Georgia Southern’s public health center receives $4 million to assist rural hospitals nationwide
Georgia Southern University’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH) received a $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide targeted technical assistance to rural hospitals nationwide. The funding will support the team’s implementation of the Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program over a five-year period (2023-2028).
“Many rural hospitals are struggling financially across the U.S.,” said JPHCOPH Dean Stuart Tedders, Ph.D. “Long-term, the primary program goal of this grant is to ensure that all rural hospitals are financially viable and positioned to serve their communities with the essential health care services that we all need and expect. A viable health care system is essential for assuring that all communities and their residents thrive. I am very proud of the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the JPHCOPH and the commitment they have made to improving the quality of life of rural and underserved populations across the country.”
Bettye Apenteng, Ph.D., and Charles Owens, both professors of health policy and management, serve as the co-principal investigators for the grant.
“We are proud to be selected to work cooperatively with rural hospitals across the U.S. to strengthen their viability so they can continue to provide essential health care locally so the residents, the local hospital and the community may thrive,” said Owens.
As part of this cooperative agreement, the team will work in partnership with HRSA and rural health stakeholders to provide in-depth and tailored technical assistance to rural hospitals at risk of financial distress nationwide. Technical assistance delivered as part of this program will help rural hospital communities implement a prioritized strategy for maintaining essential services locally through capacity building in evidence-based decision-making, operational and financial improvement, strategic management, community partnership, project implementation and evaluation.
“We are excited to extend the work we have done in Georgia with rural hospitals, for close to a decade, to the rest of the nation,” said Apenteng. “We look forward to building strong collaborative relationships with rural hospital communities nationwide.”
The grant activities will be executed by a multidisciplinary team that includes additional JPHCOPH faculty Angie Peden; Andrew Hansen, DrPH; Linda Kimsey, Ph.D.; William Mase, DrPH; Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Ph.D., and Samuel Opoku, Ph.D.; and Parker College of Business’ Kwabena Boakye, Ph.D.; and the College of Arts and Humanities’ Jason Murdock.
Last updated: 12/20/2023
GS Inclusive Excellence efforts are being recognized
Georgia Southern has received the 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The annual HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Georgia Southern joins other universities in Georgia that have received the HEED award, including the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Emory University.
Locally, Dominique A. Quarles, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence and chief diversity officer completed a progress report for the University’s Inclusive Excellence Action Plan, in anticipation of developing a new plan in 2024 that aligns with the extension of our institutional strategic plan through 2026.
“We are excited about the progress we have achieved thus far,” Quarles said. “Our efforts over the last few years will provide an excellent foundation for the next iteration of the University’s Inclusive Excellence Action plan. We are better equipped today to make targeted investments that broaden the impact of our efforts to the entire University community and fulfill the inclusive excellence goals outlined in pillar three of our institutional strategic plan.”
In addition to the HEED award, Quarles noted other institutional recognitions that highlight how Georgia Southern creates a welcoming environment including its repeated designation as a military-friendly university, and as a First-Gen Forward institution from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). This designation acknowledges the University’s commitment to supporting first-generation college students, who often face unique challenges in navigating the higher education landscape.
“Together we are creating a vibrant, welcoming environment for all our students, faculty, and staff,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “The work to date has helped define and further align our next steps with the fundamental principles of academic freedom, freedom of expression, and inclusive excellence.”
View Georgia Southern’s Inclusive Excellence Plan Progress Report in the MyGeorgiaSouthern portal under the “Performance Excellence” tile.
Last updated: 12/20/2023
National Science Foundation awards almost $3M to Georgia Southern to launch research and mentoring program
The National Science Foundation awarded nearly $3 million to Georgia Southern University to launch the Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates (RaMP) program. At each university, RaMP supports approximately 10 students per year in gaining full-time research experience, mentoring for potential career paths and building a network of professional contacts.
Georgia Southern’s project, “Mentoring and Research Opportunities for Careers in Coastal Science (MROC2S),” aims to aid those with little to no exposure to research or the resources to do so.
“The target is to benefit underrepresented minority students to increase diversity in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields,” said Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., associate dean of the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies and the project’s principal investigator (PI).
