A new partnership between 91Âţ»­app’s Division of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) and Division of Facilities is empowering community members to handle small home repairs with confidence. 

The Handy Homeowner Workshop series is a community program designed for individuals interested in do-it-yourself style home maintenance projects. Though the course began as an idea for a power tools class, it quickly evolved. 

“It grew into a new series designed to help people feel capable and confident tackling projects in their own homes,” said Jamie Burke, business and marketing manager for CPE. 

Each session in the series focused on a different home improvement skill, giving participants practical experience with tools and techniques they can use right away. One participant noted they feel more confident in tasks such as changing a shower head.

Drawing on the expertise of University employees, CPE partnered with employees in the Division of Facilities to serve as instructors. 

“I enjoyed working with the participants of the class,” said Micah Boesche, a plumber in the Department of Mechanical Maintenance who served as an instructor for one of the series courses. “They were very receptive to what I was teaching and eager to learn something new.”

The most recent workshop took place at the Freedom’s Landing model apartment on the Statesboro Campus and centered on plumbing basics. During the session, participants learned how to use a closet auger, replace a shower head and perform proper water heater maintenance. Several attendees even stepped in to help replace a faucet, turning the session into a true learning-by-doing experience.

“I enjoyed how they were not afraid to get hands-on and jump right in,” Boesche said. “It was a pleasure, and I hope enough information was given so they will understand that plumbing isn’t scary and maybe give them the confidence to tackle small tasks around the house.”

This practical approach is what made the class especially successful. Instructors provided overviews of each task, and guided participants through hands-on practice while answering questions along the way. The environment was supportive and approachable, making it ideal for those with little to no prior experience who want to build confidence using basic tools.

Earlier sessions in the Handy Homeowner series covered how to use different power tools safely and effectively. With strong participation and positive feedback, future installments are already being planned to explore additional home improvement topics.

The Handy Homeowner workshops offer an accessible way to gain essential skills and practical knowledge. Details about future workshop sessions, which will cover topics like flooring installation, electrical work and yard maintenance, will be posted on CPE’s as they are available.

Collaborative research by College of Education associate professor Richard Cleveland, Ph.D., has allowed him to form close partnerships with others in the field, making his study of solitude anything but isolated. Thanks to the bonds he has formed with researchers around the world, the International Society for Research on Solitude (ISRS) will host its annual conference in the U.S. for the first time.

“I’m very thankful for being able to make these friendships and connections with international scholars,” said Cleveland. “It was through those connections and the College of Education being willing to host international faculty that we caught the eye of the ISRS.”

The “Alone Together” symposium, which will be held April 23 to 25 at the Armstrong Campus, dives into both the challenging and liberating aspects of what it means to be alone. Researchers will discuss findings on how people in professions, ranging from law enforcement to religious leadership, can feel disconnected, even while surrounded by the noise of modern life. They will also explore the benefits of having time to reflect inward as an important part of knowing ourselves and our values. 

“There is something restorative about being alone,” said Cleveland. “We do need time for solitude where we are not influenced by the world, not influenced by others, and have time to deeply reflect and recharge.”

The hallmark style of the program is to include small group conversations beyond the presentations for larger groups of conference attendees. . Cleveland says those intimate conversations draw out deep understanding and personal relationships with attendees.

“Being vulnerable with each other and having conversations, particularly on an international level, really allows you to learn more about each other’s specialties,” said Cleveland. “It opens up opportunities that you cannot get in a larger conference environment.”

Cleveland’s own research spans a broad spectrum of topics in solitude. He has examined the social difficulties children face in school and how law enforcement officers feel about being alone. His research in law enforcement drew the attention of ISRS scholar Anna Szafranek, Ph.D., from the University of Bialystok in Poland. Cleveland hosted a visit by Szafranek to the US so they could work together in person. In turn, Cleveland visited Poland and spent a month teaching and conducting workshops to share his own expertise. That kind of exchange is exactly what Cleveland loves about working with the ISRS.

“Recognizing someone’s specialty and what they can share with you is where discovery happens,” said Cleveland. “If I can work with someone who gets excited about the research together, that’s truly rewarding.”

Conference registration is available online at