Four Scholars Honored with Top Graduate Award
Every year, Georgia Southern graduate students are called on to teach, grade assignments, run laboratories, conduct research, and write and publish complex papers. But too often their academic achievements go uncelebrated. Meet the four graduate students who won the Averitt Award this spring. It is the highest honor presented to graduate students within the Georgia Southern University Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies. The award recognizes excellence in two separate categories — instruction and research.
Excellence in Graduate Instruction
Heather Romage Kelleher
Master of Science Graduate
College of Science and Mathematics
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Major: Applied Physical Science
What did you teach?
Undergraduate chemistry labs: Organic chemistry 3401 and 3402; General Chemistry 1211 and 1212
What did you enjoy about teaching?
What I enjoy most about teaching is finding new ways to deliver a topic students may have already learned. Some students become stuck in the mindset that there is only one way to get the correct answer. It is so important that they are shown how to think freely when applying their previous or newly found knowledge.
What did you learn about yourself at Georgia Southern?
I learned that I can go above and beyond what I previously thought was possible. I was able to teach, attend classes, do research, volunteer locally every week and still find time for shadowing hours.
Describe your Georgia Southern experience.
My experience was amazing. I have been given numerous opportunities through the applied physical science master’s program which has helped me become more confident, involved and prepared for the future.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
I can barely put into words how grateful I am for this award. It makes me feel seen and know that I have made a difference to those around me.
How did you balance planning a wedding and your Georgia Southern responsibilities?
Thankfully, we had a lot of help from family with decision-making since the wedding was at my husband’s parents’ farm. Basically, a lot of communication and exceptionally planned time management were used. I was also having to pick up double shifts at work to pay for the wedding catering and flowers so that added a lot of stress but I was thankful in the end. I made sure not to let it affect my teaching and still held regular review sessions and tutoring hours. I actually held a virtual review session the night before my wedding.
What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
I have worked locally in EMS for the past five years and I have four dogs that are my world.
Nicole L. Scheuermann
Master of Science Graduate
College of Science and Mathematics
Hometown: Elk Mound, Wisconsin
What did you teach?
BIOL 1103L Concepts of Biology Lab (5 semesters) on Armstrong Campus
BIOL 1230L Environmental Biology Lab (1 semester) online
What did you enjoy about teaching?
Most of the students I taught in my time at Georgia Southern were non-biology majors. My favorite moments are when I can spark interest in a topic for a student who has previously expressed little interest or had negative experiences in science courses. I always tell them they don’t have to love science the way that I do, but I hope they leave my classroom equipped with scientific problem-solving skills as a tool in their “life hacks toolkit” that they will use throughout the rest of their lives.
Describe your Georgia Southern experience.
I am a first-generation college student and transitioned from the military to civilian life while attending college, so I had challenges that not every student faces. But the faculty and staff in the biology department always made me feel welcomed and supported, both as an undergraduate and a graduate student. I can’t express how grateful I am for that and I’ll always look back fondly on my time at Armstrong State University, now the Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
I am so honored and humbled to receive the Averitt Award. I wanted to ensure my classroom was a place where students felt welcome and empowered, safe to learn through mistakes and ask questions. I’ve always felt like there’s room for improvement in my teaching – and there is; there always will be because I think the best teachers are those who continually seek growth and self-development – but receiving the Averitt Award reassures me that I’m on the right track and I’ve had at least some positive impact on the students who have passed through
my classroom.
What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
I am an avid motorcyclist. I’ve owned nine or 10 motorcycles and always owned multiple bikes at the same time. I’ve owned sportbikes — my favorite will always be my Honda CBR 954 — and cruisers like Harley Davidson Softails. I currently own a 1970s Honda cafe racer and a 2016 Indian Scout. I’ve slowed down a little with graduate school, but I love taking long trips on the bike to explore
the country.
Excellence in Graduate Research
Sylvia Kesewaa Ofori
Doctor of Public Health Graduate
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Hometown: Abetifi, Ghana
Major: Epidemiology
What is the focus of your research?
My research interests focus on using mathematical and statistical models to understand the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Using such models, we can assess and compare the impact of interventions implemented against such diseases.
What did you learn about yourself at Georgia Southern?
I learned I am more capable of achieving a lot than I gave myself credit for. Through the classes I took, the professors I interacted with, the mentorship and the family I found at Georgia Southern, I realized I had the right exposure and resources to overcome
my challenges.
I tend to limit myself, and I was scared of taking on challenges or tasks known or perceived to be cumbersome. This is one area I have seen a lot of growth during my time here.
Describe your Georgia Southern Experience
My experience at Georgia Southern showed me that success relies on collective efforts and the uniqueness of the people we work with. I have enjoyed interacting with people in my cohort during class discussions and group projects. It was heartwarming to find that the professors were committed to contributing to their students’ academic success and professional and personal growth. I was blessed to meet amazing people at Georgia Southern, including Dr. Emmanuel Akowuah, who played instrumental roles. One of my best experiences was working in the COVID-19 response team (CARES Center) during the pandemic‘s peak in fall 2020.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
I am humbled and honored to have received this award because I never dreamt about such recognition for my work. I also feel like receiving the Averitt Award is evidence of my professors’ exceptional mentorship and training at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, especially, Dr. Isaac
Chun-Hai Fung and my dissertation committee members.
Any professors, courses or other experiences that were particularly meaningful or beneficial to you while at Georgia Southern?
I cannot thank my advisor, Dr. Isaac Chun-Hai Fung, enough for taking a chance on me the first time he met me. I am also grateful to my department chair, Dr. Hani Samawi, for providing a listening ear and advising me.
What are your career plans?
My goal is to become an internationally recognized public health researcher focused on using models to address public health issues. I plan to create a global health research and training program for public health professionals to address infectious diseases which affect vulnerable
populations such as children in low-middle income countries.
Brett L. Cross
Master of Science Graduate (MSSM)
Waters College of Health Professionals
Hometown: Unadilla, Georgia
Major: Sports Medicine
What is the focus of your research?
Cardiovascular and autonomic physiology
Describe your Georgia Southern Experience
I began college at Georgia Southern University majoring in rehabilitation sciences with my hopes set on physical therapy school. Approximately halfway through my undergraduate career, I was introduced to my now mentor, Dr. Greg Grosicki, who allowed me to tour as well as participate in research being conducted in the Biodynamics and Human Performance Center. Through this opportunity, I was able to collaborate on as well as publish several studies addressing various aspects of exercise, nutrition and cardiovascular health. These experiences enabled me to discover my love and knack for research, thus reshaping my career ambitions to include the pursuit of doctoral studies in exercise science.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
It is a great honor to be a recipient of the 2022 Averitt Award for research. While recognition has never been a goal for my work, I am very appreciative to the College of Graduate Studies, and Georgia Southern University as a whole, for the acknowledgment and validation of my time and efforts spent during my tenure here.
Any professors, courses or other experiences that were particularly meaningful or beneficial to you while at Georgia Southern?
My mentor, Dr. Greg Grosicki, was paramount to everything I have accomplished during my graduate career at Georgia Southern. By allowing me to work alongside him, and witness his love for the craft, I have been enabled to kindle my own passion for research – a passion that has ultimately reshaped my career plans to include doctoral studies as well as teaching.
What are your career plans?
As I move on from my time at Georgia Southern, I plan to attend Florida State University’s PhD program in Exercise Physiology. I plan to work alongside Dr. Michael Ormsbee and his team at the Institute of Sports Science and Medicine to perform research pertaining to sports nutrition, physiological adaptations to ultra-endurance exercise, implications of exercise training and nutritional intervention and energy metabolism. With this training, I aspire to study elite athletes who are an archetype of health and human performance in order to obtain unique insights into novel ways to improve health outcomes and prevent disease in the population as a whole.
What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
My wife, Samantha and I are avid hikers and have been fortunate enough to do so in several of the United States’ incredible national parks.