Page 7 - MGA President's Annual Report - 2021

MGA Expands Diversity USG Grant to Help MGA’s

Programming and Conversations BROS Initiative

In response to the wave of Middle Georgia State
social movements and protests University received a
that followed the violent deaths $10,000 grant from
of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna the University System
Taylor, and George Floyd in of Georgia’s African
2020, Middle Georgia State American Male
University placed a renewed Initiative, a program
emphasis on diversity, inclusion, designed to increase
and equity-related programs at graduation rates of
During spring semester 2021, Black male students.
the Office of Student Life gave the institution. BROS participants Adarius McCoy (left) and Jahmar
MGA students, staff, and faculty Davis (right). McCoy pursues a Bachelor of Science
opportunities to formally pledge to The University also in Business Administration with hopes of becoming a
listen to the stories of others, treat Jenia Bacote, MGA’s director of CPA. Davis, originally an aviation student, discovered
all people with dignity and respect, received a combined his passion for vocal performance at MGA and
and commit to fostering an inclusive Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity/ pursues a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary
learning environment. total of $31,000 in Musicianship with the hopes of working in musical
Title IX, coordinates efforts theater.
that support MGA’s values and commitment to educate grants in 2017 and
and create awareness about diversity, inclusion, and 2019 to help fund an institutional-level version of the
equity across the University’s five campuses. Bacote’s initiative Brothers Reaching Out for Success (BROS).
office and other MGA departments and divisions have BROS members help each other with coursework,
planned and offered a full slate of programming to participate in campus life, and attend conferences
support diversity initiatives and help train, educate, and on male empowerment and diversity and inclusion.
inform the MGA community. Such programs include the They take part in presentations about mental health,
School of Arts & Letters’ “Collective Action Series” and creativity, plans for post-college life, and developing
the Office of Student Life’s “Inclusion Pledge” event leadership skills.
during Black History Month.

Student Highlight

Middle Georgia State University current or recently graduated students made up four of the top 10 finalists in the 2020
“Secure the Future” event, a grueling multi-month academic competition where contestants come up with strategies to fight
major cybersecurity threats. MGA was the only university in the nation with that many finalists.