Kamran Kardel, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, is leading a multidisciplinary research team to help regional logistics companies increase efficiency.

Funded through the college鈥檚 Remotely Operated Warehouse Services (ROWS) Laboratory, with seed money from , the team is composed of Kardel, Ryan Florin, Ph.D, assistant professor of computer science and students. 

Kardel and his team are using the software to build simulations, known as 鈥渄igital twins,鈥� that replicate warehouse operations like picking, packing and shipping. The ROWS Laboratory will serve as a development site, allowing the simulations to be thoroughly tested and validated before being presented to third parties.  

To ensure optimal accuracy and responsiveness, the simulations will include IoT data. The IoT refers to a network of physical devices located within and around the warehouse, such as mobile robots, sensors and cameras, that collect and share real-time data over the internet.

The ultimate goal is to provide industry partners with simulation capabilities using AnyLogic Software and Internet of Things (IoT) integration.

This industry collaboration also provides important professional development for the students working on the project. 

鈥淚 have a few students, both undergraduate and graduate, who are going to be involved in this project from beginning to end,鈥� said Kardel. 鈥淪everal of them have mentioned to me that this is their first time with direct access to the industry and potential employers.鈥�

Continuing the theme of collaboration, the project could result in shared postdoctoral positions with Ireland鈥檚 South East Technological University in its . While still in its early stages, Kardel hopes this partnership will give this research an even larger scope.

鈥淭he Lean Industry 4.0 Lab has a lot of experience in IoT,鈥� Kardel explained. 鈥淏y joining Ph.D. programs, hopefully we can work together and improve logistics here in our region and in Ireland.鈥�

Ultimately, Kardel hopes this research can give companies a leg up in an increasingly digitized world.

鈥淎s far as automation, for companies in southeast Georgia and South Carolina, I would say it鈥檚 becoming more common,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still a mixed bag, though some warehouses are fully automated, some are not. The work we are doing can help companies remain competitive.鈥�

Twelve outstanding active faculty members from 秋葵视频 were featured on . This annual list features scientists whose work has had the highest citation count and citation impact in their fields within a given year.

This year鈥檚 Georgia Southern honorees represent a diverse range of disciplines, from physics and chemistry to epidemiology and business. Ten of the 12 faculty members were also featured on last year鈥檚 list. 

Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Weindorf, Ph.D, P.G., is among them and takes pride in seeing so many familiar names, and a couple of new ones, included. 

鈥淪eeing names from so many different disciplines, both old and new, speaks volumes about our growth and consistency,鈥� said Weindorf. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for these faculty who relentlessly pursue excellence and truly embody growing ourselves to grow others in research.鈥�

The complete list of Georgia Southern faculty featured includes the following:

Xiao-jun Wang, Ph.D., professor of physics, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y work centers on creating advanced luminescent materials for energy-efficient lighting and sensing technologies,鈥� Wang explained. 鈥淲hat drives me is the excitement of uncovering how materials behave 鈥� and finding logical, scientific explanations for what we observe.鈥� He added that he has always loved Albert Einstein鈥檚 quote, 鈥淭he most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.鈥� . 

Arda Yenipazarli, Ph.D., professor of operations management, Parker College of Business

鈥淚鈥檝e always been drawn to complex, high-stakes corporate scenarios where decisions leave lasting societal and environmental footprints,鈥� said Yenipazarli. 鈥淢y research helps firms make more strategic, profitable and responsible choices about their supply chains and operations鈥搃n environments defined by volatility, competition, regulation and shifting market forces. I believe that thoughtful, analytically grounded research can empower better decisions and drive meaningful, lasting impact鈥揻or business, for society, and for the planet.鈥� .

Allen Amason, Ph.D., professor of management, Parker College of Business

鈥淚 study the connections between strategy, strategic decision-making and organizational performance,鈥� Amason explained. 鈥淚 wanted to understand why some firms succeed where others do not. My motivation remains the same today as it was then 鈥� to help organizations and managers perform better.鈥� .

Isaac Chun-Hai Fung, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology, Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

鈥淚t is my great privilege to work with a network of excellent students, colleagues and collaborators,鈥� Fung said. 鈥淲e study how to mitigate the impact of epidemics on human societies and harness the advances of digital technologies to promote health.鈥� .

Lance Durden, Ph.D, professor emeritus of biology, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淚 study ectoparasites (lice, fleas, ticks and parasitic mites) of humans and animals, including species of medical and veterinary importance and the pathogens they can transmit,鈥� said Durden. 鈥淚 have authored about 400 peer-reviewed publications, including eight books or monographs and 29 invited book chapters. I am currently working on the 4th edition of a widely used textbook in North America and Europe entitled Medical and Veterinary Entomology and am driven by a fascination with the natural world and a desire to improve human and animal health.” .

David C. Weindorf, Ph.D, P.G., vice president for research and economic development, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淚 study and classify soils to better understand how we can use and protect them,鈥� Weindorf said. 鈥� My research is mostly centered on applications for proximal and remote sensors for soil characterization; I鈥檝e been involved in everything from taxonomic soil classification to environmental soil science and disaster response work, ensuring that soil is safe and healthy. What drives me is helping people help the land 鈥� because a healthy world starts with healthy soil.鈥� .

Jos茅 A. Jim茅nez, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical and materials chemistry, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y research interests are mainly in glass science, nanomaterials, optical materials, thin films, and energy-relevant materials such as solar cells and Li-ion batteries鈥�, Jim茅nez noted. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about learning through experimentation and gaining insights into the physical principles that explain material properties.鈥� .

Masoud Davari, Ph.D., interim associate dean for research and professor of electrical and computer engineering, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about innovating power and energy systems,鈥� Davari shared. 鈥淢y research focuses on designing control methods based on artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to enhance performance under challenging conditions and on developing resilient-by-design systems to strengthen cybersecurity. The National Science Foundation has continuously supported this research through multiple projects totaling nearly $1.2 million.鈥� .

Haijun Gong, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

鈥淢y research focuses on 3D printing metals and high-performance polymers for lightweight design and optimization,鈥� Gong said. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about advancing cost-effective additive manufacturing technologies and materials that drive the next generation of advanced manufacturing.鈥� .

Dmitry Apanaskevich, Ph.D., professor of biology and entomology, College of Science and Mathematics

鈥淢y major research interest is the systematics of hard ticks (family Ixodidae),鈥� Apanaskevich said. 鈥淭his includes their taxonomy, phylogenetics, host-parasite relationships and geographic distribution. I love discovering new species and solving complex, often confusing questions along the way. That鈥檚 what drives my passion.鈥� .

Bryan Riemann, Ph.D., professor of sports medicine, Waters College of Health Professions

鈥淢y research examines how biomechanical and neuromuscular factors shape human movement, with the goal of improving performance and developing more effective approaches for injury prevention and rehabilitation,鈥� Riemann explained. 鈥淭his work spans diverse populations, including both trained and untrained, across the lifespan.鈥�

The late James E. Keirans, Ph.D, former curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection at the Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology at 秋葵视频

Keirans earned his doctorate in medical entomology in 1966 and devoted his career to the study of ectoparasites. He became one of the world鈥檚 foremost experts on tick biology and taxonomy. In 1990, he became curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection at the then newly formed Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology at Georgia Southern in Statesboro. He retired in 2005. .

秋葵视频 has appointed Timothy L. Shuey as associate provost for academic resource management, effective November 2025.

In this role, Shuey will provide strategic oversight of financial planning, budgeting and resource allocation for Academic Affairs. He will collaborate closely with deans, academic leadership and administrative partners to ensure alignment of resources with the University鈥檚 strategic mission, enrollment growth and commitment to student success.

Shuey joins Georgia Southern from Appalachian State University, where he served as associate vice provost for resource management. In that role, he oversaw more than $150 million in operating budgets, led cross-functional teams in financial process improvement, and advanced institutional initiatives focused on efficiency, transparency and long-range fiscal sustainability.

