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By Judy Bailey Georgia College Kelly Dean rises before dawn. She laces her running shoes for her daily race against time. e Georgia College graduate-elect serves as assistant principal of East Lau- rens Primary School in Dublin. She runs 10 hours a day — visiting classrooms, encouraging students and digging through mounds of paperwork. “I wear a lot of shoes here,” Dean said. “But I’m always focused on the students and their educational oppor- tunities.” She also cares for her daughters — a 3 year old and a third-grader. She is a single parent during the week. Her hus- band is a traveling professional golfer. And she values education for herself, her children, students and colleagues. She shuffled her whirlwind lifestyle last year and returned to the university classroom, earning a specialist degree in education leadership. “I will march proudly across that stage Friday night to receive my diplo- ma,” said the non-traditional student. “I’ve earned it.” Dean meets her 643 pre-kindergarten through second-grade students each morning at the front door with a smile and contagious enthusiasm. roughout the day she listens to their stories and celebrates their victo- ries. e 16-year education veteran also encourages difficult students to reach for the stars. During afternoon announcements she prompts first-graders as they read their stories and brags about their creativity. She reviews daily lessons with an- other student before spending one-on- one time with an impaired pre-kinder- gartener, putting her school shoes away at 5 p.m. each day. “A little positive attention will turn students around,” Dean said. “ey will rise to the expectation. I treat each child like I do my own.” Dean earned her bachelor’s and mas- ter’s degrees at sister universities. Last year she began a search for the best op- portunity to earn her specialist degree. rough online research, Dean discovered Georgia College’s Graduate and Professional Learning Center in Macon. e center’s flexible, non-traditional scheduling allowed Dean to partner her daily responsibilities with her desire to earn a specialist degree. “It’s doable,” she said. “It’s not always easy, but it is doable.” Dean traveled one Saturday a month to Macon for class. “ose Saturdays offered great oppor- tunities to compare notes with other professionals,” she said. “We all had the same goals.” rough the program’s blended model she completed the remainder of the requirements online and through her daily experiences with her students. “I could not have achieved this goal without Georgia College,” Dean said. “Now I’m able to advance my career, increase our family income and make myself more marketable. And don’t for- get the students: It’s all about educating the students.” For more information about Georgia College’s graduate programs, visit www.gcsu.edu/graduate. By Candace Morrow Georgia College Georgia College graduating senior Melissa Wilburn has an imagination that magically comes to life in vibrant colors. e art major paints, draws and photographs in a way that commands attention. “I really enjoy the creative process of art,” said Wilburn, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in art. “I’ve had extensive medical testing and realized that art makes a big difference in a hospital. You have something pretty to focus on.” In 2007 Wilburn was diagnosed with celiac disease, a digestive disor- der damaging the small intestine and interfering with absorption of nutrients from food. She cannot tolerate foods containing gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley or rye. “At times the disease has left me anemic and fatigued,” said the Dacula, Ga., native. “Walking to class was chal- lenging. After 100 feet I would have to rest.” Her art offers a distraction and es- cape. Wilburn also seeks support from university disability services. “at was a huge help,” she said. “When needed they helped me get to class by golf cart; linked me up with a dining hall chef to create gluten-free meals; and even assisted with contact- ing my professors whenever I was too sick to make it to class or had a doctor’s appointment.” Wilburn consulted with Disability Services Director Mike Chambers to ensure she stayed on target to graduate with the 2011 class. “Melissa’s physical struggles forced her to take her studies day by day,” Chambers said. “At times being physi- cally able to go to class proved to be problematic, but she persevered. She never gave up, and we made sure she had in place the accommodations needed to complete her coursework.” e highlight of Wilburn’s tenure at Georgia College came spring 2009 when she created the designs for murals at the Milledgeville Farmer’s Market. “e project enlightened me because I got to work with our community and learn about what they wanted to see through art,” she said. Wilburn will march across the stage Saturday morning among the 1,237 members of the Class of 2011 to receive her Bachelor of Arts. She is considering graduate school and would love to work in a studio environment. “I can see myself creating artwork for hospitals, too,” she said. “I don’t think I could have made it this far without the help of Mike Chambers and our art chair Bill Fisher who helped me fulfill my degree requirements. I consider them my friends.” Wilburn’s post-graduation plan also includes raising awareness about celiac disease. “e celiac disease community is growing,” Wilburn said. “Being on a gluten-free diet is tough, but it’s worth it to maintain your health after diagno- sis and achieve your goals.” This Week Prepared by the Office of University Communications 4Think Green Visit Georgia College Community Page www.gcsu.edu/community Conserve water — American public water and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt hours per year — enough electricity to power more than five million homes for an entire year. Assistant Principal Kelly Dean spends one-on-one time with a pre-kindergarten student as school dismisses. Dean reviews the day’s lessons with a student: “A little positive attention will turn students around.” Graduating art major Melissa Wilburn created the designs for the murals at Milledgeville’s Farmer’s Market. Photos by Tim Vacula/Georgia College Tim Vacula/Georgia College Educator makes specialist degree a reality Art major earns degree despite physical hardships Graduate School: 521 • ARTS AND SCIENCES: 124 Master of Arts: 18 Master of Fine Arts: 8 Master of Music Education: 8 Master of Public Administration: 37 Master of Science: 18 Master of Science in Administration: 30 Master of Criminal Justice: 5 • EDUCATION: 237 Specialist in Education: 74 Master of Arts in Teaching: 115 Master of Education: 48 • BUSINESS: 107 Master of Accountancy: 24 Master of Business Administration: 72 Master of Management Information Systems: 11 •HEALTH SCIENCES: 53 Master of Arts in Teaching: 7 Master of Education: 23 Master of Music Therapy: 7 Master of Science in Nursing: 16 Undergraduate School: 1,237 •ARTS AND SCIENCES: 644 Bachelor of Arts: 407 Bachelor of Music Education: 3 Bachelor of Science: 238 • EDUCATION: 73 Bachelor of Science: 73 • BUSINESS: 314 Bachelor of Arts: 9 Bachelor of Business Administration: 276 Bachelor of Science: 30 • HEALTH SCIENCES: 206 Bachelor of Music Therapy: 5 Bachelor of Science: 100 Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 101 Commencement 2011 •Graduate Commencement: Front lawn, 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 • Undergraduate Commencement: Front lawn, 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 7 • Overflow areas: Air-conditioned Russell Auditorium, Magnolia Ballroom • Visit gcsu.edu/live to watch commencements streamed online

