AMERICUS — After announcing her retirement earlier this fall, Karen Holloway, Alumni Affairs specialist at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), is retiring on Nov. 1. Angela Smith, GSW executive assistant to the president, will take her place in Alumni Affairs.
Holloway, a 1978 graduate of GSW, served the University for more than 20 years in the areas of Financial Aid, Continuing Education and Alumni Affairs. Under her tenure, GSW Alumni Affairs initiated the Outstanding Alumni Awards dinner, and GSW Alumni Scholarships are at all-time highs.
“I am grateful for Karen’s service and dedication to the University as an alumna and as a staff member,” said GSW President Neal Weaver. “She has been a wonderful GSW ambassador for many years, and the University has benefited from her connections, experience and professionalism. Karen will always be a member of the GSW family.

“I’m also excited for Angela to move into her new role,” Weaver added. “Angela’s experience in the GSW President’s Office and her past experience as the president of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce makes her especially suited to work in a position that involves membership growth, fundraising and relationship cultivation.”
Prior to coming to GSW as the executive assistant to president in 2015, Smith worked for the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce for six years where she served as president and director of Chamber Development.
“I look forward to connecting with GSW alumni and am excited about building relationships, fostering support and creating networking opportunities that are crucial to meaningful engagement,” Smith said. “I want to express my appreciation to Dr. Neal Weaver for the opportunity to serve the Office of the President and for the support I have received as I transition into this new role. I am energized by the campus pride and enthusiasm and look forward to what the future holds for Georgia Southwestern and Alumni Affairs.”
Smith is very active in the community and currently serves as board chair of Americus Main Street. She earned a bachelor of fine arts in communications with an emphasis in public relations from Valdosta State University and is a graduate and former chair of Leadership Sumter, Advancing Sumter Leadership Institute and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. Smith is currently pursuing an master’s of business administration from GSW.