The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) has selected a 91Âț»­app leader for national honors. Ken Gassiot, Ph.D., associate vice president for student development, is the recipient of the , recognizing his leadership and service within the student affairs profession. 

Gassiot was selected for this same award at the regional level in June 2025 by NASPA Region III at their conference in Savannah. NAPSA Region III is the largest region in NASPA and stretches from Texas to North Carolina.

Gassiot will be honored for his work, which demonstrates an outstanding commitment to student success, the development of impactful programs, the creation of campus environments that promote student learning and development, and active engagement in NASPA. He will be recognized at the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in March in Kansas City, Missouri.

“Being selected for this national award by peers and other leaders around the country is truly humbling,” said Gassiot. “Serving at Georgia Southern along with the service opportunities gained through NASPA have been, without a doubt, the most fulfilling time during my career in higher education. I hope this award brings added spotlight to the incredible work happening at Georgia Southern, where our heartbeat is to create an unparalleled student experience. I’m thankful to be in a position and on teams that help shape that.”

The University has won several awards and national recognition from NASPA in recent years, and has earned a reputation for its use of analytics and assessment to improve all aspects of campus life for students. 

Gassiot said that legacy is built on a culture of student programming, engagement and support. 

“Full credit to the people and leadership across all of our campuses that embrace collaboration and are fully dialed in to meet the unique student and campus needs that change over time,” he said. “It’s that culture that maximizes student involvement, care and belonging.”

Gassiot’s involvement in NASPA includes serving as the 2025–27 chair of the NASPA AVP Steering Committee and co-chair of the 2026 NASPA AVP Symposium, in addition to extensive prior service across NASPA leadership, faculty roles and planning committees.

91Âț»­app recently earned a series of national awards for its work with Eagle fraternities and sororities.

The University collected honors in seven categories from the (NPC), including the Academic Innovation Award, Innovation in Access, Belonging and Community Impact Award, Innovation in Leadership Award, Innovation in Recruitment Award, Innovation in Marketing Award, Innovation in Operations Award and the Excellence Award. Each category recognized between 11 and 29 institutions nationwide.

Georgia Southern’s Panhellenic Association qualified for and earned the Excellence Award, one of only 11 Panhellenic councils across the country to do social, because it received honors in all seven categories

Francisco M. Lugo, Ed.D., director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said these awards are a point of pride for the Greek life community at Georgia Southern, highlighting the commitment to leadership, scholarship, inclusivity and innovation on campus.

“What really sets Georgia Southern’s fraternity and sorority community apart is our genuine commitment to growth and connection,” he said. “We’re always striving to be better, whether that’s through service, leadership or supporting one another. Our strong alumni network and supportive administration play a big role in that too, by continuing to mentor, guide and invest in our chapters and members long after graduation.”

Georgia Southern’s Panhellenic president Jaylee Kilgo received the Alpha Phi/Betty Mullins Jones Scholarship, awarded to a Panhellenic leader who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership and dedication to the sorority experience.

Additionally, these Georgia Southern fraternities and sororities were recognized for the following awards:

Alpha Delta Pi

• Diamond Four Point Award  

Alpha Tau Omega

• Recruitment Excellence

Kappa Delta

• Recruitment Excellence Award

Phi Mu

• Top Contributing Collegiate Chapter of the Year (2024-2025)
• Philomathean Society Award Society Recipient (2022-2024)
• Phi Mu Foundation Scholarship Recipients (2025-2026): Lucy Park and Shelby Sorrells
• Phi Mu Chapter Consultant Program Recipient (2025-2026): Skylar Patterson 

Sigma Nu

• Rock Chapter Award

Zeta Tau Alpha

• Crown Chapter Award 2025
• Quota/Total Award
• Highly Commendable Academic Achievement Award 

The NPC is the umbrella organization for 26 national and international women’s sororities representing over four million members worldwide. The NPC provides support, resources and recognition for Panhellenic communities across the country, making these awards a distinguished honor.

