School Award Ceremony Recognizes Outstanding Faculty, Staff, Students

For the fourth year in a row, Rollins hosted a community awards ceremony to honor outstanding faculty, staff, and students with public recognition for their contributions to the school and to public health. Held in the Margaret H. Rollins Room, people from across departments and ranks came to cheer on colleagues and to join for conversation and fun during the event’s reception.  

“In these ongoing challenging times, it is wonderful to have this moment to focus on the joy of celebrating your excellence,” said Dani Fallin, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health in her opening remarks.  

“As I stand before you, reflecting on this past year, I am truly humbled by the sheer magnitude of talent, dedication, and compassion that radiates from every corner of Rollins.” 

The 2026 award winners are listed below. 

Faculty Awards

Thomas F. Sellers Jr. MD Award  for Support of Faculty Colleagues in Public Health

Laurie Gaydos

Early Career Research Excellence Award

Megan Winkler

Kristin Nelson

Foundations Research Excellence

Anke Huels

Donghai Liang

Senior Research Excellence Award 

Kelli Komro

Faculty Established Practice Excellence Award

Briana Woods-Jaeger

Faculty Emerging Practice Excellence Award

Lillian Madrigal

Bethany Caruso

Departmental Teaching Awards

Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

David Benkeser

Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences

Kimbi Hagen

Department of Epidemiology

Michael Goodman

Department of Health Policy and Management

William Pearson

Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health

Timothy (Tim) Frederick

Hubert Department of Global Health

Jim Lavery

Executive MPH Program

Laurie Gaydos

DrPH Program

Kaitlin Piper

Faculty Community and Belonging Award

Elizabeth Walker

Faculty Excellence in Public Health Communication Award

Jodie Guest

Regina Shih

Staff Awards

P. Dean Surbey Staff Award of Distinction

Phyllis Peninger

Tiffaney Renfro

Eric Strait

Award for Excellence in Research or Practice

Volha Yakimavets

Staff Excellence Award in Leadership

Angela Rozo

Rising Star Award

Jonathan Burman

Innovation Award

Connor Van Meter

Staff Community and Belonging Award

Josh Kaufmann

Staff Excellence in Public Health Communication Award

Emilia (Emi) Grill

Student Awards

Eugene J. Gangarosa, M.D. Student Award for Excellence in International Health 

Ishani Bedre

James W. Alley, M.D. Student Award for Outstanding Community Service

Oluwatosin "Tosi" Adeniyi-Miller

Emory Woman’s Club Scholarship

Doussou Toure

Student Community and Belonging Award

Adrian King

Student Excellence in Public Health Communication Award

Monzur Patwary