This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Coming from Savannah's Eastside, Don Waters has been through much of the University System of Georgia as a student with stops at Armstrong State University and the University of Georgia in Athens. While he is technically retired, Waters has cemented himself as a difference maker in the university system after finishing his term as chairman at the end of 2019. On this episode of Difference Makers, Waters talks about growing up in Savannah, returning home, his work with former Mayor Malcolm Maclean and the missions for Georgia Southern and Savannah State.

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(9:42): Returning to Savannah

(11:29): Working with former Savannah Mayor Malcolm Maclean

• Georgia Historical Society unveils marker recognizing former Savannah mayor for civil rights efforts (SMN, Nov. 27, 2017)
• Tom Barton: Former Savannah mayor gets overdue recognition (SMN, Nov. 28, 2017)

(19:06): Joining the Board of Regents and his priorities as chairman last year

• Savannah businessman Don Waters elected Regents chairman (SMN, Nov. 13, 2018)

(26:37): Missions, directives and segments of the University System of Georgia

(34:12): Mission for Georgia Southern University, responding to consolidation with Armstrong State

• Growth promised as Armstrong, Georgia Southern merger made official (SMN, Jan. 10, 2017)
• Armstrong, Georgia Southern consolidation finalized by Georgia Board of Regents (SMN, Dec. 12, 2017)

(42:41): Future of Savannah State University

• SSU merger rumors, decline in student enrollment addressed during NAACP meeting (SMN, July 28, 2019)
• Editorial: SSU’s downsizing more like a rightsizing (SMN, Aug. 17, 2019)
• Savannah State enrollment drops, state regents name new chair (SMN, Nov. 12, 2019)

(48:15): Misconceptions about college enrollment

(55:26): Future of early education and public schooling

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