Centennial Graduate Scholars

Centennial Graduate Scholars are arranged by last name. Select the alphabet range and click on a name to read more about their impressive accomplishments. For ease of navigation, a Back to Top link is located after each alphabet.

Jane Chumley Ammons, PhD – Professor Emerita, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
MS, Industrial Engineering, 1976

Dr. Ammons, who specializes in supply chain management, has provided national and international leadership in her field, including as President of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), Chair of the NSF Engineering Advisory Committee for the Division of Design and Manufacturing, Consultant for the U.S. Army Science Board, Technical Committee Member for the Uganda Millennium Science Initiative, Chair of the Industrial Engineering and Management program review committee for the Israeli Council of Higher Education (CHE), and Program Evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET, Inc.).  In 2014, she was honored by IISE with its highest international honor, the Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Award.  At Georgia Tech, Dr. Ammons served as NSF ADVANCE Professor of Engineering (2002-2006), as Associate Dean of Engineering (2004-2011) and as Chair of the School of ISyE (2011-2015).  

Ramsey Archibald – Managing Producer of Data, AL.com/The Alabama Media Group
MA, Journalism & Media Studies, 2015

Ramsey Archibald, recognized as Outstanding Graduate Student in his program during his years at UA, is an award-winning data journalist originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He has covered topics ranging from demographic and population numbers to rural hospital beds, education, income and more. The projects on which he has worked have won multiple state and national awards, including the George Polk Award for local journalism, the Hillman Prize and the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for local journalism.

Frank Ashley, III, EdD – Vice Chancellor Emeritus, Texas A&M University System
EdD, Health, Physical Education & Recreation, 1986; MA, Health, Physical Education & Recreation, 1976

Dr. Ashley, Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the Texas A&M University System, recently retired from his role as interim dean at A&M's Bush School of Government and Public Service, closing the chapter on 38 years and 18 different titles within the Texas A&M University System. Over the years, he has been a faculty member, College of Education dean, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He also held positions as the director of admissions and associate dean for Undergraduate Studies and Teacher Education in the College of Education at Texas A&M University.

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J. Bradley Baker, PhD – Principal Coach, The Glimmerglass Festival, New York
Doctor of Musical Arts, 2014

Dr. Baker has established himself as one of the leading opera / vocal coaches in the industry. He is a Principal Coach at The Glimmerglass Festival in New York, one of the most prestigious opera companies in the world. He is also the co-founder of Music on Site, an opera company in Wichita, Kansas.

Blair Batky, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology, Cornell University
PhD, Psychology, 2023

Dr. Batky produced 12 publications in high-impact journals during her doctoral years at UA. In 2023 she accepted a position as Fellow of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College. She studies the etiology and treatment of Conduct Disorder, and her work has substantial implications for the mental health of young people who exhibit early conduct problems.

Danilo Madayag Baylen – Professor of Instructional Technology, Media & Design, University of West Georgia
Master of Library & Information Studies, 2013

Dr. Baylen is a tenured Professor of Instructional Technology, Media, and Design in the Department of Educational Technology and Foundations, College of Education at the University of West Georgia. In 2023, he was named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to the Philippines. His research interests include technology integration across the curriculum, visual and media literacy education, online learning and teaching strategies, and instructional design in international contexts.

Nekkita Beans – Leadership Programs Manager, Future Caucus
Master of Social Work, 2019

Dr. Beans is the Leadership Programs Manager at Future Caucus, the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers. She designs and leads leadership programs for a network of over 1,800 Millennial and Gen Z elected officials across Congress and state legislatures, focusing on bridging divides and promoting future-focused policies. Before joining Future Caucus, Dr. Beans worked extensively in Washington, DC, driving community capacity building with a focus on radical imagination and racial equity. Throughout her time in DC, she has been a strong advocate for the University of Alabama's Social Work program in DC.

Robin Beck – Professor of Anthropology and Curator of Eastern North American Archaeology, University of Michigan
MA in Anthropology, 1997

Dr. Beck is known for his groundbreaking and theoretically engaged work in the archaeology of the southeastern United States, focusing on Native American societies and colonial encounters. His work also includes the archaeology and ethnohistory of complex societies in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru, and broader issues related to social organization and change.

Mark Behrens – Professor of Mathematics, University of Notre Dame
MA in Mathematics, 1998

Dr. Behrens has achieved outstanding professional success, and national and international recognition, researching theoretical mathematics. He has been an assistant and associate professor at MIT, a visiting scholar at Harvard University and is now the John and Margaret McAndrews Professor of Mathematics at the University of Notre Dame, where he has made fundamental advances in the mathematical field of algebraic topology. He has been a Sloan Foundation Fellow and is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

Michael Benton, Professor and Chair of Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University
MS in Chemical Engineering, 2002

Dr. Benton serves as Chair of the Louisiana State University chemical engineering department, which is recognized as one of the best programs in the southeastern U.S.  He has also recently been recognized with both the Pressburg and Horton Professorships at LSU, as well as been the recipient of multiple teaching and mentorship awards.  He has provided outstanding service to UA, serving on the External Advisory Board to the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department for many years.  In 2021, he was named a Department Fellow, which is the highest alumni recognition provided by the UA ChBE department.

Joseph P. Bertulfo – Director, Occupational Health Clinics, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2015

Dr. Bertulfo is the Director of the Occupational Health Clinics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  A career civil servant, Joseph has held multiple CDC leadership positions and recently completed a leadership assignment with the U.S. State Department, U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program at the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana. Dr. Bertulfo is a recipient of the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service and the U.S. Public Health Service's Chief Nurse Officer Award for his contributions to public health and nursing.

Gregory Brenn – Seismo-Acoustic Officer, Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Vienna
MS in Geology, 2016

While at UA, Mr. Brenn was a university-level recipient of the Outstanding Thesis Award for his work in Antarctica, which made the cover of Geology. After he graduated, Greg worked for Geoscience Australia, where he helped to advance their earthquake and tsunami monitoring systems. In 2022, he became a Seismo-Acoustic Officer at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, which oversees international nuclear arms control and disarmament. Mr. Brenn oversees both seismic and infrasound monitoring projects that allow the CTBTO to verify the sources of shockwaves and to determine if they are associated with nuclear testing.

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Lee Carter – Family Physician
MA in Health Studies (now Rural Community Health), 2002

Dr. Carter has been the sole practicing physician in his hometown of Autaugaville, Alabama since 2009. He has been active in advocacy for his patients and specialty, currently holding position of Board Chair for the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians as well as serving on the Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board.

Joanna Clark – Mars Geoscientist, Texas State University at NASA JSC
MS in Geology, 2015

As a master's student at UA, Dr. Clark won the campus-wide Outstanding Thesis Award. She then earned her PhD in geology from the University of Houston. Currently, she is a Mars geoscientist in the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Her preparation in geochemistry during her graduate studies was essential for her hire at NASA and for her current role running the labs that analyze chemical signals from Mars and the Moon.

