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Sam Fahmy
Director of Communications
School of Public Health
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ATLANTA—The Georgia State University School of Public Health is welcoming four new faculty members for the 2023 – 2024 academic year.
Located in the heart of Atlanta, the Georgia State SPH is dedicated to educating the next generation of public health practitioners while also conducting research and outreach that advances health equity. The school is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding as a standalone school this year, making progress toward its Vision 2027 Strategic Plan and recently achieved its second-highest level of sponsored funding for research and service.
“We are excited to welcome our newest faculty to the School of Public Health, where they will undoubtedly play a vital role in preparing students for thriving and impactful careers that improve the health and well-being of populations,” said Dean and Professor Rodney Lyn. “Through their teaching, research and engagement, they will lay the foundation for healthier futures here in Atlanta and beyond.”
See the links below for Q&As with each of the new faculty members.
April Ballard
April Ballard, Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, seeks to help students build skills that will serve them in all spheres of their lives.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?
Witnessing the global impact of infectious diseases, health disparities and inadequate access to care drove me to pursue a career in public health. I was initially drawn to the field because it offers the chance to address root causes of disease and disparities, which can have tremendous positive impacts on society. This dynamic field offers a unique chance to create impactful change through research, policy and community partnerships, aligned with my dedication to health as a human right.
What attracted you to the GSU SPH?
I am thrilled to join the faculty at the GSU SPH due to its commitment to excellence in research, teaching and community engagement. It is evident that the school’s collaborative and interdisciplinary environment fosters innovative approaches to address complex public health issues, which aligns with my values and goals as a public health professional. The emphasis on mentoring and learning with the next generation of public health leaders is also highly motivating. Strong mentorship and effective teaching have been critical to my success over the years.
How do you describe your research to people outside of your discipline?
My research focuses on universal, adequate and equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), particularly among those disproportionately affected (e.g., children, people experiencing homelessness). I integrate social and behavioral methodologies into environmental health to understand and address WASH-related health inequities with human-centered and pragmatic approaches. This means I seek to understand and address how social (e.g., stigma, poverty) and environmental (e.g., resource distribution, water quality) conditions influence behaviors and health outcomes related to WASH.
What do you want students to gain from your instruction and mentorship?
My goal as an instructor and mentor is to help students build skills that will serve them in all spheres of their lives. This means that I do not solely focus on the delivery of public health content, but instead focus on teaching skills and theory in a collaborative learning environment. In practice, this looks like students directing the learning, processing and construction of ideas where I serve as a “coach” as opposed to a lecturer or instructor.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Outside of work, I spend a lot of time around soccer and in nature. I love watching women’s professional soccer. I also coach girls recreational soccer and play in a league myself. Hiking and backpacking are also passions of mine. The mountains and bodies of water are my happy places.
Zongshuan "Jack" Duan
Zongshuan “Jack” Duan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, says the School of Public Health’s commitment to innovative research and community engagement aligns perfectly with his passion for contributing to public health.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?
My inspiration to pursue a career in public health began during my undergraduate studies at Peking University Health Science Center in China. The 2002-03 SARS outbreak made me realize the importance of public health policies and interventions. Later, I became interested in working on tobacco and substance use research, which could contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality and improving population health.
What attracted you to the GSU SPH?
I joined the GSU SPH family as a project coordinator in the China Tobacco Control Partnership in 2015, and I pursued doctoral training in SPH from 2017 to 2021. I love the dynamic and collaborative working, learning and research environment. I am very excited to return to the SPH family as a faculty member. The GSU SPH’s commitment to innovative research and community engagement aligns perfectly with my own passion for contributing to public health.
How do you describe your research to people outside of your discipline?
My research focuses on understanding the factors that influence tobacco and substance use behaviors, including how sociodemographics, marketing and regulatory policies shape individuals’ perceptions and behaviors. By examining these relationships, my goal is to contribute to developing effective interventions and policies that can curb tobacco and substance use, and thus improve public health outcomes.
What do you want students to gain from your instruction and mentorship?
Student success in academic learning and in their future careers is my primary goal as an instructor and mentor. I hope to empower students with practical skills, critical thinking and a strong knowledge foundation that enables them to succeed in their future career.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
Outside of work, I find joy in reading, running and exploring nature. I also enjoy spending time with my family, which adds balance and fulfillment to my life.
Natasha Malmin
Natasha Malmin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, was attracted to GSU because of its educational approach, which focuses on the whole student, and the university’s commitment to placemaking and its relevance to the dynamic economy of Atlanta and the wider region.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?
As a child, I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. In college, I had the opportunity to complete a summer internship at Grady Hospital here in Atlanta. While I loved the work that Grady was doing in serving the poor and medically fragile, I saw the institution struggling under an impossible weight of historical disinvestment. It was my time there that helped me to realize that I cared deeply about issues of justice but also about working at the system level. Public Health allows me to do both: affirm the dignity of people and advocate for systemic change.
What attracted you to the GSU SPH?
I love how GSU approaches education, focusing on the whole student and the constant innovation that focus requires. I am also attracted to the university’s commitment to placemaking and its relevance to the dynamic economy of Atlanta and the wider region.
How do you describe your research to people outside of your discipline?
My research can be summed up with one question: How do we make resilient people-centered systems that can withstand shock and recover quickly?
What do you want students to gain from your instruction and mentorship?
One thing I value is the ability to ask the underlying question that relates to the bigger picture. I hope that students who interact with me are able to think more critically of the world around them, for the express purpose of making it more inclusive and just for all.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
I'm rewatching late 90s/early 2000s cartoons with my kids and seeing them fall in love with the greats. Right now, we are rewatching “Avatar the Last Airbender.” “Hey Arnold!” will be next.
Anne Marie Schipani-McLaughlin
Anne Marie Schipani-McLaughlin, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, is a sexual violence prevention researcher with a focus on technology and social media.
What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?
I first took an interest in public health as an undergraduate student in psychology with a passion for research – early on, I developed a research interest in sexual health and decision-making among emerging adults. Because of this, my mentor and research methods professor encouraged me to apply to MPH programs. I initially thought my path post-graduation was a Ph.D. program in psychology, and so I only applied to one MPH program (Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health). I ended up attending Emory’s MPH program in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, and I am so glad I did! I knew as soon as I was in the program that public health was the field for me, and, over 10 years later, I’ve never looked back.
What attracted you to the GSU SPH?
As a New Yorker, I was initially drawn to GSU’s urban campus in downtown Atlanta and diverse student body. However, the faculty and students at SPH were what made me certain it was a great fit for me. Many of the faculty at GSU SPH are violence researchers, which was a major draw to me as a sexual violence researcher. Because of this and affiliations with the Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence and Resilient Youth Initiative, I have been afforded many opportunities for collaboration with faculty at GSU SPH and with faculty in the psychology department. Plus, SPH faculty are warm, welcoming and open to working together. There is a lot of camaraderie and support for early career faculty like me. I also love working with GSU SPH students and mentoring the new generation of public health professionals.
How do you describe your research to people outside of your discipline?
In lay terms, I am a sexual violence prevention researcher with a focus on technology and social media. I often explain to folks outside my discipline that I develop sexual violence and alcohol programs using social media and technology (for example: web-based programs) and test whether these programs are effective using methods such as randomized controlled trials.
What do you want students to gain from your instruction and mentorship?
My mentorship and teaching style is very student-centered, so my goal is for students to walk away with tangible skills that they can apply in a variety of settings in their public health career. In the class I teach, I strive for my assignments to be useful to students rather than busywork. As for my mentorship, I like to develop relationships with my mentees through meetings and understanding their goals. Whether through mentorship or teaching, I provide what I like to think is helpful feedback to help students learn skills in research and public health that they can carry with them beyond the MPH or Ph.D. program.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
When I am not at work, I am fulfilling the duties of my other very important job: a mom to my 10-month-old daughter, Anna! I enjoy going to local coffee shops like Little Tart with my family on weekend mornings, farmers markets, spending time with my family and friends, exercising, and traveling anywhere with a beach.