--- title: SR 276. Maparyan, Dr. Layli; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr276 cite_as: SR 276, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr276 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr276.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr276/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70834 date: 2025-02-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr275.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr277.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr276.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 276 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Donzella James text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR276/2025 upstream_id: 1986232 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - higher education - Georgia Senate honors - University of Liberia --- # SR 276. Maparyan, Dr. Layli; recognize ## Text Senate Resolution 276 By: Senator James of the 28th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Dr. Layli Maparyan; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Dr. Layli Maparyan, co-founder and board member of the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL), was appointed as the 16th President of the University of Liberia on January 10, 2025, at the Fendall Campus in Louisiana, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia; and WHEREAS, her appointment was made by His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, following the approval of the University's Board of Trustees in accordance with the University of Liberia's Charter; and WHEREAS, her selection followed a rigorous search process conducted by the University of Liberia Board of Trustees' Search Committee, which identified her as a leading candidate for the position; and WHEREAS, since her induction, Dr. Maparyan has upheld the "Five Es" of Education, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Excellence, and Ethics as well as worked to enhance the university's academic standing; and WHEREAS, Dr. Maparyan has previously served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Georgia State University's Women's Studies Institute and as Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia's Department of Psychology and Institute for African American Studies; and WHEREAS, she holds a PhD in psychology from Temple University, a Master of Science in psychology from Penn State University, and an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Spelman College; and WHEREAS, she was the first post-war Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia in 2010 and has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community in 2009; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable individual be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Dr. Layli Maparyan upon her induction as the 16th President of the University of Liberia as well as extend sincere best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Dr. Layli Maparyan. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes Dr. Layli Maparyan, a former Georgia State and University of Georgia professor, for becoming the 16th president of the University of Liberia. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Dr. Layli Maparyan, who was appointed the 16th president of the University of Liberia in January 2025 by Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. after a formal search process by the university's board of trustees. The resolution recounts her academic background, including faculty positions at Georgia State University's Women's Studies Institute and the University of Georgia's Department of Psychology and Institute for African American Studies, along with her degrees from Temple University, Penn State University, and Spelman College. The Senate formally commends her and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send her a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Dr. Layli Maparyan for her appointment as the 16th president of the University of Liberia. - Documents her prior academic career at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Dr. Maparyan. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is purely a statement of recognition. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Dr. Layli Maparyan. It has no regulatory effect on the general public, businesses, or government agencies, since it is a ceremonial statement rather than a law. ### Why it matters The resolution has no practical effect on Georgians' daily lives or state law. Its significance is symbolic, marking the Georgia Senate's formal acknowledgment of a former Georgia academic's achievement in becoming a university president abroad. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Dr. Maparyan's appointment as the 16th President of the University of Liberia on January 10, 2025, and the selection process behind it. - The whereas clauses detail her prior faculty roles at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia, and her academic degrees. - The resolved clause formally recognizes and commends her and extends best wishes for her continued success. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-27) - Sponsors: Donzella James - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70834 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr276.md?full=1