Turner Business

The University System of Georgia (USG) generated a record $25.1 billion for the state’s economy in Fiscal Year 2025 — an 8.9% increase over last year, according to a new economic impact report. At the same time, a companion study shows a USG degree continues to pay off for students, adding more than $1.4 million to a graduate’s lifetime earnings.  “A USG degree isn’t just a diploma. It’s a game-changer for our students and a major win for Georgia’s economy,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Adding $25 billion to the state and giving our graduates a $1.4 million lifetime boost shows the real power of public higher education. When our students succeed, they put strong skills, a great work ethic and real value right back into Georgia communities.”  The $25.1 billion total economic impact for FY 2025 marks a substantial jump from $23.1 billion in FY 2024. It includes $16.3 billion in direct spending by students and by USG’s 25 institutions on personnel and operating costs, along...

Earlier this month Turner Business reported that the search for a new Dean of the Turner College has been delayed, per CSU Provost Dustin Anderson's May 2026 presentation to the CSU Faculty Senate, until early 2027. As we indicated at that time, listening sessions would begin in January 2027 under the leadership of search committee chair Margie Yates. However, Anderson's presentation to Turner College faculty and staff on August 3, 2026, suggested that listening sessions might begin later this fall semester. He also noted during that presentation that the search committee was almost fully formed, pending the invitation acceptance of a single prospective member. The Turner College's previous dean, Deborah Kidder, was  selected from among four finalists identified by a 13-member Dean's Search Committee. That search was co-chaired by Ben Blair , professor of economics, and Annice Yarber-Allen, then-Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. The 13-member committee was ...

Earlier this week the job posting for the Turner College's new Development Officer went live. According to the posting, the Development Officer will report to the Chief Advancement Officer and will be primarily responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding mid-level and principal gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Retaining current donors is a crucial aspect of the Development Officer's role, as it helps ensure ongoing support for CSU. This role involves developing and executing strategic fundraising plans, managing donor relationships, coordinating appeals campaigns, and contributing to the overall success of advancement efforts. The Development Officer will collaborate with various stakeholders, alumni relations, and other university departments, to align fundraising activities with the academic priorities and goals of CSU as defined by the CSU President. This position will primarily be responsible for raising private philanthropic s...

With CSU's enrollments falling over the past two years, causing the institution to brace for enrollment-based budget cuts, it is especially important that state tax revenues remain strong so that baseline support for CSU is not threatened. In that regard, Ty Tagami's recent report for Capitol Beat brings some good news. Tagami explains that  Georgia tax revenue continued rising in July, bolstered by strong receipts from the sales and use tax, which sent more money to local governments.  Net tax collections were $2.57 billion, up $78.1 million from July 2025. According to Tagama, this  3.1% increase came despite a 2.1% year-over-year drop in collections from the individual income tax.  That $27.1 million decline from July of last year was, as Tagami writes, counterbalanced by soaring receipts from the corporate income tax, which rose 34.3%, up $18.4 million. As Capitol Beat notes, t he decline in individual income tax revenue continues a slide from June, when indivi...

Turner College adjunct professor Andrea Parker recently participated in a roundtable discussion at the Women in Private Wealth conference in Nashville. The roundtable was titled  Beyond the 60/40: Adapting to the Evolving Fixed Income Market . "Our conversation covered a lot of ground — from the evolving role of fixed income in portfolio construction and opportunities across the yield curve and credit markets, to Fed policy, tight credit spreads, correlations and AI, and how to be positioned in fixed income as we look ahead," Parker explained. Sponsored by Markets Group, the even brought together personnel from Pinnacle Financial, namely Holly Murrell, Brittany McKee, Miriam Baird, Amy Cho, Hope Williams and Tammy Holland, with Parker's colleagues in The Family Office at Synovus — Jordan Pritchard, Turner College alum  Caroline Moyer and Jennifer Pratt. " I’m thrilled to be surrounded by these women who bring so much talent, perspective, and leadership to our indus...

Columbus State University’s Faculty Senate begins the 2026-27 academic year with Judith Livingston serving as its executive officer, and Katherine Cannon, GCPCA continues to chair the Staff Council for a second consecutive year. Livingston will serve as the Faculty Senate’s executive officer. The Faculty Senate provides a representative voice in university operations for more than 550 full- and part-time faculty and functions through a structure of elected officers and college senators. A professor in the Department of English, Livingston has served on the Columbus State faculty since 2011 after teaching roles at Louisiana State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Tulane University. She recently chaired the university’s Department of English and is currently one of Georgia’s 16 Governor’s Teaching Fellows. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Davidson College, a master’s in English from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in English from L...