Furman health science professor and principal investigator for LiveWell Greenville, Alicia Powers, Ph.D., was recently named as a finalist for The Greenville News Top 30 Emerging Leaders competition, a competition designed to showcase Greenville citizens who, according to a recent Greenville News article, “have not only achieved great things individually, but they have done so with a broader vision for moving our community forward, identifying problems and working on solutions.”
Powers, who has been teaching at Furman since 2007 and working with LiveWell Greenville since 2008 truly embodies this idea. She teaches multiple research methods classes and an advanced nutrition class. In addition to this intensive course load, she has also served as a faculty advisor to the Health Science Major’s Club, and she is currently a top contributor for the creation and development of a new public health major.
Between her responsibilities at Furman and her position as Principal Investigator with LiveWell Greenville, Powers is at the forefront of creating a brighter future for our community.
“LiveWell Greenville is a coalition that works to change policy, systems and environments to make the healthy choice the easy choice,” Powers said.
The goal of LiveWell Greenville is to encourage healthy eating and active living in a variety of settings, including workplaces, churches and schools.
“For each setting we have a work group,” Powers said. “Our partners in the community come around the table on a regular basis with a community action plan that they are trying to push forward in order to change policies and create environments around healthy eating and active living in that setting.”
Powers is thrilled not only to be recognized for her passion for this organization, but also to bring more publicity to LiveWell Greenville and to the hard work of each individual involved with the organization.
“It seems like the Greenville News is interested in individuals who are seeking to make a difference in Greenville, but even more than that, seeking to bring others alongside in that effort,” said Powers. “I was excited that I was able to bring the students and other evaluators alongside. I think this nomination is really more for the group effort than just me.”
Regardless of the final outcome of the Greenville News 30 Emerging Leaders competition, Powers will use this recognition as motivation to continue her work towards a more promising future for Greenville.
