Student Leadership

Student Leadership Group

DPT Class of 2026: Erika Young
PA Class of 2026: Darby Glackin
MPH Class of 2025: Cecilia Hicks
PsyD Class of 2027: McKenzie Rowland
MAT Class of 2025: Zanetriah Shorty
Advisor: Laura Ellison

The Student Leadership Group is an organization of selected College of Health Professions’ students representing each academic class and each discipline. The objectives of the Student Leadership Group shall be: to establish centralized communication between the students and faculty/administration; to promote and perpetuate professionalism in all endeavors pertaining to Mercer; and to communicate and promote student events within the College.

2024-2025 Student Ambassadors

Leda Dixon, Athletic Training
Asia Foster, Public Health
Cecilia Hicks, Public Health
Kalia Kang, Physician Assistant
Michelle Perry, Physician Assistant
Emma Plack, Physical Therapy
Zanetriah Shorty, Athletic Training
Sydney Siegel, Physical Therapy
Brianna Starkey, Clinical Psychology
Jordan Teachey, Physician Assistant
Chloe Trifaux, Clinical Psychology
Advisor: Laura Ellison

Student Ambassadors are current students selected to represent Mercer University’s College of Health Professions in the public arena at a variety of different programs including Open House/Info Session events, new student orientations, White Coat Ceremony, and possibly college and/or career fairs.

Simons Society Association of Physical Therapy Students

President: Najda Sahovic
Vice President: Phoenix Jampol
Secretary: Kelsey Davis
Treasurer: Madison Split
Class Representatives: Jackie Coates, Toyosi Adesinasi, Mackenzie Burke, and Tre Verrett
Advisor: Dr. Dan Dale

The David G. Simons Society is the student organization for all DPT students enrolled in the program. In all aspects of its function, the Simons Society will pursue the core values of altruism, accountability, caring and compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty and social responsibility for the student physical therapist as a future healthcare provider. The Simons Society Board of Directors includes the executive committee (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) and two representatives per class.

Godsey-Matthews Student Society

President: Ryan Watkins, PA Class of 2025; Darby Glackin, PA Class of 2026
Advisor: Prof. Amanda Clark

The Godsey-Matthews Student Society of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) was established in 2008 as the official organization for the students of the Mercer University Physician Assistant (PA) Program. The purpose of the Society is to educate and orient all members of the Society to the AAPA; promote the PA as a member of the healthcare delivery team in the medical community and the community at large; provide academic and professional guidance for the incoming class; instill in the PA the importance of keeping abreast of current medical advancement; serve as the official liaison between the national and state levels of the AAPA, and the Mercer PA Program; serve as the liaison and promote communication between other PA student societies, medical societies, and other health care providers; promote camaraderie between members of the student society throughout their tenure at Mercer University; and encourage philanthropic activities among the members of the Godsey-Matthews Society, Mercer University, and the community. In all aspects of its function, the Society will pursue integrity, equality, dignity, and competence for the PA as a health practitioner.

Mercer Public Health Association

President: Megan Pitts
Advisor: Dr. Dawood Sultan

The mission of the Mercer Public Health Association (MPHA) is to create a forum for the exchange of ideas, the accumulation of experiences, the acquisition of information and skills and the performance of research related to public health issues in communities throughout the state of Georgia, the nation and the world.

Mercer Public Health Student Advisory Board

President: Shonali Makadiya
Vice President: Cecilia Hicks
Treasurer: Shravani Sirsat
Secretary: Mili Patel
Service and Workforce Committee: Jarrod Wilkinson
Curriculum Committee: John Mammie
Evaluation and Research Committee: Asia Foster
Admissions Committee: Oreoluwa Aladetoyinbo
Advisor: Dr. Cheryl Gaddis

The Student Advisory Board is composed of student representatives (one from each cohort, 1st and 2nd year) who serve on each of the 7 MPH program committees. Student representatives are nominated and elected by their peers annually.

Student Association

President/Lead Representative: McKenzie Rowland
PsyD Class of 2025 Representative: Eliana Pimentel
PsyD Class of 2026 Representative: Falak Hussein
PsyD Class of 2027 and 2028 Representative: Kayla Jones
Advisor: Dr. Davielle Lakind

The Clinical Psychology Student Association exists as an avenue for student self-governance and promotion of the mission of the Department, to prepare psychologists as integrated healthcare practitioners who contribute to and apply scientific knowledge of human behavior to benefit individuals, systems, and society. Class representatives consist of students representing each cohort, elected at the beginning of the spring semester each year. A Head Student Representative is also chosen and acts as a student-faculty liaison. In addition, one student serves as a Student Ambassador who works with Admissions and Student Affairs to represent Mercer University’s College of Health Professions and the Department of Clinical Psychology in the public arena.