Jennifer Branon

Higher Education (HE) is constantly evolving, but few professionals experience the seismic change of building an entirely new institution. For Jennifer Brannon, Vice President for Student Affairs at Middle Georgia State University (MGA), this journey has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. From navigating the complexities of merging two colleges to creating a thriving, multi-campus university, Jennifer has spent more than 27 years shaping MGA’s mission and supporting its students.

In today’s conversation, The Interview host Jack Eagle sat down with Jennifer to discuss her experiences with consolidation, onboarding diverse student populations, and fostering holistic development for students both on-campus and online.

Jennifer’s Journey

Jack: Let’s start with a quick introduction to yourself and your institution...

I’m Jennifer Brannon, Vice President for Student Affairs at Middle Georgia State University. We’re a regional university with campuses across Macon, Cochran, Warner Robins, Dublin, and Eastman, where our aviation program is based. We also serve a significant number of online students.

I’ve been with MGA for over 27 years, witnessing its transformation from two separate institutions – Middle Georgia College and Macon State College – that consolidated in 2012–2013. We became a university shortly after, which was both an exciting and daunting process.

Jack: Consolidation is such a transformative experience for any institution. What was it like being part of that process?

It was stressful but also exhilarating. Our student affairs team from both institutions worked closely to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible. We were in uncharted territory, being the first group in Georgia to go through this, but strong communication and collaboration made all the difference.

What’s most rewarding is looking back and seeing how we created something entirely new – a new mission, values, colors, and even a mascot. There’s a real sense of pride in building that foundation. Of course, it wasn’t without challenges. People reacted differently – some were eager to jump on board, others were cautious, and a few resisted the change entirely. But in the end, we became stronger. Today, we’re a better institution for having gone through it.

Jack: MGA has several campuses, which each bring their own unique focuses and student populations. How do you ensure that students across these different settings feel consistently connected and supported?

That’s one of our biggest challenges. Each campus has a distinct personality – one is a more traditional college campus, another focuses on aviation, and others cater primarily to commuters or health-related majors. Then there’s our online population, which has its own unique needs. Orientation and welcome events are key. We use those moments to introduce students to what it means to be a Knight – our values, expectations, and opportunities for involvement. At Freshman Convocation, for instance, students take a pledge centered on civility and integrity, holding purple wands to symbolize their commitment. It’s a powerful way to set the tone, especially for first-generation students who may not know what to expect from university life.

Jack: Can you tell us more about your focus on holistic student development? What initiatives have you introduced in this area? 

Absolutely. Our mission in Student Affairs is to “engage, develop, and educate” students, focusing on their social, emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, and career well-being. Our programming is purpose-driven, addressing everything from life skills to career readiness. It’s not just about academics – what happens outside the classroom is equally important. Employers tell us what skills they’re looking for, and we incorporate those into our initiatives, from leadership training to character development. 

We recently received a grant to integrate leadership and character education across the curriculum. It’s an exciting project, and we’re working with our School of Business to embed these traits into every aspect of a student’s experience, whether they’re in a business course or a general education class.

Jack: Engaging online students is a challenge many institutions face – especially after the pandemic. How have you approached this at MGA?

We’ve had to get creative. During COVID, our student life team excelled at engaging students virtually, and we’ve built on that foundation ever since. We recently hired a Coordinator of Student Initiatives to focus specifically on online engagement. Their role includes listening to online students and identifying what they need, whether it’s resources, skills, or opportunities. One success has been streaming and recording events, allowing students to participate on their own schedule. For example, we created a video explaining student fees and sent it to all students. Previously, only a handful of students attended in-person forums, but the video reached hundreds of viewers. Small changes like these can have a big impact.

Jack: Finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in your career?

“Find ways to make it better.” That’s advice I received early in my career, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s about striving for improvement, no matter the circumstances. I even wrote it on a sticky note and kept it on my computer for years. It’s something I share with my team all the time – how can we make things better for our students, our staff, and our institution? That mindset has been invaluable, especially as we continue to grow and adapt as a “new” university.