The Roots of Research with Dr. David Weindorf

Episode 7 - Dr. Tolu Odukoya

What happens when law, data science and global security collide? In this episode, Tolu Odukoya, assistant professor in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, shares her journey into political science and computer science—and why the two are stronger together. She explores her research on Boko Haram, the hidden patterns of Jim Crow laws uncovered through machine learning, and the next big topic she’s tackling: The role of AI in terrorist recruitment.

Episode 6 - Dr. Howard Keeley and Dr. Steve Engel

On this episode of Roots of Research, Dr. Howard Keeley and Dr. Steve Engel explain how a simple question, "How is Savannah Irish?" sparked a transatlantic research effort that connected Savannah, Georgia, to County Wexford, Ireland. Through archival discoveries on both sides of the Atlantic, Georgia Southern students uncovered a powerful story of Irish migration during the mid-19th century—work that has since grown into the Wexford-Savannah Axis and an international campus. This episode highlights how undergraduate research can do more than uncover history—it can bring it to life, strengthening communities and connections across generations and oceans.

Episode 5 - Dr. Meimei Lin

On this episode of Roots of Research, Dr. Meimei Lin, Associate Professor of Geography in the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, (College of Science and Mathematics) joins us to explore how spatial thinking, community engagement, and geospatial technology reveal the hidden stories within our landscapes. Dr. Lin reflects on her academic journey from China to Georgia, her research on how climate risk is reshaping mortgage approval rates, and her collaborative work in Savannah, mapping "social infrastructure" to ensure urban growth is equitable for all. It’s an insightful look at how maps do more than show where things are—they explain why our communities thrive or face challenges.

Episode 4 - Dr. Gabby Swab

On the first Roots of Research in 2026, Dr. Weindorf talks with Gabby Swab, assistant professor of management at, about her research on organizational behavior, hypercompetitiveness, and workplace aggression. Swab explains how different motivations for competition shape leadership, teamwork, and well-being. The conversation also explores her innovative use of board games and role-playing games as experiential learning tools in management education, and her emerging work on fandom and pop culture—including what Stranger Things can teach us about connection and leadership at work.

Episode 3 - Dr. Bettye Apenteng

On this episode of the Roots of Research, Dr. Bettye Apenteng, professor of Health Policy & Community Health in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, joins us to explore how context, community engagement, and system design shape health outcomes—especially in rural America.  She reflects on her global work in Ghana, her research on Medicaid managed care organizations, and the structural forces driving health system performance. It's an insightful look at population health through a systems lens!