Excellence in Research and Teaching
Four Scholars Honored with Top Graduate Student Award
Every year, Georgia Southern graduate students are called upon to teach, grade assignments, run laboratories, conduct research, and write and
publish complex papers. But too often their academic achievements are overlooked. Meet the four graduate students who won this year’s Averitt
Award, which is the highest honor presented to students within the Georgia Southern University Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies.
The award recognizes excellence in two separate categories — research and instruction.
Excellence in Graduate Instruction
SPENCER ERICK RINER
Master of Science Graduate Student
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Hometown: Guyton, Georgia
Major: Criminology
What did you teach?
Criminal Law, investigations and criminal procedure What did you enjoy about teaching? My career in law enforcement spans 27 years and has provided me with extensive practical knowledge and experience to pass along to students. As such, I am passionate about student success and providing them with real-world instruction. I use techniques and lessons from cases I have investigated to enhance classroom instruction.
What did you appreciate most about the program in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences?
I truly appreciate the people who work within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The faculty and staff within the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology are dedicated to the success of the students. Everyone within the department has a passion for research and instruction. They have supported and encouraged me throughout my time in the master’s program.
What are your career plans?
I am currently the director of emergency management for Georgia Southern and I plan to continue working in that capacity. My next academic goal is to be accepted into a Ph.D. program. It would be an honor to become an associate professor within the criminal justice and criminology department in the future. I would like to continue to research criminological issues and teach those who will be working within the criminal justice system.
What did it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
It was extremely special to receive a nomination. I was surprised and honored to receive the award because I was one of many deserving candidates.
What is an intriguing or little-known fact about you?
I enjoy running. I completed my first marathon in 2019.
IVY COLLINS
Master of Science Graduate
College of Science and Mathematics
Hometown: Guyton, Georgia
Major: Mathematics
What did you enjoy about teaching?
I most enjoyed watching students grow and thrive in
my class. I taught many students; several were not math
majors or STEM majors, so math was hard for them. I saw
many students struggle with hard topics, but they lit up
when they finally understood the topic or applied it to a
problem. It is one of the best things to witness.
Please describe your Georgia Southern experience.
When I started at Georgia Southern in the fall of 2021,
I was worried about the experiences I would receive
during my graduate degree. I went to a small private
college as an undergrad, so Georgia Southern was
intimidating. I quickly realized that just because Georgia
Southern is a bigger university, the math department was
very small. In no time, I was forming close relationships
with my professors, the staff, the undergrads and other
graduate students in the department. Georgia Southern
truly made me feel at home.
What did it mean to you to be a recipient of the
Averitt Award?
I am honored and humbled to have this honor bestowed
upon me. Through my years here at Georgia Southern, I
have met and worked with many other graduate students
who are just as deserving of this award. I truly feel
that I was just a model of all the professors I have had
throughout my academic career, and I just wanted to
provide my students with the educational experiences I
had received.
What will you miss most about Georgia Southern?
I will miss all of the mentorships I received throughout
my time here. I will also miss all of the relationships I
created with the faculty and other graduate students.
What are your career plans?
My ultimate career goal is to be a professor. That is why
I will be continuing my education to pursue my Ph.D. to
help prepare me.
What is an intriguing or little-known fact about you?
I am a beekeeper. In high school, I developed an interest
in protecting the honeybee population and I started
my own hives. I am also a volunteer at the Georgia
Aquarium.
Excellence in Research Scholars
KATHERINE FALLON
Doctor of Psychology Graduate Student
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Major: Clinical Psychology
What is the focus of your research?
My primary research agenda focuses on a transdisciplinary approach to better understand problems of practice around youth advocacy, resiliency and equity.
What did you learn through conducting your research? Specifically, my research team currently has one active research project as a continuation in evaluating educator perceptions of preparedness in responding to various crisis events (e.g., gun violence, suicide, bullying, assault, natural disaster) and evaluating current school-wide safety plans. Additionally, my dissertation work was aimed at developing a comprehensive assessment of parental perceptions of risk factors for adolescent behavioral and sexual aggression.
