FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award – Non-Tenure Track
Georgia State University distinction

Emily Graybill, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University honors Dr. Emily Graybill as a recipient of the inaugural Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award in recognition of her impressive publication record, exemplary teaching, and extraordinary contributions to the disability community. As Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability, Dr. Graybill leads the translation of research into sustainable community practices that support people with disabilities and their families. These efforts include providing community trainings, facilitating student internships, creating behavior measurements, and leading statewide efforts for disability initiatives, as well as training the next generation of skilled practitioners.

Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award – Tenure Track
Georgia State University distinction

Jidong Huang, PhD
Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University honors Dr. Jidong Huang as a recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions in research, teaching, and service. Dr. Huang’s work in tobacco economics and tobacco regulatory science informs national and international policy. A pioneer in research on marketing and use of e-cigarettes, Dr. Huang was the first to identify the link between youth-orientated marketing on social media and increased awareness and use of Juul e-cigarettes by youth in the US. Dr. Huang is a highly effective instructor and dedicated mentor to students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty, and he serves in several high-profile editorships.

Exceptional Service Award
Georgia State University distinction

Katherine Masyn, PhD
Professor
Population Health Sciences

Georgia State University honors Dr. Katherine Masyn as a recipient of the Exceptional Service Award in recognition of her impactful service leadership, her dedication to promoting inclusive excellence, and her mentorship and support of our students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Masyn’s exceptional service to the school includes leadership roles as Academic Affairs Committee Chair, Interim Department Chair, and Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs. She established the interdisciplinary QUEST Center, is a founding and current member of GSU’s Biostatistics Research Collaborative and PRISM (Pride, Respect, Inclusion, Support, Movement), and has contributed to institutional visioning and strategy initiatives.

Excellence in Instruction Award
School of Public Health distinction

Colin Smith, DrPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Colin Smith as the recipient of the Excellence in Instruction Award in honor of his extraordinary commitment to student success. His students praise his highly effective communication, innovative and engaging instructional approach, and his ability to connect course material to current real-world problems. Dr. Smith has developed several undergraduate and graduate public health courses and was instrumental in establishing the BSPH program. In addition to his intensive teaching load across three academic programs and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, Dr. Smith serves as the faculty advisor for the GSU chapter of the Delta Omega Honor Society.

Excellence in Mentorship Award
School of Public Health distinction

Amanda Gilmore, PhD
Assistant Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Amanda Gilmore as the recipient of the Excellence in Mentorship Award in honor of her commitment to cultivating success in undergraduate, master, and doctoral students to postdoctoral fellows and early career faculty. She has mentored five NIH-funded postdoctoral fellows (four are now in faculty positions) and currently provides training for two NIH-funded career development awardees. Dr. Gilmore includes her mentees in all areas of her research from project conceptualization to dissemination. In the last five years, 50% of her published manuscripts and 75% of her conference presentations have included a trainee in a significant leadership role.

Exceptional Service Award
School of Public Health distinction

Harry Heiman, MD, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Harry Heiman as the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award in honor of his impactful leadership of the DrPH program and his commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. As inaugural director, Dr. Heiman built the DrPH program from the ground up. A tireless mentor, advisor, and advocate for students, he is committed to innovative and inclusive approaches to growing and improving the program and leads with enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and care. He serves on the SPH Diversity Council and contributes to university efforts to diversify the professorate. Throughout the pandemic, he has provided expertise for numerous media interviews, outlining health policy and equity implications.

Excellence in Research Award
School of Public Health distinction

Lucy Popova, PhD
Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Lucy Popova as the recipient of the Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Popova is internationally recognized for her interdisciplinary and impactful research examining the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive effects of tobacco-related messaging. Her innovative and timely work directly informs federal regulations aimed at preventing and reducing use of existing and emerging tobacco products. She was recently appointed to a four-year term serving on an FDA advisory committee as one of only nine voting members to evaluate safety, dependence, and health issues related to tobacco products, providing recommendations to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

MPH Achievement Award
School of Public Health distinction

Angelique Willis
Master of Public Health

The School of Public Health recognizes Angelique Willis as the recipient of the Master of Public Health Achievement Award for her outstanding scholarly accomplishments and dedication to academic excellence. Angelique excels both inside and outside the classroom as a highly engaged, dedicated, and goal-oriented student and graduate research assistant. She first authored a publication on a recent virtual study abroad experience and is developing a collaboration with the University of Georgia Research Extension Services to analyze data on well-water quality. She is also an active member of GSU’s interdisciplinary Disaster Informatics and Computational Epidemiology Center student group.

