May was a very active month that started with the celebration of more than 300 Brenau graduates.
Also, I had the opportunity to serve as the keynote speaker for the Georgia Municipal Association’s Small Cities Conference here in Gainesville. It was a wonderful chance to connect with local leaders from across the state, and I was glad to see so much interest in our online nursing options—especially our ASN-to-BSN pathway—as well as our education initiatives like TigerTEACH.
A college in a small city serves as a vital economic, social, and cultural anchor, often acting as a primary employer and community hub that helps prevent rural decline. These institutions drive local economies, provide trained workforce pipelines, improve property values, and offer essential community services like childcare and event spaces.
The economic and cultural impact of colleges on small cities is immense. For instance, Brenau University has a relative community economic and cultural impact of $150 million, with a multiplier effect through direct and indirect spending by our employees and students, workforce development, providing stability to the local economy, and acting as a hub of culture and innovation.
A college can serve as a “heartbeat” for small communities, offering economic stability and improving quality of life. For a small city, a college isn’t just a school; it’s a permanent economic engine that provides a stable workforce, fosters innovation, and aids the community.
At Brenau, we are proud to work toward the betterment of our students and the broader community where we live and work.
Before I close, two quick notes to share:
- We recently learned about a very prestigious honor for a faculty member in the Jacobs College of Business and Media. Dr. Fassil Fanta, a professor of finance and economics, has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar for the 2026-27 academic year. Fulbright Scholar Awards are highly competitive and prestigious fellowships that offer scholars transformative opportunities to teach and conduct research abroad. The Fellowship not only supports his professional development but also raises the global profile of the Jacobs College of Business and Media while fostering long-term international connections.
- Also, Brenau University is pleased to announce “An Evening with Chuck Leavell, ‘The Tree Man’ Film, Songs and Stories,” on July 18 at Hosch Theatre. He is the keyboardist and musical director of The Rolling Stones and a former member of The Allman Brothers Band. This performance is supported by the Ivester Programming Endowment, established by Brenau Trustee Doug Ivester and his wife, Kay, and held in conjunction with the Jarrard Burch Foundation.
For more of what’s happening at Brenau, be sure to check out my June podcast on SoundCloud, where you can also find previous episodes.
