Schools
Southern Polytechnic State University Alumni Society Invites Alumni To Come Home
It's been six years since Southern Polytechnic and Kennesaw State joined forces to create Georgia's second-largest university.
Jun 29, 2021
Southern Polytechnic State University Alumni Society invites alumni to come home
Find out what's happening in Kennesawfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Ericka Davis
KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jun 29, 2021) — It’s been six years since Southern Polytechnic and Kennesaw State joined forces to
create Georgia’s second-largest university. The consolidation of the two schools created
a total alumni base of nearly 130,000 living graduates.
Find out what's happening in Kennesawfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In recognition of the history, legacy and traditions that were an integral part of
SPSU, the Kennesaw State University Alumni Association has chartered the Southern
Polytechnic State University Alumni Society (SPSUAS).
The group, which will be officially chartered on July 1, will be led by:
- President: Ericka Davis ('97), Chief Communications Officer for State Road and Tollway
Authority, Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority, and Georgia Regional Transportation
Authority - Vice President, President Elect: Bill Leggett ('94), Principal Architect for HKS Inc.
- Secretary; Co-chair Student Success: Tiane McKoy Hamler ('12) Senior Administrative
Assistant for Boston Consulting Group
When approached last year by KSU leadership about SPSU alumni engagement, Davis shared
that having an affinity group for SPSU alumni would be the best way connect with alumni
who had previously felt disconnected after the merger of the two institutions. As
conversations continued, and it was clear that everyone was pleased about the idea,
Davis was humbled and even more excited to be asked to serve as the founding leader.
“I owe my career to SPSU, and specifically the faculty who helped me discover my passion
for technical communications,” she said. “When the leadership came to me about the
idea of creating an SPSU alumni society, I knew that it was an important step in engaging
SPSU alumni.”
According to Davis, the focus of this first year will be to engage with the SPSU alumni.
“Our Alumni Society is committed to building the bridge that will bring our alumni
back home,” Davis said. “Since SPSU joined KSU, many feel as if we lost our home,
but we didn’t. The foundation of SPSU is rooted within KSU, and with the launch of
this initiative, SPSU alumni can finally return to our roots and be members of this
vibrant and active institution, this KSU family, that we are helping to build with
the merger.”
Beyond the first year, the SPSUAS has big plans, including exclusive alumni events,
SPSUAS tailgates, networking opportunities, and more.
In addition to the events that await members of SPSUAS, alumni will have the opportunity
to engage with KSU and students in all of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art, and Mathematics) fields through scholarship and legacy building.
“We want to offer the opportunity to our alumni to be a part of what this whole society
is about.” Davis said. “We want to build STEAM and DREAMS (Dedicated Resources to Empower and Mentor Students) by providing more scholarship opportunities for KSU STEAM students. We want
to connect our SPSU alumni with KSU students who are studying in the fields they love,
and we want to show our alumni how they can support STEAM departments so we can continue
the legacy of SPSU.”
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers close to 200 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.