Dr. Kodwo Annan, professor of mathematics at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), has been named a Fulbright Scholar, one of the nation's most prestigious international academic honors.
Annan will spend the remainder of 2026 in Ghana conducting research at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is the fourth GGC faculty member to receive a Fulbright Scholar award in the college's 21-year history.
“My goal is to use mathematics as a practical tool for addressing real public-health challenges,” Annan said. “Mathematical models can help researchers and decision-makers examine different scenarios, anticipate possible outcomes and make more informed decisions about healthcare planning and disease control.”
Annan’s Fulbright project, titled “Advanced Modeling of Disease Outbreaks and Healthcare Systems Using Multiscale Stochastic Differential Equation Frameworks,” will use mathematical and computational models to examine disease transmission and healthcare system preparedness. The research will explore important public-health concerns, including malaria, HIV, hospital bed capacity, healthcare workforce needs, vaccination coverage and the allocation of limited medical resources. Through mathematical modeling, laboratory and simulation studies, the project will help evaluate how different public-health interventions and healthcare decisions may affect communities and institutions.
Each year, approximately 800 U.S. scholars are selected for the Fulbright Scholar Program, making it one of the nation's most competitive opportunities for faculty and researchers.
When he returns to campus in January 2027, Annan plans to integrate his research and international experiences into his mathematics and statistics courses while creating new opportunities for collaborative research.
"This opportunity brings new research data and an international perspective to GGC that I'll share with my students in my mathematics and statistics courses," he said. "It will also create opportunities for collaborative research for faculty and students."
Annan believes the experience will have a lasting impact beyond his own research.
“I sincerely appreciate Georgia Gwinnett College’s support of this important professional opportunity,” Annan said. “I look forward to representing GGC, the Fulbright Program and the United States with professionalism, integrity and a strong commitment to academic excellence.”