A leader in 91Âț»­app’s Greek Life community has received national recognition for his work with a fraternity chapter on campus.

Francisco M. Lugo, Ed.D., director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, won from the national Sigma Nu fraternity for his work with the Georgia Southern Theta Kappa Chapter. For the past 12 years, Lugo has advised the fraternity with encouragement and accountability so its members can thrive as leaders on campus and beyond.

Lugo called the national award a humbling experience and emphasized how passionate he is about serving his students.

“For me, this award is less about recognition and more about validation,” he said. “It shows that building relationships, investing in student leaders and advocating for the positive impact of fraternity and sorority life truly makes a difference. While my name may be on the award, it represents the work of so many people who care deeply about advancing the fraternity and sorority experience at Georgia Southern.”

The award is given to higher education administrators who have gone above and beyond in serving and contributing to the success of Sigma Nu Fraternity chapters regarding advising, event programming, leadership development, research and other areas.

During his tenure at Georgia Southern, Lugo has led the Theta Kappa Chapter to three Rock Chapter Awards, which are awarded to the top chapters from the national organization. 

“I’ve walked alongside them through their revitalization and celebrated their growth,” Lugo said. “The men of Theta Kappa have trusted me to walk with them on their journey, and I’ve loved investing in their leadership development and seeing them grow.”

Additionally, he has served as president and vice president of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations and on the board of directors for the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors. Also, he has been involved with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and continues to volunteer for his own fraternity, Phi Iota Alpha.

91Âț»­app’s Director of Health Services, Emily Brannen (‘14, ‘16), was named to the Statesboro Herald’s annual Class of 2025 list, which recognizes young professionals making their mark in Bulloch County.

Brannen, a Double Eagle and Gainesville, Georgia, native, said the recognition is more than a personal accolade — it’s a reflection of her deep roots in the community and her love for Georgia Southern.

“Since moving back to Statesboro in 2019, I’ve grown deeply connected to this community,” she said. “I’m thankful for the relationships and friendships I’ve built along the way. Being recognized in this way motivates me to continue contributing to the community, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for both our local area and Georgia Southern.”

After a stint working as a nursing home administrator in Georgia and South Carolina, her return to Statesboro marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities to give back. During this time, she has created lasting connections and has grown professionally and personally. Along with her role at Georgia Southern, Brannen is involved with her church and is a volunteer for a number of local organizations.

“There are so many wonderful resources and initiatives in our community that deserve support and attention,” she said. “My advice would be to take the time to get to know the people around you and find ways to lend a helping hand where you can. Every little bit counts, and together we can create lasting change.”

Including Brannen, nearly a dozen were named to the list this year.

91Âț»­app Professor Matthew Hashiguchi has won a for his documentary, which focuses on rural health and the services provided by a single doctor in southwest Georgia. 

The Peabody Awards are prestigious accolades in storytelling across television, radio, streaming and other digital mediums. Categories for winning a Peabody include journalism, social video, interactive documentary, gaming and more. The nearly hour-long feature received the award in the Public Service category, which recognizes projects that address or respond to public health concerns, enhance public engagement or educate the public. 

For Hashiguchi, the award represents a personal and career accolade. 

“This award isn’t just a professional achievement, but also represents a moment in my life where I became a father,” said Hashiguchi. “I started filming right before my first daughter was born, and finished right after the second. While this award is an incredible acknowledgment of my work, it means even more to me as a priceless moment from their childhood.”

The documentary focuses on Karen Kinsell, M.D., the sole physician serving 3,000 citizens in Clay County, Georgia, near the Georgia-Alabama border. The film spotlights the plight of a community in need of medical assistance and the dedicated doctor fighting to keep her clinic’s doors open. Hashiguchi delves into Kinsell’s sacrifices for her clinic’s operations, revealing her commitment to her patients.

