Breaking down barriers to breastfeeding has energized much of the research and community outreach of Nandi Marshall, DrPH, (’12) for more than half of her two-decade career.

As the associate dean of Academic Affairs and an associate professor of health policy and community health in 91Âț»­app’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Marshall’s focal point didn’t stem from textbooks. Rather, it was her own dramatically different  — and often heartbreaking — experiences that fueled her mission. 

“My mom breastfed me, her mom breastfed her, and her mom breastfed her,” said Marshall. “So for me, I’m supposed to breastfeed. I never questioned it, never thought anything about it. And I did not have a great experience the first time.”

Marshall knows the many benefits of breastfeeding infants, which can provide optimal nutrition, cognitive support, strong immunity response and emotional bonding, among other positive long-term, child-health outcomes. 

She also considers breastfeeding to be an innate part of a mother’s biological nurturing, and one that flourished easily among generations of her maternal lineage. However, following the birth of her first child, she was confronted with something entirely different.

The disparity between breastfeeding her son, who was born in 2010, just one week after she completed a comprehensive exam toward earning a Doctor of Public Health at Georgia Southern, and her daughter, five years later, was stark. 

Lactation nurses and public information on breastfeeding during the birth of her first child was limited to non-existent. As a stressed graduate student recovering from a c-section, Marshall’s attempts at breastfeeding her son were futile. The inability to do so broke her spirit.

“I literally felt like I was a horrible mom,” recalled Marshall. “My husband was so supportive. He said that I wasn’t a horrible mom and if it was that stressful we should go with formula. We ended up giving our son formula, but when it was time for my second child, I thought, ‘How can I make this a better experience?’”

A friend of Marshall’s who worked for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides support to mothers and children on their journeys with pregnancy and beyond, suggested she read the book, “Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers,” and other materials on breastfeeding. 

“I studied,” recalled Marshall. “I read that book from front to back and there were a lot of things I didn’t realize that could really help me.”

When Marshall gave birth to her daughter, there were lactation consultants in the community who could offer guidance. By then, Marshall was an assistant professor on the Armstrong Campus with a flexible schedule and her own office where she could close her door and pump milk as needed. This encouraged her to breastfeed for 15 months. 

“I felt so accomplished,” said Marshall. “Once I was so successful with my daughter, I was like, ‘What were the differences here?’” 

As someone who worked in community engagement and health equity before college, Marshall has developed an innate sense of caring for communities.

“I considered what I had access to before, what I had access to the second time, the education I didn’t have, the education I did have,” she said. “The second time, I had access to a lactation counselor. I didn’t have that before.

“I thought that there were probably people out there who are struggling just like me and need help. What can I do to make a difference? I decided to couple my experiences with my background in health equity and community engagement and try to make a difference in breastfeeding.”

As such, she has collaborated with Heidi Altman, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Georgia Southern, who conducted extensive interviews with mothers across Georgia for . Assisting with various aspects of maternal and child health research, Marshall contributed to help procure a deeper understanding of the mothers’ experiences with maternal care, from pregnancy to postpartum.

Marshall also serves as the lead consultant for the breastfeeding continuity of care work on a multi-year grant. This is the second time the grant has been funded, and it serves to identify the limiting experiences of local Black mothers, whom Marshall said often face social, physical and cultural barriers to breastfeeding in public, familial and work settings, and help destigmatize and remove some of those obstacles.

“When we’re looking at breastfeeding barriers from the local piece, a lot of it mirrors what we’re seeing nationally,” Marshall said. “Some of the examples include access to care. When we look at Bulloch County, which has a lot of rural areas, but also Savannah, which is not rural and has a lot of access to health care, they don’t have a lot of access to lactation support.” 

The results of Marshall’s research point to attainable solutions. Many mothers expressed anxiety over where and when to pump breast milk at work. Though the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act became a mandate in December 2022 and requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide a private space and reasonable break time for nursing employees to pump breast milk, many businesses don’t know about or adhere to the policies.

“We’re trying to educate folks on it because a lot don’t know about these things,” said Marshall. “One of the things that we’re doing with Healthy Savannah is we’re working with companies to say, ‘Here’s how you can support your lactating parents with a space or a policy.’ But even for those folks who have less than 50 employees, you have to prove that it’s going to be a burden for you to provide that for. So technically, everyone should be doing it.”

Many of the women interviewed also noted that they would like to see more lactation consultants who look like them, and some feel undermined by the lack of cultural acceptance as long-held stigmas within their own community have eroded breastfeeding practices among Black women.

A 2019 study by the CDC supported Marshall’s findings, as Black women statistically breastfeed their babies less than white women, and health centers that serve Black women are less likely to initiate breastfeeding, offering formula instead. Yet, Black babies are born prematurely in greater numbers than white babies, and could especially benefit from their mother’s milk.

In 2020, Marshall launched the Photovoice Project to capture the experiences of local Black mothers. The women were given cameras to take pictures of social, cultural and physical barriers that impede their ability to breastfeed in Chatham County.

“Photovoice is one of my favorite community engagement strategies,” Marshall said. “It’s essentially putting a camera in the hands of a community, and you’re asking for their eyes. What do you see? We ask questions, and then they answer them through pictures. Once they take their pictures, I sit down with them one one-on-one and say, ‘Tell me why you took this picture. What were you experiencing?’ We had a whole conversation. And then I got all the moms together who participated and we talked through, ‘OK, what do we see in these pictures? What did y’all experience similarly? What was different?’ And then, ‘what can Healthy Savannah do about this? What can Chatham County do? What can Savannah do? How can we make a difference?’ And so they gave recommendations.”

With assistance from Georgia Southern doctoral students, a book of the participants’ photos and accompanying stories, “,” was published in both print and online formats and shared with community partners. The response from local businesses was positive, and policy changes to support working mothers are forthcoming.

Early in phase two of this project, Marshall will expand this research, lending cameras to Hispanic and Latina mothers who will be able to document their barriers within the community.

Marshall’s community efforts garnered the attention of larger audiences who also aim to create a culture of breastfeeding support.

“I’ve been fortunate that, because of my work with this, I’ve been pulled onto some national stages,” said Marshall. “Recently, the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee created a blueprint toolkit, and they brought me on to talk to over 500 people about the work that we’ve done in Savannah with breastfeeding. It’s been a really great experience. I’ve made a lot of connections with colleagues, and it’s been exciting to see how our work has been received while also having the opportunity to see what other folks are doing and how we can partner to really enhance what we’re doing as well.”

A member of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s CRASH Committee since 2018, Marshall will further amplify this work as she begins her role as president of the American Public Health Association in November. Recently serving as chair of the executive board for the organization, Marshall will soon lead the charge to advance the organization’s mission, which in large part is educating citizens on what public health is.

“It’s about the public’s health, and keeping folks healthy, right?” Marshall posed. “So when you consider some of the clinical jobs like medicine and nursing, they focus more on the individual. With public health, we’re focusing on communities and making sure we have that larger impact. So it’s about prevention. It’s about education. But it’s also about health policies and how what we’re writing and what we’re passing into law is going to affect someone’s health.” 

Another important part of Marshall’s mission is inspiring a new generation of public health practitioners and leaders. While serving as a professor in Georgia Southern’s bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral public health programs and mentoring students who participate in her research endeavors, she also teaches in the Bulloch County School system. She loves working with high school students and introducing them to public health while emphasizing the potential of this sector.

“The biggest piece that I’ve loved about it is you can tell that they’re learning about what public health is, which really is the point,” Marshall said. “One of the things that we’re really passionate about in Georgia Southern’s College of Public Health is making sure that students know sooner than later that public health is a viable career option, but even if they don’t choose it as a career, regardless of what your job is, where you’re employed or what your career is, it’s going to have an effect on health outcomes. So even if people are just introduced to public health so that they have a different lens and really consider what they’re doing and how it affects someone’s health outcomes in anything from communications to engineering, it all can affect people’s health in some positive way.”

Days are long and full, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My work is everything,” said Marshall. “It’s about making a difference. It’s about fueling my passion, but also being a good example to my children and showing them that no matter how hard things get in the world, we have that opportunity to make a difference.” 

The College of Arts and Humanities at 91Âț»­app will host the next event in its “Moveable Feast” lecture series, featuring a discussion on an iconic American instrument. Gretsch Collection Curator Matthew Hill, Ph.D., will present “Strum and Twang: The Improbable Yet Inevitable Rise of the Electric Guitar Since 1750” Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at Plant Riverside District in Savannah.

“Many people think they know the history of the instrument, but they don’t,” said Hill. “There are lots of myths and legends that are just not true, but the real story is even weirder.”

Hill’s presentation will take attendees on a journey from bizarre instruments powered by static electricity that predate the Revolutionary War to the wild days of the rock ’n’ roll revolution. Participants will also experiencehear special instruments that Hill has built to replicate the strange sounds of the past and new ones he has created.

“These instruments have been evolving for centuries,” explained Hill. “The electric guitar is not just part of music, it’s part of popular culture. People constantly bring it with them into whatever the new modern era is. These days you can go online and learn so many ways to modify them and make something new.”