Alesia Coe – Vice President, Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer, University of Chicago Medicine
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2014

Dr. Coe is the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. She was previously Vice President for Adult Inpatient/Emergency Services and Associate Chief Nursing Officer at University of Chicago Medicine (UCMC), where she directed the nursing staff and programs for two adult inpatient hospitals and the emergency department. She joined UCMC in 2018 as Executive Director for the Adult Inpatient Hospitals. Prior to her work at this academic health system, Coe served as a nurse executive for Chicago's Cook County Health & Hospitals System and for VA Illiana Healthcare System in Danville, Illinois. 

Dawn Coffman Hollinger – Bureau Chief, Cancer Prevention and Control, Delaware Division of Public Health
MS in Population Health Science, 2023

After graduating from UA in 2023, Ms. Hollinger was promoted to the position of Bureau Chief, Cancer Prevention and Control, for the Delaware Division of Public Health. In her role, she oversees three components of the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program grant and the WISEWOMAN grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control. She also manages the State of Delaware’s Screening for Life and Health Care Connection programs and the Delaware Cancer Treatment Program.

Traci C. Collins – President, Athens-Limestone Hospital
Master of Science in Nursing, 2018

Traci Collins is the President of Athens-Limestone Hospital in Athens, Alabama. Before becoming President, she served as Interim President and Chief Nursing Officer. She received her nursing degree from Calhoun Community College and a master’s in nursing administration from UA. Traci is a current member of the Alabama Hospital Association, the UA Alumni Board Of Visitors, Calhoun Community College Nursing Advisory Board and the University of North Alabama Nursing Advisory Board. She has served as a member and officer of the Alabama Hospital Association Revenue Integrity Steering Committee and the Alabama Chapter of Healthcare Financial Management Association. Traci serves as a member of the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Athens Rotary Club.

Keisha Cook – Assistant Professor of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University
MA in Applied Math 2016, PhD in Applied Math and Computational Biology 2019

Dr. Cook has made significant contributions as an ambassador for the UA mathematics program and mentor to current UA graduate and undergraduate students, despite being in the midst of building her own academic career. After earning all three of her degrees at UA, she was selected for a highly regarded postdoc at Tulane University, and is now working towards tenure at Clemson University's highly ranked mathematics research program.

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Mike Daria – Superintendent, Tuscaloosa City Schools
EdD in Educational Administration, 2006

Dr. Daria is the superintendent of the Tuscaloosa City School District and was named State Superintendent of the Year by the School Superintendents of Alabama in 2023. He also received the AASA National School Superintendent Certification in 2020 and was named one of the 25 Superintendents to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association in 2017. 

Terry Daugherty – Dean, Scott College of Business, Indiana State University
MA in Advertising & Public Relations, 1999

After earning his MA at UA, Dr. Daugherty completed his PhD at Michigan State University and served on the faculty at Vanderbilt University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Akron prior to joining Indiana State University. He has authored more than 80 intellectual contributions throughout his career and is recognized as a leading expert on digital marketing and consumer psychology. He currently serves as Dean of the Scott College of Business, which ranks among the Top 5% of business schools worldwide. 

Brandon Davis – Assistant Professor, Political Science and the Murphy Institute, Tulane University
MA in Gender & Race Studies 2016, PhD in Political Science 2017

After spending a couple of years as a postdoctoral scholar at Brown University, Dr. Davis accepted a tenure-track job in the School of Public Affairs & Administration at the University of Kansas, a top-ranked PhD program in the field of public affairs. Now at Tulane, he was recently awarded an NSF Career grant of $500K. NSF identifies these five-year integrated research and teaching awards as its most prestigious award for early-career scholars.

Royce L. Dickerson – Director of Office Management, The White House
Master of Business Administration, 2023

Royce L. Dickerson currently serves as the Director of Office Management at the White House. As a UA student, Royce was the recipient of the 2021 Alumni Student Award and was recognized as a member of the inaugural 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Class by the UA National Alumni Association. He has served his community through involvement with Capstone Men and Women, the Blackburn Institute, Jasons Senior Men’s Honorary, Keller Williams Realty, the United Way, the White House Historical Association and various volunteer ministries.

Jorge Diez – Principal Clarinet, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Master of Music, 2022

An accomplished clarinetist, Mr. Diez secured an invitation to perform at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest, the largest peer-reviewed clarinet conference in the world. In addition to this work, he was named to the Substitute List for the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami, America's premiere training orchestra for young professionals. During the year he applied, there were no openings to the orchestra, so the substitute list was a first-rate accomplishment.

Scott Domingue – Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Behavioral Health, Texas Health Resources
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2022

Dr. Domingue serves at the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Behavioral Health at Texas Health Resources, where he is responsible for improving care provided to individuals affected by mental illness and substance use disorder throughout the Texas Health system. Dr. Domingue also has operational responsibility for five inpatient psychiatric hospitals and 18 outpatient behavioral health clinics located throughout the DFW metroplex. He is a 2021 inductee into the DFW Great 100 Nurses and was recognized in 2019 with a D Magazine Excellence in Nursing Leadership award.

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Mark Fleming – Owner and President, Equally Fit
MA in Human Performance, 2017

Mark Fleming is the owner and founder of Equally Fit, a personal training studio that specializes in working with people with autism and other disabilities. The gym, previously called Puzzle Piece Fitness, opened its first physical location in 2019 and offers functional fitness training that includes exercises to help improve motor planning, improve social skills, and balance. Fleming, a certified personal trainer who is on the spectrum himself, earned his master’s degree in human performance in 2017 and is currently a doctoral candidate in the kinesiology department at Concordia University at St. Paul.

Makiba J. Foster – Librarian of the College, College of Wooster
MA in American Studies 2006, Master of Library & Information Sciences 2007

Makiba J. Foster, who has attracted national recognition for leading digital projects that curate the Black experience, such as Documenting Ferguson, and, most recently, Archiving the Black Web, was named Librarian of the College at The College of Wooster in July 2022. Library Journal praised Ms. Foster’s work when it listed her as one of its 2021 Movers & Shakers – Digital Developers.

Timothy Francisco – Professor of English & World Languages, Youngstown State University
PhD in English, 2001

Dr. Francisco was recently elected to a three-year term as a trustee of the Shakespeare Association of America, the discipline’s premier scholarly / professional organization in the U.S. and Canada. He is the author of numerous articles on Shakespeare, pedagogy, and the public humanities and has co-edited a book, with UA professor emerita Sharon O'Dair, titled Shakespeare and the 99%: Literary Studies, the Profession, and the Production of Inequity.

