the blackboard

“ ”

ATLANTA – FROM CORNER TO CORNER, ALL OVER THE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY campus the economy is the top subject in and out of the classrooms. As students line up to start class, many will be shocked by the new sticker price. According to the Board of Regents, the Georgia State 2009 fees are scheduled to go up once again from $600 to $700 as the university attempts to offset inflation and meet demands to provide quality education for its students.

MESSAGE FROM

OUR PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends, I have been privileged to view Georgia State University from three very different, yet interrelated perspectives – as a student, alumna, and employee. Through each of these lenses, I have been able to see the wealth of opportunity afforded to each of these entities. GSU epitomizes a world-class research institution, yet outside of the state of Georgia its storied history remains virtually unknown. Even more obscure are the contributions of those of African descent. Did you know that GSU graduates more students of African descent than any other non-historically Black university in this country? Many notable African-American alumni, staff, and faculty have made tremendous contributions to the GSU community and beyond. Part of the mission of the African-American Alumni Club is to bring these types of stories to the forefront. Welcome to The Blackboard!

Kimberly G. Walker President, African-American Alumni Club

Georgia State University

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the African-American Alumni Club is to serve as a forum of professional and social

networking for Georgia State University students, alumni, faculty, and staff who are African-

American or those of African descent. We strive to foster student scholarship and mentorship and

promote issues that specifically impact African-Americans by offering various community-oriented,

cultural, and professional activities.

NEWS

From Wall Street to Your Street How the Economic Crisis is affecting Georgia State University By Judy McCullough

Monday, August 17, 2009

blackboard REACHING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

the

ECONOMIC IMPACT ON GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY 1 LEARNING HOW TO WORK

YOUR NETWORK 2 MONIQUE MARSHALL’S DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH 3

TO LEARN MORE VISIT US ONLINE AT: WWW.GSU.EDU/ALUMNI | 1 FALL 2009

FALL 2009

PRESENTED BY: THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALUMNI CLUB (AAAC) ISSUE 1 | VOL 1

Students are definitely spending less money…

Walter’s Shop Worker

The rising education costs are causing some students to question whether they can afford to return to school. “Buying books for class is very expensive when there are other things you need for school,” said one sophomore. “The costs for books are up everywhere you go, even the used ones.” The rising cost of

education is just one fear students wrestle with. Many GSU students are concerned with how the economy is affecting their chance for employment. “It is scary to think about graduating…” said a group of GSU seniors. “What are the chances of being hired in your field of study verses taking a job until you can do better because of the many cutbacks and layoffs?” Discretionary buying has slowed down recently as students consider rising costs. Walter’s, a local apparel shop across the street from the GSU campus, has seen a drop in sales. One employee notes, “Students are definitely spending less money because of the economy.”

Continue on page 2

mailto:[email protected]


HIGHLIGHTS

Year in Review By Kimberly G. Walker


IN MY FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008-2009, I led the club’s reorganization into a two-tier structure consisting of an executive team of officers with more clearly defined roles and a board of directors which manage standing committees. Last year, the club held two social networking events at Michon’s in August and Barley’s in December. Members also participated in a holiday toy sorting project. The highlight of the year was unquestionably our Annual Black History Month Program which paid homage to Georgia State’s black pioneers, who were represented by their families. This year, the AAAC collaborated with the Office of African-American Student Services and Programs (OAASS&P) and its Asst. Director, Dr. David Smith, Jr., who facilitated the event. Dr. Smith, a GSU alumnus, researched the first black students, faculty, and staff in his book, Georgia State University: 1913-2002. None of this could be accomplished without the dynamic members of the AAAC and the dedicated staff of the Alumni Association.

ON THE AGENDA

Alumni Night @ the Braves Game

Sept 4, 2009 – 7:30PM

Braves v. Cincinnati Reds

Turner Field - Atlanta, GA

African-American Dance Review

Sept 10-20, 2009 – 3:30P or 7:30P

The Rialto Theater

www.rialtocenter.org

Kaiser Permanente Run/Walk 5K

Sept 10, 2009 – 7:00PM

Turner Field - Atlanta, GA

Can't, Don't, Won't, Stop

Theater Festival

Oct 2-3, 2009 – 8:00PM

The Rialto Theater

www.rialtocenter.org

BUSINESS

Networking that Works Building connections that build your career By Nadeerah Franklin


TODAY, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN RECENT MEMORY, PEOPLE

from all walks of life are in the same boat: unemployed and looking

for work. First, it is important to remain positive knowing that this

slump is only for the short term. Second, it is equally important that

you do what you can to stand out from the sea of job seekers out

there. The following are tips to help you navigate this uncertain job

market and also polish up your presentation.

