EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH SCHOLARS

ALISHA RIGGINS (’25)
Doctor of Public Health Graduate Student
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Hometown: Roanoke, Virginia

Major: Community Health Behavior and Education

What is the focus of your research?

My research centers on maternal and child health, with a particular emphasis on reproductive rights. My dissertation, “The Impact of Restrictive Abortion Policies on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the United States, 2018–2021,” examines how legislation influences maternal health outcomes. I’ve also co-authored peer-reviewed articles on perinatal psychosis, adverse childhood experiences and reproductive rights indices.

Will you continue your research after graduation?

Yes, I am fully committed to continuing this work. I plan to further explore the intersection of reproductive justice, health policy and maternal health outcomes. I also plan on publishing my dissertation work to contribute to the growing body of evidence on how restrictive abortion policies influence maternal health, particularly hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

What did you learn about yourself at Georgia Southern?

During my time at Georgia Southern, I discovered a deep and genuine love for research. When I first began my doctoral program, I had very little experience in conducting research and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But as I progressed through my coursework, engaging in faculty-led projects and developing my own studies, something clicked — I realized that not only was I capable of contributing meaningfully to research, but I absolutely loved it.

Describe your Georgia Southern experience. What were the
highlights? What were the challenges?

Highlights include presenting research at state and national conferences, including the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and the Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting. Challenges included balancing a demanding workload with leadership and service commitments, but these experiences strengthened my resilience and time management.

Favorite Campus Experience?

Tailgating for football games was hands-down one of my favorite experiences! Those moments brought a great balance to the demands of graduate school and created lasting memories that I’ll always treasure.

What will you miss most about Georgia Southern?

I’ll miss the people the most: my mentors, collaborators and peers who have inspired, challenged and supported me. The sense of community and shared purpose within the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health has been incredibly special. I’ll also miss the friends I’ve made in my program, people who have become not just colleagues, but lifelong friends and sources of support throughout this journey. And, of course, I’ll definitely miss being just minutes away from Del Sur, my go-to spot for great food.

What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?

I am extremely grateful for the recognition of my research efforts. My research pursuits over the past three years stemmed from a deep commitment to advancing equity in maternal and reproductive health, especially for those most impacted by systemic barriers. Receiving the Averitt Award is not only a tremendous honor, but it also validates the passion, persistence and purpose behind my research. It’s not just recognition of past work, but a motivation to continue advocating for equity in maternal and reproductive health.

GRACE M. BENNETT (’25)
Master of Science Graduate Student
College of Science and Mathematics

Hometown: Ithaca, New York

Major: Applied Physical Science

What is the focus of your research?

I work with the research group of Dr. Mark dela Cerna in the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physics within the College of Science and Mathematics. Our research broadly focuses on phosphatases, a family of enzymes that play key roles in cellular signaling and regulation. Dysregulation of these enzymes often leads to diseases, making them potential targets to develop therapeutics. My research specifically focuses on PRL-3, a phosphatase involved in pathways leading to cancer and metastasis. We identify inhibitors and binders of PRL-3 to develop into potential therapeutics to treat cancer and metastasis and learn more about PRL-3’s role in cancer development.

Will you continue your research after graduation?

I hope so. I am currently planning on doing a doctorate in biomedical sciences and biochemistry, which would allow me to continue this specific project. Additionally, I want to have a career in drug discovery research. Though I may not be working on this specific project forever, I plan to continue high-impact research that aims to develop therapeutics targeting relevant proteins with the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Favorite Campus Experience?

Being a part of a research group gave me the resources, confidence and tools to become a better student and scientist. I encourage everyone to do research at some point, even if it is not your ultimate career goal.

What will you miss most about Georgia Southern?

I will absolutely miss my lab and research group the most. As the very first student in the dela Cerna lab at Georgia Southern and as a graduate student working on a thesis, I am in the lab almost every single day. I also took on a more senior role of onboarding and training new members. Because of this, I have developed great relationships and even some friendships in the lab. Though I am not leaving Georgia Southern and hope to be back in the lab in a year, that will for sure be the hardest change after graduation.

What does it mean to you to be a recipient of the Averitt Award?

It means a lot to receive this award. Not only is it an honor to be recognized for my work, but it also highlights the amazing research that the biochemistry, chemistry and physics department is doing.

What are your career plans?

For the coming year, I have accepted a position teaching chemistry at Georgia Southern. During that time, I will continue my research in the lab and apply for doctoral programs.

Describe your Georgia Southern experience. What were the
highlights? What were the challenges?

I had a great experience at Georgia Southern. The small campus and tight community setting at Armstrong were a perfect fit for me in my collegiate career. Something I always like to highlight about Georgia Southern is that there are more opportunities for hands-on undergraduate research. We are primarily an undergraduate institution, meaning that the undergrads get plenty of experience doing high-impact research and using instrumentation. This benefited me as I went into my graduate program with lots of research experience and knowledge, and I am leaving with a strong foundation to further my scientific career.