Jos茅 de Arimat茅ia da Cruz, Ph.D., professor of international relations and international studies in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has been appointed to the Chatham County Board of Health (CCBH) for a six-year term through 2031.

He will join a seven-member governing body composed of local representatives, working closely with local government leaders, county commission and the county superintendent of schools. CCBH oversees the Chatham County Health Department, assisting in public health policy and adoption of new rules.聽

Combining his expertise in international relations, da Cruz also specializes in cybersecurity and public health, bringing a unique skill set to the Chatham County Public Health Department that bridges the gap between local health initiatives and global security by connecting public health and global disease management directly with national security and military preparedness. 

鈥淚 hope my appointment to the Chatham Public Health Board is a rewarding experience and that I can use my national and international expertise to make a difference in our community and continue improving the well-being of our community’s citizens,鈥� da Cruz said. 

Additionally, da Cruz serves on the City of Savannah Ethics Board, Hospital Authority and Public Health Board. He also holds notable research and operational roles at the Center for Strategic Leadership in the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Alongside his military education roles, he is a research associate for the Brazil Research Unit at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C. With an active international profile, da Cruz has acted as a visiting professor at the Prague University of Economics and Business, the University of Stavanger in Norway and La Serena University in Chile.

On a national level, da Cruz holds specialized certifications from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in emergency management, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. Army in defense support of civil authorities. He is also a Cisco Certified CyberOps Officer and a Certified HIPAA Compliance Officer.

His extensive career spans the intelligence community across both the government and private sectors. Through this new appointment, da Cruz will provide the board with a macro-level understanding of how global health crises, biosecurity and technological threats impact community wellness and emergency readiness in the communities surrounding the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern.

Director of Business Incubation of the Business Innovation Group (BIG) of 快猫app短视, Sheffie Robinson, DBA, has joined the board of directors for the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) and those that lead them.聽

With experience mentoring and championing entrepreneurial efforts both in and out of institutions of higher education, Robinson demonstrates a deep commitment to helping others thrive. This dedication is evident in Robinson鈥檚 leadership at BIG, where she has played an important role in expanding entrepreneurial opportunities throughout the region. 

鈥淲hat makes the BIG unique is that we meet entrepreneurs where they are,鈥� Robinson explained. 鈥淭hrough the Georgia Enterprise Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GENIE), founders in rural and small-town Georgia have the same access to resources, expertise and networks that people usually associate with big cities. Our incubators in Statesboro, Metter and Hinesville anchor a broader network of partner organizations across the state that support our founders. We connect the University’s talent and research capacity directly to the businesses that drive our regional economy.鈥�

According to Robinson, it can be a misconception that businesses fail because they aren鈥檛 trying hard enough. However, she explained that there are a lot of small mistakes that anyone can make while opening a business, and Robinson, along with leaders at BIG and InBIA, seeks to prevent those startup errors before they ever start. 

鈥淢ost founders don’t fail for lack of effort; they stall because they don’t know what they don’t know,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 good mentor shortens that learning curve, helps them avoid costly mistakes and opens doors to customers, capital and partners they couldn’t reach on their own.鈥� 

InBIA has provided a wide range of resources, training and thought leadership to empower ESOs to create meaningful skills, collective knowledge and comprehensive resources to help organizations run efficiently and promote startup business success for over 40 years. 

One of only six leaders selected for the board of directors, Robinson began her role Oct. 1.

鈥淚’m looking forward to bringing the perspective of rural and regional incubation to an international conversation,鈥� she explained. 鈥淪o much innovation happens outside major metros, and I want to make sure those programs and founders are part of how our industry defines best practice. I’m also excited to learn from incubator and accelerator leaders around the world and bring those ideas back to Georgia Southern and the communities we serve.鈥�

However, her achievements go beyond this new role alone. In 2021, Robinson was named the winner of the EmpowerHERaccess Cloud Solution of the Year Award by Women in Cloud, and was also honored as a Top 10 Under 40 and Top CEO by the 鈥淢ississippi Business Journal.鈥�  In addition, she holds numerous professional certifications in workforce development, project management and Agile methodology. Robinson also holds professional training in clinical sociology and sociotherapy. 

For Robinson, the ability to support innovators and entrepreneurs is a passion built over nearly three decades. She looks forward to maximizing her skills as a leader and mentor within this new role. 

