Two MGA Students To Present Research At Capitol Poster Day

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 12:00 AM
Categories: Faculty/Staff | Students | Pressroom | School of Health and Natural Sciences | Honors/Awards

Macon, GA

MGA seniors Melissa Fortune, second from left, and Caley Chun, third from left, are presenting their research at Posters at the Georgia State Capitol. They are shown with faculty mentors Dr. Susan Asbury, far left, and Dr. Tyler Achatz.

Two Middle Georgia State University (MGA) undergraduates are presenting their research at “Posters at the Georgia State Capitol,” an annual event that connects student scholars with legislators and policymakers.

Melissa Fortune, a senior history major, will present “Chester Davis: Touring One Man’s Legacy.”  Her research explores the life of Davis, who worked at Macon’s Hay House as a butler and chauffeur when the historic landmark was privately owned. Following the death of the last homeowners, Davis played a key role in safeguarding the property and its contents. He was among the first hired staff members when the house opened as a museum in 1964.

Caley Chun, a senior biology major, will present a report she co-authored with MGA faculty member Dr. Tyler Achatz and others about a growing ecological and public health issue in Georgia: the spread of rat lungworm, an invasive parasitic nematode that can cause severe neurological disease in humans and other animals.

This year’s Capitol poster day will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd Building in Atlanta. Undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the state will showcase their original research and demonstrate the impact of higher education to Georgia leaders.

Fortune said she is especially honored to present research at the Capitol, noting that history can sometimes be overlooked as a field of study.

“I love Macon,” she said. “It’s exciting to be able to present something that highlights local history and preservation in a way that honors people who helped shape our community.”

Her research grew out of Dr. Susan Asbury’s Historic Site Interpretation class and connects Davis’s life and work at the Hay House to the broader story of African American history in Macon and the preservation of downtown landmarks.

Chun helped document the rat lungworm’s presence in Georgia beyond a previously reported case at Zoo Atlanta. She noted that many infected sites overlap with recreational areas where people fish or swim, underscoring the importance of awareness and monitoring.

“I didn’t realize when I started this research that I would be presenting at the Capitol,” Chun said. “It’s an honor to represent our lab, our department, and Middle Georgia State. Hopefully, this opens the door for more students to share their research at this level.”

“Emerging Infectious Diseases,” a journal of the Centers for Disease Control, published a paper on the rat lungworm research of Chun, Achatz, Maggie Young (a recent MGA biology grad), and others. They conducted research in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Sciences.

Chun is graduating spring semester 2026 and plans to attend dental school at Augusta University. Fortune is also graduating this semester and plans to enter the master’s program in archives at Clayton State University.