COSMWEEKLY
THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
UPDATES FROM THE DEAN
IhopeyouallhadagreatweekendandwatchedplentyoftheWinterOlympics.Iknowthisisabusytimefor everyoneaswenavigatetheannualevaluationprocess,andIappreciateyourcontinueddedicationduringthis period
Ihaveafewquickupdatestoprovideyouwith:
1 SignificantInvestmentinGraduateEducation:WehavereceivedconfirmationthatCOSMhasbeenallocated $300,000innewGTAfundstosupportourPhD programs Thisnewfundingisinadditiontothe$947,000 traditionalGTAallocationwereceivefromtheCollegeofGraduateStudies(COGS) Thisisasubstantialwinfor ourresearchmissionandunderscorestheuniversity’scommitmenttoourgrowingdoctoralfootprint
2 StrategicEnrollmentandFacultyGrowth:IntheStrategicEnrollmentPlanning(SEP)process,COSMhas receivedtwonewlecturerlinestosupportplannedgrowthinthenursingprogram.Whilethesepositionswere initiallyallocatedtoChemistry,arequesthasbeenmadetomoveoneofthepositionstoBiologytobettermeet instructionalneeds.ThisadjustmentmustbeapprovedbytheCabinetbeforewecanmoveforwardwith recruitment.
3. ShapingOurFuture:InterdisciplinaryListeningSessions:AsGeorgiaSoutherndevelopsthenew InterdisciplinaryClustersofUniversityExcellence(ICUE),itisvitalthatCOSMispositionedtolead.Wemust ensureourinternalstructuresfacilitatecollaborationratherthanisolation.
Pleasemakeplanstoattendanupcominglisteningsession.Thethemeforthesesessionswillbefocusingour collegetobettersupportbothcollaborativeresearchandinterdisciplinary,cross-departmentaldegreeprograms. Wewanttohearyourperspectiveonthefollowing:
BrightSpots:Whereiscollaborationalreadyflourishingwithinthecollege?
FrictionPoints:Whatstructuralbarriersarecurrentlyholdingusback?
LeadershipLevers:WhatspecificactionscantheDean’sOfficetaketomakeinterdisciplinaryworkasacore priority?
Calendarinvitationswentoutlastweek Yourvoiceisessentialaswebuildamoreintegratedandagilecollege ThankyouforeverythingyoudoforCOSMandGeorgiaSouthern
Sincerely, Mike
COSM SPRING 2026 ELECTIONS
DearColleagues-
Ihopeeveryoneishavingagreatspringsemester. Itisthattimeofyearwhenweneedtoselectsenatorsand committeememberstorepresentourcollegeontheFacultySenate,SenateCommittees,andUniversity Committees FacultySenatorsservefor3-yeartermsandAlternatesservefor1-yearterms Committee representativesserve2-yearterms CommitteeAlternatesserve2-yearterms Pleaseseetheattacheddocument foradescriptionofcommitteeresponsibilities/purposes
Asafirststepinthisprocess,nominationsarebeingacceptedforthefollowingpositions Pleasekeepinmindyou maynominatemorethanonepersonforanyposition Nominationsareopenthrough11:59onTuesday,February 17th Forthiselectionweareseeking:
6Senatorsandupto7Alternates (NotethatthecampusrepresentationpolicyforSenatorshasbeenchangedby theFacultySenate(September24,2025FacultySenateAgendaandMinutes) Thepolicynowreads:“Eachunit, wheneverpossible,shouldprovidemulti-campusrepresentation(withourcampusesbeingStatesboro,Armstrong, EastGeorgia,andLiberty).Forthepurposesofthispolicy,EastGeorgiaisconsideredone“campus”.Eachcollege withfacultybasedonourmultiplecampusesshouldseektofillatleastoneoftheirallottedSenateseatswith facultymembersbasedoneachcampus(otherthanLiberty,whichhasoneallottedsenaterepresentativedueto itsuniquestructure),asinterestandstaffinglevelsallow”)
Nominationsareopenthroughmidnight,TuesdayFebruary17.Pleasesubmityournominationsbyclickinghere. Forthe2026-2027academicyear,thevacanciesatCOSMare:
5senatorpositionsending2029
