Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University’s Alyssa Vallad and Dr. Michelle MacLellan traveled to Providence, Rhode Island, Aug. 1-4 for the American Phytopathological Society’s Plant Health 2026. It was an opportunity for the student-faculty research duo to learn from leaders driving the field forward, discover groundbreaking research, and build connections that matter.

During the conference, Vallad, a senior biology major from Riverview, Florida, shared the latest update on the team's efforts to investigate a plant disease that could have significant implications for South Georgia’s tomato and pepper producers. She plans to continue her work with MacLellan, assistant professor of biology, throughout the 2026-2027 school year. 🔥
College of Science & Mathematics at Valdosta State University

Summer was fun, but there’s nothing like having our Blazers back on campus! We can’t wait to welcome everyone home this fall. 🔥

The VSU Foundation recently welcomed President Dr. Don Green to the first Foundation Board meeting of his presidency. During the meeting, Dr. Green shared his vision and priorities for VSU, highlighting opportunities to enhance the student experience, strengthen the university, and advance its mission.

The Foundation looks forward to partnering with President Green to support VSU’s goals and create a lasting impact for our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve. 🔥

Our Urban Planning class students and Dr. Jia Lu in Geoscience recently wrapped up a powerful research initiative tackling the local affordable housing crisis. To build a data-backed framework for our community, students and faculty conducted a national benchmarking study analyzing more than a dozen successful university-housing partnerships across the U.S. and interviewing project leaders nationwide.

The project included direct field tours with Valdosta Mayor Matheson. It earned high praise from the mayor and university leadership, including Dr. Guclu Atinc, dean of the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, and Dr. Anne Price, executive director of the Mary Virginia Terry Center for Experiential Learning. This project continues our program's rich history of municipal innovations, from smart cities and on-demand transit to autonomous vehicles—frequently featured across local television and news outlets!

Check out the short video to see how our students are applying urban planning and geospatial analysis to solve real-world problems:

https://bit.ly/4w3EBrA 🔥 College of Science & Mathematics at Valdosta State University

VSU Community Partnership on Affordable Housing How can anchor institutions drive local housing equity? In this cap...

COUNTDOWN TO MOVE-IN 2026: Valdosta State University is excited to welcome more than 2,200 students to their on-campus home away from home during Move-In Days. First-year and transfer students are scheduled to arrive on campus Aug. 11-12, followed by returning students Aug. 14-16. Hundreds of Blazer Nation volunteers are on standby, ready to greet families, help unload vehicles, show students to their rooms, and more. https://bit.ly/4fEKt5Y 🔥

Student Government Association President Kai Kemp is spending the summer working toward his career goals. Kai wants to be a city manager and has been interning with the City of Valdosta. Click the link to learn what Kai has been up to and to see his advice for students seeking internships. https://bit.ly/4pNmp4h 🔥
📷 City of Valdosta Public Information Office
Valdosta, A City Without Limits
VSU College of Humanities and Social Sciences