Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE) hosts Higher Education Alignment Summit
August 1, 2025
Ogeechee Technical College President Lori Durden, Savannah Technical College President Dr. Ryan Foley, Savannah State University Dr. Jermaine Whirl and Georgia Southern University Dr. Kyle Marrero served on a panel during the Higher Education Summit
STATESBORO, Ga. – On Wednesday, July 30, the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE) hosted a Higher Education Alignment Summit at Georgia Southern University. The event brought together higher education institutions, development authorities and industries from throughout the eight-county RISE region (including Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty and Screven Counties).
Higher education institutions represented included Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University, Ogeechee Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Southeastern Tech and Georgia Tech Savannah.
The goal of the summit was to discuss ways to better align the needs of local industries with the programming available at regional technical colleges and universities.
“The Higher Education Alignment Summit offered a valuable and unique platform for attendees to engage with peers, build meaningful connections, share experiences, explore pressing challenges and collaborate on innovative solutions,” said RISE President & CEO Anna Chafin. “Through thoughtful dialogue and collaboration, participants developed a strategic set of action items that we hope will serve as a roadmap for strengthening the connection between higher education institutions and the evolving needs of industrial employers in the region.”
The event consisted of panel discussions and presentations, followed by small group discussions and a networking reception. The event was sponsored by Georgia Southern University, Core Credit Union and Excelsior EMC.
“It's critical for us at Georgia Southern to be responsive to the needs of our regional industries. Their success drives our communities, and it is our job to ensure a steady stream of talented, career-ready graduates to support that growth, said Georgia Southern University President Dr. Kyle Marrero. “The RISE Summit offers a forum for industry and education leaders to come together, have meaningful conversations, and reinforce the alignment of our efforts, ensuring our students are prepared for the jobs our region needs and that our region has the workforce it needs to thrive. We are proud to be a sponsor and participating partner.”
Excelsior EMC President and CEO added, “At Excelsior EMC, we believe that investing in higher education and workforce development is investing in the future of our communities. Sponsoring the Higher Education Alignment Summit reflects our commitment to empowering individuals through opportunity, supporting partnerships that strengthen our region, and living out our cooperative principle of Concern for Community. When education and industry work hand in hand, we all benefit, from students and families to businesses and beyond.”
Core Credit Union Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations Julie Morrison said of their company’s philosophy on higher education, “At CORE Credit Union, we believe in investing in the future of our communities. Supporting the Higher Education Alignment Summit is a natural extension of our mission to empower individuals through financial wellness and opportunity. We are proud to sponsor this event that brings together educators, employers and community leaders to strengthen the connection between education and workforce development. These conversations are vital to creating a more resilient, skilled, and successful region.”
The Regional Industry Support Enterprise’s mission is to be the key facilitator of industry support services and workforce development in the Savannah region. The organization is focused on seven core focus areas: Military, Underrepresented, Housing, Education, Transportation, Childcare and Marketing.
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