UGA names newest alumni council board members

The University of Georgia Alumni Association Board of Directors strives to connect students with alumni and work closely with UGA’s alumni councils. Along with inducting new executive board members, new members also joined the four alumni councils: Black Alumni, Latino Alumni, Women of UGA and Young Alumni. 

Black Alumni Leadership Council: 

Executive Committee: 

  • Alicea Gaston (ABJ ’11, BSHP ’11, MBA ’18), Marietta, GA, President 
  • Janella Thomas Burse (BS ’86), Atlanta, Vice President  
  • Kydae Scott (BS ’23, MSW ’27), Athens, GA, Secretary 
  • Shirleyse Haley (ABJ ’11), Smyrna, GA, Immediate Past President 

2026-2027 Members: 

  • Brandon Chennault (BSFCS ’11), Locust Grove, GA 
  • Raquel Hammonds (BSHP ’11), Atlanta 
  • Tiana Knight (BS ’19, MED ’24), Atlanta 
  • Deborah Lucas (AB ’17), Bishop, GA 

Latino Alumni Council: 

Executive Committee: 

  • Kimberly M. Lopez (AB ’20, MPA ’22), Cumming, GA, President 
  • Oscar Campos (BSME ’20), Tucker, GA, Vice President 
  • Justin Acosta (BBA ’23), Dacula, GA, Secretary 
  • Orlando Burgos Pimentel (ABJ ’17) Atlanta, GA, Immediate Past President 

2026-2027 Members: 

  • Joshua Duarte (AB ’21, AB ’21, MPA ’23), Atlanta 
  • Pamela Garcia (BSED ’06), Athens, GA 
  • Marissa Maldonado (BBA ’10), Smyrna, GA 
  • Jimena Somilleda (AB ’24), Tucker, GA 
  • Michael Stone Jr. Lafuente (BBA ’21, BBA ’21), Atlanta 

Women of UGA: 

Executive Committee: 

  • Debbie Durrence (BSED ’98, EDD ’04), Buford, GA, President 
  • Lindsay Demboski (BSFCS ’06), Alpharetta, GA, Vice President 
  • Elena Griggs (BBA ’22), Woodstock, GA, Secretary 
  • Shontel Cargill (BS ’10), Duluth, GA, Immediate Past President 

2026-2027 Members: 

  • Kim Baugh (BSED ’00), Fayetteville, GA 
  • Collier Collier (BSED ’10, AB ’10), Acworth, GA 
  • Staci Gelbaum (EDS ’13), Peachtree Corners, GA 
  • Alexa Hernandez (AB ’22, AB ’22, JD ’25), Atlanta 
  • Janet Kirby (BSFCS ’17), Suwanee, GA 
  • Shannon Milan (BSCHEM ’10), Lithonia, GA 
  • Tinisha Parker (BSED ’00, EDS ’07), Lawrenceville, GA 
  • Shelby Wright Whitlock (ABJ ’96), Decatur, GA 

Young Alumni Leadership Council: 

Executive Committee: 

  • Hanna Jon Lewis (BBA ’20, MS ’21), Atlanta, President 
  • Farbod Zahiri (BSEE ’17), Atlanta, Vice President 
  • Daniel Maxwell (BBA ’24), Carrollton, GA, Secretary 
  • Chandler Bracco (BFA ’22), Atlanta, Engagement Chair 
  • Austin Gibbons (AB ’20, AB ’20, MBA ’25), Lilburn, GA, Membership Co-chair 
  • Annmarie Nwokoro (AB ’20), Covington, GA, Membership Co-chair 
  • Tia Smith (BBA ’18, MBA ’25), Macon, GA, Philanthropy Chair 
  • Morgan Mulherin (BBA ’15, MBA ’19), Richmond Hill, GA, Immediate Past President 

2026-2027 Members: 

