by Claire Miller
Michael Hall first came to Georgia State University in 2007 with plans to major in exercise science and since setting foot on campus, he has done much more than attend class.
He served as president of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, became a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and currently plays middle linebacker for the GSU football team. He also founded an organization called Moving University Students Closer to Leadership in Exercise Science (MUSCLES), which encourages exercise science students to mentor one another and build camaraderie within their program.
For Hall, it was an easy decision to take on leadership roles and become so involved on campus.
“I’m a first-generation college student. I don’t have anyone in my family who’s gone this far, so when I saw that I had the chance to not only come to college but also to lead, I took it on and I’m moving forward every day,” said Hall, who began his master’s program in exercise physiology in the College of Education this fall. “I really appreciate everything that’s happened for me.”
Hall shared his story and his plans for the future during the COE’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, which took place on Nov. 10 in room 1030.
The luncheon gives COE board members and friends of the college a chance to talk with students like Hall and faculty members such as Bridget Dever, assistant professor in the Research, Measurement and Statistics program, about their research and scholarship.
Dever completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in the COE before joining the faculty this fall. She is currently collaborating with Bibb County Schools to study the links between motivation, behavior and achievement.
Like Hall, Dever is also a first-generation college student who has enjoyed her time at GSU.
“After two years as a post-doctoral fellow, I was fortunate enough to get a tenure-track position and was glad to stay because of my experiences here and because I formed a lot of really important collaborations with faculty members and students within and outside of the College of Education,” she said. “I’ve been really fortunate to work with some really talented faculty and students, and the collaborations with the school districts here have been very important to me.”
Advisory board member Lee Friedman said he enjoys attending events like the luncheon because they offer a glimpse into what’s going on in the college and where its future is headed.
“I’m impressed with the undergraduates, graduate students and doctoral candidates and the types of things they’re studying here,” he said. “It’s exciting to see how the university is moving forward.”
For more information about the COE’s programs, visit http://education.gsu.edu.
