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.
2025 Award Recipients
Blurb / Gallery Set
John Wylder
B.S. in Economics, 1973
Retired
Wilson Arnold Garrett
B.S. in History, Technology, and Society, 2024
Retired Air Force Systems Analyst
Jessica Cox
B.S. in International Affairs, 2000
Director for Defense Plans and Policy at the U.S. Mission to NATO
Molly Williams Heacock
B.S. in Science, Technology, and Culture 2010
Managing Director and CEO-elect of Untold
Yvonne Ploder
B.S. in International Affairs and Modern Languages-French 2015
Trust and Safety Team Lead at Snapchat
Lynn Austin
Ph.D. in Public Policy 2000
CEO, Director of Operations & Senior ConsultantCEO, Director of Operations & Senior Consultant at Austin & Associates Consulting, LLC
Major General Kelly McKeague
Air Force ROTC
B.S. in Industrial Engineering 1981, M.S. in Industrial Engineering 1987
Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)
Brigadier General Tom Blackstock
Army ROTC
B.S. in Civil Engineering 1987
Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Retired)
Major General Larry Taylor
Navy ROTC
B.S. in Industrial Management 1962
747-400 Captain with Northwest Airlines (Retired)
Past Recipients
2024 Awards Recipients
- Wendy Horton McLeod, M.S. ECON 1996
- J. Danielle Sharpe, HTS 2014
- Betsy Bulat, IAML-Spanish 2004
- Sarah W. Mallory, STC 2003
- Kelly Kloster Hon, ME and German 2011
- C. Michael Cassidy, M.S. TASP 1987
- Col. Stephen C. Hall, Air Force ROTC, IM 1967
- LTC Gregory D. Louden, Army ROTC, ME 1988
- Maj. David Van Pham, Navy ROTC, MGT 2010
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