  • Braxton Ballard (BSCE ’21), Scottsdale, AZ 
  • Erin Caplan (AB ’19), Atlanta 
  • Carson Hand (BBA ’12), Augusta, GA 
  • Isabelle Heckler (BBA ’21, BBA ’21,BBA ’21), New York  
  • Olivia Kernels (BBA ’23), Atlanta 
  • Catherine Kight (BBA ’23), Charlotte, NC 
  • Carson Kuck (AB ’21, JD ’24), Washington 
  • Carter Marks (BBA ’22, BBA ’22), Atlanta 
  • Natalie Morean (BSFCS ’19, MA ’20), San Leandro, CA 
  • Grace Kerner Morris (AB’22), Atlanta 
  • Alexis Petry (BSFCS ’20), Winder, GA 
  • Harina Somasundaram (BSCSE ’20), Long Island City, NY
  • Isabella Stakem (BBA ’22), Miami 
  • Sam Perez Townsend (AB ’22, AB ’22), Nashville, TN 
  • Carissa Watts Tucker (ABJ ’15), Atlanta 
  • Jamie Tuggle (BSED ’18, AB ’18, MED ’21), Carrollton, GA 
  • Reed Turry (BBA ’17, BBA ’17, JD ’20), Atlanta 

To view the full list of UGA Alumni Association Board of Directors and Alumni Council Members, please visit alumni.uga.edu.  

UGA Alumni affinity groups add new slate of leaders

University of Georgia Alumni added 29 new members to its affinity group leadership councils.

These alumni affinity groups — UGA Black Alumni, Latino Alumni, Women of UGA, and Young Alumni — work to build welcoming communities and help some of the university’s most dynamic alumni populations connect deeply to their alma mater. Affinity leadership council members are key to these efforts.

“We are excited about welcoming these committed alumni and seeing how each of their talents will contribute to engaging other Bulldogs across the nation,” said Adam Roell (BSED ’10), executive director of alumni relations. “We look forward to supporting our new members as they aim to strengthen the connectivity and reach of our leadership councils and groups.”

Black Alumni Leadership Council

  • Meila Barnes (BS ’16)
  • Cassaundra Govan (BBA ’01, PHD ’12)
  • Roderick Langston (EDD ’12)
  • Geoffrey Loften (BA ’15)
  • Alia Martinez (BBA ’10, MBA ’17)
  • Kydae Scott (BS ’23)
  • Janella Thomas-Burse (BS ’86)
  • Clarisa Thompson (MED ’10)

Returning council member Rodd Cargill (BBA ’10) began a one-year term as council president on July 1.

Latino Alumni Council

  • Isaac Aguilar (BS ’23)
  • Sergio Álvarez-Mena (JD ’81)
  • Oscar Campos (BSME ’20)
  • Benedito Pinto (MBA ’22)
  • Carlos M. Vazquez III (BSED ’09)

Returning council member Debbie Velazquez (BBA ’13) began a one-year term as council president on July 1.

Women of UGA Leadership Council

  • Stacey A. Chavis (MSL ’19)
  • Lindsay Demboski (BSFCS ’06)
  • Jooliana Krummel (BA ’14)
  • Kelley A. O’Keeffe (BA ’07, MBA ’14)
  • Heena Patel (BS ’96)
  • Donjanea Fletcher Williams (ABJ ’00)

Returning council member Crystal Ivey (MBA ’14) began a one-year term as council president on July 1.

Young Alumni Leadership Council

  • Temitayo Akinsanya (BBA ’22)
  • Erin Caplan (ABJ ’19)
  • Austin Gibbons (AB ’20, AB ’20, MBA ’25)
  • Mitchell Hutton (BBA ’19)
  • Noor-E-Alam Marshall (BBA ’18, BBA ’18)
  • Anne-Marie Nneka Nwokoro (AB ’20)
  • Danny Wayne Reagan III (BBA ’22)
  • Chandler Sherry (BFA ’22)
  • Alexis Vickers (BSFCS ’20)
  • Farbod Zahiri (BSEE ’17)

Returning council member Collier Collier (BSED ’10, AB ’10) began a one-year term as council president on July 1.