Mambwe Mutiti, who grew up in Zambia in a family devoted to service, is set to receive her Doctor of Public Health from Georgia Southern University’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at the Fall 2025 Commencement. Mutiti’s parents, both health professionals, and other relatives in higher education inspired her commitment to helping others.
“I’ve always loved helping people, especially when it comes to navigating their health,” Mutiti said. “I knew a traditional clinical setting wasn’t the right fit for me, but public health felt like the closest match to my passions. I’m also deeply curious about how and why people make certain health decisions. This degree feels like the perfect blend of my interests and curiosity.”
Mutiti earned her Master of Public Health at Georgia Southern in 2022 before pursuing her doctorate. She emphasized that community and connection were key factors in choosing the university. “I wanted a graduate experience on a lively, engaging campus, and Georgia Southern delivered exactly that,” she said. “From the start, I felt that the student experience here was vibrant and inclusive, no matter your classification.”
During her time at Georgia Southern, Mutiti became active in several organizations related to public health. She participated in the Public Health Student Association and served two years as community engagement chair for the Maternal and Child Health Student Interest Group, organizing events and donation drives supporting mothers and children in Statesboro.
“These experiences were especially meaningful to me because I excel in spaces centered on service and leadership,” she shared. “Having the opportunity to remain deeply involved on campus as a graduate student was a privilege I truly valued.”
Mutiti also worked for three years as a graduate assistant in Georgia Southern’s Office of Leadership and Community Engagement (OLCE), contributing to sustainability initiatives such as launching Sustain Southern and managing the Campus Community Garden.
“The Campus Community Garden is truly my pride and joy,” she said. “Managing the space and helping meet students’ access needs brought me so much fulfillment. I managed the garden for three years, and I loved every person who came out to help, learn and grow in that space. It was one of the most meaningful parts of my time on campus.”
She noted that sustainability practices are essential for improving community well-being: “My interests center on improving access to essential resources — whether related to food, medical care or social support — and sustainability plays an important role in making those resources more accessible, equitable and reliable for everyone,” she added.
Since September, Mutiti has been working full-time as OLCE’s sustainability and leadership coordinator while overseeing both the Campus Community Garden and a 12-student sustainability leadership certificate program. She described teaching students how to make candles from equitably sourced materials as one of her favorite activities.
Reflecting on her academic journey at Georgia Southern University, Mutiti expressed gratitude toward faculty support: “The completion of the practicum gave me what I call ‘real life experience,’ allowing me to apply concepts from classes in front of real people and in real-life situations,” she said.
As commencement approaches, Mutiti looks forward to celebrating with her family: “I will be over the moon and completely proud of myself for doing this and being done,” she said. “That excitement of being done is a common feeling for anyone completing a doctorate or Ph.D. I’m trying to remain grounded and enjoy this accomplishment before moving on to the next task.”
