Gwen Ellis departed in early August. Milligan alumnus Gabriel Logan was named as the new program director this week.
Gwen Ellis, who served as the director of the Goah Scholars program and director of multicultural engagement, resigned just before the fall semester began. Goah students were notified on Aug. 1 of her departure. Tony Jones, vice president for student development, has taken over as interim director until the new director Gabriel Logan joins the program at the end of September.
Ellis joined Milligan in the fall 2019 as the director of the Goah Scholars program as well as the director of multicultural engagement. During her time at Milligan she was present for the first two Betty Goah Day celebrations in 2023 and 2023.
During her time with the program, Ellis told The Stampede, that she strived to form a close-knit community among the Goah scholars to support and encourage each other. She also focused on providing service opportunities for the scholars to get to know one another while serving the Johnson City community. In fall 2022 Goah students were allowed to return to campus a week before classes began, which Ellis said gave them the opportunity to form bonds with each other before other students returned as well as to prepare to serve the Milligan community in the coming school year.
“I love Milligan, and I love the students,” Ellis said. She also said that the program belongs to Milligan, and her plans for the future of the program ultimately differed from Milligan’s vision. She said that Betty Goah – the program’s namesake – was a woman committed to service and community, but she was also an outspoken advocate, and that the Goah program should strive to follow her example.
“The program has an opportunity to be a light to the community to show how things should work, and to bring diversity to the campus.” she said.
Ellis also wished for the program to bring a diversity of opinions and worldviews to campus, to show how Christians should get along despite our differences.
“You can be friends and complete opposites and still love and support each other, and that’s what I think of when I think of Goah,” Ellis said.
When asked about Ellis’ departure, Goah President Chris Trevino said that Gwen was a great scholarship director who had great passion for Goah.
“I feel like she definitely helped Goah move closer to being recognized more on Milligan’s campus,” Trevino said. “Since her departure things have been a little uncertain and foggy as far as the future, but Tony has been doing a good job in being an interim and has supported Goah and our endeavors.”
The Goah Program started in 2007 in honor of Betty Hill Goah to fulfill Milligan’s intention of being a strong, vibrant, and diverse Christian community. The program offers scholarships to select students in order to “recognize those who enhance the educational experience of all students by sharing their diverse cultural experiences,” according to the program’s website.
Ellis noted the student success she witnessed during her time at Milligan, such as the academic achievements of many Goah students. Over the last three years, 50% of Goah scholars were on the Dean’s list, and in the spring 2022 semester, 63% made the list.
Ellis graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and she has served on the Bristol Tennessee School Board, Bristol YMCA Executive Board, and River’s Way Board of Directors.
“As a senior, I hope that Goah’s new director will have that same tenacity, ambition, and support for Goah like Gwen did,” Trevino said. “I only want the best for the Goah program and I hope that our next director will have a passion for the program.”
Gabriel Logan will take over as director of the program on Sept. 17, as well as the director of student engagement. Logan is a Milligan alumnus, where he played basketball and served as SGA president. In addition, he participated in campus activities and the Collective Learning Leadership Society.
Jones and Dr. Phil Kenneson, who has served as chair of the Goah Diversity Committee, declined to comment for this story. For more information about the Goah program, visit https://www.milligan.edu/goah/.
Photo: Goah scholars plant a tree in memory of Betty Goah on the Sword Commons in March 2023. Photo by Chase McGlamery.