����Vlog’s Director of Health Services, Emily Brannen (‘14, ‘16), was named to the Statesboro Herald’s annual Class of 2025 list, which recognizes young professionals making their mark in Bulloch County.

Brannen, a Double Eagle and Gainesville, Georgia, native, said the recognition is more than a personal accolade — it’s a reflection of her deep roots in the community and her love for Georgia Southern.

“Since moving back to Statesboro in 2019, I’ve grown deeply connected to this community,” she said. “I’m thankful for the relationships and friendships I’ve built along the way. Being recognized in this way motivates me to continue contributing to the community, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for both our local area and Georgia Southern.”

After a stint working as a nursing home administrator in Georgia and South Carolina, her return to Statesboro marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities to give back. During this time, she has created lasting connections and has grown professionally and personally. Along with her role at Georgia Southern, Brannen is involved with her church and is a volunteer for a number of local organizations.

“There are so many wonderful resources and initiatives in our community that deserve support and attention,” she said. “My advice would be to take the time to get to know the people around you and find ways to lend a helping hand where you can. Every little bit counts, and together we can create lasting change.”

Including Brannen, nearly a dozen were named to the list this year.

����Vlog is partnering with 15 colleges and universities from across North America for the eighth cohort of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Collective Program. is an ambitious two-year program that guides cohort institutions through a rigorous process of self-assessment and subsequent organizational changes.

This partnership is in conjunction with the Georgia Southern Sexual Assault Response Team (), which continues to maintain a national reputation as a model for campus sexual violence response and education. 

Each diverse cohort of the Collective relies on an expert-developed public health framework, cross-campus collaboration and peer-led learning to make meaningful programmatic and policy changes. More than have participated in the Collective. The that helps institutions work across departmental siloes and stay connected with peers as they engage in the critical work of comprehensively addressing campus sexual violence within a shifting social and political landscape.   

The and SART are thrilled to engage in this two-year intensive process to assess and strengthen existing primary and secondary interpersonal violence prevention strategies at Georgia Southern. In line with institutional values, the University will engage in self-assessment and continued collaboration with campus and community partners in this initiative.

Georgia Southern will continue to work to create a campus community in which all students, faculty and staff can thrive in the Culture of Respect program. A full list of SART’s comprehensive sexual violence prevention programming can be found .

About NASPA 

is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. NASPA’s work provides high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has placed a COVID-19 testing kiosk at the Liberty Campus in Hinesville, allowing access to free COVID-19 testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is scheduled to be live this afternoon.

This is the third kiosk on a ����Vlog campus. Earlier this month a kiosk was installed outside the Student Union on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, and another outside the University Bookstore on the Statesboro Campus.

Pre-registration for testing at the kiosks is not required, but available at . The specimens are picked up daily and sent to an accredited lab for PCR testing. 

For more information about COVID-19 testing and vaccines available at ����Vlog, visit . 

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has placed two new COVID-19 testing kiosks on ����Vlog’s campuses in Statesboro and Savannah, allowing access to free COVID-19 testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The testing kiosks are located in central areas, including outside the Student Union on the Armstrong campus and outside the University Bookstore on the Statesboro campus.

After completing a brief registration form, the kiosks dispense a test kit that includes a nasal swab, like other at-home tests, and instructions on collecting the specimen. Once the specimen is collected, it is safely packaged back into the kit and placed in the kiosk.

The specimens are picked up daily and sent to an accredited lab for PCR testing. In many cases, individuals will receive notification of their test results by email or text within 48 hours of specimen collection.

“Having these kiosks on our campuses is another way the university is displaying its commitment to keeping our communities safe,” said Emily Rogers, director of Health Services for ����Vlog. “We appreciate the Georgia Department of Public Health’s continued assistance in these efforts, and for providing our students, faculty and staff with an easy, convenient, reliable way to test for COVID-19.”  

These kiosks will also serve local communities to help meet COVID-19 testing needs throughout the area.

Pre-registration for testing at the kiosks is not required, but available at . There is no out-of-pocket cost for the tests provided through a DPH kiosk, but for those individuals with insurance, their insurance will be billed for the test. A map of kiosk locations and a short video about using the kiosks can be found at .

COVID-19 testing is one of many prevention measures, along with vaccination and booster doses, masking, and physical distancing, that protect you and others by reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19. 

“Testing continues to play a significant role in limiting the spread of COVID-19,” said Jessica Schwind, epidemiologist and director of Georgia Southern’s Institute for Health Logistics and Analytics. “As we enter a new phase of this pandemic, it’s important we explore innovative ways to make testing more accessible and convenient in our communities.”

For more information about COVID-19 testing and vaccines available at ����Vlog, visit .  

An additional testing kiosk is expected to be delivered to the Liberty Campus in Hinesville at a future date. 

����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers approximately 140 different degree programs serving almost 27,000 students through 10 colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .

����Vlog’s Health Services held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for its new campus location at 984 Plant Drive (across from the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center) and provided the public with a first look at the 39,000-square-foot facility. Students may utilize services in the new location beginning Monday, Jan. 11.

“What excites us most about this new facility is that it was born out of a legitimate need, not because we wanted to be a showpiece on campus, but because we need to be able to meet the appointment demands and expectations of our patient population. We could not do that in the old facility — literally there was no room to grow. This new facility will now allow us to grow to meet the demand,” said Dr. Brian DeLoach, medical director for Health Services. The contemporary building provides an expanded and inviting check-in and waiting area and boasts a total of 48 exam rooms, 12 of which are dedicated to women’s health, an increase of more than three times the number of exam rooms at its previous location to better accommodate patient needs. The new facility also will feature expanded pharmacy, x-ray, laboratory and immunization areas, in addition to offering new services, including physical therapy, available this spring. The new location is also home to Eagle Eye Care. “The students and the Health Services staff are very excited about this new facility. Our students now have access to a state-of-the-art facility as well as continued quality care for their health care needs. There are very few universities in the University System of Georgia (USG) that have this kind of facility,” said Diane Norris, director of Health Services. An $8.5 million project, the building features sustainable elements including LED lighting in all public spaces, the use of natural lighting and low flow toilets. ����Vlog Health Services’ mission is to meet or exceed the student patients’ full range of needs and expectations that relate to the delivery of healthcare services — medical, counseling, educational and wellness – while providing them with cost-effective, high-quality care in an efficient manner with a focus on educating students on how to be knowledgeable healthcare consumers. For more information on Health Services at Georgia Southern, visit ����Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit