Alyssa Archer Earns Annie Powe Hopper Award at VSU

Alyssa Archer of Jesup, Georgia, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2024-2025 Annie Powe Hopper Award. She is pictured with Dr. Mark Smith, associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Sheri Noviello, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; and Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, president of VSU.

VALDOSTA — Alyssa Archer of Jesup, Georgia, is the recipient of Valdosta State University’s 2024-2025 Annie Powe Hopper Award.

“Winning this award has been a defining moment here at VSU in ways that go far beyond personal accomplishment,” she said. “VSU’s signature red and black are not just colors; they embody passion, action, and determination. Each time I see these colors I am reminded of the shared spirit that compels us to strive for greater heights. The honor of being recognized reflects not only my individual hard work but also the collective enthusiasm and legacy of excellence that these colors represent.

“As I relax on the front lawn, taking in the vibrant atmosphere of VSU’s campus, I reflect on past challenges and future aspirations, and the significance of this award truly sinks in. Every discussion, every laughter-filled break, and every shared triumph with fellow Blazers contributes to memories and successes that make our experience unique.”

Known as the highest honor bestowed upon a VSU student, the Annie Powe Hopper Award is presented annually to a senior who represents the university’s high academic standards and exemplifies its traditions of excellence. It was first presented on May 2, 1962, and is named in honor of the institution’s first dean of women, who arrived at what was then known as South Georgia State Normal College in 1920 as a teacher.

South Georgia State Normal College became a four-year institution in 1922, and the name was changed to Georgia State Womans College. In the role of dean of women, Hopper insisted on proper etiquette in all areas from behavior to dress. She believed that a college education afforded students the opportunity to engage in a higher level of knowledge and the pursuit of an advanced critical thinking process, and she guided her female students to make choices that were noble and worthwhile in their lives. She retired in 1943, seven years before the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia declared the institution a coeducational one and changed the name to Valdosta State College.

Archer serves as a Peer Alliance Learning facilitator with VSU’s Academic Support Center, where she helps students in Dr. Bernard Tamas’s Scope and Methods of Political Science course improve their understanding of research methods and data analysis. She completed an internship at the law firm of Young, Thagard, Hoffman LLP, where she now works as a legal assistant.  

Archer was inducted into the Alpha Beta Mu Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha: The National Political Science Honor Society in Spring 2025; served as a senator in the VSU Student Government Association from Fall 2023 to Spring 2025; and participated in a Fall 2024 Constitution Day student panel presentation on Supreme Court trends, an event guided by Dr. Marc Pufong, professor in the Department of Political Science. She attended the 51^st annual Patrick L. Smith Model United States Senate at Stetson University, an opportunity facilitated by Dr. Keith Lee, associate professor in the Department of Political Science.  

She presented “The Rise of Political Polarization and Democratic Backsliding” at the 56^th annual Georgia Political Science Association (GPSA) Conference in November 2024, winning the Roger N. Pajari Award for best undergraduate paper and earning the right to publish that paper in “Questions in Politics,” a GPSA journal. This research was also presented at VSU’s 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Archer co-authored “Electoral Bias and Democratic Backsliding” with Tamas and presented that research at the fourth annual Virtual Electoral Integrity Conference in July 2024. The student-teacher research duo also co-authored a second paper — “Does Gerrymandering Increase Partisan Polarization?” — and shared those findings at the American Political Science Association Virtual Conference in April 2025.

During Spring Semester 2025, Archer was honored to be the first undergraduate student in the United States selected to serve as a research fellow for the Scholars Strategy Network. Working with the organization’s Georgia chapter, she helped write a gerrymandering report about Georgia with co-authors Dr. David Cottrell of the University of Georga, Dr. Peter Miller of the Brennan Center for Justice, Dr. Benjamin Schneer of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and VSU’s Tamas.

Archer’s commitment to academic, leadership, research, and service excellence resulted in her earning repeated Dean’s List honors and VSU’s 2025 Pi Sigma Alpha Paper Award, 2025 William M. Morrow Top Political Science Student Award, and 2025 David W. Winder Best Paper Award.

She anticipates earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Criminal Justice at VSU in December. She plans to continue her education in law school in Fall 2026.

“The collective support of family and friends has profoundly shaped my academic and personal growth, inspiring me to overcome obstacles and strive for excellence,” she shared. “My mom, Chasity Lynn Crane, has been my guiding light and has shaped the person I am today. Her resilience in the face of adversity has taught me the value of hard work and the true meaning of perseverance. My grandparents, Brenda and Jerry Crane, have been indispensable supporters on my journey as well. Their gentle guidance, encouraging words, and unwavering belief in my potential have bolstered my confidence every step of the way. I am also fortunate to have the support of my sister and two brothers. Their perspectives and playful rivalry have not only kept me grounded but have also inspired me to push my limits and explore new opportunities. Whether offering advice during trying times or celebrating my smallest victories, they remind me that family is the cornerstone of achievement and that I am never alone in my endeavors.

“In addition to the steadfast support of my family, I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the political science professors at VSU, but more specifically Dr. [Joseph] Robbins, [head of the Department of Political Science], Dr. Tamas, and Dr. Lee. Every single one of them challenged me to think critically, supported me through difficult concepts, and celebrated my successes, inspiring a deep passion for lifelong learning and excellence. Their mentorship has enriched my VSU experience immeasurably, and I am grateful for every lesson, discussion, and opportunity they have provided along this journey.”

On the Web:
https://www.valdosta.edu/polsci/