Shuey brings more than 25 years of higher education and financial leadership experience to the position, previously serving as vice president for fiscal affairs and chief financial officer at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, vice president for finance and administration at Gardner-Webb University, and in multiple senior financial roles at The Pennsylvania State University, where he managed complex operational and research budgets totaling more than $250 million. His expertise spans financial and operational leadership, budget model design, organizational change management, and the application of emerging technologies 鈥� such as artificial intelligence 鈥� to improve institutional processes and reporting.

鈥淭im brings an exceptional combination of financial acumen, strategic vision and collaborative leadership,鈥� said Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淗is record of success in optimizing resources and driving financial sustainability and growth across complex academic organizations makes him the ideal partner to help advance Georgia Southern鈥檚 mission of academic excellence and student success.鈥�

A certified public accountant in Maryland, Shuey holds a Master of Business Administration and dual bachelor鈥檚 degrees in accounting and hotel, restaurant and institutional management from The Pennsylvania State University. He is currently a doctoral candidate in business administration (accounting) at Marshall University.

鈥淚 am honored to join 秋葵视频 and contribute to an institution that is both forward-thinking and student-centered,鈥� said Shuey. 鈥淚 look forward to partnering with faculty, staff and campus leaders to build on Georgia Southern鈥檚 strong foundation of academic integrity, operational excellence and service to its communities.鈥�

Shuey鈥檚 professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants and the Penn State Alumni Association. He also serves on the board of directors for Haven of Hope Global Ministries.

Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, professor and associate dean for 秋葵视频鈥檚 Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, has been named president of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest organization of public health professionals.

Marshall began her presidential term on Nov. 5, following a year as president-elect. She will serve a three-year term on APHA鈥檚 executive board, including her current presidential year and a subsequent year as immediate past president.

With more than two decades of experience in community-engaged public health, Marshall is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing maternal and child health equity, and for her dedication to preparing the next generation of the public health workforce. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 in religious studies from Spelman College, a master鈥檚 in public health from East Stroudsburg University and a Doctor of Public Health from Georgia Southern.

鈥淒r. Marshall鈥檚 appointment to lead APHA is a tremendous national recognition of her contribution to public health 鈥� and a reflection of Georgia Southern鈥檚 growing impact on the global public health landscape,鈥� said Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. 鈥淗er commitment to community partnership, workforce development and health equity exemplifies the values we strive to instill in every graduate of our distinctive public health college.鈥�

Marshall鈥檚 work has centered on bridging lived experience and scientific research to drive equitable health outcomes. 

鈥淚鈥檓 deeply honored to serve as APHA president,鈥� Marshall said. 鈥淧ublic health calls us to listen to communities, honor their wisdom and work together to build the equitable systems that recognize health as a human right. Equity is not an outcome 鈥� it鈥檚 a commitment. And I鈥檓 grateful to continue this work with purpose, courage and love alongside partners across the country.鈥�

Founded in 1872, APHA represents more than 25,000 members nationwide, serving as a convener, catalyst and advocate for equitable health and well-being for all. The association connects practitioners, researchers, educators and policymakers to advance evidence-based public health initiatives.

Jya Ewing was looking for a sense of belonging when she applied for college.

“I was excited to visit what I thought my top school was at the time,” said Ewing, who double majors in political science and international studies at 秋葵视频. “But I really value my community and my family, and I just didn’t feel that when I visited.” 

That’s how the pre-law hopeful’s number two school became her top choice.  

“My family lives down the road in Richmond Hill,” said Ewing. “I’ve been around the Georgia Southern area for a long time. I realized the University was more of the close-knit, community environment that I’d been dreaming of.” 

秋葵视频 was recently named as one of 75 ‘dream school’ colleges in Jeffrey Selingo’s latest book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.”   

Selingo explained in a recent with NPR how working in and around higher education for nearly three decades led him to discover that prestige was often valued over purpose.

His book urges students and families to look beyond the usual A-list schools and instead focus on what matters at college: strong job prospects after graduation, hands-on learning experiences and what Ewing was looking for 鈥� a sense of belonging. She found all that and more at Georgia Southern. 

