精东 researchers can now compete for federal funding, including Department of War (DoW) funding that requires strict cybersecurity protections, after the University鈥檚 Talon Secure virtual environment earned Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level 2 certification.

With Talon Secure certified, Georgia Southern faculty can pursue larger DoW grants, support current DoW-funded projects and join defense companies as research partners or subcontractors. 

Inside Talon Secure, researchers can store and work with government information that is unclassified but still must be safeguarded, such as technical data tied to defense programs. The certification confirms the system meets federal requirements for protecting that information.

鈥淧rotecting sensitive research isn鈥檛 a box we check, it鈥檚 a standard we hold ourselves to every day,鈥� said Georgia Southern Vice President for Research and Innovation David Weindorf, Ph.D. 鈥淭his certification opens the door for our faculty to compete for consequential defense research, and it tells our federal partners they can bring that work to Georgia Southern with confidence.鈥�

Talon Secure was reviewed by a Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization and earned a perfect score, with no deficiencies in any of the 14 security categories tested. Several Georgia Southern departments collaborated to prepare for the audit, including the Office of Research Integrity, Research Security and Export Controls (RSEC) and Information Technology Services.

Janny Crespo-Grow, Ph.D., director of RSEC, said the assessor described Georgia Southern鈥檚 performance as 鈥渢he standard for what we should see in our assessments.鈥� Crespo-Grow, part of the Office of Research Integrity, specifically credited Chief Information Security Officer Nic Carroll and his team, who 鈥渢ook point鈥� in preparation.

Carroll highlighted the cross-divisional collaboration behind the audit.

鈥淧reparing for the audit meant bringing together people from the Office of Research and Innovation, IT, information security and compliance to answer one honest question: ‘Does what we actually do every day match what our written procedures say we do?’鈥� he said.

He added assessors tested 110 security controls against 320 assessment objectives. 

“The assessment confirmed our protections are followed in practice, not just written down, and that is what gives our researchers an environment they can trust,” Carroll explained.

精东 recently received a $234,474 grant from the The award will expand the University’s naloxone initiative鈥� first launched in 2022, to promote harm reduction and opioid overdose awareness – as well as enhance substance use prevention and education programming.

The new funds will increase on-campus access to naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug. During the two-year project period, 2,000 doses of the drug and 5,000 fentanyl test strips will be distributed across the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses, while training an additional 1,000 faculty, staff and students in overdose recognition and response.

A joint effort between the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health’s (JPHCOPH) Center for Addiction Recovery (CAR), University Health Services, and the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion (SWHP), the expansion was inspired by recent data from state and federal agencies.

According to the , opioid overdose deaths had nearly tripled for young adults aged 18-24 from 2019 to 2022. Moreover, data from the showed that a bystander was present for more than half of the overdoses statewide and a majority chose not to intervene. 

Sarah Fischer is doing her part to change that narrative on Georgia Southern’s Campuses.  A recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with her Master’s in Community Health Education, she was hired by the SWHP as the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coordinator. 

Fischer has only been on campus a short time, developing trainings and promotional materials to further the initiative’s goals.

“Throughout my first month working at Georgia Southern, I鈥檝e already seen firsthand the significant impact this grant is having on our student body,” Fischer said. “Students are engaging in conversations about harm reduction, supporting their community by carrying naloxone, and expressing gratitude that Georgia Southern is providing this resource.”

Director of SWHP, Urkovia Andrews, DrPH, endorsed this perspective, adding that support from the University’s administration reflects Georgia Southern’s commitment to teaching life-long skills.

The team is led by Robert Bohler, Ph.D. Bohler is an assistant professor in the JPHCOPH and serves as the Executive Director for CAR. Sean Bear, DrPH, is taking the lead on the project for University Health Services. As their assistant director and public health administrator, he emphasized the high stakes attached to this work.

