At Mercer University, we measure the strength of an idea by its staying power.
The stories featured here show how ideas that originate at Mercer University deliver: In our own backyard, throughout the rapidly growing state of Georgia, and more than 9,000 miles away in Vietnam. While each one of these initiatives has very different stakeholders and goals, they illustrate what happens when we set our sights on a problem.
These stories also point to four reasons why Mercer has had an outsized impact on the world:
1. We attract and empower people who are purposeful and pragmatic.
These stories are driven by Mercer faculty and staff who exemplify an extraordinary sense of public service, and because they have deep roots in their communities, they know what it takes to turn an idea into action. At Mercer, they find a culture that seizes opportunities and provides resources they need — all with very little bureaucracy.
2. We look at the whole ecosystem of a problem, not just what’s in front us.
In a world where all lives are interdependent and big challenges are systemic, real solutions can’t be about imposing a solution or checking a box. We know how to listen and where to look; how to be a valued partner for all stakeholders; and how to build long-term, local capacity.
3. We believe in opportunity for all.
Someone living in rural Hawkinsville, Georgia, deserves health care that is equal to the care they’d get living in Buckhead. A vibrant university neighborhood can’t be a place that only affluent families can afford. A hard-working farmer in Vietnam shouldn’t have to make do with an inferior prosthetic device, or one that can’t stand up to the rigors of daily life and returning to work.
4. We aim for solutions that are replicable and scalable.
As problem-solvers, our first responsibility is to the people and issues at hand. But we’re never about “one and done.” Too many good ideas die after the originators move on. We’re always in for the long haul, and we challenge ourselves to ensure our work is ultimately self-sustaining.