“My programs tend to have smaller class sizes, which makes it really easy to connect and engage with professors,” she said. “And then there are incredible resources, like the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) at Georgia Southern. They helped me write my personal statement for my law school application.” 

OCPD offers more than just support to students like Ewing. The office uses tools like career assessments, networking tips and job search strategies to prepare students to succeed in their dream career. Services like these really make a difference: OCPD reports that more than 72% of all graduates from the class of 2024 have secured jobs and careers relevant to their field of study. 

Ewing wants to make sure others have the same opportunity as she did to chase their dreams. She’s gone on to help others find their own community during her time as president of the Student Government Association. 

“Students come to the Student Government for help with things like financial issues or classroom access,” she explained. “To be able to advocate for people who need help like that, that’s something I’ve always wanted, and it’s something I’ve gotten to do at Georgia Southern.”  

The number of students who chose 秋葵视频 for the Fall 2025 Semester continues to soar, according to .

The University鈥檚 official Fall 2025 total enrollment is a record-breaking 29,633, a 7.73% increase over Fall 2024, and the University鈥檚 highest enrollment in its history. Of the University鈥檚 29,633 students, 85% are from the state of Georgia. The new beginning freshman class is also a record at 5,946 students, a jump of 17.67% from the previous year, making it the largest freshman class in the University鈥檚 history.

鈥淭his record-breaking enrollment is a testament to our outstanding faculty and staff, our commitment to student success, and the value of a Georgia Southern degree in preparing students for meaningful lives and careers,鈥� said 秋葵视频 President Kyle Marrero. 鈥淭hese numbers tell a powerful story 鈥� students choose Georgia Southern because of the exceptional experiences, support and sense of community they find here.鈥�

Additional enrollment records set in Fall 2025 include:

• The total number of new graduate and undergraduate students who enrolled at Georgia Southern is 9,628, an increase of 12.98% from last fall.
• The total number of dual-enrolled students, who are both new and returning to the University, is 1,808, a 16.65% climb from Fall 2024. Of that number, 1,097 are dual enrollment students new to the University.
• Graduate student enrollment grew to 4,038 students, a gain of 3.86% year over year.
  • Master’s program enrollment is 2,916 students.
  • Specialist program enrollment rose 21.67% over Fall 2024 to 365 students.
  • Doctoral program enrollment grew to 757, an increase of 7.38% over last year.

鈥淭his record enrollment underscores the confidence students and families have in Georgia Southern and reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting students from enrollment to graduation. It affirms the strength of our brand, the excellence of our academic programs, and our student-centered approach,鈥� said Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Student Success Alejandra C. Sosa Pieroni, Ed.D. 鈥淲e remain committed to expanding access and developing the talent that drives the economic vitality and future of our region.鈥�  

Enrollment within the University鈥檚 Honors College continues to rise as 923 students joined the supportive community of high achievers, where they will perform advanced research, access a broad range of experiential opportunities and receive personalized guidance. This growth represents an expansion of 18.33% over the previous year.

Georgia Southern鈥檚 student retention rate climbed to 82%, an upswing of 4% over Fall 2024. The University was awarded the Chancellor鈥檚 Cup Trophy for the highest percentage retention increase of all comprehensive institutions within the USG during the Board of Regents meeting on Nov. 11.

Georgia Southern also contributed to the University System of Georgia鈥檚 (USG) record-setting degrees awarded, . The University set a record for graduate degrees conferred as 1,622 students received a doctorate, master’s or specialist degree FY25, an uptick of 16.02% over FY24.

秋葵视频鈥檚 Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion (SWHP) has been awarded $31,770.73 from the Georgia Governor鈥檚 Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to support initiatives aimed at reducing harm and risks associated with substance and alcohol use.

“The Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion welcomes the opportunity to continue expanding alcohol and other drug harm reduction programming throughout 秋葵视频 campuses,鈥� said Urkovia Andrews, DrPH, interim director of SWHP. 鈥淭his will help create a safer environment for our campuses and beyond.鈥�

The grant from GOHS, using federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be allocated during the FY26 grant year, which runs Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026. It will fund substance use harm-reduction strategies at the University, including programming and personnel costs.