Quinn Franklin – Director, Psychosocial Services and Community Outreach/Engagement, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center
MS in Human Development & Family Studies, 2002

For the past seven years, Dr. Franklin has served as Director, Psychosocial Services and Community Outreach/Engagement at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, one of the largest centers of its type in the country. She is a Certified Child Life Specialist and worked clinically at bedside for many years prior to transitioning into leadership roles. Much of her career has been spent at Texas Children’s Hospital, identified as one of the best children's hospitals by U.S. News in 2024-2025. Dr. Franklin has also served as Chairperson for the Child Life Certification Commission, the certifying body of child life and as President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Child Life Professions.

Nickolas Freeman – Associate Professor of Operations Management, University of Alabama
MS in Operations Management 2012, PhD in Operations Management 2014

Dr. Freeman served as a faculty member at the University of Houston from 2014 to 2017, before returning to UA's faculty in the field of Operations Management. He has published multiple Tier-One journal articles on topics including Human Trafficking, Healthcare Operations Management, and Supply Chain Risk Management. In addition to serving as associate director for research in UA's Institute of Data and Analytics (IDA), he is the PI of an ongoing NSF funded research grant which aims to understand how online sex ads are linked to sex trafficking and other organized criminal activity.

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Kristi N. Garrett – President & CEO, Itsirk Solutions LLC
PhD in Instructional Leadership, 2014

Dr. Garrett is the President and CEO of Itsirk Solutions LLC. Her expertise is further recognized through her appointments to the GABBR LSAMP board and the advisory board for the Auburn University Office of Special Projects and Initiatives. A distinguished recipient of the 2014 Drs. Joffre & Zadie Whisenton Award (for 4.0 GPA) from UA's Black Faculty & Staff Association, Dr. Garrett's commitment to education and social impact was solidified during her tenure as a Whisenton Public Scholar from 2017 to 2019. This experience propelled her into the role of Kettering Associate at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, a respected nonpartisan organization dedicated to innovative research and civic engagement. In addition to her leadership roles, Dr. Garrett serves as the Vice President of Information Technology for the NAACP.

Leslie Parrish Gattuso – Director of Digital Strategy & Operations (Health & Wellness), Walmart Inc.
MS in Marketing, 2015

Leslie (Parrish) Gattuso is the Director of Digital Strategy & Operations at Walmart within the Health & Wellness division. She supports the creation and improvement of app and web experiences for Walmart’s pharmacies, vision centers, and health clinics that serve hundreds of millions of Americans each week. Outside of work, Leslie is a member of the Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors, an active volunteer at her church and the Suzuki School and a member of the Junior League of Atlanta.

David E. Gay, Jr. – CEO, Whatley Health Services
Master of Social Work, 1982

David Gay serves as CEO of Whatley Health Services, Inc., a private, nonprofit community health center in Tuscaloosa whose mission is to provide primary health care services to those in need. Prior to that role he served as the first Black CEO of Bryce Hospital, and has served on numerous Boards throughout the region. He is the recipient of multiple awards for his efforts in improving community well-being in West Alabama, including the Career Achievement Award, Martin Luther King Man of the Year Award, a Governor’s Proclamation for his outstanding contributions in the field of mental health, the Tuscaloosa Civic Hall of Fame Class of 2021 and the Community Foundation 2022 Pillars of West Alabama. A retired military officer (Major), he served 27 years in the Alabama National Guard. He also serves as senior pastor of Beulah Baptist Church.

Vikram Gopal – Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Ascend Performance Materials
MS in Chemical Engineering 1995, PhD in Chemical Engineering 1998

Dr. Gopal is the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Ascend Performance Materials, where he leads Research & Development, Quality and new Business Incubator spanning Performance Chemicals, Nylon Polymer, Engineering Plastics, Fibers and Sustainable Specialty businesses. Ascend is the world’s largest integrated PA66 and Specialty polyamide manufacturer. Before joining Ascend, Dr. Gopal served as Vice President of Technology at INVISTA Engineering Polymer Solutions, as well as Global Product Manager at SABIC Innovative Plastics and General Electric. He also serves as the non-executive Chairman of Pune Instrumentation Pvt. Ltd., a custom automation and controls company specializing in Space, Nuclear Safety, and Healthcare. He is also the Co-President of Pratham Houston, which raises funds to support Pratham, the world’s largest education-based non-profit, with a focus on K-12 and women’s education in India, East Africa and South America.

B. Lee Green – Senior Member, Health Outcomes & Behavior, & Senior Advisor to Cancer Center Director, Moffitt Cancer Center
PhD in Health Education & Promotion, 1994

Dr. B. Lee Green is a Senior Member in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt Cancer Center. He was formerly the Vice President of Diversity, Public Relations, and Strategic Communications at Moffitt.  During his tenure, Moffitt was consistently ranked among DiversityInc’s Top 10 Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations for diversity and inclusion, and he was named a Top Chief Diversity Officer by the National Diversity Council in 2021. Notably, Dr. Green served on the Tuskegee Syphilis Study Legacy Committee, contributing to the formal governmental apology issued at the White House.

Matt Green – Professor of Exercise Science and Associate Dean, College of Education & Human Sciences, University of North Alabama
PhD in Human Performance Studies, 1999

Dr. Matt Green currently serves as a Professor of Exercise Science and Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of North Alabama, where he has worked for 16 of his 25 years in Higher Education. Dr. Green has served in various roles including Human Performance Lab Director, Department Chair, Associate Dean and Interim Dean. He won the award for research and creativity at Western Kentucky University (2004) and also UNA (2011) and was selected as the Texas chapter of American College of Sports Medicine (TACSM) invited lecturer in 2021. He was also elected and served as President of the Southeast chapter of ACSM in 2021, and is a Fellow of ACSM.

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Sonya Harwood-Johnson – Director, Gorgas House Museum, University of Alabama
MA in Religious Studies, 2022

Ms. Harwood-Johnson's career illustrates the applicability of an advanced degree in the Humanities in areas beyond the professoriate. She served international students in UA's Office of International Students and Scholars, with distinction, before advancing to the position of the Director of Gorgas House Museum. There she works to develop new programming and research opportunities for UA's internal and external stakeholders.

Jackson Hataway – President and CEO, Missouri Bankers Association
MA in Communication Studies 2007, PhD in Communication & Information Sciences 2010

Dr. Hataway is currently the President & CEO of the Missouri Bankers Association (MBA), the principal advocate for the Missouri banking industry. MBA's membership includes commercial banks and savings and loan associations that represent more than 2,000 banking locations and more than 30,000 bank employees in Missouri. Prior to leading the MBA, Dr. Hataway worked for a boutique consulting firm that specialized in advising financial institutions and technology companies on communication and growth strategies.