1senatorpositionending2027(toreplaceavacancy)
7alternates
1electedmembertoFacultyDevelopmentCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoFacultyServiceCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoFacultyWelfareCommittee,termending2028
2electedmemberstoGeneralEducationandCoreCurriculumCommittee(GECC),termsending2028
1electedmembertoGraduateCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertoLeadershipDevelopmentandEngagementCommittee,termending2027
1electedmembertotheStudentSuccessCommittee,termending2028
1electedmembertothePlanning,Budget,FacilitiesCommittee,termending2028
2electedmembers,1alternatetotheUndergraduateCommittee,termsending2028
1electedmembertotheUniversityCalendarCommittee,termending2028
5electedmemberstotheFacultyGrievanceCommitteetermsending2027and2028 (membersmusthave completedaminimumofthreeyearsasafull-timefacultymemberattheUniversity)*
*TheGrievanceCommitteebylawscurrentlyhavespecificrequirementsformembershipwhichdonotyetinclude EastGeorgiarepresentation.Howeverthesebylawswillberevisedthissemester.EastGeorgiarepresentationwill absolutelybenecessary.So,pleasedonominate(orself-nominate)EastGAfacultysothatwecanproceedwith selectingthoserepresentativesonceweknowhowmanywillberequired.
Oncenominationsarecomplete,Iwillsendaformtoallthosenominatedaskingthemtoacceptorrejectthe nominationandprovideacandidatestatement,ifdesired. ThedeadlineforthiswillbeMonday,March2at11:59 pm. TheelectionwillopenonMonday,March9andremainopenuntil11:59onMonday,March23.
Thankyouforyourattention Ifyouhavequestions,pleasecontactmdurach@georgiasouthern.edu
UPCOMING EVENTS
COSMListeningSessionswithDeanHuggins
February17:8:30AM
8:30,BiologicalSciences,Room1110
February19:3:00PM ScienceCenter,Room1505B
February23:3:00PM
Zoom
February25:9:00AM Math/Physics,Room3001
February26:2:00PM ScienceCenter,Room1505B
February27:1:30PM Nursing/Chemistry,Room1207
StructuralGeologistCandidateResearchTalk
TheSchoolofEarth,EnvironmentandSustainability(SEES)isconductingafacultysearchforastructural geologist Thefirstinterviewwillbetomorrow(Tuesday),February17thwithDr CullenKortyna Belowis theZoomlinkforDr Kortyna’sresearchtalkat4pmalongwithashortbiographicalsketch
4:00–5:00pm: ResearchTalk(OpentoCOSMfaculty&students)ClickheretoJointheZoomMeeting
MountainsThroughTime:DecipheringtheTectonicDriversandMechanismsoftheFormationand EvolutionofMountainBeltsfromtheFieldtotheLaboratory
Dr.CullenKortynaearnedaBSinGeologyfromBucknellUniversity(2011),anMSinGeologyfromthe UniversityofArizona(2013)andaPh.D.inGeologyfromtheUniversityofTexasatAustin(2022).Hedida post-doctoralfellowshipattheUniversityofConnecticutfrom2022to2023andiscurrentlyaresearch associateattheThermochronologyResearchandInstrumentationLaboratoryattheUniversityof Coloradowhereheisworkingonthedevelopmentoflaser-ablation(U-Th)/Hethermochronology.His researchisbroadlymotivatedbythedynamicinteractionsbetweentectonics,orogenesis,deformation, andsedimentarysystems.Inhisresearch,Dr.Kortynautilizessedimentaryandstructuralgeologyalong withdetritalgeo-thermochronologytostudyorogenicgrowthanddenudationaswellaslinkages betweentectonics,structuralstyle,andsedimentation Hisresearchinterestsalsoincludethe developmentofnewgeo-thermochronologicaltechniques Intermsofscholarlyaccomplishments,Dr Kortynahaspublishedfour(4)peer-reviewedpapersinhisfieldsince2014,three(3)asfirstauthor,and hasfour(4)manuscriptscurrentlyinpreparation.