鈥淚 love the moment when someone realizes their idea is real,” she said. 鈥淚’ve been a founder myself for most of my career, so I know how isolating it can feel. Watching an entrepreneur land their first customer, hire their first employee, or secure funding they were told they’d never get is incredibly rewarding. Every one of those wins also strengthens a community, and that’s what keeps me in this work.鈥�

A research team of multidisciplinary students in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing (AEPCEC) at 快猫app短视 won $20,000 and a national title for their innovative tidal turbine design and community outreach plan at the 2026 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Marine Energy Collegiate Competition. 

Team Marine Seals won the Megawatt League’s Community Connections Challenge during the competition finals in Portland, Oregon. Outperforming 25 teams from across the nation, the group’s victory caps an intense eight-month phased competition requiring comprehensive business planning, technical build-and-test execution and community engagement.

The team鈥檚 competitive edge centered on creating a self-regulating seal for tidal turbines that could significantly advance the viability of renewable ocean energy. The technology stems from the doctoral research of mechanical engineering student Mohammad “Fuad” Hassan in Georgia Southern鈥檚 Thermofluidic Systems Research Laboratory.

Located on the ocean floor, tidal turbines convert moving ocean currents into electricity, but their underwater components face severe wear from high pressure and corrosion. Powerful dynamic currents cause shaft deflections and misalignment in traditional rigid seals triggering system failure and demanding frequent, high-cost maintenance. 

“If something fails offshore, you can’t just go fix it right away,” Hassan explained. “Systems need to last for years.”

To address this problem, the team focused on a critical but frequently overlooked point of vulnerability: the mechanical seal. The team re-engineered the seal’s geometry, allowing it to actively respond to constant pressure shifts. The design drastically reduces contact friction, wear and structural leakage, allowing underwater turbines to operate for longer periods of time before requiring costly maintenance interventions. 

During the competition鈥檚 mid-year evaluation, the team鈥檚 technical components scored near-perfect marks, but community outreach emerged as an area of growth. Taking the judges’ feedback in stride, the students leaned into the challenge, collaborating with 快猫app短视 Communications and Marketing, learning how to translate dense engineering problems into accessible public messaging.

This multidisciplinary approach proved to be their winning edge. 鈥淭he team responded with an incredible comeback,鈥� said Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., and Team Marine Seals鈥� faculty advisor. 鈥淏y bridging the gap between advanced marine engineering and public accessibility, the team demonstrated exactly what the Community Connections Challenge aims to foster: clean energy solutions that are understood, embraced and driven by the communities they serve.鈥�

The multidisciplinary roster brought together students from mechanical engineering, information technology, mathematics and athletics, creating a unique cross-functional edge:

• Mohammad “Fuad” Hassan (Graduate Team Lead): A doctoral student researching advanced sealing technologies and machine learning, Hassan previously helped the University secure $75,000 at the 2025 DOE EnergyTech University Prize and holds the prestigious 2026 STLE Elmer E. Klaus Fellowship.
• Cemil Emre Yavas: An information technology doctoral student and Presidential Research Fellow with 25 years of software entrepreneurship experience, Yavas utilized predictive analytics and cybersecurity concepts to build an interdisciplinary bridge between data and mechanical hardware.
• Madison Procyk: Holding both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Southern, Procyk brought extensive background in experimental testing, having previously taken first place at the 2024 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress poster competition.
• Simay Gunek: Bringing crucial manufacturing and inspection experience from an aerospace internship in Turkey, Gunek contributed highly technical machining precision and an international perspective to the design workflow.
• Noushin Gauhar: Pursuing a second master鈥檚 degree in mathematical sciences after earning a master鈥檚 degree in computer science, Gauhar combined computation, advanced mathematics and statistical analysis to bring deep analytical and data-driven modeling expertise to the team.
• Nevaeh Brown: A TRIO McNair Scholar who delivered the final community-engagement presentation under intense judges’ questioning, Brown successfully balanced intensive research outreach with Division I athletics as a student-athlete on Georgia Southern’s championship-winning women’s basketball team.
• Carrie Skelly: A mechanical engineering student, Skelly pairs a strong foundation in diagnostic problem-solving from her family’s farm and automotive shop background with professional experience in office management.
• Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D. (Faculty Advisor): Associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing.

