Georgia Southern Honorary Degrees

Don and Cynthia Waters

Don and Cynthia Waters

Term of Award

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Letters

Institution Issuing the Honorary Degree

Georgia Southern University

Brief Biography of Degree Recipient

Don L. Waters is the Chairman of Waters Capital Partners, LLC, a family investment office. From 1993 through 2016, he was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Brasseler USA, Inc., an international manufacturer of dental and medical surgical instrumentation. From 1983 to 1990 he was an advisor and then a Board member of Brasseler USA. During those years he worked with founder, Peter Brasseler.

Prior to his business career, Waters practiced for 20 years as a Certified Public Accountant, as a partner with Price Waterhouse & Co., and as an attorney and a partner with the Savannah based law firm Hunter Maclean. At Hunter Maclean he worked closely with former Savannah Mayor, and firm Senior Partner, Malcolm Maclean.

Waters graduated from Armstrong State College in 1975 with a BBA, cum laude, in Accounting, and the University of Georgia School of Law in 1978, with a JD, cum laude. In college he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. In law school he was inducted into the honor society, Order of the Coif, and the Scholastic Fraternity, Phi Delta Phi. He and his wife Cindy have two daughters, five grandsons, and are members of the Good Shepherd Savannah Global Methodist Church, where he serves as Treasurer.

Waters was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 2013 and served through 2022. He served a full term as Vice-Chairman, then as Chairman of the Board of Regents. During his tenure he chaired several committees and served as a Regent Member of the Augusta University Health System. As Chair of the Finance Committee, he helped open discussions for the ultimate consolidation of the Health System with Wellstar.

A native of Savannah, Waters serves on the Board of Directors of Abrasive Technology, Inc., a manufacturer specializing in diamond coated abrasives and specialty medical and dental products, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Chatham County Hospital Authority (former Chairman), the Chatham County Hospital Authority Trust, the Wormsloe Foundation and the Rourke Foundation. In addition, he has served on the Board of Curators of the Georgia Historical Society (member of Executive Committee), the Board of Trustees of the University of Georgia Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Georgia REACH Foundation (Gubernatorial appointment), whose mission is to provide support to rising 8th graders to attend college or to seek a technical education. He is a past member of the Board of Directors (former Vice Chairman) of the University System of Georgia Foundation, which provides needs-based scholarships to college and university students throughout Georgia.

Waters has devoted his civic and charitable activities primarily to education and health care, including efforts to preserve healthcare for the indigent poor. He is a Founder of the Savannah Classical Academy, a K-12 public charter school, serving students selected by a blind lottery, with over 75% being Title I qualified.

Waters has been recognized for his state and community advocacy and service. In 2023, he received Commendations from both Governor Brian Kemp and the Board of Regents for his service. Also in 2023, he received the Leadership Legacy Award for community service from the Southeast Georgia Leadership Forum. In 2019, he was awarded the Blue Key Service Award by the University of Georgia Chapter of the Blue Key Honor Society. In 2018, he was awarded the Community Leadership Award from Savannah State University. Also, in 2018, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Scroll for service to the State of Georgia and the legal profession by the University of Georgia School of Law, his alma mater. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Savannah Chapter of the NAACP. In 2013, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Savannah Business Hall of Fame. His family has endowed the Waters College of Health Professions of Georgia Southern University.

Cynthia (Cindy) Dismukes was born in Savannah on January 27, 1955, the daughter of Bernard Dismukes and Nan All Dismukes. Don met Cindy while attending Armstrong, where she earned degrees in Management and Finance. They were married on June 17, 1978. Don and Cindy have two daughters and four grandsons.

Cindy Waters has been active in community and civic projects over the last thirty-five years, in many organizations, including Junior League, the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, the Parkersburg Garden Club, Girl Scouts, the Savannah Country Day School, and the University of Georgia Libraries. In 2013 Don and Cindy helped start the Savannah Classical Academy, a public charter school serving an inner-city neighborhood.

Don and Cynthia Waters

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