A WORD FROM
President Richard Carvajal
President's Update
September 2023
Dear Blazer Nation,
To say September came in like a lion might be an understatement. Hurricane Idalia blew through Lowndes County on August 30, and VSU was greatly impacted. I’ll talk more about that below, but I am so thankful no one in our VSU family was hurt. In addition to Idalia, I have some other updates to share with you.
Hurricane Idalia
Like I mentioned above, Hurricane Idalia knocked out power to VSU, took down more than 200 trees on campus, and caused lots of other damage. In Valdosta and Lowndes County, around 100 homes were destroyed and approximately 1,200 sustained damage. Those numbers are staggering. VSU was closed four days for staff and five days for faculty and students. We are still determining if any schedule changes are needed going forward. Once that is decided, we will update the campus. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all the staff who worked when the campus was closed to house and feed students, keep the campus safe, assess services, clear damage, and keeping everyone updated, and I’m grateful to our faculty who are doing all they can to make up for lost classroom time. We truly do have an incredible team!
Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference
It is time for our talented students to show off the work they are doing in and out of the classroom. The Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference is happening this fall, and once again, it is being hosted right here on campus and online. The conference is a great way to show off research, projects, and other studies. The deadline for abstracts to be submitted was extended after the hurricane, and the new deadline is September 24. All disciplines are invited. The conference is coming up on November 10 and 11. To learn more about it and how to submit your work, just click the link below.
Staffing Announcement
In case you have not heard, it is bittersweet to share with you that our legendary Director of Athletics, Herb Reinhard, has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2024. Herb is responsible for helping transform Blazer Athletics into a national powerhouse. He is a valued member of the President’s Cabinet, and I will miss his advice and knowledge immensely. Let’s send Herb out in style with a few more Gulf South Conference Championships, and maybe even another National Championship.
On Campus Involvement
During the academic year, there is never a shortage of great things to do on campus. Our College of the Arts has theatre and dance productions, music performances, and art exhibits all happening this month. For Blazer Athletics, our fall sports seasons are underway. We are also proud to have more than 200 student organizations at VSU, and if you can’t find one to join, you can start your own organization. Please see the links below to learn more about the arts, athletics, and Blazer Link to search our student organizations.
In Closing
Not surprising, this semester is already starting to pick up speed. Before you know it, we will be ringing in the holidays with Lighting of the Palms and then celebrating our graduates at Fall Commencement. It goes quickly, and I hope you enjoy every minute.
Go Blazers!
Dr. Richard Carvajal
President