鈥淭eam Marine Seals demonstrates the kind of experiential learning that prepares students to lead beyond the classroom,鈥� said Abhijit Bhattacharyya, Ph.D., dean of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. 鈥淭heir success reflects a commitment to excellence not only in academics, but also in translating knowledge into action.鈥�

The 快猫app短视 Alumni Association recognized its 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 during a ceremony Sept. 26 at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center in Statesboro. The annual honor recognizes young alumni who have made significant strides in business, leadership, community, educational or philanthropic endeavors.

鈥淵ou demonstrate the transformational power of education and the boundless possibilities that emerge when we grow ourselves in order to help others grow,鈥� said 快猫app短视 President Kyle Marrero. 鈥淵our energy, vision and commitment are helping shape the future of Georgia Southern, your professions and the communities you serve. We could not be prouder to count you among the Georgia Southern family.鈥�

The 鈥�40 Under 40鈥� honorees were chosen by a selection committee that reviewed each individual鈥檚 professional expertise, achievements, dedication to charitable and community initiatives and commitment to Georgia Southern.

鈥淵ou are shining examples of what it means to live with purpose, lead with courage and soar beyond expectations,鈥� Marrero said.

For the full list of 鈥�40 Under 40鈥� Class of 2026 honorees and to learn more about the program, visit .

快猫app短视 Sociology Professor April Schueths, Ph.D., has been named the recipient of the by the Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Honored at the annual Georgia CASA Conference in Atlanta, the distinction recognizes her long-standing service and exceptional contributions to child advocacy.   

Schueths has served on the board of (CASSEGA), for the last decade, including the last five years as board chair.  Schueths鈥� tenure as board chair has been instrumental in spearheading strategic fundraising, modernizing organizational policies and ensuring equitable support for youth across the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit.  

The CASA network relies on trained community volunteers to represent the best interests of children in the foster care system. CASSEGA supports foster children in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, which includes Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins and Screven counties.

“I’m honored to receive the Board Leadership Award from Georgia CASA,鈥� Schueths said. 鈥淚’m so proud of the work our CASSEGA team does every day to make sure children have a voice.”

Schueths leverages her clinical background as a practicing social worker and her academic research to strengthen local human services. At Georgia Southern, she prepares undergraduate sociology students for careers in public service through courses in social welfare policy, counseling skills and introductory social services.   

According to CASSEGA leadership, her dual role as an educator and advocate has significantly expanded the organization鈥檚 reach and operational stability.   

“Dr. Schueths brings a combination of scholarly insight and hands-on community care to the organization,” said Julie Pickens, Ph.D., executive director of CASSEGA. “Her rare ability to move seamlessly between policy leadership, academic scholarship and direct community engagement makes her an invaluable asset.”   

Georgia Southern Department of Biology Professor Sara Gremillion, Ph.D., has taken on a cross-institutional, five-year National Institute of Health grant-funded project that aims to create a curriculum and shared knowledge pool for an underutilized, yet widely available organism: Fungi. 

Gremillion, who is also the Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Student Success in the College of Science and Mathematics, explained, 鈥淚’m a mycologist, a biologist who studies molds, mildews, mushrooms and things like that. I am really interested in fungi that cause plant disease. I’m also interested in fungi that have medically important characteristics like the ability to produce antibiotics.鈥�

The project, , led by Gremillion, is a culmination of mycological expertise from across the globe designed to increase biomedical knowledge through an accessible, collective database of fungal research. But the project isn鈥檛 just an encyclopedia of fungal research; it also centers around teaching strategies for educators who may not have intensive training in mycology.

Gremillion said, 鈥淭here aren’t many people who study fungi, despite their importance in ecosystems, health and industry. So, our goal is to approach the microbiologist who may be studying bacteria, or the ecologists who may be studying plants in a specific ecosystem and pull them into the project. We鈥檒l train them in a fungal-forward curriculum-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) to include in their courses.鈥�

By training fellow scientists to implement a mycology-based curriculum, student and career researchers can work toward contributing fungal genetic information to a free, online database that can easily be accessed and used to further conversations surrounding biomedical potential for a wide variety of fungi, collected from nature by students. 

As a longtime professor of biology on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern, Gremillion has long been a supporter of undergraduate research opportunities. For the principal investigator and adjoining investigators, the inclusion of non-graduate-level scholars also plays a major role in the project through the Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) curriculum. 