PhD in Public Health Achievement Award
School of Public Health distinction

Amna Tariq
PhD in Public Health

The School of Public Health recognizes Amna Tariq as the recipient of the PhD in Public Health Achievement Award for her exceptional academic performance and significant contributions in the fields of infectious disease modeling and epidemiology. Amna has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles as first or coauthor and has presented invited talks at multiple conferences. She has led large research teams and collaborated with international scholars. Amna serves on the editorial board for three peer-reviewed journals, she is a highly effective teaching assistant for graduate courses on infectious disease modeling, and she has served as vice president of GSU’s Public Health Student Association.

STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS

Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award
School of Public Health distinction

Vanessa Thomas-Meikle
Associate Director
Office of Academic Assistance

The School of Public Health recognizes Vanessa Thomas-Meikle as the recipient of the Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award for her outstanding contributions as Associate Director of the Office of Academic Assistance (OAA). Over the past two years of the pandemic, Vanessa has worked tirelessly to manage numerous scheduling adjustments across teaching modalities and policies to comply with CDC and USG mandates and to ensure the safety of our students and instructors. In response to significant growth in applications and enrollment, along with several OAA staff vacancies, Vanessa took on additional administrative and advising duties to ensure continued excellence in OAA student services.

Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity
School of Public Health distinction

Mark Crenshaw, MTS
Director of Interdisciplinary Training
Center for Leadership in Disability

The School of Public Health recognizes Mark Crenshaw as the recipient of the Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity in honor of his innovative and impactful leadership and mentorship within the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) and Georgia’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (GaLEND) program. As the GaLEND Training Director, Mark has mentored nearly 200 trainees, improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families, across the state and country. As a disability advocate, he is a frequent guest speaker across School of Public Health courses, empowering our students to champion inclusion throughout their public health careers.

Outstanding Team Player Award
School of Public Health distinction

William Thacker
College Administrative Officer

The School of Public Health recognizes William Thacker as the recipient of the Outstanding Team Player Award. A proactive team leader, William consistently goes above and beyond to collaboratively solve problems and to lend a helping hand to support his colleagues across the school. He is highly responsive, kind, and dependable. His can-do attitude and his willingness to go the extra mile to lead and to support others contributes to a culture of collegiality within the School of Public Health. Providing additional support during several staff vacancies, William has been managing numerous responsibilities across finance, administration, and facilities and events, all while maintaining an upbeat, positive outlook.

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

Exceptional Service Award
Georgia State University distinction

Kim Ramsey-White, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Dr. Kim Ramsey-White as the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award. GSU and SPH benefit immeasurably from her countless contributions and leadership as the inaugural Director of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program and as the Special Advisor to the Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in which she chairs the SPH Diversity Council. Her service to our students is unparalleled. To help students navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ramsey-White established and directs a student-led group—the GSU Student Emergency Response Team—that developed a campaign to share information and resources via video and social media to increase awareness and promote healthy behaviors.

Excellence in Mentorship Award
School of Public Health distinction

Heather Bradley, PhD
Assistant Professor
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Heather Bradley as the recipient of the Excellence in Mentorship Award. She is a dedicated instructor and mentor with a tireless commitment to elevating the education, opportunities, and accomplishments of our students. Since joining SPH in 2018, she’s supervised 18 students and co-published with students seven times, including a recent JAMA editorial led by a doctoral student. She recently launched a mentorship program to connect MPH students with Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) alumni from over a 40 year timespan in the EIS with positions as CDC branch chiefs and state health department leaders. They’ve already held four highly successful virtual events with 60+ attendees.

Excellence in Instruction Award
School of Public Health distinction

Sarah McCool, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Sarah McCool as the recipient of the Excellence in Instruction Award. Dr. McCool’s consistently outstanding student evaluations reflect her dedication to her students and the immense impact she has on their learning. She actively engages her students with innovative and multi-disciplinary lessons designed for all learning types. Her students describe her as always prepared, clear, and extremely organized. She chairs the BSPH Curriculum Committee, has served as faculty advisor for student groups GlobeMed and American Mock World Health Organization, and she developed GSU’s partnership with the United Nations Population Fund to offer internship and research opportunities for our students.