鈥淚nnovative projects like this are designed with the intent for Georgia and our nation to reach the realistic goal of zero traffic deaths by the middle of this century,鈥� said Allen Poole, director of the GOHS. 鈥淓ach life saved on our roads is one less family that will have to live with the pain of losing a loved one whose life was taken from them in a traffic crash that was completely preventable.鈥�

Jennifer Challice, a 秋葵视频 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing student (BSN) hasn鈥檛 had the most linear journey to her nursing degree. A Kennesaw, Georgia, native, she first earned a degree in theater before working at the Walt Disney Co. as a lifeguard. With time, her interest for health and safety training turned into a career-altering path.

Her passion for health care combined with her resiliency as a military spouse recently helped her earn a $4,565 Military Spouse Scholarship from Georgia Southern and the Landings Military Family Relief Fund.

The award represents more than financial relief for Challice. It’s also validation that her hard work and determination have led her in the right direction. 

鈥淭his scholarship lets me breathe,鈥� Challice said. 鈥淭hanks to this scholarship, my husband and I have decided that we’re in a financially stable enough situation where I don鈥檛 have to work for the rest of the year and focus on my studies.鈥�

She thrives in high-pressure situations and realized she wanted a career where people could look to her for guidance during their most critical moments.

As a military spouse, however, pursuing that dream wasn鈥檛 simple. Frequent moves with her husband, an Army intelligence officer, took her from Georgia to Florida, Louisiana and Arizona before settling in Savannah, often leaving few opportunities to continue her education.

After relocating to the Coastal Empire, Challice found her perfect fit at Georgia Southern. 

As a student in the Accelerated BSN program, she was immediately surrounded by peers with similar life experiences, and she quickly felt at home. More importantly, the program allowed her to pursue nursing on an intensive timeline that aligns with her family鈥檚 next military move.

鈥淚 don’t have the time for the traditional BSN,鈥� she quipped. 鈥淚 have to keep moving. I’ve got a fire under my belt, that’s for sure.鈥�

This also continues a tradition of success for the Landings Military Spouse Scholarship. Of the 39 total scholarship recipients of this award, 37 of them are either still in their program or have graduated.

鈥淪ee a gap, fill a gap.鈥� That鈥檚 how Jeffrey Klibert, Ph.D., associate director of clinical training in 秋葵视频鈥檚 Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), described the inspiration behind a project designed to extend behavioral health services in rural areas.

Filling gaps is something Klibert said has always been a challenge in behavioral health care. This challenge became steeper in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淲hen COVID hit, we saw some really alarming rates of people seeking services, and there just weren鈥檛 enough providers to meet that need,鈥� Klibert said. 鈥淲e saw waitlists that were six months, eight months, sometimes a year long.鈥�

Waitlists of this length are a common occurrence in Georgia鈥檚 rural areas, where resources are scarce and reported health outcomes are among the worst in the state.

Klibert, along with colleagues Lindsey Stone, Ph.D., and Thresha Yancey, Ph.D., and students, is working to improve the situation across 14 rural counties in Georgia, thanks to the renewal of a research and training grant from the .

Stone and Yancey will supervise the trainees, while Klibert will oversee the entire program.

The grant enables quantitative and qualitative research to increase access to behavioral health care in rural areas, while also providing Georgia Southern鈥檚 fourth-year PsyD students with hands-on training through local care providers. The ultimate goal is to develop more efficient and effective models for interprofessional, team-based care in areas of the state where it is most needed.

鈥淓verybody sees the need. We just need the glue to link everybody together,鈥� Klibert said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what the program is trying to be. It鈥檚 trying to build those bridges to create a more comprehensive system of care.鈥�

Students will provide a range of services in collaboration with local care providers, including psychological assessments and therapy for individuals and families.

Alex Cudd, a fourth-year PsyD student who joined the program in August, calls the experience 鈥渋nvaluable鈥� and hopes to join the 94% of program alumni who currently provide care in rural settings.