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e majoring in STEM, your undergraduate laboratory experience is where the intense learning happens. It’s the hands-on activities that help you solidify those concepts. They help you learn how science is actually done. And so, to me, when I take on a research student, it’s just one-on-one teaching. Teaching a CURE is the next best thing; a classroom of students gets that research-intensive experience,鈥� Gremillion stated.

Ultimately, the almost $1.6 million grant will allow educators and scholars to investigate fungi as an innovative resource for beneficial usage as well as potential health risks. Although fungi are widely overlooked despite their natural abundance, the Myco-Ed project will provide training and knowledge to better understand these widespread organisms. With a mycologically literate biomedical workforce, fungi can be studied and leveraged for a variety of uses in the prevention of disease and production of improved, fungal-derived medicines. 

For Gremillion and her collaborators, this project is the outcome of a long-held dedication to the far too understudied world of mycology, where fungi are no longer hiding beneath hidden surfaces or in the dark corners of a basement, but taking center stage in the world of biomedical discovery. 

鈥淔ungi are so cool,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on’t sleep on the fungi.鈥�

Three teams of engineering students in 快猫app短视鈥檚 Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing competed in the Cast in Steel 2025 national competition hosted by the . University teams across the country were challenged to design, cast and test a fully functional replica of one of George Washington鈥檚 swords to honor the nation鈥檚 250th birthday. 

The Georgia Southern teams鈥� efforts, ranging from award-winning casting to overcoming complex engineering bottlenecks, are showcased in a multi-part docu-video series on the official YouTube channel, which debuted its first episode on July 9.

Using 100% in-house manufacturing capabilities and lab facilities, each Georgia Southern team successfully recreated a distinct blade from Washington鈥檚 historic collection that was then tested in a series of physical and performance challenges judged by industry experts. 

Team 1: Partners in Crime

This small but highly efficient two-man unit, consisting of students Noah Brack and Xander Bowen, took inspiration from Washington鈥檚 famous pre-Revolutionary War Hunting Cuttoe, which features a lion鈥檚 head pommel. Changing out the lion鈥檚 head for an eagle鈥檚 head, the team produced a cast steel blade using an in-house no-bake sand mold, an investment-cast brass crossguard and pommel, and a forged tang for optimal mechanical strength.

Competition judge Dave Baker praised their work, noting, “I was so excited to go in and test this sword. This is one of the lightest, quickest, most accurate blades we had on the table… Castings are really beautifully done, and it has a beautiful edge.”  

The duo captured 1st place for Best Casting and 3rd place for Best Authentic George Washington Sword nationally. Their is available to watch now. 

Team 2: Southern Steel Company

This five-member group combined the efforts of four sophomores: Drew Kuiters, Alexander Juarez, Nathaniel Giddens and Nathan Holmes under the mentorship of graduate student, Michael Jones.

For the sophomores’ first-ever casting project, they tackled the legendary Bailey Silver & Ivory Hilted Cuttoe. This iconic sword is one of the most famous and recognizable swords of the American Revolution, often referred to as George Washington’s “battle sword.” The ambitious project featured a flawlessly poured no-bake cast steel blade, and investment-cast stainless steel guards and pommels built using lost-wax mastery. 

鈥淔orged in Fire鈥� star and competition judge Ben Abbott highly commended the ergonomics, stating, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot to love about this sword. The feel of the handle, it鈥檚 big, but it鈥檚 comfortable. The casting of the guard is really good. It performed really well.鈥� 

Watch the Southern Steel Company compete in available now!  

Team 3: The Three Musketeers

Composed of Adnan Adib, Ahamed Shamsul Alam and James Votava, this team overcame severe engineering bottlenecks while replicating George Washington鈥檚 1767 茅辫茅别, a slender fencing sword with aggressive curved surfaces, to achieve a flawless blade. 

The blade鈥檚 ultra-thin geometry caused repeated “hot tear” defects during manufacturing. Through continuous trial and error, the team adjusted their gating designs to achieve a flawless blade cast via a no-bake sand mold. They used precision CNC machining to fabricate the intricate details of the crossguard and pommel, which featured eagle wings.

Praising both the aesthetics and the technical execution, competition judge Phillip Harrison remarked, 鈥淏eautiful, beautiful work. I loved it. The eagle and wings design was great, and they did such a great hardening job on it.鈥� Watch The Three Musketeers compete in .