Exceptional Service Award
School of Public Health distinction

Matt Hayat, PhD
Professor
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Matt Hayat as the recipient of the Exceptional Service Award. Within SPH, he has served or chaired on nearly every major committee, established and directs the GSU Biostatistics Research Collaborative, and co-supervises the Graduate Biostatistics Computer Lab. At GSU, he has served on evaluation committees for university administrators, represented SPH on the Provost’s Task Force on Academic Integrity, and served on the IRB for six consecutive years. He’s held several leadership roles with ASPPH and the American Statistical Association, and he generously shares his time and expertise working “behind the scenes” to do everything he can to assist his students and colleagues.

Excellence in Research Award
School of Public Health distinction

Gerardo Chowell, PhD
Professor
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Gerardo Chowell as the recipient of the Excellence in Research Award for the impactful work he has done in the context of the ongoing pandemic. In April 2020, he received a NSF RAPID grant—the first novel coronavirus research grant received by GSU. His research group was one of the first to shed light on key epidemiological features of the virus. Using data from the Diamond Princess, they found evidence on the significant role of asymptomatic individuals in transmission dynamics, estimating that a substantial fraction of those who tested positive for COVID-19 never developed symptoms--critical work in the early days of the pandemic that was selected as one of the initial key findings according to Nature.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Master of Public Health Achievement Award
School of Public Health distinction

Jalissa Shealey
The School of Public Health recognizes Jalissa Shealey as the recipient of the Master of Public Health Achievement Award for her outstanding academic performance, contributions to research, and service. With a concentration in epidemiology, Jalissa is currently part of a project team for an NIH grant on increasing representation of Black communities in COVID-19 research. She serves as the President of the Public Health Student Association (PHSA), as the MPH student representative of the School of Public Health Academic Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Fiscal Year 2022 Student Tech Fee Committee.

PhD in Public Health Achievement Award
School of Public Health distinction

Zongshuan Duan
The School of Public Health recognizes Zongshuan Duan as the recipient of the PhD in Public Health Achievement Award for his excellent academic performance and significant scholarly contributions to the fields of tobacco control and tobacco regulatory science. Zongshuan has lead or co-authored ten peer-reviewed journal articles. His work has been widely reported by the media and has directly influenced the public health policy discourse on the regulation of marketing of electronic cigarettes to curb the youth vaping epidemic in the U.S. He’s an active member of the GSU Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science and the China Health Policy and Management Society, a global organization for advancing public health research and practice in China.

STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS

Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award
School of Public Health distinction

Donna Holloway
College Human Resources Officer

The School of Public Health recognizes Donna Holloway as the recipient of the Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award for her leadership managing human resources for the School. Donna and her team are responsible for several essential processes, including ensuring hiring processes and offer letters are up to date with university regulations, supervising hiring searches and weighing in on position titles and salary levels, managing employee time and payroll, and so much more. There are often tight deadlines for faculty hires or offer letters, for which Donna drops everything to ensure the deadline is met, and, unofficially, she serves as the School’s historical expert.

Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity
School of Public Health distinction

Juarndai Lei Gagnon
Grants and Contracts Manager
Mark Chaffin Center for Health Development (MCCHD)

The School of Public Health recognizes Juarndai Lei Gagnon as the recipient of the Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity. Juarndai is a true partner in the research enterprise, consistently going above and beyond to support researchers through the complex operations and financials to achieve success in grant projects with countless patience, unmatched attention to detail, exceptional organization, and excellent communication. Juarndai is always willing to take on additional submissions on short notice, and she never misses a beat. Her creativity and ingenuity has supported phenomenal growth of sponsored funding within MCCHD, elevating its standing as one of GSU’s highest performing university research centers.

Outstanding Team Player Award
School of Public Health distinction

Souvann St. John-Brown
Administrative Coordinator
Undergraduate Program in Public Health

The School of Public Health recognizes Souvann St. John-Brown as the recipient of the Outstanding Team Player Award for her contributions to the School’s Finance Team. Souvann took on several additional duties when the School established a team to centralize all financial transactions within SPH last summer. She has excelled in this new role, embodying what it means to be a team player. Souvann is always highly professional and reliable, provides excellent customer service to all faculty, staff, and students, and is consistently making suggestions for improvement. Noticing when her team members need extra support or when the team needs a boost, Souvann’s helpful attitude and enthusiasm lift up the entire team.

