91ÁÔÆæ

Georgia Southern graduate finds purpose within campus recreation and intramurals

Joiya Reid photographed by Houston McClurkan

The moment journalism and Spanish double major Joiya Reid stepped foot on 91ÁÔÆæâ€™s Statesboro Campus, she instantly connected with her family’s alma mater and discovered a calling to help others through recreation sports.

“Georgia Southern was the only university that I toured when I was in high school,� said Reid. “My stepdad is an alumnus who only had good things to say about the university. And when I toured, I fell in love with how small the community was and how everything was so easy to access.�

During her freshman year, she explored Campus Recreation and Intramurals (CRI) Southern Adventures Challenge Course program, designed to allow on and off-campus organizations the opportunity to develop functional skills that aid in their leadership development through adventure programming.

“I fell in love with it,â€� she said. “I remember looking at the person doing the challenge course and thinking I wanted to be one of those people.â€� 

Reid eventually joined the CRI Challenge Course staff and thrived assisting individuals and groups meet their personal growth through challenge courses.

“In my time working with CRI and Southern Adventures I developed a passion for being able to help people and work with different groups while helping others realize their goals,� Reid said.

Leaving the family environment of the Grube Recreation Activity Center (RAC) was bittersweet for Reid.

“From the moment I stepped on campus, the RAC is the one place that felt like home,� said Reid. “It’s a part of my entire college experience because of the people I met here. It’ll always have a lasting impression on me because it helped me to grow as a person.�

In the future, Reid wants to do more with recreation. She hopes to work with camps and businesses who want to do retreats as a means to team building.

91ÁÔÆæ, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .