Page 27 - Laker Connection Fall 2010
P. 27

Clayton State University Director of Alumni Relations Gid Rowell had two reasons to celebrate on Tuesday, Apr. 27. One of the University’s most re- spected staff members, Rowell was recognized during the annual Faculty/Staff Awards Ceremony with a certificate for his 10 years of service to Clayton State.
However, that was just a prelude to a much more significant honor. A three- time nominee for the highest award Clayton State can give to a staff mem- ber, Rowell found out that the third time was indeed the charm as he was named the winner of Clayton State’s Alice J. Smith Staff Member of the Year Award for 2010.
“I will try to live up to the standard of all of the past Smith Award winners,” he said with typical modesty in accept- ing the award. “Being nominated by your peers is especially rewarding, and I very much appreciate the support that I receive from the University community. Clayton State has and will always be a great place to work because of the peo- ple. There has always been a collegial at- mosphere on campus, where everyone works together and supports each other.”
A native of Bremen, Ga., and a graduate of Bremen High School and the University of West Georgia with a B.A. in Communications, Rowell came to Clayton State from Gordon College, where he served as public relations di- rector from 1998 to 2000. Prior to that,
By John Shiffert
he was a sports editor for MainStreet Newspapers in Jefferson, Ga., from 1994 to 1998. He also served as a staff writer for the Times-Georgian in Car- rollton, Ga., while attending West Geor- gia. He also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from West Geor- gia. Prior to being appointed director of Alumni Relations at Clayton State on Feb. 1, 2006, he spent six years as the University’s sports information director.
Rowell’s appointment as director of Alumni Relations represented a mile- stone for the University -- the first time that Clayton State had an individual serving solely as a full-time alumni di- rector. The function of alumni director had, since 1995, been part of a joint de- velopment/alumni director position.
In addition to being named a final- ist for Clayton State’s Alice Smith Award in 2004 and 2005 (when he was sports information director), Rowell has won three awards from the College Sports Information Directors of Amer- ica for his publications, including taking first place in Division B of the Multi- Guide Publications Contest for the 2003-2004 Clayton State Soccer Guide. As a journalist, he has also won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the Georgia Press As- sociation.
One of the best parts of his current job, he says, is that it connects him to Clayton State alums, and he enjoys hearing all the positive comments former
students have about their university. “Hearing alums reminisce about how things were when they went to school here is always interesting, and it is most rewarding to hear stories of how Clayton State gave them a start and how a college education has
changed their life,” he says.
Under Rowell’s direction, the Clay-
ton State Alumni Association has be- come a dynamic, growing organization, now numbering approximately 16,500 individuals. In addition, the demograph- ics of the membership have changed. Henry County now has as many Clay- ton State alumni as Clayton County, while Fulton and Cobb counties have also shown marked growth in Clayton State alumni. Significant gains have also been made in Spalding and New- ton counties.
In addition to his work for the Clay- ton State Alumni Association, Rowell is a devoted sports fan who remains close to the Clayton State Athletic De- partment. Currently the president of the Rotary Club of Clayton County, he re- ceived the club’s “Service Above Self” award in 2008.
The other finalists for the Univer- sity’s 2010 Alice Smith Staff Award were: from University Health Services, Latrice Barlow; from the Center for Ac- ademic Success, Dr. Mark Daddona; from the office of Budget and Finance, Sonya Holtzclaw; and from Athletics, Pat Keane.
Gid Rowell
Staff Smith Award winner
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