About CSGS

The Conference of Southern Graduate Schools is an organization of over 200 graduate schools in the following fifteen states of the southern region of the United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The Conference’s purpose is to consider topics relating to graduate study and research which are of mutual interest and concern to the member institutions. In addition, dissemination of information, promotion of standards, encouragement of research, and assistance to institutions starting graduate programs are important functions of the organization. And the Conference serves as a liaison with other national and regional educational bodies on behalf of the institutional members.

Welcome from the President

Karen S. Coats, President

Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024,
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601.266.4262
Email: karen.coats@usm.edu

Hello, and welcome to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools! I hope the fact that you are using this website indicates your active engagement or interest in this organization. CSGS is comprised of graduate school leaders from universities of all shapes and sizes across the south from Texas to Maryland. Our organization is filled with the unique experiences, perspectives, and challenges that naturally emanate from such a diverse group, providing opportunities to learn so much of value from each other. That is the main purpose of this organization – to be a resource that helps us all lead our universities better, enhance graduate education on our campuses and across our region, and positively impact the lives of our students by preparing them for a bright future.

I have the privilege of serving as President of CSGS this year (2021-22), and I hope the enthusiasm and energy that I feel within this organization will continue to flourish, with your help, during my tenure as president. Working with a talented and committed leadership team, my intent is for CSGS to provide opportunities for the professional development of each member. Beyond planning for an impactful 2022 annual meeting, the monthly forum series begun by my predecessor will continue, and I hope to create additional value for our organization by expanding our focus on graduate students. Please provide me with your thoughts and ideas on graduate student programming and resource development.

Please stay tuned to this website for regular updates on upcoming forums, and save the date for our 2022 annual joint meeting with the Conference of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHGBS). We plan to gather in person in Raleigh, NC in February 2022. CHBGS (February 16-17) and CSGS (February 17-19) conference programs are currently in planning, and meeting agendas will be forthcoming in the fall. I value your input on our annual meeting and all CSGS initiatives, so please feel free to reach out to me with your suggestions.

CSGS Officers and Executive Committee

Officers

Karen S. Coats, President

Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024,
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601.266.4262
Email: karen.coats@usm.edu

Mary Farmer-Kaiser, President-Elect

Dean of the Graduate School
Professor of History
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Martin Hall, Suite 332
104 University Circle
Lafayette, LA 70503
Phone: 337.482.6965
Email: kaiser@louisiana.edu

George T. Flowers, Treasurer

Professor and Dean of the Graduate School
Auburn University
106 Hargis Hall
Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: 334.844.2125
Email: flowegt@auburn.edu

Andrea Golato, Secretary

Dean, The Graduate College
Texas State University
The Graduate College
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666-4684
Phone: 512.245.2581
Email: agolato@txstate.edu

Jack DeRochi, Past-President

Dean of the Graduate School
Winthrop University
209 Tillman Hall
Phone: 803.323.2204
Email: derochij@winthrop.edu

Peter Harries, Second Treasurer

Dean, The Graduate School
North Carolina State University
1020 Main Campus Drive
Room 2300A
Raleigh, NC 27695-7102
Phone: 919.515.1989
Email: pjharrie@ncsu.edu

Executive Committee

Brenda J. Smith (term ends 2024)

Associate Dean
Graduate College
202 Whitehurst
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405.744.6368
Email: bjsmith@okstate.edu

Constinia Charbonnette (term ends 2022)

Director of Strategic Initiatives
Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health
West Virginia University
PO Box 6897
Morgantown, WV 26506
Phone: 304.293.7173
Email: cocharbonnette@hsc.wvu.edu

Jon Hakkila (term ends 2023)

Associate Provost for International Services, Academic Integrity, and Dean of the Graduate School
Office of Academic Affairs
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
Phone: 256.824.6339
Email: jon.hakkila@uah.edu

Julie Goodliffe (term ends 2023)

Director of Funding and Fellowships
The Graduate School
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223
Phone: 704.687.5349
Email: jmgoodli@uncc.edu