The Moveable Feast series is an immersive learning experience by bringing lectures into spaces relevant to their topics. Hill’s presentation will take place among the many guitars displayed as part of “That Great Gretsch Sound!” collection in the District Live lobby within Savannah’s Plant Riverside District. The collection is maintained by the Georgia Southern Museum.

The event is free and open to the public. 

91Âț»­app and the City of Statesboro’s partnership to recruit more retail businesses to the area has been nationally recognized by the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) as a finalist for one of its annual Awards of Excellence. 

The partnership, officially named the “Retail Recruiter Program,” is a collaboration between Georgia Southern’s Business Innovation Group and the City of Statesboro.

The program earned a final spot in the “Place” category. The UEDA defines this category as “the many and diverse ways in which institutions contribute to making attractive, competitive communities—places where people want to live, create and take jobs, raise their families, participate in civic life, and age and retire.”

Mayor of Statesboro Jonathan McCollar said the city is thrilled with the growth and revitalization brought on by its partnership with the Retail Recruiter Program. One example is the renovation of the space previously occupied by Kmart on Northside Drive, which will now be home to the national home furnishings chain HomeGoods. In May of this year, McCollar noted the impact this will have on the city.

“Our city is growing by leaps and bounds every day,” he explained.“This retailer’s decision to invest in Statesboro is a testament to the hard work of our team and the undeniable potential of our community. It’s about more than filling a vacant building; it’s about showing investors and developers that Statesboro is a thriving, vibrant city with a bright future.”

In just the first two and a half years, 26 retailers have toured the city, and nine of those are actively looking at area locations.

Additionally, Georgia Power designated Statesboro as “retail-ready” in June, as part of its new initiative to help communities outside the Atlanta metro area attract retailers. They consider Statesboro a catalyst for growing the initiative.

A planned collaboration with the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority could further the program, potentially bringing several million dollars of construction to the Main Street corridor, said Alan Gross, head of the Retail Recruiter Program for Georgia Southern.

Gross believes this is just the beginning, and recognition from the UEDA means similar programs could be replicated nationwide.

“It’s taken a while, but we’re finally starting to see some success,” he said. “Being a UEDA Award finalist is a chance to showcase that success, and more importantly, serve as a model for other communities.”

91Âț»­app has expanded its Sponsored Student Programs portfolio with a new TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education dedicated to serving first-generation and low-income students with disabilities. 

The new program will serve students on the Armstrong, Liberty and Statesboro campuses. Georgia Southern also secured renewal of its longstanding TRIO SSS program, which serves first-generation and low-income students on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses. 

Together, the two SSS programs provide more than $2.7 million in federal funding over the next five years to strengthen student support services.

These awards complement Georgia Southern’s TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, funded at more than $1.3 million over five years, and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, funded at $1.6 million over four years. Collectively, the four initiatives represent an investment of more than $5.6 million in Sponsored Student Programs to expand access and improve academic outcomes for program participants.

“Our Sponsored Student Programs are central to Georgia Southern’s pursuit of academic access and excellence,” said Dominique A. Quarles, Ph.D., associate vice president for Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement. “By securing both TRIO SSS grants, continuing the McNair Scholars program, and supporting parenting students through CCAMPIS, we are enhancing a comprehensive system of support that empowers our students to thrive in college and beyond.”

The new TRIO SSS program for students with disabilities will provide individualized advising, tutoring, mentoring and academic resources tailored to help students reach their educational and career goals.

“This grant will allow us to provide dedicated and individualized support to 100 students with disabilities,” said Jazzkia Jones, director of Institutional Engagement. “It represents a significant investment in our students and expands upon the opportunities we have for students to engage.”

91Âț»­app’s College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) received approval from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) to launch a Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical sciences degree. The Board of Regents approved the academic program during a meeting on Oct. 14. Pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), classes will begin in fall 2026 on both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses.

“This new Ph.D. program creates an invaluable educational pipeline, completing the continuity of training we envisioned when we launched our undergraduate program,” said Michael Huggins, Ph.D., COSM dean. “Now, students can begin their journey with us as freshmen, engage in mentored research throughout their bachelor’s degree and seamlessly transition into a terminal degree that accelerates their progress toward becoming independent researchers.”

The Ph.D. in biomedical sciences program will cover a range of topics including immunology, virology, neuroscience and genetics. After completing core courses, students will select advanced courses with their faculty mentor, tailoring the students’ research to their areas of interest. The addition of the degree brings fresh opportunities for students and faculty alike to pursue research in a variety of fields under the biomedical umbrella.

