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

Ernest L. Brothers, President CSGS
Associate Dean of the Graduate School
Associate Director for Diversity Enhancement,
National Institute for Mathematical & Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
1331 Circle Park Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996
ebrother@utk.edu

Welcome to the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS). It is with great honor and humility that I now continue my service with CSGS as the 2017-2018 President. This year we held our 46^th Annual CSGS Meeting in Annapolis, MD, seeking to learn about the “Perils and Pearls of Graduate Education.” As an organization, CSGS seeks to bring together a diverse compilation of institutions to debate, dialogue, and deliberate on issues and topics relevant to the forward movement of graduate education in the 21^st century. The rich conversations and networking opportunities take place during our plenary and concurrent breakout sessions. As a tradition, CSGS co-sponsors a reception with the Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools (CHBGS). Participants may attend the CHBGS conference before the start of CSGS, where they can not only learn about issues and best practices within minority serving institutions, but also create and establish mutual institutional partnerships.

Our annual meetings not only benefit graduate school administrators and staff, but also our graduate students. After all, they are our focus, and we have greatly benefited from their presence at our annual meetings when they compete in the 3-Minute Thesis Competition or 3MT®. During the 3MT® competition, graduate students (masters or doctoral) have 3 minutes to present their research using one static slide. They are rated on engagement along with comprehension and content. The exceptional research that these students present is phenomenal, and are a testament to the support, training, and professional development they receive from their home institutions.

It is time to mark your calendars for our next CSGS annual meeting which will take place in Fayetteville, Arkansas February 22-25, 2018. We look forward to seeing you there.

CSGS Officers and Executive Committee

Officers

Ernest L. Brothers, President

Associate Dean of the Graduate School
Associate Director for Diversity Enhancement, National Institute for Mathematical & Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)
University of Tennessee
1331 Circle Park Drive
111 Student Services Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-0211
Email: ebrother@utk.edu

David Berkowitz, President-elect

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

George Crandell, Secretary

Professor and Associate Dean
of the Graduate School
Auburn University
106 Hargis Hall
Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: 334-844-2125
Email: crandgw@auburn.edu

Amy Thompson McCandless, Past President

Dean of the Graduate School
The College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424
Phone: 843-953-5614
Fax: 843-953-1434
Email:McCandlessA@cofc.edu

Executive Committee

David Berkowitz (2018)

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

Lori Mann Bruce (2019)

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School
Giles Distinguished Professor
Mississippi State University
Phone: 662-325-7400
Email: bruce@grad.msstate.edu

Jie Chen (2018)

Dean of The Graduate School
James Madison University
17 West Grace Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22807 , MSC 6702
Phone: 540-568-4213
Email: chen9jx@jmu.edu

George Crandell (2018)

Professor and Associate Dean
of the Graduate School
Auburn University
106 Hargis Hall
Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: 334-844-2125
Email: crandgw@auburn.edu

Michael Cunningham (2019)

Professor of Psychology
Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research
Tulane University
Phone: 504-862-3308
Email: mcunnin1@tulane.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

Jack DeRochi (2020)

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

Peter Harries (2019)

Senior Associate Dean of the Graduate School
NC State University
1000 Main Campus Drive
Campus Box 7102
Raleigh, NC 27695
Phone: 919-515-1989
Email: pjharrie@ncsu.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

Kim LaScola Needy (2019)

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

Dr. William Person (ex officio with vote)

President, Council of Historically Black Graduate Schools
Dean, School of Graduate Studies
Alabama State University
915 S. Jackson Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-229-4275
Email: wperson@alasu.edu

Meredith Welch-Devine (2018)

UGA Graduate School
University of Georgia
210 S. Jackson Street
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706-542-6002
Email:mwdevine@uga.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 1972-2015

Term	Name	School
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