Page 13 - Laker Connection Spring 2013

Sotheavy Vann (B.S., biology, 2012), one of the University’s first Presidential Scholars, recalls a diverse series of experiences she had while a student at Clayton State.
“I attended the American Chemical Society Conference in San Diego to present my research... something I would never have imagined doing
when I first began
“I teach strategy, leadership, and communications,” says Dr. Gary May, professor of management in the College of Business. “Everything we talk about in the classroom, I’ve done in the busi- ness world. My mission is to equip the students with the knowl- edge, skills, and attitudes that will give them a competitive edge in the marketplace.”
“I would like to thank my professors,” says one of May’s students, business major Juan Rosado. “You certainly had an impact in my life and played significant roles for me to take what I’ve learned to the real world.”
Experiential learning at Clayton State is also part of the bigger picture of public higher education in Georgia. It’s very much in keeping with Complete College Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal’s ini- tiative to increase the numbers of Georgians earning a degree -- an ambitious goal of adding 250,000 postsecondary graduates to the state’s rolls by 2020.
“The principal aims of Complete College Georgia are not new to us at Clayton State; we have been working on Complete Clayton State for quite some time,” says Clayton State University Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Micheal Crafton. “However, this statewide effort of which we are proud and excited to be a part will enhance the motivation and enlarge the network of those of us in the University System of Georgia working on the key theaters in this effort: recruitment, retentions, changes in re- mediation, changes in the delivery of instruction. This energy and activity will, then, stimulate new ideas, pedagogical innovations and applications that should benefit everyone, both on the various campuses and those in business and government working on eco- nomic development.”
As Crafton notes, it is through new ideas, innovations and appli- cations that both Complete College Georgia and Clayton State will make dreams real.
Michael Ngo (center) with Dr. Linda Nash and student Marcus Bartlett (p. 27)
college,” she says.
“Other great expe-
riences Clayton
State offered me
were spelunking
in Tennessee’s
largest show cave,
studying abroad in
Italy, and seeing a
real-life autopsy
at the GBI with the American Medical Student Association.”
Another alumnus who benefitted from study abroad is Colleen Walters (B.S., nursing, 2012).
“Since high school I deeply desired to travel to a Latin American country and become fluent in the Spanish language,” she says. “At Clayton State this dream became a reality when I was inspired by Dr. Khedija Gadhoum from the Department of Humanities to elect Spanish as my minor. In the summer of 2011, I participated in a five-week study abroad program to Guadalajara, Mexico, and
Gloria Le, Dr. Fran Norflus and Sotheavy Vann in a lab.
Colleen Walters, second from right, in Guadalajara.
weeks after grad- uating with my B.S.N. in May 2012, I returned to Guadalajara to work in a local hospital.”
Hands-on, expe- riential learning takes place throughout the
Clayton State curriculum. It’s personified by dental hygiene major Lauren Cotton assisting patients in the University’s Dental Hy- giene Clinic. For mathematics major Michael Ngo, it was realizing the opportunity to participate in academic research with his pro- fessors. And for music major and pianist John Bennett, performing on the Spivey Hall stage was indeed a dream made real.
Of course, the fulfillment of these dreams leads directly back to the Clayton State faculty and their ability to equip students with the skills they need to succeed.
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