Beginning in August 2024, participating students will be given an annual stipend. The postbaccalaureate fellows will have the opportunity to learn regional-specific natural resource science and participate in meaningful training with their peers before entering the field.
“It would benefit those who are not yet sure if they want to pursue careers in natural resource science or graduate studies after earning their undergraduate degree,” Colón-Gaud added.
Georgia Southern’s awarded fund will extend through 2027, and with 10 participants at a time, Colón-Gaud anticipates that this “significant and transformative” experience should strengthen the workforce.
Colón-Gaud is joined by three additional faculty members as co-PIs: John Carroll, Ph.D., associate professor of biology; Lacey Huffling, Ph.D., associate professor of middle grades and secondary education; and Asli Aslan, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Water and Health.
Last updated: 10/4/2023
Beulah Narendrapurapu, Ph.D., receives USG award
Beulah Narendrapurapu, Ph.D., lecturer in Georgia Southern University’s Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physics in the College of Science and Mathematics, received the 2023 Felton Jenkins, Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award presented by the University System of Georgia (USG).
This prestigious award recognizes faculty for their contributions to their institution and fields of study along with their commitment to teaching and student success.
“I felt honored to have been present with other accomplished award recipients and distinguished guests to receive the award,” Narendrapurapu said. “Personally, it is a great encouragement to see my efforts being recognized. I want to thank God, all my family, friends, colleagues, the Faculty Center and library professionals at Georgia Southern University for their support.”
Narendrapurapu has been teaching chemistry at Georgia Southern since 2013 and conducts STEM education research. Her focus is on designing animations for chemistry concepts and designing affordable textbook materials and resources for increasing success in chemistry courses.
Narendrapurapu and six other faculty members from across the state were honored at the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala hosted by the USG Foundation. To read about the recipients, visit here.
Last updated: 10/4/2023
Georgia Southern mechanical engineering student recognized in international competition
Mohammad Towhidul Islam Rimon, a mechanical engineering master’s student in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing (AEPCEC), recently won first place in the best student paper competition at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2023 Power Applied R&D Conference.
The international conference and competition exhibited research relevant to current and future power generation issues, applications and emerging technologies. Following Rimon, second and third place winners were named from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Cambridge, respectively.
Rimon’s paper focused on a new generation of power technologies known as supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power generation. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project aims to address the technical challenges at the subcomponent level of sCO2 power cycles and contribute to the goal of greenhouse gas pollution reduction.
“Working with cutting-edge technology, delving deep into these subjects and receiving recognition for my efforts has been incredibly inspiring,” Rimon said. “It was a privilege to present this paper at a prestigious event where experts from the power industry were gathered.”
Rimon said mentorship from his advisor, Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering in the AEPCEC and the principal investigator of the project, was an integral part of his success.
“I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in the exact field I’ve always wanted under the guidance of Dr. Cesmeci,” Rimon said. “He invested a significant amount of effort in my training and consistently encouraged me, even before the presentation. Winning the award feels like a way to honor his dedication and showcase our findings on an international stage, reaffirming their significance.”
Cesmeci was proud not only to see his student succeed but also to see the University recognized at an international level.
“I have never seen a student who was so dedicated to putting every effort that they can for a flawless presentation, including answering challenging questions from the experts in their field,” Cesmeci said. “Considering this is an international conference and it was open to all levels of students, including Ph.D. students, I am immensely proud of Rimon’s success.”
Last updated: 10/2/2023
Georgia Southern celebrates ‘40 Under 40’ Class of 2023
The Georgia Southern University Alumni Association “40 Under 40” Class of 2023 was recognized at a ceremony on Sept. 29 at the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau. The annual honor recognizes young alumni who have made significant strides in business, leadership, community, educational or philanthropic endeavors.
“Tonight, we gather to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of our outstanding young alumni,” said Ava Edwards (‘19), executive director of the Alumni Association. “We are so thankful to be gathered here together to celebrate Georgia Southern University, and to recognize the exemplary alumni it has produced. In their success, excellence, character and unwavering values, we find a reflection of the very best within us.
“Thank you to these remarkable professionals, innovative entrepreneurs, generous philanthropists and agents of change,” Edwards continued. “Their dedication to both their communities and this institution is a testament of their commitment to making the world a better place.”
