FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

Tenure Track Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award
Georgia State University distinction

Claire Spears, PhD
Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Claire Spears with the Tenure Track Outstanding Faculty Achievement Award. Dr. Spears is an Associate Professor in Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences department and her research focuses on interventions to reduce health risk behaviors and enhance quality of life in underserved populations. She directs the GSU Mindful Living Lab, co-chairs the GSU mHealth Research Collaborative, and was selected to join the Roster of Experts on Digital Health for the World Health Organization. She serves on the editorial boards of the journals Mindfulness and Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

Non-Tenure Track Facultv Achievement Award
Georgia State University distinction

Erin Vinoski Thomas, PhD
Interim Director of the Center for Leadership in Disability, Research Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Erin Vinoski Thomas with the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award. Dr. Vinoski-Thomas has served as faculty advisor to one PhD and four DrPH students, as well as the Applied Practice Experience Supervisor/Mentor to six MPH students. She also guest-lectured in a Research Seminar through GSU’s Department of Psychology about effective strategies for managing the transition from graduate school to employment. Lastly, Dr. Vinoski-Thomas is a regular guest lecturer and mentor for the emerging leaders in the GaLEND Program, run by the Center for Leadership in Disability. GaLEND is a one-year cohort program that prepares healthcare professionals to provide coordinated, culturally competent, and family-centered care to children and their families.

Excellence in Instruction Award
School of Public Health distinction

Kimberley Freire, PhD
Associate Clinical Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Kimberley Freire with its Excellence in Instruction Award. Dr. Freire is a Clinical Associate Professor in the department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences. Since joining SPH Dr. Freire has created multiple DrPH courses and developed a new study abroad program titled Entitled Storytelling in Public Health and Related Fields, this program explores storytelling while learning about modern history in a public health context in South Africa.

Excellence in Mentorship Award
School of Public Health distinction

Christine Stauber, PhD
Associate Professor

The School of Public Health recognizes Christine Stauber with its Excellence in Mentorship Award. Dr. Stauber is the PhD Program Director for Population Health Sciences, Dr. Stauber works with our doctoral students providing mentorship throughout their academic program. In addition, she goes beyond and provides support about career trajectory, navigating graduate school and managing personal challenges in the course of their studies.

Exceptional Service Award
School of Public Health distinction

Jalayne Arias, PhD
Associate Professor

The School of Public Health recognizes Jalayne Arias with its Exceptional Service Award. Arias is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS) in the School of Public Health. She joined GSU and SPH in October 2021, and in less than three years she has had a profound impact on our school’s spirit and its national reputation. She has demonstrated remarkable leadership and service in various capacities.

Excellence in Research Award
School of Public Health distinction

Laura Salazar, PhD
Distinguished University Professor

The School of Public Health recognizes Laura Salazar with its Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Salazar is a Distinguished University Professor, a 2nd Century Scholar, and a Professor in the Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences in GSU’s School of Public Health. She has had extraordinary contributions in research and is a world-renowned researcher in the areas of alcohol and sexual violence prevention as well as addressing inequalities in HIV experienced by racial, sexual, and gender minoritized populations.

Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award (Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences)
School of Public Health distinction

Desmond Banks
Adjunct Instructor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Desmond Banks with its Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award for the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences. Since joining SPH as an instructor in 2022, Dr. Banks has been an incredible support to both the undergraduate and graduate programs in HPBS.  Two of the courses he regularly teaches include PHPB 4030, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health; and PHPB 7160, Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership, and Policy. Semester after semester, students comment on Dr. Bank’s effective teaching style, kindness, and encouragement.

Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award (Population Health Sciences)
School of Public Health distinction

Betsy Gunnels
Adjunct Instructor
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Betsy Gunnels with its Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award for the Department of Population Health Sciences.

STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS

Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award
School of Public Health distinction

Katherine Henderson
Proiect Coordinator

The School of Public Health recognizes Katherine Henderson with its Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance. Ms. Henderson exemplifies what it means to have a “can-do” attitude. She is a problem solver, and she does not hesitate to take on new tasks, no matter how complicated or tedious they may seem. She is often several steps ahead of the Principal Investigators in planning detailed study procedures and logistics. She consistently goes above and beyond to make sure tasks are taken care of in a timely manner. She has also taken the initiative to lead and co-author several journal articles and conference presentations.

