Georgia Southern celebrates powerful collaboration, highlights PIN partnership at football game

Georgia Southern University spotlighted its collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Partnership for Innovation (PIN) with on-field recognition during a break in the Nov. 22 Eagles football game.

Representatives from both institutions were recognized, including David C. Weindorf, Ph.D., vice president for research and economic development, and Chad Nash, PIN’s strategic relations manager.

PIN is a statewide public-private partnership dedicated to advancing technology, opportunity and shared economic success across Georgia. 

Guided by the principles of innovation for growth and a hybrid model that prioritizes community input and involvement, PIN’s work centers on developing emerging innovators and talent to strengthen their professional growth and support economic expansion across both the public and private sectors. It also brings advanced, multidisciplinary research and technology directly into communities to help solve real-world challenges.

Since its founding in 2020, PIN has been actively engaged with Georgia Southern, launching 10 collaborative projects involving nine faculty members. The University has also received five PIN community research grants.

These projects and grants have led to meaningful work across southern Georgia in areas like environmental health, clean water access and AI-driven agricultural solutions.

Some collaborations have extended beyond state lines.

“Developing Pathways for Next-Generation Water Stewards for the City of Marion, Alabama” brought together the city of Marion and research teams from Georgia Southern and the University of Alabama to address aging water infrastructure.

“Safe Water Together – Brunswick,” led by Asli Aslan, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Water and Health, was a joint effort with Glynn County to address local challenges related to water access and contamination. The project recently garnered national attention by winning the Social Impact award at the 2025 P3 Awards.

Students also play an important role in these collective efforts, making invaluable contributions to projects. Moreover, 24 Georgia Southern students have participated in PIN summer internships, and alumnus Md Arifur Rahman (2024), who holds a master’s in manufacturing engineering, serves as a PIN fellow.

Even with their strong track record, both Georgia Southern and PIN are poised to do more.

“Our partnership with PIN is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when academia, industry and the community unite,” Weindorf said. “The work we do isn’t just about gathering data; it’s about empowering people and improving lives. I’m immensely proud of the work we’ve done to drive innovation across the state, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Debra Lam, PIN’s founding executive director, echoed those sentiments. 

“Innovation is more than technology; it’s about advancing people and communities,” she said. “Our collaboration with Georgia Southern University exemplifies this approach. Together, we identify real challenges, co-create solutions, advance research and empower students and faculty to drive meaningful change across Georgia. This partnership is building the next generation of leaders who can bridge sectors, accelerate economic growth, and deliver impact where it matters most.”