The “40 Under 40” honorees were chosen by a selection committee that reviewed each individual’s professional expertise, achievements, dedication to charitable and community initiatives and their commitment to Georgia Southern.
Alumna Dennette Thornton (‘01), who serves as the director of ticket hospitality and travel programs for the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC and Mercedes-Benz Stadium and as the president of the Georgia Southern Alumni Association Board of Directors, also addressed the crowd.
“Each year, we recognize the best and brightest among us, and we are continually impressed with the excellence of each class,” Thornton said. “Our honorees tonight represent an incredible spectrum of excellence. We’re talking about major league sports professionals who’ve graced the biggest arenas, dedicated educators shaping the minds of tomorrow, wise judges administering justice, brilliant doctors and visionary CEOs leading industries into the future. Thank you for representing our alma mater with distinction.”
Curtis Williams (‘09), chairman of HHE Holdings and president-elect of the Alumni Association, shared the stage with Thornton.
“Georgia Southern alumni are not just successful; they’re trailblazers, occupying the highest positions in state government, steering the helm of influential industries and businesses, driving innovation in education and healthcare and so much more,” Williams told the crowd. “Tonight, we celebrate not just their achievements, but the spirit of Georgia Southern that thrives in every one of them.”
For the full list of “40 Under 40” Class of 2023 honorees and to learn more about the program, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/40Under40. The group will also be featured in the fall 2023 edition of Georgia Southern Magazine.
Last updated: 10/2/2023
Georgia Southern University restoring coastline with oyster habitats
It’s not much of a “groundbreaking” project, but more of a “ground-building” project.
Georgia Southern University has partnered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Yamaha Rightwaters to rejuvenate a section of the Savannah waterways for oyster beds. As part of these efforts, Eagle faculty and students recently installed bags of oyster shells along the coastline to build shelters for budding populations.
Oyster reefs are pivotal to coastal environments and offer a multitude of benefits. While they are a sought-after delicacy, their significance extends far beyond the dining table.
“Oyster reefs serve as thriving ecosystems, safeguard shorelines from erosion, and even play a role in carbon sequestration,” said John Carroll, Ph.D., an associate professor of biology at Georgia Southern. “The oyster population in Georgia remains robust. However, our primary focus is habitat restoration. We’re targeting areas where oyster harvesting is absent, creating sanctuaries for oysters to flourish and fostering marine biodiversity.”
The choice of material was critical to constructing these vital reefs, and the solution was right under their nose: they could use oyster shells to build oyster habitats.
According to Carroll, oyster shells possess the natural shape and complexity that attracts oyster larvae, facilitating their growth. Although alternative materials like concrete or rocks are used in some projects, oyster shells are still the substrate of choice in Georgia.
Beyond habitat restoration, this project has piqued Yamaha’s interest due to its potential for carbon sequestration.
“Addressing climate change is imperative,”Carrol said.” Oyster reefs play a pivotal role by capturing sediment rich in organic matter, effectively locking away carbon. Adjacent marsh grasses absorb carbon from the atmosphere, creating a powerful synergy.”
Students are integral to the project’s success. They have assisted in various tasks, from bagging oyster shells, sourced from a shell recycling program and neighboring states, to data sampling and analysis. It was a hands-on experience they hope will shape the next generation of environmental stewards.
“Our hope is that this initiative sets a precedent for future restoration projects along the Georgia coast,” Carrol noted “By reviving these oyster reefs, we are not only bolstering local ecosystems but also addressing the urgent need to combat climate change. It’s a win-win for both nature and humanity.”
Last updated: 10/2/2023
Georgia Southern University hosts candidate forums for Savannah mayor and city council
Georgia Southern’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Political Science and International Studies are partnering with local news station WSAV-TV to host two nights of mayoral and city council candidate forums.
On Oct. 2, the University will host candidates for mayor and city council districts 5 and 6 at 6 p.m. On Oct. 4, the same auditorium will host candidates for city council districts 2, 3 and 4 and the city council at-large seats at 6 p.m.
Both forums will be held at the Armstrong Center Auditorium (13040 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31319) and will be moderated and broadcasted by WSAV-TV. Members of the general public and the press are invited to attend.
Last updated: 10/2/2023