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

Erin Weeks
Senior Research Associate

Outstanding Team Player Award
School of Public Health distinction

Denise Gouveia
Director, Office of Academic Assistance

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

Distinguished University Professorship
Georgia State University distinction

Laura Salaza, PhD
Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Laura Salazar in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences with the Distinguished University Professorship. This honor is bestowed to exemplary faculty members for their research, instructional and service contributions. No more than 5% of the university’s tenured faculty may hold this title. Dr. Salazar focuses her research efforts on understanding and improving significant inequalities in HIV experienced by racial, sexual and gender minority populations. She has also focused her efforts on the intersecting epidemic of violence against women.

Georgia State University Mentoring Excellence Award
Georgia State University distinction

Shannon Self-Brown, PhD
Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Shannon Self-Brown with the inaugural Georgia State University Mentoring Excellence Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who has shown an outstanding dedication to the mentoring of other faculty members. The winner of this award demonstrates a commitment to fostering the intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional growth; shown a sustained commitment to a mentoring relationship resulting in career growth; and an overall history of service and mentorship to faculty. This award acknowledges the time and dedication faculty mentors devote to foster the career development and academic success of other faculty at the university.

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

Scott Weaver, PhD
Professor
Population Health Sciences

Georgia State University recognizes Scott Weaver with the Outstanding Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award. Dr. Weaver has over a decade of experience conducting research on topics spanning tobacco control and regulatory science; minority and immigrant health and health disparities; substance use and risky youth behaviors; social and cultural determinants of health; systems interventions for promoting positive youth and family outcomes; and global urban health. He has been particularly interested in studying the complex, dynamic systems that interact not only to generate, but also entrench health disparities from a systems perspective.

Excellence in Instruction Award
School of Public Health distinction

Jacque-Corey Cormier, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Jacque-Corey Cormier with its Excellence in Instruction Award. Dr. Cormier regularly teaches classes such as “Introduction to Public Health,” “Introduction to Research Methods,” “Public Health Careers and Professions,” and the two-semester BSPH Signature Experience Prospectus and Capstone. In addition, he developed and taught a doctoral elective, “It Takes a Village to Raise Research: Applying the Community-based Participatory Action Research Approach,” as well as a virtual Study Abroad course, “Georgia on My Mind & Body,” during summer semesters. He is deeply committed to the success of his students and supports their success through his involvement in the Meet and Talk (MeTa) Series and through his mentorship of students participating in academic conferences.

Excellence in Mentorship Award
School of Public Health distinction

Erin Vinoski-Thomas, PhD
Associate Director
Center for Leadership in Disability

The School of Public Health recognizes Erin Vinoski-Thomas with its Excellence in Mentorship Award. Dr. Vinoski-Thomas joined the SPH faculty in Fall 2019 and promptly agreed to serve as academic advisor and mentor to several graduate students. To-date, she has served as faculty advisor to one PhD and four DrPH students, as well as the Applied Practice Experience Supervisor/Mentor to six MPH students. In terms of culminating projects, Erin has served as a Dissertation/Thesis committee member for one MPH, one PhD, and two DrPH students. Not only have these students shared illustrious examples in their letters of support of how Dr. Vinoski-Thomas mentored their academic careers, but they were also encouraged by her to apply and present at national conferences.

Exceptional Service Award
School of Public Health distinction

Terri Pigott, PhD
Professor
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Terri Pigott with its Exceptional Service Award. Dr. Piggott joined GSU in 2019 and holds a joint appointment in the SPH and the College of Education & Human Development. She has held several roles at the institutional level and within the SPH. At the institutional level, she chaired the ad-hoc committee for review of the Dean of the Graduate School and served as a member of the advisory committee for the Graduate School. Within the School of Public Health, she serves on the Faculty Affairs Committee, chaired the SPH Promotion and Tenure Committee from 2020 – 2022, and served on the Faculty Awards Committee in 2022. In the Department of Population Health Sciences, she chaired the search committee for a tenure track epidemiology faculty member. In addition, she fills service roles on several College of Education & Human Development committees.