“Dr. Kinsell gets calls at home at all hours of the day and night,” Hashiguchi said. “She, at times, has had to pay the bills from her own bank account. But I’d say the biggest sacrifice is that she’s a doctor who does not have breaks.”

The final cut of “The Only Doctor” is a bit different from the angle Hashiguchi took when he began work on it several years ago. He initially started the project to better understand the risks associated with maternal health care and childbirth when he and his wife were expecting their first child. Through his work, he learned of a more complex issue of health care access in rural communities.

The documentary first premiered on the PBS program and is now available internationally on Al Jazeera’s documentary series

Hashigchi’s work earned him a 2019 Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund award and a 2021 American Stories Documentary Fund award from Points North Institute. The film’s world premiere took place at the 2023 Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, and was awarded Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 South Georgia Film Festival, Best Feature at the 2023 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and Award of Merit at the 2023 University Film and Video Association Conference.

His rise to media prominence wasn’t on his radar early in his academic career. He described himself as a “C student,” and still sees himself as that young boy struggling with math and science courses. With one of the nation’s highest media honors, he can show his students new paths to success as well as the skills it takes to win a Peabody.

“I want my students to know how I failed and know that I struggled,” he said. “I tell them that if they want to excel, they really have to put in hard work. That’s very much who I am now as I devote myself to these films.”

Third time’s the charm for one 91Âț»­app student, who recently earned national accolades in the world of theatrical performance. Over the weekend, Gabby Burton, a senior theatre major and Honors College student, won the Voice and Speech Trainers Association Excellence Award and a $500 scholarship at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C.

“I would have never imagined four years ago that I would be celebrated on a national level like that,” she said. “My hope now is that other students from my program feel like they are capable artists who should always believe in themselves and share what they have to say.”

Burton earned a trip to Washington, D.C., after winning the organization’s Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, which provides recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education. The regional award not only made her a qualifier for the national competition, but also provided her with another $500 scholarship. She credits her Georgia Southern Theatre community and her stage partner, fellow theatre student Jordan Applin, for her success.

This is the third year Burton has been a contender for the Kennedy Center festival. Before leaving for the nation’s capital, Burton said she was excited about finally getting a chance to perform at the Kennedy Center. However, she knew there was more work to do.

As this is her final year, the Augusta, Georgia, native said it gave her more creative freedom to pursue pieces she was more attached to, and that may have given her the edge in her preparations.

“I knew it was the last time no matter what,” she said. “I felt more compelled to just do whatever pieces I wanted to because these pieces came from me and my own interests. I was able to tell stories that I actually care about to really one of the most engaging audiences you’ll ever find.”

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival bestows two national prizes each year to support outstanding student performers wishing to pursue further education.

Burton, who graduates on May, will be pursuing a master’s degree next fall.

Masoud Davari, Ph. D., associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing, was recognized for his achievements in the field of power electronics control and testing with the . He was also granted membership into IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, is the world’s largest professional organization for electrical engineers, with its membership numbering over 486,000 in more than 190 countries.  

Davari has been a member of IEEE since 2008 and a senior member of IEEE’s Region 3 since 2019. The organization’s Region 3 encompasses the southeastern United States and has over 24,000 members. The Outstanding Engineer Award, given annually to one member per region, recognizes those who have advanced knowledge and improved humanity through any of the technical subjects covered by the IEEE societies, councils, and affinity groups.

Davari was praised for “outstanding, technical, and professional contributions to synthesizing reinforcement learning optimal controls for power electronic converters, creating robust integration of power electronics considering the impact of cyberattacks on modern grids, and advancing IEEE standards for hardware-in-the-loop testing and education through impactful research and service.”

This impactful research and service includes eight years of teaching at Georgia Southern. He currently teaches introductory courses on circuit analysis and power systems fundamentals.  He has also served as a chapter lead of the IEEE Working Group (WG) P2004 for testing based on hardware-in-the-loop simulations in the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) and that of the IEEE Power and Energy Society Task Force on innovative teaching methods for modern power and energy systems (TR 120). 