Jack Hawkins, Jr. – Chancellor, Troy University
PhD in Higher Education Administration, 1976

As chancellor of Troy University, Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. is the longest-serving chief executive officer of a public university in the U.S. He has overseen an era of change and growth at Troy, leading the merger of the worldwide Troy State University System into the unified Troy University through an initiative called “One Great University.”

Marillyn A. Hewson – Retired Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Master of Economics, 1979

Marillyn A. Hewson is former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. She joined Lockheed Martin in 1983 as an industrial engineer, and held leadership positions across the corporation, including president and chief operating officer; executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Electronic Systems business area; president of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration; and executive vice president of Global Sustainment for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. She currently serves on the board of directors of Johnson & Johnson and Chevron, is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the Trilateral Commission, Council on Foreign Relations, the University of Alabama’s President’s Cabinet and the Board of Visitors of the Culverhouse College of Business. Ms. Hewson is former Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association and also served on several U.S. government advisory bodies, including the President’s Export Council, American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and the National Space Council’s Users Advisory Group.

Maurice J. Hobson – Associate Professor of Africana Studies and Historian, Georgia State University
MA in American Studies, 2002

Dr. Hobson is the author of the award-winning book The Legend of the Black Mecca: Politics and Class in the Making of Modern Atlanta and the lead historian for the forthcoming book With Faith in God and Heart and Mind: A History of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He has been a media consultant for Netflix, HBO, ESPN, PBS, Starz, Amazon Prime, Hulu and other companies, as well as consulting on public historical markers, monuments and museum exhibitions.

B. Keith Hodge – Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University
MS in Mechanical Engineering 1971, PhD in Mechanical Engineering 1973

Dr. Hodge is a retired TVA Professor of Energy Systems and a William Giles Distinguished Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University. He has been honored as a Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The first author of three engineering textbooks, he was also selected as a Grisham Master Teacher of MSU.

B. Chad Hornbuckle – Research Staff Scientist, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory
MS in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering 2012, PhD in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering 2014

Dr. Hornbuckle grew up in Remlap, Alabama and earned all of his degrees at UA. As a graduate student, he led or co-authored eight peer-reviewed articles and was recognized in 2012 as the Graduate Student of the Year by the Engineering Council of Birmingham. Upon graduation, he became a post-doctoral scientist at the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and transitioned to a research staff scientist. Today, he leads ARL’s characterization facilities and has published over 80 papers since joining ARL; he is also a co-inventor of multiple patents. Dr. Hornbuckle has been instrumental in supporting faculty and students at UA since his graduation, primarily through his technical oversight of an $8M congressional initiative program that partnered UA with ARL.

G. Thomas Hough – Retired Americas Vice Chair, Ernst & Young
Master of Accountancy, 1978

Thomas “Tom” Hough is a business leader who has made significant contributions to the business community, from Alabama to around the world. His career was largely spent working for “Big Four” accounting firm Ernst & Young — now known as EY — in positions of escalating responsibility and authority. By the time of his retirement in 2014, he was leading EY’s Americas Assurance Practice, serving on the Firm’s Executive Board and as a member of the Global Assurance Executive Committee. In addition to serving on multiple community boards in the Birmingham and Atlanta area, he has served on several corporate boards including Equifax Inc., Federated Hermes, Inc., Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. and Publix Super Markets, Inc. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association and is a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.

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Amy H. Jones – Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of West Alabama
MS in PhD in Communication & Information Sciences, 2011

Dr. Jones has played a leading role in the development of new academic programs and initiatives at UWA, working her way up from lecturer to college dean. She is also heavily involved in efforts to make west Alabama a better place, particularly through her work with the United Way, and has been a staunch advocate for improving rural education.

Jeff Jones – Partner and Director of Financial Planning, Longview Financial Advisors, Inc.
MS in Human Environmental Sciences / Family Financial Planning & Counseling, 2012

Before joining Longview Financial Advisors, Jeff Jones spent 12 years with the Department of Defense and NASA. While volunteering to provide free tax prep for low-income families, he realized it was time for a career change. He now enjoys working with families as a CFP® Professional as they blend their financial and life goals. Jeff volunteered for eight years of board service with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). His terms included President and Chair of the South Region Board. He went on to join the NAPFA’s National Board of Directors, for which he has also served as Treasurer and Chair.

Nenad Jukic – Professor of Information Systems, Loyola University Chicago
PhD in Computer Science, 1997

In addition to serving as a professor of Information Systems at Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Nenad Jukic is the co-founder of ERDPlus, a free web-based data modeling tool used by universities and companies in more than 100 countries. He has been an invited speaker for corporate talks and executive workshops at companies and organizations such as McDonalds, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board and the Technology Executives Club of Chicago. He has received multiple teaching and research awards from Loyola University Chicago, and currently serves on UA’s Computer Science Advisory Board.

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Charles Karr – President, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
MS in Engineering Mechanics 1986, PhD in Engineering Mechanics 1989

Dr. Charles Karr, president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville since 2021, served as a faculty member, department head of Aerospace & Engineering Mechanics, and dean of the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama. His 16-year tenure as dean involved a significant growth period in terms of faculty, student enrollment and facilities. He has published three books, forty-four journal articles and holds several patents.

Bwarenaba Kautu – Foundation and Inaugural Fellow, Pacific Academy of Sciences; Member, UN Scientific Advisory Group to TPNW Treaty
PhD in Biological Sciences, 2012

Dr Kautu is an Inaugural and Foundation Fellow of the Pacific Academy of Sciences. He was the first person from the Republic of Kiribati to earn a PhD in the U.S. He held a tenured professorship at Greenville University, a visiting fellowship at Cambridge University, and research appointment in Clinical and Translational Research at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute, focusing on global health infectious disease molecular diagnostics. In 2023, he became the first Pacific Islander in the world appointed by the United Nations to the Scientific Advisory Group for the TPNW treaty, which was highlighted by the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

Tom Kaye – Senior Solution Architect, Nvidia
MS in Aerospace Engineering, 1989

Tom Kaye is a Senior Solution Architect at NVIDIA, a leader in the field of accelerated computing and AI. In this role he works in the areas of professional visualization, enterprise scale AR/VR, simulation and training, scalable displays, and video I/O. Prior to joining NVIDIA, Tom was a principal systems engineer at SGI and a senior computing engineer at Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

James M. Kemp, Jr. – Vice President, KMS Family of Companies
Master of Business Administration, 2017

James Michael Kemp, Jr. is the Vice President of the KMS Family of Companies, which includes KMS, Frameworq and Streemline. James’s leadership at KMS has attributed to significant growth, with the firm earning a spot on the INC 5000 list in 2021 and 2022 and managing over 500 projects annually for major clients like Truist Bank and Regions Bank. He was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a rising star in real estate and construction in 2019, and his leadership was most recently recognized at the state level with his selection to the Alabama Leadership Initiative’s 2024-2025 class. Active in his community, James serves on multiple boards, including Habitat for Humanity, the Birmingham Zoo and Preschool Partners. He also remains engaged with his alma mater through the Blackburn Institute and the Culverhouse Board of Visitors.

