As part of community and public health courses through the College of Health Sciences, three students chose unique opportunities to volunteer this semester.  The senior public health majors Donovan Fraser, Jamie Puckett and Brennan Smith were tasked with choosing an organization with which to volunteer. Facilitated by Dr. Ernie Kaninjing, assistant professor of health and human performance, the exercise teaches students practical skills for interacting with unique communities.  For...

The rural Coopers community of Baldwin County sits outside the city limits of Milledgeville. Although it’s only about seven miles on the southside of town, it’s in a desert of its own. A food desert that is. Through her internship, senior Christina Taylor spent her summer mapping the access to food in the county and found some areas face little access to food, especially healthy food. “My research is around physical food environments in Baldwin County and rural, underserved communities,”...

Emily Watson As a public health major, Emily Watson of Newnan, Georgia, has gained first-hand experience in the field. She recently interned with Delta Air Lines, doing research and evaluating pathogen risk in several areas. “This career path really drew me in,” she said. “It amazed me how many career opportunities are available such as biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, community health, disaster management and many more.”  During her internship, Watson’s research...

For most students, the first week of the semester involves locating your new classes, meeting with your professors and planning your schedule for the next few months. Mickensey Carter and Micheal Lawson had different duties though. They were in Washington D.C. serving with the Georgia Army National Guard—called to active duty in the days leading up to President Joe Biden’s inauguration.   The Bleckley County natives have been friends since the sixth grade. Both always had a strong...

Growing up, Georgia College senior Joshua Selby always strived to find different ways to improve his physical and mental health. Now, he is enjoying his studies as an exercise science major on a preprofessional track, and has his sight set on becoming a physical therapist. “I found pursuing a degree in exercise science allows me to further explore more approaches to promote overall fitness and health, as well as examine why our body works in the way that it does,” he said. Selby, who...

Dr. Jim Lidstone, professor in the School of Health and Human Performance and director of the Center for Health and Social issues, has been instrumental in helping Georgia College make its mark on the community. He’s always had the best interests of his students, community and university at heart. Lidstone joined Georgia College’s faculty in 1996 from South Dakota State University where through the years, he moved up from assistant to associate to full professor. He came to Georgia...

Bethany Dyals Hometown: Guyton, GA Major: Exercise Science What made you choose your major? I chose Exercise science to prepare for a future career in Occupational Therapy (OT) as the Exercise Science program at GC instills a strong understanding of how the human body functions, practical and clinical application of course material within everyday life, and the ability to study in a setting that allows for kinesthetic and visual learning.  What was your favorite class/professor and...

Amara Tennessee Hometown - I was born and raised in Roswell, Georgia. Major - I am a double major in Public Health and World Languages and Culture. I have a double concentration in Spanish and Spanish for the Professionals and a double minor in Global Health Studies and Latin American, Caribbean & Latino studies. What made you choose your major?  - I have always been interested in health and in Spanish. I came into college as a freshman Pre-Nursing major, with a Spanish minor, but...