Sue Ebanks is currently a tenured full professor at Savannah State University (SSU) for the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences in the College of Sciences and Humanities. There, she teaches and does research with students and community partners in areas of freshwater and marine biology, including environmental toxicology, physiological ecology, behavioral ecology, and geosciences education. Dr. Ebanks represents SSU with the HBCU Geosciences Working Group, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, National Association of Marine Laboratories as well as the regional organization, Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML). Additionally, she has worked extensively with the HBCU Geosciences Working Group, National Technical Association (NTA), National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and the Science Education Resource Center (SERC) of Carleton College in geosciences education. Ebanks has coauthored science and science education papers and book chapters with students and professional colleagues. Most recently, she is working collaboratively with Dr. Christopher Hintz of Savannah State on the NSF-funded project, “Excellence in Research: The Fate of Microplastics Within the Georgia Bight” and SSU's International Education Director, Mrs. Joline Keevy on a broad range of food sovereignty issues using community gardens, urban forests, geological agriculture with industry partners, and aquaponics with industry partners. She has also worked with Drs. Edith Davis of Florida A&M University and Reginald Archer of Tennessee State University on an NSF-funded project, GP-IMPACT: Expanding HBCU Pathways for Geoscience Education, and several other geosciences-related projects with SSU students, SSU faculty, and external collaborators in academia, industry, government, and community.

Dr. Ebanks earned a Master of Science in Marine Sciences (2005) from SSU with her thesis on the prevalence and effect of isopod parasitism in grass shrimp on shrimp behavior. Sue’s doctorate is from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami (2010) where her dissertation was focused on physiological ecology and environmental toxicology of a freshwater snail. Her work at SSU has involved being primary advisor for 10 graduate students, thesis committee service for 16 Master’s students, and research mentor for 50+ undergraduate students over the years since her start in October 2010.

Most recently, she is co-Director, with her brother Mr. Jim A. Chaplin, Sr. of Abilities Unlimited, of The Oscar Chaplin, III Foundation for Education & Athletics (2022-present). Her service to SSU has included being SSU Faculty Senate Vice President (2023-present).  Her longest standing service to the environmental community has been as the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories, President Elect (2020-21), President (2022-23), Past President (2024-25), and now National Association of Marine Laboratories, Community Engagement Committee Chair (2026-present).

At her core, Sue is a Christian, wife and colleague to Dr. Dwight Ebanks of SSU, and mother to Junpei and Jax Ebanks. She is a fierce defender of guarding and growing one's Spirit, Mind, & Body.

‍