I believe research encompasses much more than data collection, analysis and reporting of findings. Throughout my research experience at GS, I have grown a strong appreciation for the utility of research to make public impacts. Through a better understanding of the unique or shared challenges our communities face, we can inform implications for practice (e.g., community partnerships, training) to incite change and growth in the way we lead, educate and support our community. Further, as a student in clinical psychology and current training clinician, I feel my research closely aligns with my mission as a mental health provider of improving access to resources and quality of wellbeing (i.e., physical, emotional, psychological, social, developmental) for under-resourced communities.
What did it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
Being the recipient of the Averitt Award was very exciting and unexpected. I am very honored to have been nominated and even more so to have received this award, as this is incredibly monumental for the fields in which my research and academic pursuits are held. I am very thankful to have a team of individuals who have always believed in the work I have done and continuously strive to better the community around us.
What will you miss most about Georgia Southern?
During my time at GS, I have had many academic and research mentors whom I have been incredibly thankful for. Dr. Jeff Klibert, Dr. Thresa Yance and Dr. Dorthie Cross have guided me through my dissertation work and psychology courses, and they have consistently encouraged me to lead a
What is an intriguing or little-known fact about you?
My childhood life dream was to be on American Idol.
life of advocacy and speak out on important topics. Also, through my research assistantships, Dr. Juliann McBrayer and Dr. Chad Posick, along with the many other faculty co-researchers, have guided me in understanding trials and celebrations in research activity. While I plan to continue to work alongside each of these individuals in my future endeavors, I also hope I can provide mentorship to future students or trainees in the same way they have graciously supported me.
What are your career plans?
Next year, I have the opportunity to match with the University of Alabama Birmingham in the Generalist Adult Psychology track for my pre-doctoral internship. I hope to continue my career working within an integrated healthcare system focusing on trauma-informed care for youth and adults. Through this, I plan to continue to disseminate research through the publication of manuscripts, presentations and training to ignite change in under-resourced and understudied communities and promote overall well-being.
JOSEPH VONDRASEK
Master of Science in Sports Medicine Graduate
Waters College of Health Professions
Hometown: Owosso, Michigan
Major: Health Science and Kinesiology
What is the focus of your research?
My main research focus is autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular health, looking at ways to improve the health of these systems via everyday tools that people can use.
What did you learn through conducting your research?
In one research project, I evaluated the accuracy and effectiveness of a cost-free smartphone application for improving heart rate variability — an important marker of cardiovascular health — during slow-paced breathing by comparing the app to the gold-standard electrocardiogram. I gained valuable lab skills in measuring fitness, strength, autonomic nervous system status, body composition and blood markers by drawing blood from the study participants. One thing I learned is that the value of understanding the theory of how to do something pales in comparison to actually doing it. I learned this through blood draws. I felt like I didn’t know enough to do it in the beginning, but, as cliché as it sounds, I soon realized you just have to go for it.
Please describe your Georgia Southern experience.
I learned how to be an adult at Georgia Southern. I had experiences like paying rent, building up my credit score, booking a flight and appealing parking tickets. I also learned the value of friendship and how fortunate it is to have amazing friends in and out of the lab. It was a challenging and rewarding journey and I especially appreciated the close-knit community and supportive faculty. I felt my time at Georgia Southern prepared me for my future studies and career in exercise physiology.
What did it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?
I am very grateful to receive such a prestigious distinction from the College of Graduate Studies. Being recognized for the research that I have done while at Georgia Southern was a great honor.
What will you miss most about Georgia Southern?
I cherish my time in the Biodynamics and Human Performance Center. I was very fortunate to work closely with all three faculty members who advise students of the lab, and especially my primary advisor, Dr. Andrew Flatt. Dr. Flatt taught me a tremendous amount about the science and
latest research on autonomic nervous system health, but he also showed me what it takes to be a respected and successful researcher in this field.
What are your career plans?
I plan to continue my studies by pursuing a Ph.D. in exercise physiology at Florida State University in the cardiovascular and applied physiology lab. After completing my doctoral studies, I hope to apply for a faculty position and continue conducting research and teaching.
What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?
During my undergraduate studies, I wrestled for the Alma College Scots.