In Memory of Sylvia Shortt

Sylvia Shortt, GRSP Alumni Committee Chair passed away on December 17, 2020, in Athens, Georgia. She is survived by hundreds of International Students whose lives she touched, and she will forever be known as their American Mother. This article is a compilation of write-ups from a small sample of the countless lives she’s graciously touched and bettered in her lifetime.

By : Huray Kasikci, MBA Class of 2000, Turkey- Switzerland:

Sylvia will be always in my heart. Her selfless dedication to international students, her respect to all cultures, backgrounds and diversity were testaments to her visionary and curious mind. First day in Carrollton she took us to Walmart, she told me some may need clean sheets and they may not know where to get because we had no cars…I am pretty sure she was driving me to driver’s license office in Carrollton for my license exam and rooting for me as I passed. She was giving us tips how to get an assistantship, part-time work at the university while studying. She knew how to enjoy and celebrate, she was always there for us for the International Parties. If I made it somehow in US for 5 years getting my MBA and professional experience which paid off later in life, I owe a big thank you to Sylvia from the bottom of my heart. My deepest sympathies go out to her family…Our loss is big. She will be missed.

By: Anuradha Chandran:

Sylvia Shortt was a blessing to me ever since I knew her back in August of 1993. I was a young international student who had landed with her mom in Carrollton, GA. Sylvia was warm, welcoming, accommodating and extremely helpful. I was able to come to Carrollton to study at West Georgia College because of her. She was like a mother figure to me when I was in the Undergrad and the Grad program, and we continued to keep in touch. I became a colleague of hers after I finished my studies. After she retired, we stayed in touch via social media. We enjoyed our political and sports banters everyday. I miss that and I miss her. There definitely is a void now. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I very much appreciate you. Rest in Peace my dear friend.

Published in ‘The West Georgian’ and written by Frank Pritchett: