Dr. Jason Allard of Physics received an USG Affordable Learning Georgia Textbook grant to offer low-cost, high quality, and interesting learning materials for students in Introduction to Weather and Climate. By offering this new open access textbook and OERs at no cost to the students, it is hoped to improve both course enrollment and drop, fail, and withdrawal rates.

Dr. Charles Backes from Adult and Career Education was awarded for the CTAE Institute from the US Department of Education.  The CTAE Institute is designed to provide new Trade and Industrial and Healthcare Science Technology Education teachers with basic instructional skills.

Dr. Frank Barnas from the Department of Communication Arts was funded for his continued direction of the government access channel Metro Valdosta 17

Dr. Sebastian Bartos, Associate Professor of History, has been awarded a curriculum development grant from the Ohio State University to support the redesign of the course “Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Medieval and Early Modern Eastern Europe”.

Lynn Bennett of the Small Business Development Center was awarded renewed funding for the Valdosta Small Business Development Center.  The Center is a public service outreach unit that provides business and economic development assistance for Atkinson, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, and Thomas Counties in South Central Georgia.  As part of VSU’s Harley Langdale, Jr. College of Business Administration, the SBDC is an essential resource for small businesses.  Practical experience combined with advanced education gives SBDC consultants the ability to apply current business theory to the challenges faced by today’s entrepreneurs.

Dr. Mark Blackmore, Professor of Biology, has been awarded continuing funding for monitoring mosquito propagations and infection rates in the City of Valdosta and Lowndes County.

Jason Brown, Assistant Professor of Mass Media, received a Vibrant Community Grant from Georgia Council for the Arts to hold the South Georgia Film Festival to promote economic growth; support strong connections between artists, arts organizations, and the public; act as a catalyst for increased public awareness of the value of the arts; and to invest in the sustainability and advancement of the local creative sector.

Dr. Dorothy Dye’s Adult Day Care, My Friend’s House, has been awarded continued funding for the 2017-2018 fiscal year by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission’s Agency of Aging.  Through its Alzheimer’s Daycare Program, My Friend’s House provides a day program for senior citizens who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It is a free service that promotes social, physical, creative, and cognitive stimulation through such activities as exercise, music, bingo, arts and crafts, hug therapy, laughter, and more.

Dr. Thomas Manning from the Biology Department was awarded from the University of Georgia Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant for his project “Protecting Georgia’s Coastline; Optimize Material Development for use in Oyster Restoration Projects”.

Dr. Kacy Mixon, Assistant Professor in the Psychology, Counseling & Family Therapy Department was awarded extended funding for the Military Families Learning Network Family Development Team.  The Military Families Learning Network Family Development Team strives to increase the reach of MFLN by identifying, creating, delivering, and expanding professional development opportunities that specifically meet the needs of the Family Advocacy Program personnel and extend to other Department of Defense  and civilian professionals working with military families.

Lorna Mullis was awarded funding from the Georgia Department of Health to continue the work of the Babies Can’t Wait program.  Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s early intervention program which serves children who have significant developmental delays or children who may be at risk for delays due to a diagnosed medical condition. The program provides services to children, ages birth to 3, and their families.

Dr. Ofelia Nikolova, Professor of French, received a Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese-Language Courses       from the Japan Foundation.

Dr. Connie Richards was awarded funding from the University System of Georgia for the African-American Male Initiative.  The University System of Georgia’s African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) is a nationally recognized statewide network of programs that has a documented track record of increasing the enrollment, retention, and graduation of African-American males within Georgia’s public colleges and universities

Dr. Anthony Scheffler was awarded funding for the Competency Based Education Initiative from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Dr. Susan Wehling of the Modern and Classical Language Department was funded for the Middle School Migrant Education Summer Program by the Georgia Department of Education.  The program has been developed to provide Georgia Migrant Education Program middle school students with a summer leadership and academic reinforcement experience on a university campus

Dr. Mark Williams from Alcohol and Other Drug Education was awarded Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Young Adult Grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  Increase awareness and compliance with DUI and Underage Drinking laws among the Valdosta State University and surrounding community through the office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education.

Dr. Robert (Sherman) Yehl, Professor of Political Science, received funding for the Center for Applied Social Science.  The Center provides analytical and related services to South Georgia city and county government offices and non-profits.