鈥淚n just a few months, I鈥檝e learned so much about providing well-rounded care,鈥� Cudd said. 鈥淚 know I鈥檒l carry this training into my career.鈥�

, a resiliency- and recovery-based behavioral health agency serving Bulloch, Candler and Emanuel counties, is among the local providers partnering with Georgia Southern.

鈥淎ll the interns we鈥檝e had from Georgia Southern understand the concept of recovery, are trauma-informed and very effective at delivering services,鈥� said CPGA CEO David Crooke. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been mutually beneficial. We are helping them further their education, and they quickly become important members of our team due to the breadth and depth of their knowledge.鈥�

Klibert notes that the grant鈥檚 initial four-year term brought significant improvements in local healthcare networks and enhanced communication between providers, something he sees as an investment in lasting success.

鈥淲e鈥檙e doing some exciting stuff, but at the end of the day, we are very aware of making sure what we鈥檙e doing sticks and that we have the resources to continue care after the grant ends,鈥� Klibert said.

Her friends told her just to drop out and try again later, but that only fueled Savannah Pickett鈥檚 fire to earn a college degree.

Pickett, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student, had started a new chapter of her life as a college student after serving five years in the U.S. Army. But just a few months into starting classes at 秋葵视频, she received news that she and her husband were expecting their first child.

She was excited to be a mother, and she never considered halting her education despite naysayers.

鈥淚’m gonna keep going to school,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淚’m not dropping out. I literally did not take a break. My son was born two days into the semester. I was three days postpartum and doing American government coursework in the hospital.鈥�

Since then, Pickett enrolled in the BSN program, and credits the University鈥檚 Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) for her ability to juggle motherhood and her coursework. 

CCAMPIS provides eligible low-income student-parents on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses with financial assistance for quality off-campus child care. It also provides on-campus services to students, like the new Family Study Space specifically designed with student-parents in mind.

At a recent grand opening, the Family Study Space was unveiled in the (ASC) on the Armstrong Campus, and gives student-parents a comfortable and soundproof room for studying or one-on-one tutoring with their child. On one end of the room, there are work tables and tablets to complete coursework, and the other side features comfortable bean bag chairs, children鈥檚 books and toys.

The University also unveiled a similar Family Study Space on the Liberty Campus as a collaborative effort between the ASC, CCAMPIS program and Chante Baker-Martin, Ph.D., Liberty Campus director. 

鈥淲e had a student who needed to bring her child to class, and this space made it possible,鈥� said Dawn Merrell, Liberty Campus associate director. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to have a place where parents can stay engaged in their studies while their children feel welcome.鈥�

The Family Study Space stands as an example of collaboration and student-centered innovation, reinforcing Georgia Southern鈥檚 commitment to creating a campus environment where all students and their families can thrive.

鈥淚 think about our student-parents who are either working or trying to get as much done as they can to be successful in their classroom, but also having the responsibilities of having to keep their little ones with them,鈥� said Leslie Harris, Ed.D., assistant director of Student Success. 鈥淲hatever it is the parents need to do for class, they can do it all right here while also being able to oversee their little ones.鈥�

Pickett said the family study room will be a welcome resource when she needs to step away from distractions at home or when her son’s child care facility is closed during certain times of the year.

鈥淭his is going to be a really great space for me to bring him where I know that he’s safe,鈥� said Pickett. 鈥淚 know that there’s age-appropriate toys for him to play with and I can focus on studying.鈥�

CCAMPIS received more than $400,000 this year from the U.S. Department of Education to help nearly two dozen students find quality child care and create on-campus spaces like the Family Study Space.

Program leaders are confident the area is fit for students because they鈥檝e been in their shoes before.

鈥淚 was a low-income student-parent, so I am very tied to this program and my students,鈥� said Marvette Wilkerson, CCAMPIS director. 鈥淚’m most excited for my student-parents to actually have a space where they feel safe and where their kids can have a place that they just have of their own. I always try to fulfill their wishes and their needs, and I want Georgia Southern to be as family-friendly as possible.鈥�

The space鈥檚 availability for students with children can be found , but reservations aren鈥檛 required. The room will be unlocked weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.