Mingzhi Xu, Ph.D., Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) key professor and Association of Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) professor, was thrilled with each of the teams and their work. 

鈥淭his project wasn鈥檛 just about metal; it was about blending tradition with innovation,鈥� Xu said. 鈥淓ach team brought creativity, skill and determination to this challenge. Every setback taught us something new, and the final products stand as a testament to these students鈥� skill and perseverance.鈥�

The Manufacturing Engineering program at 快猫app短视 stands out for its state-of-the-art laboratories and fully operational metalcasting foundry, where expert faculty guide students to gain vital, real-world experience. A legacy of success in the national Cast in Steel competition highlights the program’s exceptional quality, which is further strengthened by active partnerships with industry alumni and organizations like . 

As one of only 30 institutions across North America supported by the , Georgia Southern continues to provide hands-on, industry-aligned pathways that prepare the next generation of metallurgical professionals to secure the future of the metalcasting industry.

快猫app短视鈥檚 Associate Dean of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Francisco M. Lugo, Ed.D., was named one of five recipients of the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors鈥� (AFA) 2026 Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award.

鈥淚f you had told this kid from San Juan, Puerto Rico, that one day he would be in Chicago receiving the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award, I鈥檓 not sure he would have believed you,鈥� Lugo explained. 鈥淢y fraternity and sorority journey began in the Midwest, first at the University of Dayton and later as a new professional at Miami University. Returning to the Midwest for this recognition during AFA鈥檚 50th anniversary makes it a truly full-circle moment.鈥� 

Presented annually, the award recognizes individuals who have made meaningful contributions to the advancement of AFA through membership and volunteer service while also contributing broadly to the fraternity and sorority profession or its body of knowledge. The 2026 recognition is especially significant as AFA celebrates its 50th anniversary and five decades of service to the fraternity and sorority profession.

Lugo, who has served the students of Georgia Southern since 2013, has spent more than a decade strengthening and advancing the University鈥檚 vibrant fraternity and sorority community.

鈥淚鈥檓 most proud of the community we have built at Georgia Southern and the students and advisors who continue to shape it. Their commitment to leadership, service, mentorship and something larger than themselves is what makes our fraternity and sorority community so vibrant,鈥� Lugo said. 

His dedication to the fraternity and sorority profession extends beyond Georgia Southern. He has served on the AFA Board of Directors and held leadership roles with the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). He currently serves as Chair of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Fraternity and Sorority Knowledge Community. 

Lugo is also a member of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He previously served as the executive director and now serves on the fraternity鈥檚 Board of Trustees and as a trustee for The 1931 Foundation, its educational foundation. Additionally, in 2025, Sigma Nu Fraternity named him Campus Advisor of the Year for his work with Georgia Southern鈥檚 Theta Kappa Chapter. 

He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of New England as well as a Master of Education in College Student Personnel and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Communication from the University of Dayton.

Recipients will be recognized beginning on Monday, Oct. 5, during AFA鈥檚 Awards and Recognition Week. Toward the end of the year, awards will be presented to each winner at the AFA Annual Meeting in Chicago from Dec. 2 to 5. 

Lugo said, 鈥淭his recognition allows me to reflect on the people and experiences that have shaped my journey while also motivating me to keep moving the work forward. I鈥檓 excited about the continued growth of fraternity and sorority life at Georgia Southern and the opportunity to help students find belonging, develop as leaders and make a meaningful impact.鈥� 

In early August, French Professor Olga Amarie, Ph.D., in 快猫app短视鈥檚 Department of World Languages and Cultures, was named the newest executive director of the board of Pi Delta Phi, the oldest national academic honor society for a world language within the United States.

The organization also provides opportunities for students to connect with leading scholars in French studies and assists students in applying for study abroad scholarships. However, Amarie鈥檚 involvement extends beyond her current title.

鈥淚 joined Pi Delta Phi as a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame, chapter Mu Phi. It is not common for European universities to have honor societies for each specific field. It was completely new and interesting for me as an international student,鈥� she said.

In 2012, Amarie took her commitment to the organization and the students it serves a step further.

鈥淒r. David Seaman, emeritus, advised me to visit the Pi Delta Phi board at the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association Conference because they had an open session, which I did,鈥� Amarie said. 鈥淪oon after, I volunteered to serve as vice president for the society and opened nine chapters of Pi Delta Phi,鈥� Amarie said.