Aimee Kilgo – Owner and Family Nurse Practitioner, Lakeside Primary Care
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2023

Dr. Kilgo, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, CRHCP, is the owner of Lakeside Primary Care in Centre, Alabama, where she also practices as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She was part of the founding team that established the first cardiac catheterization lab at DeKalb Regional Medical Center in Fort Payne, Alabama. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Kilgo has recently held the position of Chairman of the Board for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating her commitment to both healthcare and community leadership.

Daniel King – Assoc. Professor , Rosalind Franklin Univ. of Medicine & Science; Core Staff, JBI Centre of Excellence; Nurse Anesthesiologist, DreamLion Anesthesia
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2020

With nearly 20 years of high-quality healthcare experience, Dr. King currently works as a Board Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Owner of DreamLion Anesthesia and Associate Professor in the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, Illinois. He also serves as Region 3 Director for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). Dr. King has served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, as Chair of the Continued Professional Certification Assessment Practice Panel for the National Board of Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists, and Professional Development and Practice Committees for the AANA.

Adam Knight – Co-Founder and Partner, Neuro.VC
MS in Biological Sciences, 2011

Dr. Knight was named to the USA Today All-USA Academic Team during his undergraduate studies at UA, and co-authored eight research papers on Parkinson's disease as a master's student. Going on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University (U.K.), by age 30 he was the Founder and CEO of Neuron23, a Silicon Valley biotech company currently valued at $500M. He currently manages Neuro.VC, a neurodegeneration-focused venture capital investment firm in Silicon Valley.

Pradeep Kumar – Portfolio Manager, Emerging Markets Debt, PGIM Fixed Income
MA in Economics 1994, PhD in Economics 1997

Dr. Kumar is a Principal and Portfolio Manager for PGIM Fixed Income's Emerging Markets Debt Team, where he manages local debt portfolios across Emerging Markets. Prior to joining the Firm in 2019, Mr. Kumar was a Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Emerging Markets at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) in Toronto. Prior to OTPP, Mr. Kumar spent 13 years as a Portfolio Manager in the hedge fund industry in New York. After graduating from UA in 1997, Mr. Kumar started his career at Citigroup in New York and worked for eight years as a lead Emerging Market Strategist. 

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Austin A. Lane – Chancellor, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
EdD in Higher Education, 2009

Dr. Lane is the current chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, having previously served as president of Texas Southern University. He is widely known for building higher education partnerships between K-12, community colleges and universities in Texas and Illinois and serves on a number of boards that promote increased collaboration and access for students. Lane received the 100 Black Men of America “Rising Star” Award in 2022 and KAPAL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Tina Langley – Head Coach, Women's Basketball Program, University of Washington
MA in Community Counselor Education, 2008

Tina Langley was appointed the 12th head coach of the Washington women’s basketball team in 2021. Since her arrival, Langley has guided Washington back into the national spotlight, showcasing her skill as a transformational leader. Her dedication to developing a values-driven, elite program has sparked historic change and established a new standard of excellence for the future.

Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth – Costume, Hair, Makeup & Wig Designer
MFA in Theatre & Dance, 2012

Through her blog "Bridging the Gap," Ms. Lanier-Duckworth has paved the way for broader education about Black hair and makeup for the stage. She continues to effect positive change in theatres and universities nationwide through online sessions, in-person workshops, hands-on design work and speaking engagements. She has quickly become the go-to person in the Theatre industry for a topic that did not previously have sufficient resources available.

Mary Lieb – Manager Senior, Signal Group DC
MA in Communication Studies, 2017

Since graduating in 2017, Ms. Lieb became actively engaged in public service. She served as a press secretary for the House of Representatives, interned at the White House and promoted the arts on a national level through her role as Public Affairs Specialist with the National Endowment for the Arts. She currently holds the position of Senior Manager at the well-known public affairs firm, Signal Group DC.

Marshall Loeb – President, CEO and Director, EastGroup Properties
Master of Tax Accounting, 1986

Marshall A. Loeb serves as President, CEO and Director of EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP). Marshall was with EastGroup from 1991 to 2000, rising to Senior Vice President and opening the Western Regional Office in Phoenix. Subsequently, he served as the CFO of Parkway Properties (2000-2005) and as President/Chief Operating Officer of Glimcher Realty Trust (2005-2015), before returning to EastGroup in 2015. Marshall serves on the Board of Directors of Lamar Advertising Company. He also serves on the boards for the UA’s 1831 Foundation, the UA’s Student Managed Real Estate Investment Fund and is a member-elect of the Culverhouse Board of Visitors. Finally, Marshall is a board member of the Century Club, host committee for the Sanderson Farms PGA Championship.

E. James Loop – Retired CEO, Gateway
Master of Social Work, 1978

Jim Loop most recently served as Deputy Director of Family Services at the Alabama Department of Human Resources. He is also the retired President and CEO of Gateway (Child & Family Services), Birmingham’s oldest social service agency. Prior to those roles, he served as Associate Director of Glenwood (Autism and Behavioral Health Center), and has been engaged in many state and national boards.

Joyce Loyd-Davis Senior Director of Health Services, Alabama State University
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2019

Dr. Loyd-Davis is a Family Nurse Practitioner and small-business owner of JDJ Consulting. She currently serves as the Sr. Director of Health Services at Alabama State University. She has served as President of the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama (NPAA) and was appointed by the Governor to the State of Alabama Midwifery Board. She was inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame in 2023. She is the recipient of numerous awards including most recently The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) and the Woman of the Year Award from Beta Sigma Alumnae Chapter (2021).

Man Lu – Special Appointed Associate Professor of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (Beijing)
MS in Geology 2015, PhD in Geology 2020

During her time at UA, Dr. Lu received several prestigious awards, including the Outstanding PhD Research Award (2020) and the Philip & Bunnie LaMoreaux International Graduate Student Award (2015). She now serves as a Special Appointment Associate Professor, a highly selective position awarded to only 5% of applicants, which grants her privileges equivalent to those of a full professor. In recognition of her exceptional research contributions, she was also selected for the esteemed "Youth Top Talent" program at China University of Petroleum (Beijing), one of China's top ten institutions in Earth Sciences.

Thomas Scott Lyons – Professor of Exercise Science, University of North Alabama
MA in Human Performance 1998, PhD in Exercise Physiology 2003

Dr. Lyons is a professor at the University of North Alabama where he teaches exercise science. He previously served as Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School at Western Kentucky University, where he also served as Director of the School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport and Associate Dean for Research for the College of Health and Human Services. Lyons is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, as well as co-founder and former Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Exercise Science. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from UA.

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Eric Mackey – Alabama State Superintendent of Education
EdD in Instructional Leadership, 2001

Dr. Mackey has served as the Alabama State Superintendent of Education since 2018, where he works to build connections between education and external partners. He is currently a member of more than 30 boards, including the Southern Regional Education Board, Alabama Public School and College Authority and Retirement Systems of Alabama. 

Srinivas Mandyam – CEO and Co-Founder, Tynker
MS in Computer Science, 1992

Srinivas Mandyam is CEO and co-founder of Tynker, a coding platform that provides K-12 students with a solid foundation in computer science, programming and critical thinking skills to prepare them to become better architects of their future world. This platform has been used by over 100 million users and 150,000 schools worldwide. In addition to Tynker, Srinivas was the founder of two other companies, Plusmo (acquired by AT&T) and Covigo (acquired by Symbol/Motorola). He holds over 20 patents and advises several startups, driving innovation and growth. He has been named a COE Distinguished Engineering Fellow and a Computer Science Departmental Distinguished Fellow.

Amy B. Mansue – President and CEO, Inspira Health
Master of Social Work, 1987

Amy B. Mansue was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspira Health in August 2020. She has dedicated nearly three decades of service to the health care industry, having worked both in politics and for leading hospitals in New Jersey. In recognition of her expertise, Ms. Mansue was appointed Regional Coordinator in Central New Jersey by Governor Murphy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to her role at Inspira, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at RWJBarnabas Health. She is also the former CEO of Children's Specialized Hospital, and has served as board chair for both the New Jersey Hospital Association and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

J. Barry Mason – Dean Emeritus, Culverhouse College of Business
MS in Marketing 1964 , PhD in Marketing 1967

After earning his UA degrees, Dean Emeritus J. Barry Mason served as a faculty member and head of UA’s Department of Marketing. He was selected to lead the Culverhouse College of Business Administration as its Dean from 1987 through 2011, playing a lead role in the economic development of the region. He also served as acting president of The University of Alabama from 2002 to 2003. In all of these roles he has had a true and lasting impact on The University of Alabama, his professional field and the West Alabama community.

Deanah Maxwell-Stafford – Family Physician and Physician Owner, Rhema Health and Wellness
MA in Health Studies (now Rural Community Health), 2003

Dr. Maxwell-Stafford returned to her hometown of Tuskegee to practice primary care, while also playing a critical role with the Alabama Department of Public Health during the COVID pandemic. She also has served as president and board chair of the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians.

Katie Lamberth McGoogan – Senior CyberSecurity Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
Master of Business Administration, 2016

Ms. McGoogan joined Microsoft in 2022 as a cybersecurity specialist. In her current capacity, she is responsible for managing the security strategy of Microsoft’s largest enterprise manufacturing customers, working regularly with CIOs, CISOs, CTOs and procurement executives to develop comprehensive security plans that enable a zero-trust framework and protect against internal and external threats. Prior to her role at Microsoft, she worked at IBM as a Security Software Client Leader and Financial Sales Executive. During her six years there, she led the Global Finance team’s relationship with IBM’s largest business partner.

Jerry Milner – Former Associate Commissioner of Children's Bureau, and Acting Commissioner of Administration of Children, Youth and Families, Dept. of Health & Human Services
Master of Social Work 1979, Doctor of Social Work 1985

Dr. Milner has led the U.S. Children’s Bureau as associate commissioner, and acting commissioner, of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). As the top child welfare official in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he oversaw a budget of $9.7 billion and a staff of 200, giving him the power to significantly influence national child welfare policy. Prior to this role, Dr. Milner served as state child welfare director in Alabama, and served as vice president of a consulting firm, the Center for the Support of Families. He is co-founder and director of Family Justice Group, which focuses on strengthening families through culturally appropriate, community-based support.

John C. Mitcham – Associate Professor and Department Chair of History, Duquesne University
MA in History 2007, PhD in History 2012

Dr. Mitcham was named the inaugural holder of Duquesne University's Albert C. Labriola Endowed Chair in the Humanities. His first book was published (to broad acclaim) by Cambridge University Press, his current book is under contract to Oxford University Press and he is editor of the journal Britain and the World.

Matthew Morris – Chief Nurse Executive, Wilmington VA Medical Center
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2019

Dr. Morris is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 25 years of experience. Currently, he serves as the Associate Director of Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive at Wilmington VA Medical Center. Dr. Morris has held senior roles, including Vice President of Patient Care & Chief Nursing Officer at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center and Atlantic General Hospital. In addition to the DNP degree from UA, he holds certifications as a Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) and in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP).

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Elizabeth Naranjo Hayes – Assistant Professor of Spanish & French Linguistics, Truman State University
PhD in Romance Languages, 2022

A U.S. military veteran, Dr. Naranjo-Hayes decided to pursue a PhD in both Spanish and French linguistics 17 years after earning her MA. In a very competitive job market, she landed a tenure-track job right away as an Assistant Professor at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. After two years, she is now the program coordinator for the Spanish program while continuing to serve the local Latine and francophone refugee communities. She has been recognized twice with Truman State's Academic Innovation Award for her teaching effectiveness and for spearheading community-based service-learning in her courses. .

Alana Nichols – US Paralympic Athlete
MA in Kinesiology, 2008

Alana Nichols is a five-time Paralympian, six-time medalist (three gold, two silver, and one bronze), first female American to win gold medals in the summer and winter games and a spokesperson for Paralympic sports. After suffering a spinal cord injury at 17 while snowboarding she quickly transitioned to adaptive sports, where she became a world-class athlete in alpine skiing, basketball and sprint kayaking.

Brett Nickerson – Associate Professor of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University
PhD in Exercise Physiology, 2016

Dr. Nickerson is an Exercise Physiologist and Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine who specializes in methodological approaches for assessing body composition. He has served as the PD/PI for multiple NIH awards and has published more than 60 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. He was recently awarded an R21 from NICHD that seeks to validate mobile technology for assessing body composition and physical activity in adults with Down Syndrome. 

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Louise Oliver – Founder and CEO, Peritus Public Relations
MA in Advertising & Public Relations, 2009

Louise Oliver is the president and founder of Peritus PR, one of Alabama's most respected communications firms, known for its innovative approach to public relations and advocacy. Louise has led Peritus PR to become a trusted partner for clients when the stakes are high. Her leadership is driven by a vision to build a firm that transcends traditional agency norms and outlives its founders, fostering a work culture that values purpose over burnout.

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Jessica L. Peck – Clinical Professor of Nursing, Baylor University
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2012

Dr. Peck is an expert pediatric clinician and anti-trafficking advocate with a history of outstanding professional organization service. She provides innovative, visionary and award-winning leadership to develop APRN-led inclusive and diverse interprofessional teams to provide outcomes of high quality health care. She is the founding chair of the Alliance for Care Coordination of Children in Human Trafficking for the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and provides representation at the Office of Trafficking in Persons.

