A Lasting Impact: Fayron Epps Honored in Piedmont Park

ATLANTA — On Sept. 25, colleagues, family members, community partners and supporters gathered in Piedmont Park as a bench was dedicated in honor of Fayron Epps, Ph.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN, associate dean of the School of Nursing and a professor in Georgia State University's Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions.

The recognition is part of the Benchmark for Science Project, an initiative that partners with parks across the country to place storytelling benches honoring scholars whose work has contributed to health, medicine, research and related fields.

The plaque on Epps’ bench highlights her work advancing dementia care through research, advocacy and service, and closes with an invitation:

The plaque commemorates the bench dedicated in honor of Georgia State nursing leader Fayron Epps.

“May all who pause here be inspired by her belief that where faith meets science, healing begins.”

For Epps, the location is especially meaningful. As one of Atlanta's most recognizable public spaces, Piedmont Park reflects a belief that has guided much of her career: Well-being is influenced not only by clinical care, but also by the people, places and resources that support individuals in their daily lives.

Connecting Research With the People it Serves

Epps has built her career around improving the lives of people with dementia and helping families navigate the complexities of caregiving. Among her best-known initiatives is ALTER, a program designed to equip faith communities to better support people living with dementia and the families who care for them. Epps has brought healthcare providers, faith leaders, caregivers and researchers together to develop practical, evidence-based approaches responsive to the realities that families face every day.

"What keeps me going is the family at the kitchen table trying to figure out how to care for a parent with dementia while holding the rest of their life together," Epps said.

That commitment informs Epps’ work as a nurse scientist, educator and associate dean. At Lewis College, she leads School of Nursing faculty while advancing nursing education and scholarship responsive to evolving healthcare needs.

Discovery Across Disciplines

That same emphasis on discovery and practical application extends across the Lewis College, where research projects are strengthening Georgia’s nursing workforce, examining how artificial intelligence can improve hypertension outcomes, advancing stroke rehabilitation and delivering preventive services with initiatives such as the Health on Wheels mobile clinic. Working alongside faculty mentors gives students firsthand experience while allowing them to contribute to efforts addressing some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges.

Epps credits Georgia State's collaborative environment with helping her ideas reach more people.

"Georgia State has opened doors and given me a platform to grow that impact further," she said. "I am inspired every day by colleagues across our campuses who are building one of the most accessible nursing programs in the country while also producing research that spans a family's whole life course."

The Work Continues

For Epps, the bench offers an occasion to reflect not simply on professional achievements, but on the relationships that give her work meaning.

"I hope I leave behind proof that rigorous science and deep community love make each other stronger, not weaker," she said.

The bench in Piedmont Park now marks that commitment in a lasting and public way. At Georgia State, Epps continues to put it into practice as a nurse scientist and associate dean, leading the School of Nursing faculty, advancing nursing education and scholarship, and helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.