“Our mission is to prepare the Georgia Southern community to understand the realities of opioid use, recognize an emergency and feel empowered to step in and respond,” said Bear. “When people have the knowledge and tools to act, they can make a life-saving difference.”

Bohler shared a similar perspective. “This project is designed to prevent addiction and save lives,” he said.

Ava Edwards, director of Alumni Relations at 精东, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Georgia Education Advancement Council鈥檚 (GEAC) Excellence in Alumni Relations Award.

“This year鈥檚 honorees exemplify the very best of higher education advancement in our state,鈥� said GEAC President Frances Beussee of Kennesaw State University. 鈥淲e are proud to recognize their outstanding commitment, innovative leadership and lasting contributions to our profession.”

Under her leadership at Georgia Southern, Edwards has helped expand alumni engagement across a growing community of more than 162,000 alumni. The Alumni Office has seen a 15% annual increase in event attendance in fiscal 2026, while programs such as 40 Under 40, True Blue Tailgates and the International Alumni Travel Program continue to create meaningful opportunities for alumni to connect with the University. 

鈥淎va exemplifies the very best of the alumni relations profession through her unwavering commitment to alumni engagement, innovative programming, strategic leadership and dedication to advancing the mission of higher education through meaningful relationships,鈥� said Beusse, who nominated her for the award.

The Excellence in Alumni Relations Award honors higher education advancement professionals who have served at least five years in higher education and have distinguished themselves in the field of alumni relations.

When senior biology major John Petronis enters Jianzhou He, Ph.D.’s lab at 精东’s College of Science and Mathematics, he sets his bag down, puts on his headphones and gets to work analyzing water samples. 

“Most of what I research is focused on the communities we live in,” Petronis said. “So a lot of the samples I monitor come from Tybee Island and the Savannah River.”

Petronis uses a Shimadzu particle size analyzer to identify and analyze what He calls emerging contaminants, specifically microplastics.

“Globally, we produce hundreds of millions of metric tons of plastics every year, and only about 9% get recycled,” explained He. “Microplastics are less than five millimeters, but the impact they’re having on the world right now is immeasurable, and it’s growing by the day.”

As these materials break down, they enter local waterways, rivers, marshland and drinking water, said He. They can be toxic, harming marine wildlife, disrupting food chains and affecting the ecosystem they occupy, making them a major environmental concern.

“There are currently no regulations or standards that monitor the amount of microplastics in our environment,” He said. “So there’s no record of how they behave in a coastal area like ours.”

Studying these chemicals in a more diverse ecosystem helps Petronis and He develop a thorough assessment of the risks they pose and propose practical solutions to reduce their presence. They use advanced technology provided through the Shimadzu Partnership for Academics, Research, and Quality of Life (SPARQ) program to support their research. The SPARQ partnership gives students like Petronis a chance to work with the latest in industry-standard equipment.聽聽

“This research wouldn’t be possible without the tools from Shimadzu,” said He. “My students could not complete their work otherwise.” 

Equipment like the particle size analyzer helps them identify these chemicals on a granular level. They also want to see how environmental (UV) exposure changes them over time, so Petronis uses the sunlight simulator machine to produce results in minutes instead of the 3,000 hours it would otherwise take. But Petronis, a full-time student with a full-time job, doesn’t mind putting in the time. 

“I want to have a deeper understanding of how we exist in our world,” he explained. “The environmental science aspect鈥 mean, that’s the equivalent to cleaning your room. I look at the Earth and think, ‘I want to clean this place up. I want to take care of what’s been given to us,鈥� and this research opportunity has done just that.”

The Georgia Department of Health is working with researchers from 精东’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health after Georgia lawmakers requested more information to address the rise of adolescent social media use.聽聽

The U.S. Surgeon General said social media use among adolescents is increasing at an alarming pace, and its effects on youth ages 13 to 18 are concerning. 

“There are increasing concerns among researchers, parents and caregivers, young people, health care experts and others about the impact of social media on youth mental health,”  the published in 2023, states. “More research is needed to understand the impact of social media fully.” 