George C. Poulis – Head Athletic Trainer, Atlanta Braves
MA in Health Studies, 2002

George Poulis enters his eighth season as the Head Athletic Trainer / Director of Player Health for the Atlanta Braves. He spent the previous 18 years with the Toronto Blue Jays. Prior to the Blue Jays, George was an athletic trainer in the San Diego Padres’ Minor League system for 10 years. George got his first experience with professional sports in 1986 as an athletic training intern in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns Football Club. He worked his way up through the Padres’ Minor League system with stops in Waterloo IA(Class A); Wichita, Kansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama. (Class AA); and Las Vegas NV (Class AAA).

Jim Purcell – Executive Director, Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE)
EdD in Higher Education Administration, 1997

Dr. Purcell has served as the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education since April 2017. His leadership experience spans similar roles in Rhode Island (Commissioner), Louisiana (Commissioner) and Arkansas (Executive Director), making him the longest-serving active state higher education executive officer in the nation. Purcell has served in the Cabinets of four Governors (two Democratic, one Republican and one Independent). He has also served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Research for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Purcell has served as President of institutional research organizations in Georgia and Louisiana and later served as President of the Southern Association of Institutional Research. He was also the youngest recipient of the SAIR Distinguished Member Award. Currently, Purcell serves as Chair of the Alabama International Education and Economic Partnership. Other UA recognitions include the 2014 Dr. Harold L. Bishop Award for Leaders and the 1985 Outstanding Hall Director.

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Brian Rankin – Principal, Rankin Law & Policy; Adjunct Fellow, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Master of Business Administration, 2004

Brian Rankin is an accomplished attorney, MBA, policy strategist, think tank fellow, advocate and Fortune 30 corporate executive whose work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and National Review Capital Matters. Before establishing his own firm, Rankin served as Senior Vice President and Senior Deputy General Counsel at Comcast Corporation, a Fortune 30 company. A U.S. Army veteran, Rankin was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. In addition to his corporate work, Rankin has significant nonprofit board experience, serving as Vice Chair and Board Member of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and on the Board of Directors of the Global Interdependence Center. Rankin holds a JD from DePaul University, where he won the American Jurisprudence Award for Trial Advocacy and served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for 10 years.

Katelyn Reed – Owner, Strange Brew Coffeehouse and Owner & Founder, Churn & Spoon Creamery
Master of Social Work 2011, PhD in Social Work 2016

Dr. Reed and her husband Shane are the owners of Strange Brew Coffeehouse and Churn & Spoon Creamery, with locations in Starkville, Mississippi, Tupelo, Mississippi, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Northport, Alabama. During her doctoral studies in Social Work, her research focused on the effects of complex trauma on children in the child welfare system. Both her academic careers and her 20 years of entrepreneurial success have involved a passion for working with the community. Dr. Reed is also dedicated to philanthropic work through her church and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, where she is an active board member.

Gregory H. Robinson – UGA Foundation Distinguished Professor, The University of Georgia
PhD in Chemistry, 1984

Dr. Robinson, a synthetic inorganic chemist, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (2021)—one of the most prestigious honors a scientist can earn. In addition to being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Robinson has also received the Humboldt Research Award, the American Chemical Society’s F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry, the National Science Foundation’s Award for Special Creativity, the Percy L. Julian Award of the National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, the Herty Medal, the Southern Chemist’s Award and the SEC Faculty Achievement Award.

Katherine M. Ruffin – Director, Book Studies Program, Wellesley College
MFA in Book Arts, 1996

Ms. Ruffin has been teaching in the Book Arts Lab in Clapp Library at Wellesley College since 2000 where she incorporates letterpress printing, bookbinding and papermaking with various aspects of the liberal arts. In addition to her creative and scholarly research, she also teaches at the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia and at the School of Library and Information Science at Simmons University and serves on multiple advisory boards. 

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Julie Yates Stewart – Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, Delta Air Lines
Master of Accountancy, 2004

Julie Stewart, Delta’s Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Development, is responsible for maintaining Delta’s relationships with the investment community and communicating Delta’s financial results and strategy to investors. As part of her role, she leads financial and competitive analysis and corporate development projects, and is the executive sponsor for Delta’s Finance Development Program. During five separate years Julie was voted the Best Investor Relations Professional within the airline sector in the Institutional Investor All-America Executive Team awards. Prior to joining Delta, Julie held leadership roles at United Airlines in Chicago, and spent nearly a decade as an equity analyst covering the aerospace/defense and airline industries at Credit Suisse in New York. She is active with the University, serving on the Culverhouse College of Business Board of Visitors from 2018 to 2023. She currently sits on the advisory board for the Culverhouse College of Business Investment Management Group.

Coy Albert Stout, II – Vice President, Lykos Therapeutics
Master of Social Work, 1994

Coy Stout serves as a consultant for Market Access, Commercial Readiness, and Stakeholder Engagement for Lykos Therapeutics, where he served as Vice President. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President and head of Patient Advocacy & Policy at the biotechnology company Brii Biosciences. His career has involved more than 25 years of experience as a leader in public health and the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on strategic commercial planning and infrastructure to help advance patient access to important medications across a variety of disease areas.

Elaina Jennings Sutley – Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and Associate Professor of Structural Engineering, University of Kansas
MS in Civil Engineering, 2011

Dr. Sutley is an Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Director of the IHAWKe Diversity and Women's Programs, Director of the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program and Associate Professor in structural engineering at the University of Kansas. Dr. Sutley leads an interdisciplinary research program on community disaster resilience for which she received early career awards in 2019 from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Science Foundation. KU recognized Dr. Sutley as a Miller Faculty Scholar in 2021 and Bellows Faculty Scholar in 2024 for outstanding research, teaching, and service. She holds national leadership positions on the Structural Engineering Institute’s Board of Governors, the Executive Committee of the Infrastructure Resilience Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Applied Technology Council’s Board of Direction.

Katrina C. Swain – Nursing Chairperson, Lawson State Community College
EdD in Instructional Leadership for Nurse Educators, May 2012

Dr. Swain is the Nursing Chairperson and an instructor at Lawson State Community College, one of the historically Black colleges and universities in Alabama. Under her leadership, Lawson’s nursing programs are regularly ranked as one of the best programs in the state and help meet crucial workforce demands in the medical field. She also serves as President of the Hoover Lions Club, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mu Tau Omega Chapter (Talladega) and Treasurer of the Alabama Council of Administrators of Professional Nursing Education Programs.

