Karl Peace, who endowed the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) at Georgia Southern University (GSU), was honored with a reception last week at the home of GSU President Brooks Keel and First Lady Tammie Schalue. The reception was hosted by Keel and Schalue on the occasion of Peace’s 70th birthday, July 28, and in honor of his contributions to GSU.
A portrait of Peace, created by Statesboro artist Sue Oliver, was unveiled during the reception. The painting—depicting Peace at his riverside home in his native Baker County, Georgia—will be hung in the lobby of the new building that houses the JPHCOPH. The portrait was made possible by GSU and members of Peace’s family.
The first school of public health in the University System of Georgia was established in January 2004 by the board of regents. Made possible by a gift from Peace, the school of public health was named in honor and memory of his wife, Jiann-Ping Hsu, who died in February of that year. On January 1, 2006, the school became the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health.
Since its creation and existence in temporary facilities at GSU, the JPHCOPH is now headquartered in the former co-ed residential building originally known as Hendricks Hall. After an extensive renovation of the more than 28,000 square feet of usable space, the new headquarters for JPHCOPH was officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September.
During the birthday reception and portrait unveiling, Keel praised Peace’s contributions to the university and his long association with Georgia Southern. Peace attended the school as a student when it was known as Georgia Teachers College, later served on the faculty when it transitioned to Georgia Southern College, and returned to GSU in 2000.
Keel also used the occasion to announce that the JPHCOPH had recently earned national accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health. The initial accreditation status runs through July 1, 2016. Carolyn Woodhouse, interim dean of the JPHCOPH, was among the guests attending the reception.
Another center—The Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County, Georgia—recently dedicated the Karl E. Peace Center for Academic Achievement. The club created the center in recognition of Peace’s contributions, particularly to its academic programs.
At the dedication, Peace, who is a faculty member of the JPHCOPH, said, “Education builds knowledge, understanding, wisdom, strength, character and ultimately makes us who we are. It is the great emancipator and equalizer.”
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