PARTNER ACHIEVEMENTS

Applied Practice Experience Preceptor of the Year
School of Public Health distinction

Gurleen Roberts, DrPH, MPH
Epidemiologist
Cobb & Douglas Public Health

The School of Public Health recognizes Gurleen Roberts as the recipient of the Applied Practice Experience Preceptor of the Year Award for her exceptional commitment to the field of public health and outstanding mentorship and leadership in a public health applied practice experience. Gurleen provided excellent training and insightful and helpful feedback to students who were conducting contract tracing with the Georgia Department of Public Health. Students characterized Gurleen as an effective preceptor who helped students to acquire invaluable skills to apply in their public health careers and as the best manager they had ever had.

Applied Practice Experience Site of the Year
School of Public Health distinction

Georgia Department of Public Health
The School of Public Health recognizes the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) as the recipient of the Applied Practice Experience Site of the Year Award. This award recognizes a public health organization for its demon­strated commitment to graduate students in public health and its continued support of practice opportunities for MPH students. GDPH was selected as the award recipient by our students and faculty for their outstanding contributions to the community and for providing exceptional professional training for students. Last summer, GDPH hosted 24 of our students for paid contract tracing experience and have since hired on several of our students full-time.

FACULTY AWARDS

Distinguished University Professor
Georgia State University distinction

Daniel Whitaker, PhD
Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University appoints Dr. Daniel Whitaker as Distinguished University Professor for his sustained record of scholarship and substantial contributions to the instructional and service missions of the university. Dr. Whitaker is internationally recognized for his work on the prevention of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. As instructor and mentor, Dr. Whitaker is committed to developing highly productive, independent research scientists, and he has collectively served in a leadership role for the School of Public Health and the National SafeCare Training and Research Center within the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development for the past twelve years.

Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award
Georgia State University distinction

Ashli Owen-Smith, PhD
Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Dr. Ashli Owen-Smith as the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award for her exemplary contributions in research, continued dedication to excellence in instruction, and exceptional service to the school and university. A leading expert in behavioral sciences and health education, Dr. Owen-Smith examines mindfulness-based interventions for juvenile justice-involved youth in Atlanta-area detention centers and is Co-Investigator and Co-Director of Community Engagement for the CDC-funded Prevention Research Center to address disparities and determinants of health for migrants and refugees in Clarkston, GA.

Excellence in Research Award
School of Public Health distinction

Jidong Huang, PhD
Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Jidong Huang as the recipient of the Excellence in Research Award for his superb research and scholarly accomplishments. His work has had a profound impact on national and international policy regarding regulation of tobacco products through his extensive investigation of consumer decision-making and the effects of price, smoke-free air policy, graphic warning labels, advertising, and harm perception. Dr. Huang’s work has been published in over 60 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals such as JAMA Network Open, American Journal of Public Health, and Tobacco Control.

Excellence in Mentorship Award
School of Public Health distinction

Carlos A. O. Pavão
Clinical Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dr. Carlos Pavão as the recipient of the Excellence in Mentorship Award for his outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students in public health. Dr. Pavão is described by his students as the kind of instructor who recognizes every student’s potential. He has worked to expand undergraduate research opportunities, supporting over 100 student presentations at undergraduate research conferences, and currently mentoring nine students. Several of his students are in graduate programs at institutions such as Tulane, Emory, and UNC-Chapel Hill, citing his influence in their decision to continue their public health education.

STAFF AWARDS

Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity
School of Public Health distinction

Missale Ayele
Lead Education Technology Specialist

The School of Public Health recognizes Missale Ayele as the recipient of the Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity for her contributions to the educational mission of School of Public Health through enhancing instructional effectiveness and innovation and supporting distance learning.

Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award
School of Public Health distinction

Theresa Glasheen
Department Coordinator
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Theresa Glasheen as the recipient of the Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award for her contributions to the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences and demonstrated ability to be a self-starter determined to stay the course on any task.

Outstanding Team Player Award
School of Public Health distinction

Lynette Reid
Graduate Recruitment Manager
Office of Academic Assistance and Career Services

The School of Public Health recognizes Lynette Reid as the recipient of the Outstanding Team Player Award for her contributions to student success and to the instructional mission of the School through her upbeat and dynamic personality and demonstrated ability to strengthen team chemistry.