Basic HTML Version
Vol. 43 No. XI
Serving the
CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Community
June 25, 2012
Inside
Departments:
Arts Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Across the Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Trivia Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
In This Issue:
Clayton State Welcomes
Troelstra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
RA Selected for NASPA
Fellows Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
High School Senior
Studying Alternative Fuel . . . . . . .3
United Way’s Day of Action . . . . . .3
Hollowell Headed to Xi’an . . . . . . .4
While Shakun Goes to the
Yalu River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Clayton State’s Complete College
Georgia Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Clayton State Named to Workplace
Dynamics’ National Top Workplaces List
In April 2012, Clayton State University
was named one of the “Top 100
Workplaces in Atlanta” by the Atlanta
Journal Constitution. That honor came
about as part of a survey of more than
1000 local organizations held by the AJC
and its partner, Workplace Dynamics.
Now, as a follow-up to that initial survey,
Clayton State has received a more far-
reaching honor directly from Workplace
Dynamics.
Clayton State Executive Director of
Human Resources John Brooks has
announced that, in addition to being rec-
ognized as one of the top workplaces in
metro Atlanta, Clayton State has also been
recognized on Workplace Dynamics
National Top Workplaces (www.topwork-
places.com) list. This list aggregates
results from 30 of Workplace Dynamics’
publishing partners across the nation to
identify the best employers in the nation.
In all, more than 4,000 organizations
across America were surveyed for the Top
Workplaces program. The American’s Top
Workplaces List includes 319 organiza-
tions nationwide, each with more 1,000
employees.
Among the 319 organizations on the
unranked National Top Workplaces list,
Clayton State is one of just 22 education-
al organizations (7 percent of the entire
list) and one of 12 (4 percent) institutions
of higher education.
“I am grateful daily for having so many
colleagues committed to finding new
ways of advancing our core business —
learning — learning for students, faculty,
staff and our community,” says Clayton
Clayton State Says Farewell to "The General"
by John Shiffert, University Relations
Clayton State University held a reception
for Vice President of External Relations
Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert L.
“Steve” Stephens, Jr., on Friday, June 22
in the Harry S. Downs Center, in honor of
his retirement from the University after 10
years, including serving as the head of
Clayton State’s External Relations divi-
sion since September 2006.
The typical encomiums and presentations
(including the inevitable golf-themed gifts
and cake) were given to Stephens by the
University and his colleagues in External
Relations during the reception, and some
typical “Steve Stephens” stories were told
(like the time he reminded an obsequious
student that he wasn’t his brother). Also
mentioned were some of his typical apho-
risms, his adages. Pithy sayings like,
“Never ask a question unless you really
want the answer.” And, “There’s no
telling how much you can accomplish if
you don’t care who gets the credit.” Or,
“We’re re-wiring the house with the elec-
tricity on.” And, of course, “What time is
the nine o’clock meeting?”
However, this was no typical individual
being honored. Stephens was born in
Welch, W.Va. some 72 years ago, and
majored in English and Social Studies at
West Virginia State College. While
attending WVSC, he served in the
Reserve Officers Training Corps, holding
ranks such as Cadet Colonel and
Commander, and playing a role in leading
the largest Corps of Cadets in the history
of WVSC.
Stephens’ collegiate introduction to the
military would result in more than 30
years of service in the United States
Army. During that time he received the
U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal,
the Defense Superior Service Medal, the
Army Legion of Merit,
the Bronze Star with
“V” device and two
oak leaf clusters, the
Purple Heart, the
Combat Infantryman’s
Badge, the Special
Forces Tab, the Master
Parachutist Badge and
other various honors
before retiring as a
Brigadier General in 1993, following his
last assignment, directing the inaugura-
tion of President Bill Clinton. While in the
military, he graduated from the United
States Army Command and General Staff
College and the National War College.
As such, Stephens is a genuine American
hero who has been a part of American his-
tory. Another way to say that is that the
Brigadier General
(Ret.) Robert L.
“Steve” Stephens, Jr.
Stephens, cont’d., p. 10
Top Workplaces, cont’d., p. 6