Take full advantage of your human resources: Network, talk to

your friends, family, old coworkers, temp agents, church members

and your fellow alumni. Try running your ideas by them, have them

critique your resume and interviewing skills. It is not just what you

know; it is who you know that counts.

Build an online presence: Be resourceful. One of the trendiest ways

to network is to utilize the social networking sites like Georgia

State’s own GSU Circle or Facebook. Get your face out there and

talk to those in your shoes or in your industry.

Market yourself with Google: Google has an application called

Google Sites that you can use to create your own website with all

the latest features and functionality. You can upload your digital

portfolio, documents, photos, videos, etc. to your website and link

it to Facebook, for example, to broaden your audience and market


“From Wall Street to Your Street…” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

In spite of the uncertain economy, new and returning students still favor Georgia State University. According to a recent article in the Signal newspaper, enrollment is up 25% from last year. Urbanacke, Murry.

“Registration at Georgia State up 25% in 2009.” The Signal 9 June 2009: News. There’s a bright side. The latest information from Jeff over at Walter’s is, “business has picked up since the new and returning students are back for the summer semester, business is better.”

yourself to would be employers.

Build your knowledge base: There are

other resources out there to include your

local library or Dept. of Labor. Stay current

by enrolling in a class or volunteering for

an organization. Volunteering is like

interning: you can learn a great deal and

help your community, while building your

reference list. So consider it, as today

many employers seek more than just what

you’ve done in the office or class; they

want to see how well-rounded you are. So

consider volunteering even in your alumni

club. But, remember to stay encouraged.

You are everything you need. Good luck!


http://www.rialtocenter.org/

http://www.rialtocenter.org/


aaaa

PEOPLE

ALUMNI TRAILBLAZERS

Toni Driskell: A Pioneer By Nadeerah Franklin


EDUCATOR, ACTIVIST AND HUMANITARIAN, TONI DRISKELL STARTED HER

lifelong practice of serving her community while enrolled at Georgia State

University. Driskell (B.S. Criminal Justice ’78) was part of a community of

African-American students who saw the urgency to build an organization where

students could unite to build friendships, teach, network and rally together as

one community, thus giving birth to GSU’s African-American Alumni Club.

Driskell later went on to become the first African-American Miss Georgia State

University.

Driskell’s resume also includes a M.A. in Public Administration (’80) from

Central Michigan University and a long, active history working for the public.

Her work includes: serving the NAACP, Destiny Family and Children Services,

Georgia State University Alumni Association and serving as Dir. Membership &

Recruitment for the African-American Alumni club, just to name a few. When

asked why it is important to give back, she answered “We are here to help…We

are our brother’s and sister’s keeper. “

The African-American Alumni Club recognizes Ms. Driskell and thanks her for

her outstanding achievements in community service and encourages all our

readers to consider giving back to our community.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Young, Black & Gifted By Kimberly G. Walker


EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR GIFTS TO GEORGIA STATE University? Your generosity helps bright and talented future alumni like Torrence McIllwain and Dionne J. Corn. McIllwain and Corn are the recipients of the African-American Alumni Club Scholarship Book Awards for 2009. The AAAC honored these students at its annual Black History Month Program this past February. McIllwain, a graduating senior in December, will earn his bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is a student member of the National Assoc. of Black Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Georgia Society of CPAs, and Tau Alpha Chi – Honorary Tax Assoc., GSU Chapter. In addition to maintaining a heavy course load, McIllwain is employed as a Student Assistant for the GSU Foundation. McIllwain plans to continue his education at GSU by pursuing a Master of Taxation at the Robinson College of Business.

Corn, a rising senior in the Honors Program, also majors in Accounting. This scholar is a tutor at Parklane Elementary School in East Point and secretary of her church youth group. She is a member of the Phi Chi Theta Business Fraternity and Recognition Director for the Golden Key International Honor Society. She

maintains excellent grades while being employed with the Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society.

AAAC SNAPSHOT

Club Chartered: Aug, 1994

Headquarters: Atlanta, GA Member Network: 10,000 Primary Activities: Business

and social networking


BOOK REVIEW

A Diamond in the Rough “Diamondz Are Forever” By Stephanie Abram Monday, August 17, 2009 AN INSPIRING URBAN TALE OF TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS, Diamondz Are Forever, is definitely a diamond in the rough. Written by GSU Alumni Monique Marshall (BA ’04, Sociology) this book explores a young lady’s ability to excel in school and love despite being surrounded by drugs and poverty. Diamond, the main character, is able to rise above it all to become her own woman. In our interview, when asked where she found the inspiration for her characters, Marshall replied, “I wanted to send a message to the young girls to follow their dreams and that it’s ok to fall in love, but stay focused on their dreams.” Marshall further explains, “I also wanted to create realistic characters that my students could relate to.” Writing since the age of 14 in journals and diaries as a way to express herself, Marshall’s own inspiration includes authors such as Sister Souljah, KeKe Swinson and Iyanla Vanzant.

Monique Marshall ‘04

Toni Driskell ‘78

ADVERTISE IN THE BLACKBOARD

Grow your business by marketing your company in The BlackBoard! Become an AAAC sponsor today!

Contact: Kimberly G. Walker

[email protected]

Today, Marshall lives in Washington, D.C., where she teaches science and math and enjoys spending time with her two young daughters. She is working on projects too that include an urban book of poetry and a sequel to Diamondz Are Forever. Marshall is a great inspiration. I highly recommend reading Diamondz Are Forever, one, because it is an excellent read and two, because Marshall represents the GSU Alumni Family. Congratulations Monique Marshall! We wish you continued success with your writing.

” “ It’s ok to fall in love, but stay focused… – Monique Marshall

“The least of these need help… we are here to help.” –TONI DRISKELL




PERSPECTIVES

An AAAC Experience By Judy McCullough


THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALUMNI CLUB IS ONE OF THE BEST CLUBS that I’ve joined and proudly represent it as a member. The AAAC is active on campus and in the community. Our activities include: Packing toys for tots during the holiday season, honoring students and hosting events in black history as well as other cultural affairs. Our president, Ms. Kim G. Walker and other officers are the best example of good team work. We all know that the only way a club can stay alive is by hard work and dedication. In our own way, we all make a difference in the AAAC. The club has a diversity of ideas and if the AAAC is the history then we are the pages with a story to tell.

Come see what we have to offer. Everyone is welcomed.

TALK TO US!

BackTalk We welcome your feedback. Please submit your

ideas, comments and suggestions to:

NADEERAH FRANKLIN Director of Communications [email protected]

CONTACT US

Kimberly G. Walker President, Contributing Writer [email protected] Nadeerah Franklin Director of Communications [email protected] Judy McCullough Staff Writer [email protected] Stephanie Abrams Staff Writer [email protected] Tel: (404) 413-2190 or (800) GSU-ALUM


WE’RE ONLINE!

CALL TO ACTION

Opportunity Knocks Volunteering in your club community

THE DOORS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALUMNI CLUB ARE ALWAYS open to all Georgia State University Alumni and its affiliates. We invite all visitors to join in the fun by participating in public, club events and ongoing club meetings. Without the support of people like you to help drive the club, it would be impossible to reach our objectives. We encourage all those who desire to make an impact to join in any volunteer efforts and get involved in our monthly meetings. The AAAC is seeking committed volunteers to serve on its executive board and assist with The Blackboard newsletter. If you’re interested in making a mark in the AAAC, please contact Kim Walker, AAAC President, email: [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

“The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what the man or woman is able to do that counts.”

- Booker T. Washington

GGGIIIVVVEEE YYYOOOUUURRR HHHEEELLLPPPIIINNNGGG HHHAAANNNDDD... JJOOIINN AAAAAACC TTOODDAAYY!!

The BlackBoard

Georgia State University Alumni Association P.O. Box 3999 Atlanta, GA 30302-3999

For meetings dates, events, and much more, visit us online: WWW.GSU.EDU/ALUMNI

FACEBOOK: GSU AFRICAN

AMERICAN ALUMNI GROUP

Because you

gave, I can

give it my all.

GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON

GIVING, GIVE TO THE

AAAC SCHOLARSHIP FUND!

VISIT WWW.GSU.EDU/GIVING





the blackboard

Documents

state of georgia

students of african

gsu students

black university

university attempts

fear students

gsu community

rising education costs