“We frequently partner with the Department of Public Health,” said Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Ph.D., associate dean for practice and research and principal investigator for the report. “This was going to require intense data collection, and they knew we could handle it.” 

Mayo-Gamble is an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Community Health at Georgia Southern. Her background in communications proved helpful as she partnered with Chun Hai Fung, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics, epidemiology and environmental health sciences, whose work was cited in the surgeon general’s initial report.

“Dr. Fung is an excellent epidemiologist, and he also works with large data sets,” Mayo-Gamble said. “That’s exactly what this project needed.”

The group reviewed post-COVID research and existing federal laws before recommending a comprehensive media literacy program. It would target students in grades 4 through 12 and be developed by the Georgia Department of Education. Mayo-Gamble said the curriculum would teach healthy social media habits, privacy protection skills and problematic use patterns.    

“A program like this would be extremely important,” she said. “That’s what public health is; it’s more than research, it’s about having the chance to impact people’s lives.”

They also recommended continued funding for research and monitoring social media’s impact on youth. The collected data would be used to inform future policy development as technologies continue to grow. But these benefits extend beyond informing policymakers.聽

“Research like this is meant to support communication between parents and their children,” Mayo-Gamble said. “I do think that a lot of parents worry if they’re doing the right thing for their kids. So if there’s an opportunity to educate parents about something that impacts their ability to be a good parent, I think that’s the type of research we should be doing.”

While illustrating the importance of 精东’s Senior Companion Program, Deb Blackburn, the program鈥檚 director, recalled one situation with potentially deadly consequences.

“There was a woman on our waiting list who lived alone and was very sick,” she said. “We went to check on her, and could smell the natural gas. She had a leak that no one knew about. We got her out of the house immediately, and called the fire department. The woman quickly recovered.”

Efforts to prevent those kinds of incidents received a major boost in the form of a $378,000 grant increase from AmeriCorps Senior. Effective July 1, the funding is one of three equal installments arriving over the next three years. It鈥檚 part of the largest-ever award for the program housed in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences鈥� Center for Social Gerontology.

Sometimes called 鈥渃ompanions,鈥� volunteers, 55 and older, are paired with seniors needing support to live independently in their homes. They provide socialization while assisting with meal preparation, household chores and occasional transportation.

Clients live in 15 counties across southeastern Georgia including Bulloch, Emanuel and Effingham. These counties, plus six more, have waiting lists. The new contract no longer divides the funds by location, meaning volunteers can go to areas of greatest need. Currently, there are 7 vacancies for volunteers.

Other benefits include an hourly stipend, better travel reimbursement rates for volunteers and the doubling of their daily meal stipend from $1.50 to $3. These changes are significant, because companion eligibility requires an annual individual income no higher than $31,920.

Theretha Alston has been one of those companions for four years. Until recently, she visited  Beatrice Huff, a 94-year-old Bulloch County resident. Huff’s own work with the program inspired Alston to get involved.

“I heard about the program by word of mouth, at the time, Beatrice was still working as a companion,” she said. “Seeing her so excited about the program at the age of 90 inspired me on a daily basis. I thought to myself ‘What if I could be like that at her age?’ She just retired last year.”

Alston spent four days a week with Huff for five hours each day helping with her lunch, her exercises and walks to the mailbox. Unfortunately, Alston needed to be paired with another senior for logistical reasons. Still, she cherishes the conversations she shared with Huff.

鈥淢y favorite part was hearing about her history,” she said. “She would start talking about her childhood, her school days, meeting her husband, raising a family and her grandkids. Then she  would start smiling for sure.” 

Blackburn emphasized that social connections like this can improve quality of life for isolated individuals

“To me, that’s one of the best examples of how our participation in the community helps people who are alone and don’t have the capacity to take care of all their household needs,” she said.

John Banter, Ed.D. has been selected to serve as assistant vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement (OELDE), effective August 1.

