Dear Panther Family,
I am always incredibly thankful for the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with the entire Panther community. At Georgia State, fostering a workplace culture of community and belonging is an essential part of placemaking and building positive, supportive working relationships that enhance the experience for all GSU employees.
This is why one of the highlights of the holiday season is the series of employee holiday celebrations. Each December, it is our tradition to extend our heartfelt gratitude to GSU employees with a variety of holiday celebrations. These much-anticipated events allow us all to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the academic year and enjoy the camaraderie that makes Georgia State such a special place to work.
Our first holiday event was the annual Provost Holiday Breakfast in Centennial Hall for staff and administrators from the Division of Academic Affairs. Next, Dr. Bridget and I hosted our annual Holiday Mingle event, welcoming the President’s Office staff, President’s Cabinet, Deans, and Administrative Council to our home.
Our very own, Georgia State Choir did an amazing job performing at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting with Governor and First Lady Kemp. Later that week, the university hosted one of the biggest events of the year, the University Holiday Party. This annual celebration once again brought together hundreds of faculty and staff for an afternoon of connection, great food and free gifts. Also during this event, we held a food drive to support our Panther's Pantry, which provides both nutritious food options and essential hygiene products for all GSU students, faculty and staff members in need. I was inspired by the outpouring of generosity. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the food drive. Your contributions truly made a difference!
We ended the month with our 2nd and 3rd Shift Employee Appreciation event in Piedmont Central Dining Hall. These employees, many of whom serve in facilities, dining, student success, and our police department, often work behind the scenes to keep our campus running smoothly. Free meals were also provided to our 2nd and 3rd shift employees on all Perimeter Campuses.
I genuinely enjoyed spending quality time with so many of our employees at each event. To all GSU employees, thank you for all you do to support our great university. I would like to also offer a special thank you to everyone who assisted in organizing each event.
Happy Holidays and I hope you have a wonderful holiday break!
All the best,
