The Distinguished Alumni Awards honor exceptional alumni from each of the six academic schools and three Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Selected by the school from which they earned their degree or their respective ROTC unit, alumni are recognized for their significant contributions to the College, Institute, and public welfare.
2024 Award Recipients
Blurb / Gallery Set
Wendy Horton McLeod
M.S. in Economics, 1996
Director, Sales Strategy & EnablementDirector, Sales Strategy & Enablement at Cox Automotive Inc. ·
J. Danielle Sharpe
B.S. in History, Technology, and Society
Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Betsy Bulat
B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages–Spanish 2004
Senior Equity Partner at Martenson, Hasbrouck & Simon, LLP
Sarah W. Mallory
B.S. in Science, Technology, and Culture 2003
Annette and Oscar de la Renta Assistant Curator of Drawings and Prints at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York
Kelly Kloster Hon
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and German 2011
Senior Manager for Product Development Engineering at Becton Dickinson
C. Michael Cassidy
M.S. in Technology and Science Policy 1987
Executive Director of Emory Innovations, Inc.
Col. Stephen C. Hall
Air Force ROTC
B.S. in Industrial Management 1967
Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
LTC Greg D. Louden
Army ROTC
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 1988
Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Maj. David Van Pham
Navy ROTC
B.S. in Management 2010
Marine Corps Officer, Operations Specialist at the United States Digital Service under the White House, and Founder of Phamily Fund, Inc.
Past Recipients
2023 Awards Recipients
- Vernon O’Neal, ECON 1979
- Rodney Jordan, M.S. HSTS 2009
- Alexious Butler, M.S. INTA 2002
- Jason Ellis, STC 2006
- Daniela Galvez Sghiatti, ALIS 2016
- Susan Graff, M.S. TASP 1985
- Ignacio Montoya, Air Force ROTC, MBID 2018
- 2nd Lt. Zach McGee, Army ROTC, CS 2022
- CDR Dan DeCicco, Navy ROTC, IE 2001
2022 Awards Recipients
- Chaunté Lowe, ECON 2008
- Sybrina Atwaters, M.S. HSTS 2009, Ph.D. HSTS 2014
- Rachael Lammers, M.S. INTA 2007
- Nettrice R. Gaskins, Ph.D. DM 2014
- Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson, IAML-Spanish 2011
- Margaret Burgess, PUBP 2004, ECON 2004
- Col. Mark Massaro, Air Force ROTC, CE 1998
- Retired Col. Tom Taylor, IM 1972
- 2nd Lt. Nicholas Collins, IA 2021
2021 Awards Recipients
- Philip Cheaney, ECON 1971
- Phillip B. Jones, ECON 1971
- William Thompson, ECON 1971
- Prakash Kumar, Ph.D. HTS 2004
- Sarah Cooper, M.S. DM 2001
- Ted Danowitz, IAML-Chinese 2010
- Tong Zhao, Ph.D. STIA 2014
- Fatimot Ladipo, M.S. PUBP 1999
2020 Awards Recipients
- Sterling Gerdes, International Affairs and Modern Languages-French 2008
- Nicole B. Kruse, M.S. International Affairs 2000
- Francois Rollin, History, Technology, and Society 2004
- Özge Samanci, Ph.D. Digital Media 2009
- Richard L. Tuley, Economics 1992
- Cynthia Warrick, M.S. Public Policy 1994
2019 Awards Recipients
- Blake Butler, Science, Technology, and Culture 2003
- Angelina Long Callahan, M.S. History and Sociology of Technology and Society 2009 and Ph.D. 2013
- Leisha DeHart-Davis, M.S. Public Policy 1993 and Ph.D. Public Policy 2000
- Andrew Harris, M.S. International Affairs 2010
- Kristin Lundberg, International Affairs and Modern Languages 2006
- Joseph B. Owens, Jr., Economics 1977
2018 Awards Recipients
- Melody DeBussey, Public Policy 2006
- Johnny Jones, International Affairs 2002
- Kelly Orman, Economics 1995
- Susan J.Robinson, Ph.D. Digital Media 2015
- Hannah L. Taylor, International Affairs and Modern Languages - French 2009
- L. Christopher Young, History, Technology, and Society 2000
2017 Awards Recipients
- Austin Dickson, M.S. Public Policy 2010
- Rawi Abdelal, Economics 1993
- Gwen Ottinger, Science, Technology, and Culture/Aerospace Engineering 1997
- Laurence Ralph, History, Technology, and Society 2004
- Jeremy Farris, International Affairs 2004
- Parker Kemp, Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies-German and Mechanical Engineering 2014
2016 Awards Recipients
Trailblazers
The Trailblazer Award recognizes alumni for outstanding early career contributions in their chosen professions and distinguished service to society at large, thus honoring their respective School, Georgia Tech, and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
- Benjamin D. Bennett, International Affairs and Modern Languages-French 2012
- Michelle Homier, History, Technology, and Society 1999
- Susan Van Aacken, M.S. Public Policy 1999
Pioneers
The Pioneer Award recognizes alumni with long-term personal and professional achievements who have brought distinction to themselves, tangible benefit to their communities, and credit to their School, the Ivan Allen College, and Georgia Tech.
- Ayoka Chenzira, Ph.D. Digital Media 2011
- Richard R. House Jr., Economics 1985
- David Cooper, International Affairs 1996
2015 Awards Recipients
Trailblazers
- Scott W. Bray, International Affairs 1996
- John Lambert, International Affairs and Modern Languages – German 2011
- Leslie N. Sharp, Ph.D. History, Technology, and Society 2004
Pioneers
- Gonzalo Frasca, M.S. Information Design and Technology 2001
- Douglas R. Hooker, M.S. Technology, Science, and Policy 1985
- Richard B. Inman Jr., Economics 1973