“John listens before he decides,” said Dominique Quarles, Ph.D., associate vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development and Engagement. “Colleagues across campus trust him, and he follows through without being asked twice. Those instincts are what set him apart, and they are why I have full confidence in his ability to lead in this capacity.”

Banter has built a strong record of measurable and meaningful work since joining the OELDE team as director of the Office of Organizational Effectiveness. He served as strategic planning administrator in the development of the University Strategic Plan, Soaring Beyond 2030, and has since led the centralized data collection process for the institutional key performance indicators tied to that plan. 

He also developed and launched the Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders. He co-leads the University Strategic Engagement and Alignment Committee, ensuring the university’s strategic priorities translate into coordinated action across campus.

“I am excited to serve in this role and to partner with colleagues across the university as we develop leaders, strengthen engagement and take purposeful action to advance Georgia Southern’s mission and vision,” said Banter

Banter will work alongside Quarles to help align leadership development, institutional engagement, and organizational effectiveness work with the University’s mission and strategic plan and will assume administrative oversight of the Office of Institutional Engagement and the Office of Student Engagement and Support. 

That also includes strengthening the leadership and professional development ecosystem, including the Leadership Development Institutes and the employee e-learning platform, while building out systems to track data and results. 

Banter brings 20 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education to his new role. 

Amy Potter, Ph.D., professor of geography in 精东鈥檚 College of Science and Mathematics, is the latest 精东 faculty member to serve as a Fulbright Specialist. Part of the broader Fulbright Program, the specialist designation supports short-term, project-based collaborations between U.S. scholars and international institutions.

Earlier this year, Potter traveled to the Northern Colombian city of Monteria as a Fulbright Specialist and contributed her expertise to 鈥淐olombia鈥揢.S. Dialogue on Global Water & Sustainability,鈥� a collaborative, online, international learning (COIL) experience 鈥� an educational model that connects faculty from international institutions to design courses around shared topics. 

It examines the effects of economic growth on environmental and cultural sustainability. The idea originated with Aura Garcia, a faculty member at Pontifical Bolivarian University鈥揗onter铆a (UPB鈥揗onter铆a). 

Garcia chose Potter as her collaborator after being impressed by her previous work in cultural sustainability.

鈥淚 wanted Amy after seeing her work in tourism and her efforts in Ireland trying to preserve the culture of the family farm,鈥� she said.

Culminating in a four-week class for Potter and Garcia鈥檚 students this fall, the COIL experience will focus on southeast Georgia and members of the Indigenous Zen煤 community, whose pre-Columbian roots are in and around present-day Monter铆a.

Potter spoke specifically about the reality in southeast Georgia, acknowledging .

鈥淒evelopment brings incredible opportunities, including much-needed jobs for a region like ours, but it also creates pressure, especially on our water resources,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭he key question is whether our water systems can sustain that growth over time.鈥�

Garcia painted a similar picture for the city of Monteria.

鈥淭he population has grown, and we鈥檝e seen increased revenue and improved infrastructure,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he Zen煤 people are definitely feeling pressure. They are still trying to figure out how their culture fits in this development.鈥�

Potter saw this firsthand when she visited the town of Tuch铆n. Located about 30 miles northeast of Monter铆a, the town has a predominant Zen煤 population. It serves as a production site for the sombrero vueltiao. The headwear, which has been made by Zen煤 artisans for centuries, is known for its vibrant color and intricate design.

鈥淚 had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with artisans who make this sombrero,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n 2004, it was designated a national symbol of Colombia.鈥�

Made from a native plant called ca帽a flecha, Potter said this beloved cultural symbol is under threat from 鈥渄ifferent kinds of water issues,鈥� including .

Despite these challenges, the community and its traditions are still enduring, according to Potter. She recalled her visit to the Association of Producers for the Rehabilitation of Agricultural Productivity as an example of this endurance. The agricultural group, located roughly 47 miles north of Monteria, replicates the canals and the ancient hydraulic systems created by the Zen煤 people. 