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Page 1: Georgia College This Week 05-03-11

By Judy BaileyGeorgia College

Kelly Dean rises before dawn. She laces her running shoes for her daily race against time.

The Georgia College graduate-elect serves as assistant principal of East Lau-rens Primary School in Dublin.

She runs 10 hours a day — visiting classrooms, encouraging students and digging through mounds of paperwork.

“I wear a lot of shoes here,” Dean said. “But I’m always focused on the students and their educational oppor-tunities.”

She also cares for her daughters — a 3 year old and a third-grader. She is a single parent during the week. Her hus-band is a traveling professional golfer.

And she values education for herself, her children, students and colleagues.

She shuffled her whirlwind lifestyle last year and returned to the university classroom, earning a specialist degree in education leadership.

“I will march proudly across that stage Friday night to receive my diplo-ma,” said the non-traditional student. “I’ve earned it.”

Dean meets her 643 pre-kindergarten

through second-grade students each morning at the front door with a smile and contagious enthusiasm.

Throughout the day she listens to their stories and celebrates their victo-ries. The 16-year education veteran also encourages difficult students to reach for the stars.

During afternoon announcements she prompts first-graders as they read their stories and brags about their creativity.

She reviews daily lessons with an-other student before spending one-on-one time with an impaired pre-kinder-gartener, putting her school shoes away at 5 p.m. each day.

“A little positive attention will turn students around,” Dean said. “They will rise to the expectation. I treat each child like I do my own.”

Dean earned her bachelor’s and mas-ter’s degrees at sister universities. Last year she began a search for the best op-

portunity to earn her specialist degree.Through online research, Dean

discovered Georgia College’s Graduate and Professional Learning Center in Macon.

The center’s flexible, non-traditional scheduling allowed Dean to partner her daily responsibilities with her desire to earn a specialist degree.

“It’s doable,” she said. “It’s not always easy, but it is doable.”

Dean traveled one Saturday a month to Macon for class.

“Those Saturdays offered great oppor-tunities to compare notes with other professionals,” she said. “We all had the same goals.”

Through the program’s blended model she completed the remainder of the requirements online and through her daily experiences with her students.

“I could not have achieved this goal without Georgia College,” Dean said. “Now I’m able to advance my career,

increase our family income and make myself more marketable. And don’t for-get the students: It’s all about educating the students.”

