Read more to see what's new  with KSU Honors College programs, students and faculty!

News & Updates from the Honors College
Honors College Alumna Serves as Keynote Speaker for 2018 First-Year Convocation

Honors Alumna Ashley Nealy was chosen as the keynote speaker for the KSU Class of 2022 First-Year Convocation. She graduated cum laude and as an Honors Scholar from Kennesaw State University (KSU) with her Bachelor of Science in Information Systems in 2010. She subsequently earned her Master of Science in Information Systems in 2011. After being recruited through professor recommendations at KSU, she was hired as the Web Team Lead for the  U.S. Department of Treasury in the office of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. In this role, Ashley facilitates web and application development services to support and protect the nation's taxpayer system.

Ashley has accrued an impressive list of accomplishments since graduating as an Honors Scholar. She is the founder of Mindly Maven, LLC, and co-founder of South Cobb Codes. She serves as the President of Young Government Leaders-Atlanta and is a Fellow of the Atlanta Chapter of the New Leaders Council. She is also  President of the Kennesaw State University Black Alumni Society and a graduate of the Atlanta Federal Executive Board's Leadership Government Program. 

In addition, Ashley has been featured in Diversity in Action magazine as one of the Faces of Diversity and as an "Awesome Designer." She was also named one of the "5 Female Web Developers You Should Follow on Twitter" by Skilledup.com. 

Ashley stated, "I attribute my current career to the Honors College. If it were not for the Honors College, I would not have known about the opportunity to participate in a directed study with one of my professors. I completed a directed study and presented it at a conference. The research was titled 'Redesigning Instructional Software to Meet ADA Compliance Standards: the Case of the Animated Database Courseware.' This allowed me to become published."

Honors College Welcomes New Associate Director on the Marietta Campus

The Honors College is excited to welcome Dr. Lisa Adams as the new Associate Director on the Marietta campus. Dr. Adams received her PhD in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles and joins the Honors College from the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology in the College of Science and Mathematics. Bringing a wealth of experience to her new position, Adams has mentored students conducting undergraduate research, students in KSU's Student Assistance for Leadership in Teaching (SALT) program, teaching assistants, graduate students, and pre-service science teachers. For the last two summers, she served as instructional faculty for the KSU in Tuscany program and just recently completed her KSU Sustainability Fellowship Award. As a Sustainability Fellow, Adams led a team of students in a water quality assessment of a stream located on the Kennesaw Campus. They presented their findings at KSU's Equinox Celebration last spring.
 
Dr. Adams is looking forward to her new position and said, "I am honored to join the Honors College and look forward to working with the team under the leadership of Dean Rita Bailey and Dr. Lynn Stallings. Having experience working with high achieving STEM students at KSU and Georgia Tech, I welcome the opportunity to serve the Honors students based at the Marietta Campus. I am very excited to be able to teach KSU 1101 this fall to our incoming freshman, supervise capstone experiences, and help plan and lead local and international trips for our Honors students. Please stop by the Honors College's Marietta office (D102) and say hello."
Honors and Nursing Faculty Member Receives Prestigious Award

Dr. Doreen Wagner, PhD, RN, CNOR, is a Professor in the WellStar School of Nursing and Honors College faculty member. She has worked with the Honors College since 2010 in a variety of ways including, functioning as an Honors Council member and Departmental Liaison. Dr. Wagner  also teaches the popular Honors Seminar - Health, Humor and Stress with Dr. Sharon Pearcey. 

She has recently been awarded the Association for Perioperative Registered Nurse's (AORN) Excellence in Perioperative Nursing Award. AORN is the world's largest professional association for perioperative nurses, who work to empower surgical nurses, healthcare organizations, and the healthcare industry in an effort to make surgery safer for everyone. In previous years, Dr. Wagner has also received the 2005 AORN National Award for Outstanding Perioperative Nursing Research and the 2009 AORN National Award for Outstanding Perioperative Nursing Education.

Dr. Wagner has been in the healthcare field for 34 years, and she has worked as a perioperative staff nurse, Surgical Services Educator, Patient Safety System Coordinator, legal nurse consultant, and nursing faculty. Her work has had a global impact on the healthcare field in practice, education, and research, which is why she was chosen for this prestigious award.

Not only has Dr. Wagner served many roles in the healthcare field, but she has also held several volunteering roles with AORN. She is on the AORN Journal Editorial Board, AORN Nursing Research Committee, and has published articles that show the issues that perioperative nursing faces.
Honors College Welcomes Inaugural Group of Honors Ambassadors
This year, the Honors College selected eleven exceptional students to serve as the inaugural group of  Honors Ambassadors. Honors College Student Ambassadors are a volunteer group of students who support the program's development and stewardship efforts, and who educate, excite, and engage with potential students, alumni, donors, and community members to ensure the program's continued success. In addition to gaining valuable volunteer professional experience, Honors Ambassadors can count their participation as an Honors Learning Experience (HLE) each semester of their participation.

This year's Honors Ambassadors include:
Brianna McBride, Art Major and Interactive Design Major
Laura Chelaru, Nursing Major
India Daniel, Anthropology Major
Emily Gunby, Music Education Major
Amanda Hoarell, Biology Major
Pouya Mofazali, Nursing Major
Eric Nzuki, Mechanical Engineering Major
Marty Owens, Sociology Major
Maitri Patel, Biology Major
Austin Peek, Psychology Major
Rachel VanAmburgh, Exercise Science Major

Dean Rita Bailey said, "I am excited to welcome this outstanding group of students who will serve as Honors Ambassadors for the fall 2018 and spring 2019 semesters. They will help represent Honors College programs to on- and off-campus partners as well as help to share good news about KSU's exceptional Honors College students and their amazing achievements."

The Honors College will host its annual fall Lunch and Learn for Honors faculty members on September 19th from 11am-1pm. Enjoy lunch provided by the Honors College while listening to a special presentation by KSU's Director of Undergraduate Research Dr. Amy Buddie.
Click here to RSVP.
Consider making a difference in a student's life by giving the gift of an Honors College scholarship.
Many Honors students work two jobs, engage in their community, and participate in service activities, while also committing themselves fully to their studies. 
Please visit honors.kennesaw.edu to make a donation. 

Consider giving the gift of a scholarship to a student in need.
Dates and Deadlines

September 7 A Day with Honors for Prospective Students
September 19 Honors Faculty Lunch and Learn
September 21 A Day with Honors for Prospective Students
September 22 KSU Open House - Kennesaw Campus
October 5 A Day with Honors for Prospective Students
October 19 A Day with Honors for Prospective Students
October 20 KSU Open House - Marietta Campus
October 29 Kickball and Pizza - Marietta Campus
October 31 Honors Fall Festival

Need a reminder?  Never miss an Honors event or deadline by signing up for Remind text messages!

Honors students can now sign up to receive text alerts about important KSU Honors news and deadlines. 

Kennesaw Honors students: text  @uhkennesaw to 81010

Marietta Honors students:  text  @uhmarietta to 81010
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KSU Honors College | honors.kennesaw.edu