鈥淭he raised land protects the crops from floods and creates food security for Zen煤 families,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hese tried-and-true ancestral practices are what鈥檚 creating resilience today.鈥� 

Reflecting on her time in Colombia, Potter noted how meaningful it is to learn from different cultures, perspectives and histories.

鈥淗aving the opportunity to interact with and learn from the Zen煤 people in this epicenter of Colombian culture was deeply moving,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 also pretty excited about the viewpoint we鈥檙e going to bring.鈥�

Potter hopes the students will have a similar experience in the class later this year. 

鈥淭his will be a unique experience,鈥� Garcia added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time we are offering collaborative classes with an American institution, and students are eager to learn how other places address water sustainability.鈥�

The Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing (AEPCEC) at 精东 hosted its annual Student Research Symposium showcasing the next generation of technological and engineering advancements. 

The 2026 symposium featured academic talent and innovative research, highlighting presentations from over 300 undergraduate and graduate students. More than 130 interactive technical posters were presented spanning research topics in cutting-edge computing, advanced infrastructure, robotics, smart energy, artificial intelligence and engineering innovation.  

The event drew participation from approximately 40 industry partner companies who actively engaged with the presented research, underscoring the symposium鈥檚 growing role as a bridge between student research, workforce development and industry needs. 

鈥淭his event is an essential launchpad for our students to step out of the classroom and showcase their innovative work with real-world applications,鈥� said Reinhold Gerbsch, DSc, director of industrial relations for the college. 鈥淧resenting research across fields like robotics, civil engineering and artificial intelligence teaches students how to articulate complex concepts with clarity to industry professionals.鈥� 

The symposium also featured an on-site career fair, giving students the opportunity to connect with major industry employers, including Gulfstream Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Thomas & Hutton and more. 

鈥淗aving companies on-site creates a dynamic professional network where industry leaders are not simply judging the students鈥� work, they are there to mentor, advise and hire,鈥� Gerbsch explained. 鈥淭heir involvement ensures our students understand what the engineering and computing sectors are looking for in new hires and how their research connects to emerging industry needs.鈥�  

Team and individual awards were presented to undergraduate and graduate students. These included:

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

AEPCEC Top Eagle Award 

Olaudo Victor-Ofoegbu, Jalen Mordica, Iniuobong Unah

Crider Foods – Manufacturing, Robotics & Automation Award

Elizabeth McGlone, Sebastian Oviedo, Ariana Story, Anish Goyal

Gulfstream Business Technology Computer Science Award 

Nicholas Hubbard

Gulfstream Business Technology Information Technology Award 

Michael Woodcock

Gulfstream Completions Engineering – Electrical and Computer Engineering Award

Tamera Gilmore, Jack Jones, Perrin Freeman, Bryan Bosely

Gulfstream Innovation, Engineering & Flight Excellence Award

Caleb Lewis, Jack Giles, Elsie Lappin

Rolls-Royce Power Systems Mechanical Engineering Award

Milton Tomas Santizo

Thomas & Hutton Civil Engineering and Construction Award  

Rosemarie Gante, Ariful Islam Shuvo, Peya Sharif, Yocelin Ramos-Perez, Natalia Alanis, Isabella Funes

AEPCEC- Computing Award 

Alejandro Gir贸n, Thi Tran, Nicholas-Paul Webster, Casey Morgan 

GRADUATE AWARDS

AEPCEC Top Eagle Award 

John Havenar

Crider Foods – Manufacturing, Robotics & Automation Award

Emmanuella Ogun,Yong Ann Voeurn

Gulfstream Business Technology Computer Science Award 

Mary Dufie Afrane

Gulfstream Business Technology Information Technology Award 

Temitope Elijah

Gulfstream Completions Engineering – Electrical and Computer Engineering Award

Jonas Chen

Gulfstream Innovation, Engineering & Flight Excellence Award

Chowdhury Irtiza

Rolls-Royce Power Systems Mechanical Engineering Award

Melinawo Vowotor

Thomas & Hutton Civil Engineering and Construction Award  

Md. Moshiur Rahman Tushar

AEPCEC- Computing Award 

Deborah Osahor

Industry and community partners interested in engaging with Georgia Southern engineering and computing students are invited to participate in future Student Research Symposium events through judging, sponsorship, career fair participation, technical mentorship and research collaboration opportunities.