Jill S. Huerta (term ends 2024)

Executive Director
Center for Graduate Life
The Graduate School
UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
Phone: 704.687.7232
Email: jhuerta2@uncc.edu

Brian Kloeppel (term ends 2024)

Dean of the Graduate School and Research
Western Carolina University
110F Cordelia Camp Building
Cullowhee, NC 287723
Phone: 828.227.3174
Email: bkloeppel@wcu.edu

Ethan Carver (term ends 2022)

Associate Dean
The Graduate School
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 MCCallie Avenue
104 Race Hall, MS 5305
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Phone: 423.425.5773
Email: ethan-carver@utc.edu

Jamillah McDaniel (term ends 2023)

Assistant Professor & Director, Assessment and Operations
Division of Graduate Education in Biomedial Sciences
Morehouse School of Medicine
720 Westview Drive
Atlanta, GA 30310
Phone: 404.752.1773
Email: jmcdaniel@msm.edu

Sharon James McGee (term ends 2022)

Dean of Graduate Studies
Professor of English
East Tennessee State University
309 Burgin Dossett Hall
PO Box 70720
Johnson City, TN 37614-1710
Phone: 423.439.4221
Email: mcgees@etsu.edu

Andrew M. Goodliffe (term ends 2022)

Associate Dean of the Graduate School
University of Alabama
801 University Blvd.
102 Rose Administration Building
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone: 205.348.8283
Email: amg@ua.edu

Lisa Sperling (term ends 2022)

Senior Director, Office of Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives
University of Georgia Graduate School
210 S.Jackson St.
Athens, GA 30602-1633
Phone: 706.542.6413
Email: sperling@uga.edu

Juan E. González (term ends 2023)

Dean of Graduate Education and Associate Provost
Office of Graduate Education
UT Dallas
800 W Campbell Road FN 31
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone:972.883.2234
Email: jgonzal@utdallas.edu

Mary Owens Southall (ex officio with vote)

President, Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools
Dean, Graduate School
Coppin State University
2500 West North Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21216
Phone: 410.951.3090
Email: mowens@coppin.edu

How to Become a Member

Visit our Membership Page for details and registration information.

Overview of the History of CSGS

The Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) evolved out of informal discussions among graduate deans in the southern region, beginning at the summer workshop of the Council of Graduate Schools in 1969. From these discussions, it was determined that there was significant interest within the region in meeting periodically to discuss mutual problems. At three subsequent meetings of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an ad hoc committee of graduate deans was organized to continue informal discussions and explorations concerning formation of an organization.

While CSGS has had an official existence for over thirty years, a prior organization, the Conference of Deans of Southern Graduate Schools (CDSGS), goes back to discussions in 1925 and official establishment in 1927. That organization was dissolved in 1963 in view of the newly formed Council of Graduate Schools. However, it became apparent that not all needs served by the regional organization could be met by the national group and so the organization was revived.

The first annual meeting of the Conference was held at the Fairmont Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans in May, 1972. A total of seventy three registered and attended. In addition to adopting a constitution and bylaws, approving the name of the organization, and electing officers, free discussions gave the members of the group an opportunity to exchange ideas on a variety of subjects.

(From Graduate Education in the South, 1991, Thomas A. Langford, Editor)

Meetings and Minutes

Executive Committee Meetings

Business Meetings

Past Presidents

CSGS Presidents 1972-2022

Term	Name	School
2020-2021	Karen Coats	The University of Southern Mississippi
2020-2021	Jack DeRochi	Winthrop University
2019-2020	Kim LaScola Needy	University of Arkansas
2018-2019	David Berkowitz	University of Alabama in Huntsville
2017-2018	Ernest L.Brothers	University of Tennessee
2016-2017	Amy Thompson McCandless	The College of Charleston
2015-2016	John Z.Kiss	University of Mississippi
2014-2015	Paul Gemperline	East Carolina University
2013-2014	Edelma Huntley	Appalachian State University
2012-2013	Jeannine Blackwell	University of Kentucky
2011-2012	Nancy Marcus	Florida State University
2010-2011	Dianne Barron	Troy University
2009-2010	Patricia Bishop	University of Central Florida
2008-2009	Philip Langlais	Old Dominion University
2007-2008	Karen DePauw	Virginia Tech
2006-2007	Deborah Arfken	University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2005-2006	Gordon Emslie	Oklahoma State University
2004-2005	Maureen Grasso	University of Georgia
2003-2004	William Person	Mississippi State University
2002-2003	Gordon Melson	Wake Forest University
2001-2002	Joan Lorden	University of Alabama – Birmingham
2000-2001	Sandra Terrell	University of North Texas
1999-2000	Teresa A. Sullivan	University of Texas
1998-1999	Wayne Patterson	University of Charleston
1997-1998	Richard D. Koshel	Mississippi State University
1996-1997	George P. Avellano	University of Texas, Pan American
1995-1996	Diane M. Jacobs	University of Central Florida
1994-1995	Gordhan L.Patel	University of Georgia
1993-1994	Michael R. Dingerson	University of Mississippi
1992-1993	Virginia Falkenberg	Eastern Kentucky University
1991-1992	Paul Bryant	Radford University
1990-1991	Madelyn Lockhart	University of Florida
1989-1990	Joyce Lawrence	Appalachian State
1988-1989	C. H. (Bud) Minkel	University of Tennessee
1987-1988	Hazel Garrison	Hampton University
1986-1987	Carl Riggs	University of South Florida
1985-1986	Leslie Thompson	Texas Woman’s University
1984-1985	Robert Perkins	University of Texas (Arlington)
1983-1984	John Salley	Virginia Commonwealth
1982-1983	William Macmillan	The University of Alabama
1981-1982	Wimberly Royster	University of Kentucky
1980-1981	George Kunze	Texas A & M University
1979-1980	James Hudson	University of Arkansas
1978-1979	James Reeves	Tennessee State University
1977-1978	James Traynham	Louisiana State University
1976-1977	Joe Gerber	Stephen F. Austin State University
1975-1976	Albert Spruill	North Carolina A & T
1974-1975	Charley Scott	University of Alabama
1973-1974	Chester McKee	Mississippi State University
1972-1973	William Toland	Baylor University
1971-1972	John Harrison	University of Miami

Past Conference Locations

Conference Locations 1972-2022

Year	City
2022	Raleigh, NC
2021	Virtual Meeting due to Covid-19
2020	Birmingham, AL
2019	Knoxville, TN
2018	Fayetteville, AR
2017	Anapolis, MD
2016	Charlotte, NC
2015	New Orleans, LA
2014	San Antonio, TX
2013	Greenville, SC
2012	Jacksonville, FL
2011	Huntsville, AL
2010	Savannah, GA
2009	Norfolk, VA
2008	Austin, TX
2007	Chattanooga, TN
2006	Little Rock, AR
2005	Biloxi, MS
2004	Charlotte, NC
2003	Tampa, FL
2002	Baton Rouge, LA
2001	Richmond, VA
2000	Nashville, TN
1999	Charleston, SC
1998	Fort Worth, TX
1997	Savannah, GA
1996	Mobile, AL
1995	Asheville, NC
1994	Clearwater Beach, FL
1993	Jackson, MS
1992	Louisville, KY
1991	Norfolk, VA
1990	Tuscaloosa, AL
1989	Little Rock, AR
1988	Charleston, SC
1987	New Orleans, LA
1986	Knoxville, TN
1985	Raleigh, NC
1984	South Padre Island, TX
1983	Birmingham, AL
1982	Tampa, FL
1981	Savannah, GA
1980	Memphis, TN
1979	Jackson, MS
1978	San Antonio, TX
1977	Charleston, SC
1976	New Orleans, LA
1975	Atlanta, GA
1974	Dallas, TX
1973	Atlanta, GA
1972	New Orleans, LA

Committees

Audit Committee

Faculty Awards Committee

Student Awards Committee

Membership Committee

Nominating Committee