SPECIAL GUESTS

Dr. Jacqueline M. Belcher
President/CEO, Options Unlimited, LLC
President Emeritus, Georgia Perimeter College

On July 1, 2005,  Jacqueline M. Belcher became the founding president and CEO of Options Unlimited, providing executive coaching and organizational development consultation for colleges and universities. Prior to this, she served as the fifth president of Georgia Perimeter College, the largest associate degree-granting college and the third largest higher education institution in the University System of Georgia. Dr. Belcher had the distinction of being the first woman appointed president at Georgia Perimeter College. Her career spans 35 years in community colleges and includes administration, management and instruction. It also includes presidential appointments at Minneapolis Community College and St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. Dr. Belcher earned a B.S in nursing from Marymount College (KS), an M.A in psychosocial nursing and psychology from the University of Washington, a J.D. from Seattle University (WA), and a Post Masters in business for non-business majors from the University of Washington. 

Mr. James A. Bishop
Regent, First District, University System of Georgia

Jim Bishop is an attorney with The Bishop Law Firm in Brunswick. A native of Alma, Georgia, he received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1964 and his jurisprudence degree from the Walter F. George School of Law in 1967. He is a past chair of the Mercer University Board of Trustees and the Mercer University Law School Dean Search Committee. On Law Day in 2003, Mercer University honored Regent Bishop with the Meritorious Service Award for his service to the School of Law. Regent Bishop is the immediate past chairman of the United States District Court Advisory Committee for the Southern District of Georgia, former president of the State Bar of Georgia Younger Lawyers Section, the Brunswick Bar Association and the Brunswick Judicial Circuit Bar Association. He currently serves as chairman of the Board of the Directors of The Coastal Bank of Georgia  and the Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation. Regent Bishop serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and was one of the original trustees

Mr. Erroll B Davis, Jr.
Chancellor, University System of Georgia

Erroll B. Davis Jr, who took office as Chancellor in early 2006, is responsible for the state’s 35 public colleges and universities, appoximately 283,000 students, 40,000 faculty and staff, and an annual budget of $6.1 billion. Previously, he served as president and chief executive officer of Alliant Energy Corporation, which he joined in 1998. He retired from his dual roles as president and CEO in July 2005, and retained a chairman of the board post until his move to the University System. Prior to the creation of Alliant Energy, Mr. Davis served as president and CEO of WPL Holdings, from 1990 to 1998. From 1978 to 1990, he rose through the senior management ranks at Wisconsin Power and Light Company, starting as vice president of finance and ending as CEO and president. Mr. Davis’ higher-education experience includes serving as a member of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents from 1987 to 1994, and as a former chairman of the board of trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, of which he is a life member. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mr. Davis earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1965, and a M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago in 1967. He is a member of the board of directors of General Motors, BP p.l.c., and Union Pacific Corp., and serves on the National Commission on Energy Policy. He is a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee Board (2004-2008). 

Mr. Robert F. Hatcher
Vice-Chair, Board of Regents, University System of Georgia

Bob Hatcher is president and CEO of MidCountry Financial Corporation. He was the president and CEO of First Liberty Bank from 1988 until 2000. Prior to First Liberty, he was with Trust Company Bank (SunTrust) for 27 years. Regent Hatcher is co-chairman of the Commission for a New Georgia. He serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. In 2007, Regent Hatcher was appointed to the board of trustees of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Foundation. He received the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award from UGA’s Terry College of Business. An honorary Lifetime Member of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, he was named 2005 Citizen of the Year.

Dr. Kathleen Rountree
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ithaca College (NY)

A musician by discipline, Dr. Rountree is a nationally-noted pianist, speaker, and author. Her public presentations on higher education have been included at conferences such as the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, the American Association of Higher Education, the Council of Independent Colleges Chief Academic Officer’s Institute, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She serves on the boards of the National Council on Undergraduate Research and the Ithacare Medical Facility and on the Executive Council of the Council of Fellows of the American Council on Education (ACE).  Dr. Rountree was a colleague of Dr. Virginia Carson in the 1999-2000 class of ACE Fellows.

Mr. Robert E. Watts
Chief Operating Officer &
Executive Vice Chancellor, Administrative and Fiscal Affairs
Board of Regents, University System of Georgia

In January 2007, Chancellor Davis appointed Rob Watts as Chief Operating Officer of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The Chief Operating Officer is charged with leading the access sector of 16 two-year and state colleges and supervising the board offices of legal affairs, facilities, fiscal affairs, human resources, and the Georgia public libraries. From July 2006 to January 2007,  Mr. Watts served as Chief of Staff for the Chancellor. This position was merged with the Chief Operating Officer position in January. For six years prior to moving to the University System Office, he served in several interim roles: Interim President of Floyd College (now Georgia Highlands College) in Rome (2000-2001); Interim President of Middle Georgia College in Cochran (2001-2002); Interim Director of the Gwinnett University Center and Senior Policy Advisor to the University System Chancellor (2002-2005); and Interim President of Georgia Perimeter College (2005-2006). Mr. Watts earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Florida State University in Tallahassee. He also holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

SOUTH GEORGIA COLLEGE
Mace 

The mace is an academic tradition that started out as a formidable weapon of warfare, but is now a ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority. Originally, the mace was a long-handled club weighted at the end, used primarily by knights during the Middle Ages to crush the armor of opponents. Royal bodyguards often carried maces to protect their monarch in processions. By the 14th Century, maces had become more ceremonial in use and were decorated with jewels and precious metals, losing their war-club appearance. They were no longer used as weapons after the 16th Century.

The SGC mace was crafted in 2007 by faculty member Kit Carson from a 50-year-old pecan tree, which grew adjacent to Stubbs Hall and was removed for renovation. The finial on the mace is a hand-carved pineapple, which is a traditional American symbol of hospitality. During colonial times, sea captains arriving home brought back tropical fruit from exotic locations. As a sign of their safe return and to welcome guests, they placed a pineapple on their gate or door. In time, people began carving pineapple designs into their doorways and gateposts. Pineapples are still given today as a symbol of welcome or friendship.

The ball of the mace contains a solid bronze medallion, which is SGC’s seal. The seal is raised to symbolize the higher order of education students receive at SGC. There are four rings below the seal that represent the four academic divisions at SGC. This part of the mace was crafted from the root of the pecan tree. This represents the solid foundation that students gain from all of the divisions at SGC. The names and dates of service of all SGC presidents are engraved on gold plates around the wooden shaft.