For more information about participating in the Student Research Symposium and to view all of the 2026 award finalists, please visit: /colleges/engineering-computing/research/undergraduate-research/symposium. 

精东 is once again setting the standard for excellence at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York, receiving outstanding delegation distinction for the 15th year in a row. 

“Our success is due to the quality of our students,” said Barry Balleck, Ph.D., team advisor and professor of politics and international studies. “They have a passion for Model UN and they believe in the diplomatic process. They have not been jaded to believe that diplomacy is weakness and that international cooperation is pass茅.”

Georgia Southern has one of the longest-running Model United Nations programs in the country, beginning in 1972. Balleck says that the team’s wins this year have just reinforced what he’s known since he started leading the program 30 years ago. 

“Our students can match up to students from any university anywhere in the world,” Balleck said. “The difference between our students and others is that they have a passion for Model UN and for the standard of excellence that we have set in this program. We emphasize every year that our students are not just representing themselves in any particular year; they are representing the legacy of the Model UN established by 精东.”

The weight of that responsibility is heavy, but Balleck says it’s a crucial tool in preparing students for their future. 

“Our students learn research, writing and critical thinking skills that help them in whatever profession they choose,” he explained. “I have students who are teachers, diplomats, doctors, lawyers, government officials, peace corps volunteers, lobbyists — the list goes on and on.” 

Those skills helped the Georgia Southern team stand out at the conference this year, bringing home multiple awards in categories like Outstanding Distinction for Position Paper Writing and Outstanding Delegate Distinction in Committee. Balleck says the group is already preparing for next year.  

“Our delegation will be conducting three middle and high school conferences next academic year,” he said. “These conferences will bring nearly 1,200 students to 精东. Then we’ll attend the National Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference next year in New York City at the end of March 2027.”

That will mark Balleck’s 31st year with the organization. After all this time, he still says that Model UN is the best academic tool he’s ever been associated with. 

“It teaches students advanced methods in public speaking, research, technical writing and diplomacy,” he said. “In my opinion, the experiential components of Model UN are unmatched by any other experience.”

Winners include:

OUTSTANDING DELEGATION

• Becerra, Ruby
• Benyehudah, Ellie
• Busboom, Emma
• Chavvakula, Varshita
• Collins, Logan — Assistant Advisor
• Dykes, Kierstin
• Franco, Jaelly
• Gibbs, Amiyah
• Hill, Xenovia
• Mason, Natassia
• Millan Merchan, Jorge
• Moore, Chloe
• Norman, Malachi
• Pagelsen, Logan
• Roberts, Lily
• Rumsey, Ava
• Sherrill, Jacob
• Taylor-Williams, Ariana — Head Delegate
• Wheeler, Jaden
• Williams, Emma
• Balleck, Barry — Advisor

OUTSTANDING POSITION PAPER WRITING 

General Assembly Third Committee (GA3)

• Chavvakula, Varshita
• Pagelsen, Logan

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

• Dykes, Kiersten
• Hill, Xenovia

Human Rights Committee (HRC)

• Williams, Emma
• Roberts, Lily

OUTSTANDING DELEGATES IN COMMITTEE

General Assembly First Committee (GA1)

• Millan Merchan, Jorge
• Franco, Jaelly

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

• Dykes, Kiersten
• Hill, Xenovia

Human Rights Committee (HRC)

• Williams, Emma
• Roberts, Lily

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Becerra, Ruby
• Mason, Nattassia

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Benyehudah, Ellie
• Moore, Chloe