Dear Panther Family,
I was honored to take part in the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Margaret A. Staton Access and Accommodations Center. Since 1999, AACE has been a cornerstone of inclusion and support, providing Georgia State students with disabilities the same opportunities as students without.
Ms. Staton was one of the first GSU students with a disability. As an alumna, she was incredibly generous with her time and resources for decades. She advocated for the rights of people with disabilities and supported AACE through her endowment, which has assisted over 2,000 GSU students!
Sadly, Ms. Staton passed away in April of 2018. In her honor the AACE Scholarship in Memory of Margaret A. Staton was created which provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate students registered with the Center.
As part of GSU’s strategic plan, “Blueprint to 2033” the “Identity, Placemaking, and Belonging” pillar is dedicated to making our campus a place where students, faculty, and staff feel valued, supported, and engaged. AACE’s work directly aligns with this mission, ensuring GSU remains a leader in accessibility.
AACE’s latest achievements include establishing the Alternative Media Production Team which provides experiential learning opportunities for our students to create tactile graphics and literary Braille. AACE also offers AMP-UP, a mentoring program that provides targeted and customized support to help AACE students reach their academic goals.
Georgia State is incredibly grateful for Ms. Staton for her extraordinary work, generosity, and Panther pride. With the support of our campus community, I look forward to GSU continuing to build on our foundation to create even greater opportunities for all GSU students in the years to come.
All the best,