VALDOSTA STATE MAGAZINE 93 up to my fullest potential, there would come a time when it all could be possible.鈥� Carvajal went on to earn a Master of Science in college student personnel administration in 1995 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration, with emphasis in higher education, in 2005 from The University of South Carolina in Columbia. Carvajal鈥檚 greatest period of professional growth came at the age of 32, when he joined a leadership team charged with turning around an institution of higher education plagued with declining enrollment, shrinking budgets that resulted in a loss of jobs, and various other issues. 鈥溾�� in literally the first six weeks on the job, we dealt with everything from active methamphetamine I humbly accept the challenge of serving as the 10th president of this outstanding institution of higher learning. Fully appreciating the charge that comes with my office, I pledge to work with each of you every day to advance the principles upon which Valdosta State has been built and to live up to the mission with which our Blazer family has been tasked. 鈥� DR. RICHARD A. CARVAJAL 鈥� 鈥