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

Kim LaScola Needy, President CSGS
Dean, Graduate School and International Education
University of Arkansas
Gearhart Hall 213
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 479-575-4401
Email: kneedy@uark.edu

Welcome to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS). It is my honor serve our Graduate School community for the next year as President. I am looking forward to engaging with you throughout the year. We just concluded our 48th Annual Meeting “Enhancing the Graduate Student Experience” in Knoxville, Tennessee. Our meeting provided the best of what CSGS has to offer. We had a program created and delivered by our members that addressed many of the current issues in Graduate Education. We had a rich set of discussions that started with our plenary sessions and continued through our breakout sessions. A new addition was a panel of graduate student leaders who discussed “Things I Wish the Administration Understood.” The conference capped off with our signature 3-Minute Thesis Competition or 3MT®. Once again, this event was thrilling and entertaining while showcasing the winners of university competitions throughout the southern region.

As is our tradition, the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS) Annual Meeting preceded the CSGS Annual Meeting. Participants who attend the CHBGS conference before the start of CSGS, learned about issues and best practices within minority serving institutions. They also provided an opportunity to network, create and establish mutual institutional partnerships. Discussions are underway on ways in which CSGS and CHBGS might partner more closely in the coming year.

Our meetings have a great tradition of networking with a spirit of friendship and support. We strive to benefit our graduate school administrators, staff and students. So if you were not able to attend this year it is time to mark your calendars for our next CSGS annual meeting which will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, March 5-7, 2020. We look forward to seeing you there!

CSGS Officers and Executive Committee

Officers

Kim LaScola Needy, President

Dean, Graduate School and International Education
University of Arkansas
Gearhart Hall 213
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: 479-575-4401
Email: kneedy@uark.edu

Jack DeRochi, President-elect

Dean of the Graduate School
Winthrop University
209 Tillman Hall
Phone: 803-323-2204
Email: derochij@winthrop.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

David Berkowitz, Past-President

Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Alabama in Huntsville
UC 106
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35899
Tel:256-824-6952
Email: david.berkowitz@uah.edu

Executive Committee

Ruth Huntley Bahr (2021)

Associate Dean
University of South Florida
Office of Graduate Studies
4202 E. Fowler Ave. ALN 226
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620
Phone: (813)974-7161
Email: rbahr@usf.edu

Constinia Charbonnette (2022)

Director of Graduate Student Funding and Success
Office of Graduate Education and Life
West Virginia University
PO Box 6897
Morgantown, WV 26506
Phone: 304-293-7173
Email: constinia.charbonnnette@mail.wvu.edu

Karen S. Coats (2021)

Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Microbiology
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024,
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: (601)266-4262
Email: karen.coats@usm.edu

Jean Van Delinder (2020)

Senior Associate Dean, Graduate College & Professor of Sociology
Oklahoma State University
202 WH, Stillwater, OK 74074
Phone: 405-744-7099
Email: jean.van_delinder@okstate.edu

Mary Farmer-Kaiser (2022)

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

Andrea Golato (2020)

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

Desi S. Hacker (2021)

Assistant Dean
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Norfolk State University
MCAR, Suite 602
Norfolk, VA 23504
Phone: 757-823-2893
Email: mailto:dshacker@nsu.edu

Brian Kloeppel (2020)

Dean, Graduate School & Research
Professor, Geosciences & Natural Resources
Western Carolina University
110F Cordelia Camp Building
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Phone: 828-227-3174
Email: bkloeppel@wcu.edu

Sharon James McGee (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

Cathy Pagany (2022)

Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Assistant to the Provost
University of Alabama
801 University Blvd.
102 Rose Administration Building
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone: 205-348-8283
Email: cathy@ua.edu

Lisa Sperling (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

Dr. Cosmas Nwokeafor (ex officio with vote)

President, Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools
Dean, Graduate School
Bowie State University
14000 Jericho Park Road
Bowie, MD 20715
Phone: 301.860.3410
Email: cnwokeafor@bowiestate.edu

Troy M.Terry (2021)

Executive Director of Graduate and Evening Studies
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
Phone: 864-294-2213
Email: troy.terry@furman.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 1972-2018

Term	Name	School
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

Committees

Audit Committee

Faculty Awards Committee

Student Awards Committee

Membership Committee

Nominating Committee