Excellence in Research Award
School of Public Health distinction

Dennis Reidy, PhD
Associate Professor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Dennis Reidy with its Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Reidy is nationally recognized for his extensive research focused on identifying modifiable risk and protective factors for violence, as well as for developing and evaluating interventions that integrate behavioral strategies to prevent violence and associated injury and disease. This lens and skillset are applied to a multitude of research areas, including interpersonal or sexual violence, fatherhood and multi-generational engagement, hypermasculinity and adolescent health promotion, to name a few. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles focused on these topics and has presented research at numerous prestigious national and international scientific conferences.

Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award (Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences)
School of Public Health distinction

Samantha Chin, PhD
Adjunct Instructor
Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Samantha Chin with its Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award for the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Chin joined the SPH in Spring 2022 and has taught four different classes and also created and taught PHPB 833, “Implementation and Scale-up of Evidence-based Practices for Maternal and Child Health Populations.” The online synchronous course includes journal club participation, an individual paper and a group project. Her student evaluations are overwhelmingly positive, and students emphasize her kindness, accessibility and ability to motivate students to achieve their full academic potential.

Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award (Population Health Sciences)
School of Public Health distinction

Maya Sternberg, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Population Health Sciences

The School of Public Health recognizes Maya Sternberg with its Outstanding Part-Time Instructor Award for the Department of Population Health Sciences. Dr. Sternberg joined the SPH in 2015 and has taught more than 20 sections of the core MPH course PH7017, “Fundamentals of Biostatistics I.” Her course evaluations have been stellar and are among the strongest in the school. The student feedback for sections she has taught include comments such as “The Best instructor I have ever had hands down!” and “Dr, Maya was one of the best professors I have ever had. She has a gift for teaching and makes this extremely difficult course manageable to digest. She is phenomenal.”

STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS

Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award
School of Public Health distinction

Barbara Beckford
Administrative Specialist
Office of Applied Practice Experience and Career Services

The School of Public Health recognizes Barbara Beckford with its Excellence in Initiative and Perseverance Award. Ms. Beckford is a consummate professional who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service and support to faculty and staff in the SPH, even in areas not indicated in her job description. For example, volunteered to assist with the onboarding process in the office of the Senior Human Resource Coordinator when there was an urgent need. Barbara’s unquestionable character is demonstrated in her ability to avail herself on short notice to solve challenging administrative problems or to find replacements for relevant vacancies.

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

Monique Folston
Business Manager III
Center for Leadership in Disability, Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development

The School of Public Health recognizes Monique Folston with its Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity. Ms. Foltston joined the Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development in 2014 and promptly demonstrated mastery of responsibilities within her work scope. She has exhibited continuous dedication as a self-starter who manages all business aspects of the MCCHD. Her workload has expanded exponentially with the growth of the MCCHD. For example, the number of centers within the MCCHD has doubled since 2014, and the number of Graduate Research Assistant appointments that she manages annually has grown from 15 to more than 100. In the midst of unparalleled growth, her determination to stay the course is evident in her management of multiple time sensitive matters with proactive attention, extensive monitoring, crystal clear communication, tactful guidance and diligent follow up.

Outstanding Team Player Award
School of Public Health distinction

Gina Sample
Director of Academic Effectiveness and Student Success

The School of Public Heath recognizes Gina Sample with its Outstanding Team Player Award. Ms. Sample has made substantial and ongoing contributions to the SPH within and well-beyond the boundaries of her job duties. In addition to her strong work ethic and dedication, she consistently produces high-quality work and has a wealth of expertise related to SPH academic and student affairs. Her colleagues describe has as approachable and considerate, and note that she works collaboratively with others, be they students, staff colleagues, faculty or supervisors. She regularly takes initiative to offer support and assistance to colleagues, even when it falls outside her job responsibilities.

MVP Staff Award
School of Public Health distinction

Marcus Cooper
Facilities and Events Specialist

The School of Public Health recognizes Marcus Cooper with its Difference Maker Award for Creativity and Ingenuity. Mr. Cooper has had an extraordinary impact on the school’s events, event planning, renovation projects and facilities. Colleagues emphasize his friendly and warm demeanor, as well as his willingness to assist with requests in a speedy and helpful manner. Marcus played an indispensable role in the recent MCCHD renovation project and relocation to the first floor of Urban Life building as project lead for the SPH. This project included demolition, design, rebuild, furniture orders and project management for the newly renovated school space, which involved coordination several on-campus and off-campus partners.

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.