By Savannah Walker

A t Georgia College & State University, discovery doesn’t wait. Undergraduate students dive into real research early in their academic careers. Chloe Melton is a standout scholar who has turned that headstart into a journey of recognition and real-world impact. 

Melton, a junior history major and member of the John E. Sallstrom Honors College, has devoted countless hours of her undergraduate studies to an interdisciplinary project examining the history of BMI, Body Mass Index. Her research paper “The History of BMI: The Body Mass Index and its Utility as a Health Indicator” has set a new standard for thoughtful, research-driven discussion of BMI within academic settings. 

Melton’s passion for this project took root when she was 14 years old. She struggled with an eating disorder that at one point threatened her life. After experiencing this, Melton became aware of the misconceptions and issues surrounding the history of BMI and wanted to call attention to it. 

“After I recovered, I kind of knew that I wanted to give back in a certain way,” Melton said. 

In fall 2024, Melton took a World War II class with Dr. Brian Newsome, dean of the honors college. For the class, Dr. Newsome encouraged her to present her Holocaust research project at two conferences – the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference and the Southern Regional Honors Conference. After winning an award for her GCHC presentation and being elected as SRHC Vice President, Dr. Newsome suggested that she submit a proposal for the National Collegiate Honors Conference. She had just 10 days to come up with a new topic. 

“I thought to myself, what am I passionate enough about to kind of propose an idea outside of a classroom project in 10 days? I was like, BMI,” Melton explained. 

Dr. Newsome and Helen DuPree, lecturer of health and human performance, mentored Melton throughout the creation and execution of the research project. Both faculty dedicated their time and resources to Melton’s success, committing to the promise of the Georgia College mentored undergraduate research experience. 

During lunch one day with Dr. Ken Saladin, a distinguished professor emeritus of biology at GCSU, Dr. Newsome mentioned Melton’s project to him. Dr. Saladin became interested in reading her paper and once he did, he offered to mentor Melton even further with her project. 

He suggested Melton consider submitting her paper to “The HAPS Educator," an anatomy and physiology journal featuring papers written primarily by university faculty. Melton decided to take the leap, and Dr. Saladin assisted her with editing through several drafts. 

“She was very diligent in taking my suggestions on the writing,” Saladin noted. 

After months of revising and waiting, Melton officially received confirmation of her paper being accepted for publication in the December 2025 edition of the “The HAPS Educator,” a major accomplishment for a third-year undergraduate student. 

Dr. Saladin has also just finished revising the 11th edition of his anatomy and physiology textbook, “The Unity of Form and Function,” the single largest selling textbook in the history of McGraw-Hill Education, to include Melton’s research on BMI. Melton’s findings will reach thousands of professors, students and healthcare workers. 

“Her paper made me more aware of the origins and history of BMI. I felt it would be good for other A&P instructors to be made aware of this,” Saladin said. 

In addition to the scholarly presentations and prestigious academic publishing, Melton presented her project at TEDxGeorgiaCollege, where she focused on the historical aspect of her research on BMI. She was able to share her research proudly to the Georgia College community and beyond as one of eight selected speakers. 

“When I was 14, I watched TED talks, and I looked for inspirational content. And so, I was like, what would 14-year-old me need to hear?” Melton said. 

Melton’s work shows just how far undergraduate research at GCSU can reach, shaping broader academic conversations and inspiring change. Her journey highlights the power and promise of a liberal arts education to empower students to think boldly and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. 

“Chloe wasn’t afraid to put herself out there and it has really paid off to be remarkable for her,” Newsome said.

Header Images: Melton won an award at GCHC for her BMI research paper and presentation. (Photo: Chloe Melton) Last fall, Melton was invited to speak at TEDxGeorgiaCollege. (Photo: Anna Gay Leavitt)