COSMLunchandLearnLargeLectureLogistics
Ledby:Mrs.EricaHillsnipe(Physics)andDr.LorenMathews(Biology).
Date:Thursday,February19th
Time:11:15amto12:15pm
SessionInfo:Thissessionwillbefocusedonlargelecturelogistics.
Facultythatareabletojoinusforthesessionshouldsignupusingthelink: https://appsmartsheetcom/b/publish?EQBCT=e3cc095bb6404e92981ca2a2ed086219
STATISTICAL CONSULTINGUNIT
Data Science Lifecycle in Credit Risk Modeling
Friday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.
Zoom meeting ID: 835 2428 8813
passcode: &q5vuY0H2+
Thiswebinar explores how datasciencesupports smarter financial decisions in the real world. Using examples from commercial lending at Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance, the session walks through the full process from understanding the business problem to preparing data, building models and putting results into action. Mohammad Arani, Ph.D., will show how statistical tools can predict not just whether a borrower may default, but when it might happen, helping lenders better manage risk. The presentation highlights how thoughtful modeling strengthens underwriting, pricing and long-term portfolio strategy.
AhmedAl-Taweel,PhD aaltaweel@georgiasouthern.edu
DivineTitoF.Wanduku,Ph.D. dwanduku@georgiasouthern.edu LatellWhite
swhite@Georgiasouthern.edu 912-478-5132
Dr Araniisadatascientistandsystemsengineerwhoappliesadvanced analyticstosolvecomplexbusinesschallenges HeearnedhisPhD in SystemsEngineeringfromtheUniversityofArkansasatLittleRock,wherehe focusedonimprovinglarge-scalesupplychainsystems.Overthepastdecade, hehasworkedinfinance,logisticsandglobalshipping,leadingprojects inpredictivemodelingandoptimization.HecurrentlyservesasLeadData ScientistatCrossroadsEquipmentLeaseandFinance,wherehedevelops toolsthathelporganizationsmakemoreinformed,data-drivendecisions,and heremainscommittedtomentoringstudentsinanalyticsandsystemsthinking.
Mohammad Arani, Ph.D.
BOTANIC GARDEN EVENTS
March7:10:00-WalkandTalk(GardeninSpring)
March17:12:00-GatherandGrow(Citrus/Olivepresenters)
March24:12:00-1:00-PopUpPlantSalePreviewWalk
March25:12:00-1:00-PopUpPlantSalePreviewWalk
March27:5:30-8:00-MembersOnlyCirclePartyandMembersPlantSale.MustRSVP.
March28:9:00-4:00-SpringPlantSale
April16:5:30-GatherandGrow(GenePhillipsTeaCamelliatalk;Sweettea,vodkatasting)
May14:12:00-GatherandGrow(SweetgrassGullah/GeecheeJoyceWhite)
May2:5:30-8:00-Derbythemedparty-Mint&Magnolia
COUR SURF APPLICATIONS OPEN
TheCOSMCollegeofUndergraduateResearch(COUR)invitesapplicationsforthe2026Summer UndergraduateResearchFellowship(SURF).Thisfellowshipisdesignedtoenhanceexperiential learningforstudentsbysupportingundergraduateresearchduringtheFullSummerTerm.$4000 awardswillbemadetothebestapplicationsandinclude:
$3000stipendfortheundergraduatestudent,withtheexpectationthatthestudentconducts researchwithaCOSMfacultymentorfor25hours/weekfor10weeksduringtheFullSummerTerm
$500summerstipendforthefacultymentor
$500insuppliesorresearchtravel(fundsmaynotbeusedforconferencetravel)
Weeklyprofessionaldevelopmentmeetings
Toqualify,studentsmustbeaCOSMmajorandmentoredbyaCOSMfacultymember.Formore informationandtoviewapplicationinstructions,visithttps://www.georgiasouthern.edu/cosm/cour/ andlookunderGrantsoremailDr.HeatherJoestingathjoesting@georgiasouthern.edu.
ApplicationsaredueMarch13,2026
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