As Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) prepares to welcome students back for the fall semester, the campus is buzzing with activity.
Ed Dyal, assistant director of campus logistics, says: “With fewer students on campus during the summer, it’s a great time for us to inspect all the classrooms, from cleaning to making sure the equipment is in good working order. That also includes making sure our furniture is in good shape, and the landscaping throughout the campus is pristine. We have a high standard when it comes to making that good first impression.”
In the classrooms and labs, faculty are busy preparing materials. For Morgan Southerland, lab supervisor, that means getting science labs ready.
“This is our time to reset the labs, including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, biology and microbiology,” she says. “This fall, we’ll have up to 60 labs ready for classes. It’s a lot of work, and thanks to help from our student lab assistants, we’ll be ready. These students assist with things like solution prep, stocking supply carts, setting up lab tables and preparing bacterial cultures and making sure lab coats are restocked.”
Haley Sharpton, a senior biology major, likes the hands-on experience she is gaining by working in the lab.“Biology is great because you can go into so many different aspects,” she says. “I want to become a medical science liaison, work in a hospital or lab setting and study genetics.”
For Lynn Ashton, a junior biology major, working in the lab means doing what she loves. “I took a research biology class and fell in love with it. I want to earn my PhD in microbiology and focus on antibiotic resistance.”
While biology isn’t her focus, Andrea Bake, a junior nursing major, says the experience will help her in her career. “This experience is helping me be more familiar with set-up. I want to be a nurse in the NICU or labor and delivery.”
For the nearly 1,000 students that will be moving into GGC’s residence halls, planning is key to ensuring that they feel welcomed and connected. Ricky Clark, director of student housing, finds: “The suites are in tip-top shape and we’re putting the finishing touches on the activities we’ll be offering to our residents. We want them to have a great living and learning experience. There’s a lot of excitement building up. Our RAs (resident assistants) are in training to welcome our new and returning Grizzlies. This is where greatness lives!”
Another important element of campus life? Food.
Victoria Hanson, director of auxiliary service, is ready: “We are preparing our six unique on campus dining venues, each offering a variety of options for students, faculty and staff. We’re also gearing up for the numerous special events on campus.”
Along with dining, Hanson’s team is also getting the GGC Bookstore ready. “We have books arriving daily so we’re getting them ready for students to pick up. We make it as quick and convenient as possible. Students can go to the bookstore’s second floor concierge and pick up their books.”
Even with all the activity on campus, something special like a birthday doesn’t go unnoticed.
“We celebrate everyone’s birthday in a special way, Hanson smiles and says: “Any GGC student, faculty or staff can stop by the dining hall to pick up a free cupcake.”
Nickie is new chair of Gwinnett Impact Board
Rachael Nickie as the new chair of the Gwinnett Impact Board of the United Way of Atlanta. A long-time board member and advocate for community development and equity, Ms. Nickie is outreach manager of the Gwinnett County Police Department. She replaces Wayne D. Ellison of Hoschton, who has completed two impactful terms as chair.
The Gwinnett Impact Board guides United Way’s investments and strategies in the county, where the organization has helped drive measurable improvements in child well-being, education, and economic mobility. Through collaborative partnerships and targeted initiatives, United Way continues to address the root causes of inequity and build stronger, more resilient communities. Together with local partners in Gwinnett, last year United Way helped over 358,000 people:
- 171,700 people secure housing and basic needs;
- 176,933 children receive early learning assistance;
- 7,693 students with college and career support; and
- 1,894 people access financial counseling, job training and placement.
Ms. Nickie moved to Gwinnett nine years ago from Tampa, Fla. She is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett and is member of the Rotary Club of Sugarloaf; serves on the boards of United Way of Greater Atlanta in Gwinnett, is an ambassador on the Gwinnett County Public School’s Superintendent’s Leadership Council and mentor in GCPS’s Community Mentoring Program.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College as a National Urban Fellow. Born in St. Vincent, in the Grenadines, she grew up in Miami, Fla. She lives in Lawrenceville with her two daughters. She enjoys live music, water sports, and traveling abroad.
Norcross drops ethics complaint against mayor
Mayor Craig Newton of Norcross has been exonerated of all matters concerning an ethics charge against him. Norcross City Council voted 5-0 on Monday to drop the investigation. The ethics complaint was filed by former Mayor Bucky Johnson on March 4, 2025.
On May 5, the City Council authorized the initiation of an investigation through the appointment of a Special Commissioned Investigator involving financial transactions by the mayor. The special master making the investigation, Attorney Jim Elliott of Butler Snow of Macon, notified the Council after completing the investigation.
The special master’s investigation on the matter was first opened by the Council at a special called meeting on August 4, where Elliott wrote, in part, “I find no evidence that Mayor (Newton) improperly inappropriately retained city funds for his personal use.”