In addition to being an engaged educator, Davari is also a prolific researcher. He was selected as the finalist for the 2024 Curtis W. McGraw Research Award by the Awards Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE); has also been awarded a research fellowship by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in 2024; was included in ; and has received $1.17 million in grants from the National Science Foundation

Davari’s work ethic and commitment to bridging the gap between industry and research led Rami Haddad, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Engineering & Computing, to nominate him. 

“Dr. Davari’s recognition as the IEEE Region 3 Outstanding Engineer and his induction into IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) are truly remarkable honors that reflect his outstanding contributions to electrical and computer engineering,” Haddad said. “Being recognized among more than 24,000 IEEE members across the Southeast is a testament to the impact and excellence of his work. We are proud to have Dr. Davari as a valued member of our college, and we celebrate his achievements as a shining example of the innovation and leadership that define our faculty.”

This award marks the first time a Georgia Southern faculty member has received it in its 55-year history. It is a career milestone for Davari, who has published research on advanced technology integration into modern power and energy systems in high-impact-factor IEEE Transactions/Journal venues and has extensively researched the era of grid-edge technologies. 

“I’m deeply honored by this prestigious award,” Davari said. “Not only does it reaffirm my dedication to my research field, but it also fuels my passion for creating a technologically advanced future. Receiving this IEEE award on behalf of my outstanding team is a privilege. Their relentless commitment and hard work since 2015 have truly made this achievement possible.”

Davari’s induction into HKN places him among the best in his field. The membership, which is received through invitation only from HKN’s Board of Governors and is based on the candidate’s record of contributions to the field, demonstrated leadership, and community service.

“With a legacy that stretches over a century, IEEE-HKN represents the pinnacle of prestige and tradition in our profession, indicating academic achievements and dedication to research, potential leadership, exemplary character, and a positive attitude, Davari continued.” Notably, many of our industry’s most influential leaders initiated their journeys through induction into IEEE-HKN as professional members, so receiving this honor is a privilege.”

Davari received his award and was inducted into Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) in March at IEEE Region 3’s SoutheastCon 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

You can find out more about his research by visiting his .   

91Âț»­app professors , and , have been awarded the by the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy at Georgia College & State University.

The $50,000 grant will be used for Brown’s and Leckie’s enterprise to engage families in early literacy development through their new program, PAGES+ Literacy Initiative: Parents and Generations Engaging Through Stories and Language.

Modeled after a government-funded, national reading room program in Mexico, PAGES+ Literacy Initiative will bring in educators, community leaders and education students from local universities to lead reading groups in public libraries, churches and other community spaces in the Savannah and Chatham County area. Through these reading rooms, Brown and Leckie hope to enhance literacy in children up to 5 years old, a key developmental window, and to educate families on how they can establish their own reading practices and connect them with other readers.

“Think about language as nutrition for the brain as much as food is nutrition for the body,” Leckie suggested. “We need to give our kids language nutrition so their brains grow and develop. They need exposure to lots of language and experiences that connect words and objects.”

Funding will support the involvement of 30 community leaders and educators from Georgia Southern, Savannah Technical College and Savannah State University for three semesters. Thirty education students will also be supported, giving them the opportunity to gain practical experience from interacting with young learners and their parents as they prepare to enter the teaching profession after graduation. The grant will also cover the cost of developing training materials and books.

“It really is to instill the love of literacy and reading and give parents tips in a non-threatening environment,” Leckie continued. “They’ll get to know other people in their communities that are reading and make those connections, as well.”

PAGES+ Literacy Initiative builds on a bridge established by Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero, who united Georgia Southern, Savannah Tech and Savannah State in their efforts to promote public literacy through the . Strengthening the groundwork already laid, PAGES+ will move the region into sustainable literacy solutions.