For more information about Georgia College’s graduate programs, visit www.gcsu.edu/graduate.

By Candace MorrowGeorgia College

Georgia College graduating senior Melissa Wilburn has an imagination that magically comes to life in vibrant colors.

The art major paints, draws and photographs in a way that commands attention.

“I really enjoy the creative process of art,” said Wilburn, who has earned a bachelor’s degree in art. “I’ve had extensive medical testing and realized that art makes a big difference in a hospital. You have something pretty to focus on.”

In 2007 Wilburn was diagnosed with celiac disease, a digestive disor-der damaging the small intestine and interfering with absorption of nutrients from food.

She cannot tolerate foods containing gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley or rye.

“At times the disease has left me anemic and fatigued,” said the Dacula, Ga., native. “Walking to class was chal-lenging. After 100 feet I would have to rest.”

Her art offers a distraction and es-cape. Wilburn also seeks support from university disability services.

“That was a huge help,” she said. “When needed they helped me get to class by golf cart; linked me up with a dining hall chef to create gluten-free meals; and even assisted with contact-ing my professors whenever I was too sick to make it to class or had a doctor’s appointment.”

Wilburn consulted with Disability Services Director Mike Chambers to ensure she stayed on target to graduate with the 2011 class.

“Melissa’s physical struggles forced her to take her studies day by day,” Chambers said. “At times being physi-cally able to go to class proved to be

problematic, but she persevered. She never gave up, and we made sure she had in place the accommodations needed to complete her coursework.”

The highlight of Wilburn’s tenure at Georgia College came spring 2009 when she created the designs for murals at the Milledgeville Farmer’s Market.

“The project enlightened me because I got to work with our community and learn about what they wanted to see through art,” she said.

Wilburn will march across the stage Saturday morning among the 1,237 members of the Class of 2011 to receive her Bachelor of Arts. She is considering graduate school and would love to work in a studio environment.

“I can see myself creating artwork for hospitals, too,” she said. “I don’t think I could have made it this far without the help of Mike Chambers and our art chair Bill Fisher who helped me fulfill my degree requirements. I consider them my friends.”

Wilburn’s post-graduation plan also includes raising awareness about celiac disease.

“The celiac disease community is growing,” Wilburn said. “Being on a gluten-free diet is tough, but it’s worth it to maintain your health after diagno-sis and achieve your goals.”

This WeekPrepared by the Office of University Communications

4Think Green Visit Georgia College Community Page www.gcsu.edu/community

Conserve water — American public water and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt hours per year — enough electricity to power

more than five million homes for an entire year.

Assistant Principal Kelly Dean spends one-on-one time with a pre-kindergarten student as school dismisses.

Dean reviews the day’s lessons with a student: “A little positive attention will turn students around.”

Graduating art major Melissa Wilburn created the designs for the murals at Milledgeville’s Farmer’s Market.

Photos by Tim Vacula/Georgia College

Tim Vacula/Georgia College

Educator makes specialist degree a reality

Art major earns degree despite physical hardships

Graduate School: 521• ARTS AND SCIENCES: 124Master of Arts: 18Master of Fine Arts: 8Master of Music Education: 8Master of Public Administration: 37Master of Science: 18Master of Science in Administration: 30Master of Criminal Justice: 5• EDUCATION: 237Specialist in Education: 74Master of Arts in Teaching: 115Master of Education: 48• BUSINESS: 107Master of Accountancy: 24Master of Business Administration: 72Master of Management Information Systems: 11•HEALTH SCIENCES: 53Master of Arts in Teaching: 7Master of Education: 23Master of Music Therapy: 7Master of Science in Nursing: 16

Undergraduate School: 1,237•ARTS AND SCIENCES: 644Bachelor of Arts: 407Bachelor of Music Education: 3Bachelor of Science: 238• EDUCATION: 73Bachelor of Science: 73• BUSINESS: 314Bachelor of Arts: 9Bachelor of Business Administration: 276Bachelor of Science: 30• HEALTH SCIENCES: 206Bachelor of Music Therapy: 5Bachelor of Science: 100Bachelor of Science in Nursing: 101

Commencement 2011•Graduate Commencement: Front lawn, 7 p.m. Friday, May 6 • Undergraduate Commencement: Front lawn, 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 7• Overflow areas: Air-conditioned Russell Auditorium, Magnolia Ballroom • Visit gcsu.edu/live to watch commencements streamed online