The mission of the Honors College since its founding in 2011 is to support diverse, motivated and dedicated students who seek to make a difference in the world. We recruit high performing and achieving students who are interested in expanding their horizons through experiential learning opportunities. They engage in though-provoking honors courses They conduct, publish, and present research. They study abroad and undertake leadership development training. They seek experiences to help them successfully move from college and into their careers.

As with the broader Georgia State University population, many of our students are first generation college students, come from low-income families and work while pursuing their college degrees. Accordingly, expanding the quality and quantity of scholarships is critical to the success of our students, both academically and professionally. As a result of past philanthropic support, we can boast of alumni who are practicing medicine during a pandemic, fighting for human rights through the justice system, securing voting rights and access to voting through civic leadership, and conducting life-saving cancer research. Others are launching careers in law, forensic investigation, business operations and logistics, and in many other areas.

With your support, we can continue our trajectory of providing students with an unparalleled undergraduate experience through innovative programs, faculty mentoring and interdisciplinary curriculum. Your gifts also mean that we can create pathways for our students regardless of their financial experiences. If you are grateful for your own experience at Georgia State, if you support education or if you believe in the power of philanthropy to change lives, then we invite you to join us in our work to become a national model for developing undergraduate scholars into global leaders.

Sarah L. Cook is the dean of the Honors College and an internationally respected scholar on violence against women.