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Jintong Tang – Mary Louise Murray Professor of Management & Director, Emerson Leadership Institute, Saint Louis University
PhD in Management, 2007

Dr. Tang is a highly accomplished academic and educator, recognized for her contributions to the field of Management. She was recently inducted into the Alumni Hall of Achievement at Governors State University’s College of Business in 2024. Her research has appeared in more than 80 refereed journal publications and more than 120 refereed/invited conference proceedings. She has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Fr. Thomas M. Knapp, S.J. Distinguished Faculty Member Award in 2022 and the Chaifetz School of Business Teaching Innovation Award in 2018, 2021 and 2023, as well as the Dean's Curriculum Innovation Grant in 2022 and the Sister Shirley Kolmer Memorial Grant for Community Impact in 2018 and 2022.

Berry H. (Nick) Tew, Jr.State Geologist and Oil & Gas Supervisor of Alabama
MS in Geology 1991, PhD in Geology 1999

Dr. Tew has served as Alabama’s State Geologist and Oil and Gas Supervisor and Director of the Geological Survey of Alabama and the State Oil and Gas Board since 2002. He received all of his degrees from UA. Dr. Tew is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and served as President of the American Geosciences Institute, the Association of American State Geologists and the Groundwater Protection Council. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council among numerous other professional service activities. He received the E.W. Marland Award, the highest honor of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, in 2013, and the Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences, the highest award of the American Geosciences Institute, in 2016.

Karen Thompson-Jackson – Executive Director, Tuscaloosa Emergency Services
Master of Social Work 1992, PhD in Instructional Leadership 2019

Dr. Thompson-Jackson has served as the Executive Director of Temporary Emergency Services in Tuscaloosa since 1990. She is an adjunct professor at The UA School of Social Work, Co-Chair of the Stillman College Women’s Council, Chair of the West Alabama Homeless Committee and a board member for multiple social service organizations in the region. She is also a member of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education.

Ken Tidwell – Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
Master of Business Administration, 1986

Ken Tidwell is a Managing Director and Partner at the Carlyle Group, responsible for overseeing Investor Relations in the U.S. South region and Latin America. Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Tidwell was a Managing Director of the Citigroup Private Bank, Latin America Region. He was also Global Market Manager for the Citigroup Private Bank of the Venezuela region in Miami. Prior to that, Mr. Tidwell worked as a Senior Corporate Banker with Bank of America in Atlanta and Mexico City, and in investment banking with Salomon Brothers in New York.

Kristen Torres – CEO and Founder, Torres Consulting LLC
Master of Social Work, 2017

Kristen Torres is founder and CEO of Torres Consulting, LLC, a firm that specializes in Policy Development & Analysis, Lobbying & Government Affairs. As an MSW student at UA, she was a HRSA grant recipient and was selected for a competitive policy fellowship in Washington D.C. She now has over a decade of experience in federal policy analysis, most recently serving as Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Judy Chu serving California's 28th District.

Casey Tupea – Dental Program Manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of Integrated Health
MS in Population Health Science, 2021

Casey Tupea is a dental hygienist, and leader in the field of dental care provision among adults with disabilities. As the dental team manager for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of Integrated Health, she advocates for adults with disabilities and has developed and implemented a statewide program to increase access to dental care for persons with DDs and to provide education to peers on how to best serve this population. For her thesis study, Casey completed a qualitative study using a grounded theory approach where she identified best practices in serving adults with disabilities in the dental health provision space. She was awarded "best research presentation" at the Special Care Dental Association Conference in 2022 for this impressive, timely and important work. 

Rebecca O. Turner – Emerita Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (retired), Jacksonville State University
Master of Social Work 1976, Doctor of Social Work, 1990

Dr. Turner spent eight years as a social worker before accepting a position as a faculty member at Jacksonville State University, rising through the ranks there to serve as department head of Sociology and Social Work, and then Vice President and Provost from 2002 until her retirement in 2019. Her career there spanned 38 years and she was JSU’s first woman vice president, overseeing the addition of multiple academic programs including the university’s first doctoral degrees (EdD, DSc and DNP).

Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy – Professor, Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior Department, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
MS in Human Environmental Sciences / Nutrition, 2000

Dr. Turner-McGrievy is a leader in the Public Health Nutrition field, whose research focuses on discovering ways to help people eat healthier, lose weight and prevent chronic disease. She has over 180 publications, has secured more than $13 million in grant funding and has been the recipient of multiple academic honors and awards.

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Avis Williams – Former Superintendent, New Orleans Public Schools
EdD in Educational Administration, 2009

Dr. Williams served as superintendent of New Orleans Public Schools, and she was the first woman to serve in the role. Prior to that position, she served as superintendent of Selma City Schools. Her awards include the Marbury Technology Innovation Award by the Alabama State Department of Education in 2011 as principal and in 2019 as superintendent, the 2020 Alabama Black School Educators Superintendent of the Year and being a 2019 finalist for Alabama State Superintendent of the Year. The National School Public Relations Association named her as one of its Superintendents to Watch in 2022, and UA awarded her the Dr. Harold L. Bishop Award for Leaders in 2021. 

Wendy L. Wright – Nurse Practitioner and Owner, Wright & Associates Family Healthcare
Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2019

Dr. Wright is an adult and family nurse practitioner and the owner of Wright & Associates Family Healthcare in New Hampshire. Her family practices have won numerous awards, including Top Providers in New Hampshire 2018, Top 20 Fastest Growing Family Business and Top 20 Women-Owned Business in New Hampshire. In 2018 and 2023, Dr. Wright was also chosen by her peers as one of the Top 10 NPs in America. In addition, she is the owner of Partners in Healthcare Education, a medical education company and the Chief Clinical Officer of Duet Technologies, Inc. She has been inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (2005), a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (2014) and a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (2017).

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Prashant Yadav – Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC
PhD in Management Science, 2004

Dr. Yadav is a globally recognized expert in healthcare supply chains whose writing has appeared in the Financial Times, The Economist, Nature, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Foreign Affairs. He has frequently appeared as a supply chain expert on NPR, BBC, CNN, CBS, and CNBC. He has held faculty positions at INSEAD, the MIT-Zaragoza Logistics Program and the University of Michigan. He has also served as a lecturer in Global Health and Social Medicines at Harvard Medical School. Previously, Yadav was the strategy leader for supply chains at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and vice president of healthcare research at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute. In addition to serving on boards and chairing expert committees, Dr. Yadav has provided expert testimony on multiple occasions before the U.S. Congress and other international legislative bodies on medicine supply chain issues.

Steven Yates – Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, College of Communication & Information Sciences, University of Alabama
MA in Communication Studies 2005, Master of Library & Information Studies 2006, PhD in Instructional Leadership 2017

Dr. Yates began his career in school and public libraries before joining UA, where he now serves as an associate dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS). In cooperation with the UA College of Education, he was instrumental in the development of an Education Specialist (EdS) concentration in School Library Media. He is a past president of both the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the Alabama Library Association and is a current member of the executive board of the American Library Association (ALA). In 2021, Dr. Yates was honored with the ALA Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship. 

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