“This new Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences is a testament to 91Âț»­app’s commitment to advancing health care innovation,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Avinandan Mukherjee, Ph.D. “By fostering top-tier research and cultivating skilled professionals, we are directly contributing to the economic vitality and robust health of our region and the broader health care industry.”

The addition of a terminal degree in the field of biomedical sciences will complement the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree added in 2025 and build on COSM’s strong research foundation. 

“The biomedical sciences Ph.D. is a major step forward, fundamentally strengthening our research enterprise,” said Huggins. “This program is specifically designed to address complex, cutting-edge challenges in biomedicine, which will attract top-tier faculty and secure greater external funding, solidifying our standing as a leading research institution.”

The new doctoral program adds to COSM’s degree program portfolio to now include three Ph.D. programs: biomedical sciences, environmental science and materials science. COSM offers state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, including geospatial technology labs, an aquatics lab, microscopy and mass spectrometry suites and Core Research Laboratory. Additional resources such as animal care spaces, greenhouses, a herbarium and an insectary further support faculty and student projects. The college also operates an undergraduate research office that encourages students to compete for grants and present at research symposia.

First year biomed student Ivy Nash said the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences  program was a perfect fit when she looked for options to start her college career.

“I wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t know what to major in at first,” said Nash. “So I did research and found the biomedical program. I love biology and I also love medicine at the same time, so putting those two together, I fell in love with the programs they have and what I can do with it.”

Since the program launched in fall 2025, demand for the Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree at 91Âț»­app’s College of Science and Mathematics has been high with over 130 students enrolling in the program. It has proven to be popular with both newly enrolled students and upperclassmen who changed majors.

As the first group of students advance toward graduation, COSM leadership is working to support their next steps with a new pathways course. The class is designed to help students identify their specific interests in the field and chart a course to achieve a career or graduate level education to meet those interests. A portfolio course will also make its debut to make sure students are able to immediately enter the workforce or graduate school as soon as they receive their degree.

Program director Scott Mateer, Ph.D., feels a personal drive to help his students succeed. As a first generation college graduate, he found himself in uncharted waters after earning his bachelor’s degree. He decided to go on to earn his doctorate and begin teaching so he could help the next generation of scientists find their own path in life.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the students figuring out what’s important to them,” said Mateer. “Everything I do comes back to the students because they are always going to come first to me.”

To help students make connections and discover career opportunities in the field of biomedicine, Mateer hosts “meet and mingle” events where students can ask questions of professors and each other. Current biomed student Anya Bull appreciates the special attention the faculty have put into connecting with students.

“I’ve been introduced to a lot of new organizations that really get me ready with shadowing and now with research opportunities,” said Bull. “I’ve been getting more involved with my professors to have a more personal connection with them. Overall, I’ve found myself taking my education a lot more seriously now that I know how to plan for the future.”

The Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degree is available in person at both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses.

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at 91Âț»­app will celebrate its fifth anniversary with two feature concert performances by student and faculty musicians.

The concerts will showcase two renowned campus musical groups – The Sound and The Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Both groups will perform Oct. 15 at the Performing Arts Center on the Statesboro Campus and Oct. 16 at the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah.

The Sound is an audition-only ensemble made up of student performers from the Armstrong Campus that focuses on modern performance techniques and musical styles from pop, rock, hip-hop and more. The group is directed by Benjamin Mathews, DMA, the Gretsch Distinguished Scholar of Guitar and Music Industry for the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music. 

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is the most select of the University’s concert bands, with a membership limited to 50 to 55 of the most accomplished woodwind, brass and percussion student performers on the Statesboro Campus. Members of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble perform repertoire of the highest caliber, representing all musical style periods from the Renaissance through the modern day, featuring works created by the finest composers for the historical and contemporary wind bands. The Ensemble is conducted by Darrell Brown, DMA, director of bands.

Jayson Brown, a junior music major and member of The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, is excited to be a part of the fifth anniversary celebration concerts. 

“I am most excited to be able to play in a different environment with musicians from the Armstrong Campus,” Brown said. “Educationally, I think it is beneficial to be exposed to various genres of music as well as many playing scenarios. I am also excited for the challenges and focus that will come with a shorter rehearsal cycle. The rehearsal process thus far has been incredible. There is so much great music-making going on in the rehearsal room. Dr. Brown is a great conductor, educator and mentor, and the way he meticulously dissects the music always results in beautiful music.”

In February 2021, Georgia Southern received a transformational gift from Fred and Dinah Gretsch. Their $3 million pledge, along with their personal Gretsch Collection of historic guitars, drums and archives, led to the creation of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music, named in their honor. 

