pat Keane, soon to become Clayton State
University’s longest-tenured staff mem-
ber, and College of Business professor Dr.
James Keebler, have won the University’s
2013 Alice Smith Awards.
Clayton State’s Alice J. Smith Awards, for
both faculty and staff, were presented at
Clayton State’s Faculty/Staff Awards
Ceremony on Apr. 23. An annual event
since 1995, the Smith Awards are present-
ed to the faculty member and staff mem-
ber ranked most outstanding as deter-
mined by committees of their peers. The
two, $1000 awards were established by
local philanthropist Joseph Smith in honor
of his wife, Alice.
Keane, who has been with Clayton State
for 29 years, is currently the administra-
tive assistant in the Athletic Department,
her fourth position at the University,
which may be a record of some kind. She
first worked part-time at Clayton State as
the switch board operator, starting in
1984. She then moved over to work full
time in the Continuing Education
Division, and later spent several years in
Media & Printing Services.
With the retirement this summer of the
Center for Academic Success’ Joann
Quattlebaum, a previous Smith Staff
Award winner, Keane will become the
longest-serving staff member at the
University.
“I don’t believe there is a better environ-
ment than a college campus to work.
Helping students and coaches make their
dreams come true is so rewarding. I look
forward to coming to work every day… of
course working with awesome colleagues
helps too!,” says Keane.
This was the fourth time Keane has been
named as a finalist for the Alice Smith
Award, which may also be a record.
“It’s a great feeling,” she said, standing on
the stage of Spivey Hall and holding her
award. “There are so many great people
here, I hope you all get to experience it
some day.”
Keane, who is married with three chil-
dren, enjoys spending time with her
grandchildren and staying active out-
doors. A native of Philadelphia’s Chestnut
Hill neighborhood, she has lived in
Morrow for 39 years.
The Clayton State University Foundation,
in conjunction with the law firm of
Freeman, Mathis, & Gary, recently
announced the G. Robert Oliver
Scholarship for Legal Studies. Family,
friends, and local officials gathered at a
recent Foundation Board meeting to sur-
prise Oliver with the announcement.
Oliver has played a significant role in the
University’s development over the years.
As a charter member of the Board of
Trustees, he was among those who signed
the charter in 1974, creating the then-
Clayton State Junior College Foundation.
In 1999 he was named chairman of the
then-Clayton College & State University
Foundation. He now serves as trustee
emeritus.
In 2001, he was awarded an honorary doc-
torate from Clayton State; President Dr.
Thomas K. Harden noted that, “Mr. Oliver
exemplifies the ideals of public service,
conscientious stewardship of public
Left to Right
: Benton J. Mathis, Jr., Jack R. Hancock, G. Robert Oliver, Theodore Freeman, and
T. Bart Gary
Pat Keane
Dr. James Keebler
Smith Awards, cont’d. p. 11
Oliver Scholarship, cont’d. p. 10