Although this is her first time with the Executive Director title, this veteran educator has spent more than three decades devoting her career to supporting future generations of French scholars.

鈥淭he responsibilities are new but something I like to do: maintain all sorts of records for the society; represent the society at the annual meeting of the Association of College Honor Societies; work with chapter moderators on Pi Delta Phi materials; and work with scholarship recipients who will study abroad in Chicoutimi, Canada, and in Paris, Aix-en-Provence, France, etc.,鈥� Amarie said.

As technology continues to rapidly evolve, Amarie stresses the importance of world culture and language as an integral part of human connection, scholarship and meaningful advancement.

鈥淢any employers value multilingual employees. I personally speak four languages: Romanian, French, English and Russian. Foreign language skills are useful in many fields, including education, business, health care, government, tourism, international relations and technology. Being bilingual or multilingual can make job candidates more competitive,鈥� she said.

Looking ahead while honoring history, Amarie anticipates future generations of eager undergraduate and graduate students as they explore academic and career opportunities, connecting scholars from across the globe and unifying learners through their shared admiration and commitment to French language and Francophone literatures.

鈥淭he motto of Pi Delta Phi is very inspirational: 芦Avan莽ons, amis fid猫les de la culture fran莽aise禄, which means, 鈥楲et us move forward, faithful friends of French culture,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 like this motto because it emphasizes both growth (avan莽ons) and commitment (fid猫les) to French studies. We work together toward shared language, cultural traditions and values.鈥�

Lukas Marlow, a scholar in the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, and engineering student in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, earned international recognition for his third-place finish in the Undergraduate Poster Competition at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE).

Each year, IMECE gathers dozens of top researchers from institutions of higher education, government entities and industry to drive innovative engineering solutions for the future. The exposition, which was held in Memphis, Tenn., sought to highlight the necessity of engineering while also recognizing global challenges within the profession. 

Marlow’s research was selected among presentations from undergraduate researchers representing universities around the world.

“Coming to college, I never imagined I would be presenting research on an international stage,” he said. “Receiving recognition at IMECE showed me how much I have grown as a student, researcher and communicator. It gave me confidence that I can contribute meaningful work to the engineering community.”

Marlow spent the year researching challenges associated with supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO鈧�) power generation systems, an emerging technology with potential applications in next-generation energy production. His research focused on sealing behavior within sCO鈧� systems, a critical area affecting efficiency, reliability and long-term system performance.

During Marlow鈥檚 time at the University, the engineering student has been supported, in part, by the Georgia Southern鈥檚 McNair Scholars Program which aims to support undergraduate students, like Marlow, in their pursuit of a Ph.D. These first-generation college students receive resources to better succeed in graduate school, while also championing talented, dedicated and prepared future researchers and faculty. 

Throughout the experience, Marlow received mentorship from Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of the University鈥檚 Thermo-Fluidic Systems Laboratory and doctoral student Mohammad “Fuad” Hassan. He later presented his research at several major conferences including the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC), ASME IMECE, and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).

In recognition of his academic achievement, research accomplishments and engagement with the program, Marlow was also named Georgia Southern鈥檚 McNair Scholar of the Year for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year.聽

“Lukas approached his research with professionalism, responsibility and determination,” said Cesmeci. “He consistently followed through on his commitments, engaged deeply with the technical challenges and developed confidence as both a researcher and presenter.”

As Georgia Southern continues to strive for R1 status, this project highlights the collaborative nature of undergraduate research within the University. Hassan worked closely with Marlow throughout the project, providing technical guidance and mentorship. 

The experience was more than just the high-ranking finish at IMECE. For Marlow, the hours of intensive development and research have helped shape his future goals.

“Research showed me that engineering is about more than solving equations,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t’s about solving real-world problems and creating meaningful impact. Presenting at conferences, collaborating with mentors and contributing to a challenging project has prepared me for the next stage of my career, reinforcing my desire to continue growing as an engineer.”

While technology continues to rapidly evolve, students like Marlow exemplify the impact of hands-on research experience during undergraduate studies. For faculty like Cesmeci, the ability to provide students with invaluable skills and resources is both critical and illuminating. 

“Undergraduate research allows students to experience real-world engineering problems, which helps develop the skills they need for graduate school, faculty and more,” said Cesmeci. “Watching students grow is one of the most rewarding aspects of academic research.”