“What began as a partnership rooted in a shared passion to, as Fred often says, ‘be musical,’ has grown into a legacy that continues to shape the future of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “Fred and Dinah Gretsch believed in our students and in the promise of what we could build together. Five years later, that vision lives on in every note played, every new music educator entering our schools, and in the nationally celebrated reputation of our program.”

“​â¶Ä‹The Gretsch family is incredibly supportive of music education,” Mathews said. “Our partnership is generating unprecedented opportunities for music students. Thanks to these gifts and the Gretsch family’s continued involvement, we can provide modern music education at an incredibly high value for students, collaborate and network in innovative ways, and help students jump-start real-world music industry careers​â¶Ä‹.”

Along with the gift, the Gretsch family also donated a collection of instruments, which is included in “That Great Gretsch Sound!” museum, housed in the Plant Riverside District in Savannah. It showcases more than a century of iconic Gretsch instruments, from banjos and early drums to guitars played by legends like George Harrison and Malcolm Young. The Gretsch family also donated three major additions to the archives to the Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections, including Gretsch Company Records, Gretsch Audio-Visual Collection and Musical Industry Reference Collection. 

For the Gretsch family, it’s all about building a legacy that will stand the test of time.

“In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing to develop and mature the community music program here and being a beacon to the whole U.S. and worldwide as well,” said Fred Gretsch. “There are well known schools of music across the country. The one at 91Âț»­app, a hundred years from now, will absolutely be number one in the world.”

“We wanted a partner that we could work with to leave our legacy and Georgia Southern has been wonderful to work with,” said Dinah Gretsch. “We’ve built a lot of programs and continue to increase what we do today.”

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music creates an environment rich in musical diversity with endless opportunities. The School of Music offers a variety of ensembles ranging from bands, choirs and orchestras to commercial music, jazz, opera and chamber ensembles. 

“With their gift, the Gretsches enabled a historic Department of Music to look forward to a greater future, with the finest faculty, students and facilities,” Chair of the School of Music Terre Johnson, Ph.D., said. “As a result, in the last five years, the Gretsch School of Music has seen record growth on both the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses, as well as international recognition for its ensembles.”
Both concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music homepage.

91Âț»­app and Wexford County Council in Ireland broke ground on the redevelopment of the historic Adoration Convent in Wexford Town on Sept. 30. The project will create new student housing and expand opportunities for international study. 

The $7 million project will transform the 1886 convent into modern accommodations for up to 56 Georgia Southern students studying abroad in Ireland. When complete in early 2027, the refurbished site will include study, recreation, cooking and laundry facilities, creating a vibrant international student hub in the heart of Wexford. 

“Today marks both an ending and a beginning,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “For 133 years, this convent was home to the Adoration Sisters, whose presence filled it with purpose and service. As we reimagine this space, we honor their legacy while creating a home away from home for our students. This project embodies gratitude for the past and confidence for the future, strengthening the bonds between Wexford and Georgia.” 

The redevelopment follows a 15-year lease agreement between Wexford County Council and Georgia Southern, deepening a partnership that began in 2019 when the University established its permanent overseas campus in Wexford — the first U.S. public university to do so in Ireland. 

“This project represents an investment in both heritage and education,” said Eddie Taaffe, chief executive of Wexford County Council. “91Âț»­app has been a valued part of our community since 2019, and friendships have formed between students and local residents. Today’s groundbreaking deepens that relationship — providing a long-term base for their students and strengthening ties that will endure for generations.” 

Joe Sullivan, Cathaoirleach (chairperson) of Wexford County Council, also offered remarks. 

“Today marks not just the beginning of a building project, but the start of an exciting new chapter for one of Wexford Town’s most iconic and beloved landmarks,” he said. “The redevelopment of the Adoration Convent is a symbol of continuity and renewal, preserving the fabric of our history while adapting it to meet present and future needs.” 

Georgia Southern’s Wexford Campus has become central to the University’s international programs, empowering students as global citizens by offering immersive experiences in Irish culture, history, business, public health, environmental science and more. The expansion underscores Georgia Southern’s commitment to providing transformative learning experiences that prepare students to lead and serve in a connected world. 

“Today, as we turn the ground on the Adoration Convent, we do so with gratitude for the past and confidence for the future,” Marrero said. He also noted the “full-circle” nature of the occasion, for hundreds of Wexford people emigrated directly to Savannah during the 1840s and 1850s. 

Waterford, Ireland-based Nevin Construction was awarded the contract to deliver the project.