“I’m so proud of Drs. Brown and Leckie and their groundbreaking work to improve early language and literacy outcomes,” said Amy Lingo, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education. “This grant will not only advance critical research in early literacy but also create tangible impacts within our University and the broader community. By advancing early language and literacy development, their work will help bridge educational gaps and empower young learners with a foundation for lifelong success. 

“This initiative aligns with our mission to foster excellence in education while elevating our community, and we look forward to the transformative outcomes their research will bring.”

Nalanda Roy, Ph.D., a professor in the at 91Âț»­app, was recently honored with the for her research in global affairs, international relations and South and Southeast Asian maritime security. 

Noam Chomsky is a world-renowned professor, considered by many to be a leading intellectual on subjects like political activism. Researchers receiving this award must demonstrate at least 15 years of impactful educational leadership, a strong record of contribution to global research and a scholarly legacy promoting human well-being.

“The awarding group recognizes promising faculty who are global leaders doing cutting-edge interdisciplinary work,” Roy explained. 

Roy’s experience in international relations spans more than 20 years. She has published several influential books using her expertise and knowledge on topics like conflicts in the South China Sea and Indonesian fragmentation to become a part of a greater geopolitical conversation. 

She plays a key role in multiple professional organizations in addition to her duties as a professor at Georgia Southern. Roy has served as the program chair for the International Studies Association’s South Asia in World Politics sector, as well as the senior editor for the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies, among other honors. 

Roy’s dedication to her research is what earned her the award, but she said it belongs to more than just her. 

“It’s not just me,” she explained. “My parents, my husband, my daughter, everybody
there have been countless sleepless nights working. So that’s what helped me become who I am today. I love this quote by Malcolm Gladwell, ‘Who you are cannot be separated from where you have been.’ So I can never forget my roots, I can never forget where I come from and who has helped me get where I am today.” 

When the power goes out during a storm, there’s a team with a 91Âț»­app student at the (GTC) responsible for looking into what happened. Elizabeth Sills, a senior from Savannah works in the system reliability department for the GTC.

“If there’s an outage and they don’t know what caused it, I’ll run a lightning study to see if there’s lightning in the area,” said Sills. “Then, for example, I’ll send out an email saying it was a negative five kilovolt bolt. That way when the field guys go out, they know what to expect.”

Sills hasn’t just been working on the reliability of current power grids, but is also working to bolster the reliability of future power sources. During the previous semester, she had been intrigued by the possibility of contributing to solar energy advancements. As part of an electric engineering course, she tested the strength and longevity of solar panels in various climates and other elements. 

Sills noted climate conditions can also impact how much technology can be added onto a solar panel to increase efficiencies or margins of error.

“There are different types of solar panels,” she said. “Some of them can rotate. So if the sun’s coming up, the panel will face the sun and then it will rotate with it. Some can also swivel, and there are some that can bend 90 degrees. If you get the whole range of motion, it’s more likely that more parts will fail.”

Her findings revealed that panels kept in temperatures between 30°F and 86°F significantly extended the lifespan of the solar panels. This information is critical for the expansion of their use across the globe. 

Her work has even garnered international attention.

Sills was invited to be part of a small research team going to Denmark over the next summer to continue her research into solar panels and their utilization. Her research team is made up of five other students from across the U.S. and is supported through funding from the National Science Foundation.

“Most of the research in this area is now over in Europe,” she said. “They have different transformer models and a whole different grid over there. We want to see if we can bring it to America and still be able to use the same functions.”

This isn’t her first accolade in this field of study.

More recently, Sills brought a statewide award back to Eagle Nation. Last fall, she participated in the , hosted by Oxford College of Emory University. Out of 80 competitors from across Georgia, her research on power converters in solar panels won the “Outstanding Poster” award. Sills’ award-winning research revealed new possibilities that can assist with the reliability of power electronic converters, ensuring solar panels function efficiently under temperature and stress. 

“I was excited,” Sills said. “It was my first ever competition for research posters or anything of  that nature so I didn’t know what to expect. It was very surprising.”