Interim President Shelley Nickel sent out a farewell address to the Georgia Southern University community Tuesday.

Nickel has served as president of GS following the resignation of former president Jaimie Hebert in 2018. Her tenure comes to an end as new president Kyle Marrero will take over on April 1.

The full letter can be read below:

Colleagues and Students:

Time has passed quickly since I arrived on campus last summer. As my presidency at this remarkable university comes to an end, I will be leaving with many warm memories from convocation and commencement to ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, and naming celebrations to Homecoming, football Saturdays, and parades. There was also that baptism in “Beautiful Eagle Creek.”

What I will remember and miss the most are the people. Students who are passionate about what they are doing in the classrooms and labs, in sports and clubs. Faculty and staff who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students and are committed about their teaching, research, and service to the university.

We are stronger today than we were a year ago. We will be even stronger one year from now. I look forward to watching Georgia Southern’s continued growth and success, knowing there are great things in store for the university.

Thank you for welcoming me into the Eagle Nation and for the time that I got to spend with you. I will always carry a bit of blue with me.

I wish you much success.

Sincerely,

Shelley C. Nickel

Interim President

Georgia Southern University

Brendan Ward, The George-Anne Coverage Managing Editor, gamed@georgiasouthern.edu