The UGA College of Public Health saw no shortage of celebration during UGA’s 2026 Honors Week. UGA takes this week annually to recognize outstanding faculty, students and staff, and to show gratitude for their dedication to the university, the local community and the university’s mission through university- and college-wide awards.
Fred C. Davison Early Career Scholar Award: Amy Winter
This award, named after the University of Georgia’s 18th president, recognizes strong research achievements and future potential. This year’s recipient, Amy K. Winter, said the award reflects not just her work, but also the support of her collaborators, students and mentors.
Winter is an assistant professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and her academic path includes degrees from UGA, Princeton and Emory. Her research examines how vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and rubella spread, aiming to produce work that directly informs public health policy and global vaccination efforts.
At UGA, Winter has led major collaborations, secured grants (including two from the Gates Foundation), and contributed to research influencing WHO policy. She plans to continue building a collaborative research program focused on improving global health and mentoring the next generation of scientists.
2026 Creative Teaching Award: Michelle Ritchie
The Creative Teaching Awards recognize faculty members who have implemented significant creative teaching innovations or who have introduced strategy in a course to improve student learning.
Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at the Institute for Disaster Management Michelle Ritchie was recognized for her innovative teaching approach, which uses a policy–research–practice model focused on active learning and real-world application. Students analyze evidence, apply course concepts and build communication skills through hands-on activities through her class.
Ritchie’s students also work with real campus data to create disaster mitigation plans and present them to stakeholders, allowing them to gain practical experience. This approach helps students think critically and apply policy in applicable ways.
2026 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education: Kerstin Emerson
The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education recognizes exceptional dedication to advancing graduate-level teaching and mentorship, as well as program development. This university-wide award honors faculty who make a significant impact on graduate students’ academic success and professional growth.
Clinical Professor Kerstin Emerson holds a strong commitment to supporting graduate students and enhancing their educational experience. She is commended for her attention to student well-being and leadership in strengthening graduate curricula.
Through her teaching and mentorship, Emerson emphasizes learning that extends beyond the classroom through exploring innovative approaches, such as incorporating AI-driven exercises and rethinking grading practices to better engage graduate students and support their long-term development.
Ed Wilker Memorial Egalitarian Award: Nichole McCorkle
The Ed Wilker Memorial Egalitarian Award, presented by the Black Faculty and Staff Organization at the University of Georgia, recognizes staff members who consistently demonstrate “occupational excellence” and a strong commitment to supporting others in their work.
Nominated by her students, Graduate Program Administrator Nichole McCorkle’s receiving of this award reflects the strong impact she has on their academic journeys. As a graduate program administrator, she supports students from recruitment through graduation, helping them navigate coursework and overall progress.
She goes beyond her formal role to support students personally, rooted in a passion for helping students grow and succeed.
UGA Innovation in AI Teaching Award: Bree Bang-Jensen
Bree Bang-Jensen is an assistant professor in the College of Public Health and School of Public and International Affairs. She received this year’s award for an assignment she designed for an International Law class (INTL 4210).
Her assignment pushed students to develop AI literacy by emphasizing AI as a tool requiring both review and oversight. The students learned how to apply higher-level prompting strategies and evaluate AI-generated legal language, as well as when revision is necessary. Students were also asked to advance legal reasoning skills by explaining and defending their choices.
2026 First-Year Odyssey Seminar Teaching Award: Juliet Sekandi
Juliet Sekandi, is an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and the Director of the Global Health Institute at the College of Public Health.
She received one of the 2026 excellence in teaching a First-Year Odyssey Seminar awards. The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate innovation and excellence in instruction, highlighting her ability to deliver engaging, high-impact teaching that is deeply integrated with her scholarship. Her seminar exemplifies the core goals of the First–Year Odyssey Seminar program by fostering critical thinking, connecting academic inquiry to real-world public health challenges, and inspiring undergraduate students to engage meaningfully in research and global health practice.
Presidential Award of Excellence: Garett Smith
Garrett Smith received the College of Public Health Presidential Award of Excellence, which honors graduating seniors who display outstanding academic performance, leadership and service.
Named a Presidential Scholar every semester during his time at UGA, Garrett has been deeply involved on campus, serving in leadership roles in Phi Delta Epsilon and Kappa Alpha Pi, volunteering with Campus Kitchen and working with the Children’s Environmental Health Network.
After graduation, he plans to attend law school and eventually pursue a career in health and business law in Florida.
CPH First Honor Graduates: Christina Banh and Garrett Smith
Two College of Public Health students, Christina Banh and Garrett Smith, have earned First Honor Graduate status in the University of Georgia’s Class of 2026: the highest academic distinction of a 4.0 GPA.
Banh, a Double Dawg earning a BS in health promotion and an MPH in biostatistics, is passionate about reducing healthcare disparities. She serves as a student health ambassador, volunteers with the UGA Food Pantry and Backpack Project, and will intern at Piedmont Athens Regional’s Loran Smith Cancer Center.
Smith earned a BS in Health Promotion with an emphasis in health services.
CPH Faculty Excellence Awards
CPH Excellence in Research: Justin Bahl
This award honors faculty whose research has a significant impact on the field and shows creativity in scholarship.
Working across the College of Public Health, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Institute of Bioinformatics, this honor recognizes Epidemiology & Biostatistics Professor Justin Bahl’s contributions to public health through his research on molecular epidemiology, pathogen evolution and infectious disease dynamics.
He has built a multi-state network of laboratories and researchers as an academic lead for the CDC-funded Georgia Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence, advancing diagnostics, surveillance and public health responses.
CPH Excellence in Service Award: Stephen Correia
This award recognizes dedication to expanding student learning, building community partnerships, and improving population health through service.
A respected leader in clinical psychology, neuroscience and gerontology, Associate Professor Stephen Correia received. From cognitive training interventions to studying environmental impacts on patient safety, his work continues to push the field forward and elevate UGA’s national reputation.
CPH Part-Time Faculty Award: Scott McNabb
This award acknowledges part‑time faculty for excellence and contributions in teaching, service, or professional activities.
Scott Mcnabb is an adjunct professor for the Department of Epidemiology and Hubert Department of Global Health at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health. McNabb was awarded for his dedication to students and public health education. As instructor of Public Health Surveillance courses, he brings extensive real-world experience from his leadership roles at the CDC, giving students practical insights into global health, informatics and epidemic intelligence.
CPH Outstanding Staff Award: Rebecca Baskam
This award celebrates staff who go above and beyond their duties to support the college’s quality and excellence.
Research Professional Rebecca Baskam serves as a connective force on campus by building community, by fostering productive, respectful and mission-driven projects and by ensuring that all voices are heard.
Her contributions have a meaningful impact through her strong technical skills, her reliability in most situations and her exemplification of both integrity and commitment. She also leads by example for our students, and all of her accomplishments come alongside the pursuit of her PhD.
CPH Staff Academic and Community Engagement Leadership Award: Iris Hector
This award recognizes a staff member whose efforts strengthen academic support and community inclusion at the college
Institute for Disaster Management (IDM) Program Coordinator Iris Hector demonstrates extraordinary commitment to creating a welcoming environment through meaningful community engagement in the college
Hector thoughtfully asks meaningful questions and makes note of what is going on in students’ professional and personal lives. She goes above and beyond in creating a supportive environment. Hector is also the program coordinator for IDM’s largest grant.
CPH Teaching Excellence Award recipient: Kerstin Emerson
This award honors a faculty member for outstanding commitment to student success and excellence in public health education.
Kerstin Emerson was recognized for her dedication to students and excellence in teaching.
She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in gerontology, focusing on both academic and real-world applications. Emerson is praised for her course design, her mentorship, her “commitment to excellence in teaching” and her strong commitment to student growth.
Tenure & Promotion
- Amy K. Winter promoted to Associate Professor with tenure
- Janani Thapa promoted to Professor
- John McCracken granted tenure
- Melissa Howard promoted to Clinical Professor
- Justin Ingels promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
- Rifat Haider promoted to Associate Professor with tenure
- Jenay Beer promoted to Professor
- Paula Davis-Olwell promoted to Clinical Professor
By Alexia Rule
