40 Under 40

Of Georgia Southern’s 138,000 living alumni, more than 62,000 are under 40 years of age.

The Alumni Association recently honored its Class of 2021 40 under 40, representing the excellence of the University’s young alumni and demonstrating the positive contributions and achievements for which University graduates are known.

Meredith Avery, MPH

Georgia Southern University
2012 B.S. Biology
Armstrong University
2016 MPH

Epidemiologist
Georgia Department of Public Health,

Coastal Health District
Statesboro, Georgia

Sean Bethune, Ed.D.

Georgia Southern University
2008 B.A. Political Science
2011 M.Ed. Educational Leadership

Assistant Principal
Daniel McLaughlin Therrell High School

Decatur, Georgia

Brooke Ann Childers

Georgia Southern University
2005 B.S. Political Science

District Director
U.S. House of Representatives,

Rep. Buddy Carter
Savannah, Georgia

Janessa Dunn, M.Ed.

Georgia Southern University
2013 B.A. Chemistry

Associate Dean of Admissions
Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Cindy Evans

Georgia Southern University
2012 BBA Information Systems

Design Lead
Manhattan Associates
Decatur, Georgia

Catherine S. Findley

Georgia Southern University
2010 B.A. Political Science

Solicitor-General
The Office of the Solicitor-General of
Bulloch County

Statesboro, Georgia

Christopher Ford

Georgia Southern University
2008 BFA Graphic Design
2008 BBA Marketing

Regional Contracting Officer
Environmental Protection Agency

Duluth, Georgia

Mark Fuller

Georgia Southern University
2009 B.S. Mechanical Engineering Technology

Senior Design Engineer
General Electric

Statesboro, Georgia

Melissa Gaule, M.A., HEC-C

Armstrong State University
2014 BHS

Director of Palliative Care and
Provider Management
Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Savannah, Georgia

Paige Murphy Glazer

Georgia Southern University
2006 BBA Finance

CEO
Reflections Media Communications

Richmond Hill, Georgia

Lauren Green, MSN, MBA, RN

Georgia Southern University
2012 B.S. Nursing

Nurse Manager
Veterans Administration

Evans, Georgia

Pastor Travis Greene

Georgia Southern University
2006 BBA Management

CEO/Founder, GreeneLight International
Pastor, Forward City Church

Columbia, South Carolina

Samantha LaRue Grovenstein

Georgia Southern University
2005 BBA Accounting
2005 BBA Information Systems

Product Operations Lead, Botkeeper
Owner, Hub360 Consulting

Statesboro, Georgia

Lt. Col. Michael Gutierrez

Georgia Southern University
2004 B.S. Biology

Commander, U.S. Air Force
330th Combat Training Squadron, Robins AFB

Kathleen, Georgia

Danielle Hackett

Georgia Southern University
2006 B.S. Broadcasting

Content Producer
CNN

Dacula, Georgia

Skyler Henry

Georgia Southern University
2011 B.S. Multimedia Communications

Correspondent
CBS News

Washington, D.C.

Javoris Hollingsworth,
Ph.D., MBA

Georgia Southern University
2007 B.S. Chemistry

Associate Professor and Program Director
University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas

James Lawrence

Georgia Southern University
2006 B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Management

Retail Market Manager II
Synovus

Thomasville, Georgia

Abigail Lee

Georgia Southern University
2011 B.S. Biology

Lead Quality Control Analyst
Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Loganville, Georgia

Josh Martenn

Georgia Southern University
2006 BBA Sales & Marketing

President of Sales & Marketing
Biyork

Albany, Georgia

Monique McKenzie

Georgia Southern University
2006 B.S. Public Relations

Beauty, Style & Emerging Culture Communications Lead
Instagram

Brooklyn, New York

Briana McNeil, M.Ed.

Georgia Southern University
2014 M.Ed. Higher Education Administration

Flight Service Manager
American Airlines

Concord, North Carolina

C. Brandon Messer, BSRT,
RRT, EMT

Armstrong Atlantic State University
2013 B.S. Respiratory Therapy

Chief Executive Officer
Landmark Hospital of Savannah

Guyton, Georgia

Deborah R. Metts

Georgia Southern University
2005 BBA Marketing

Chief Operating Officer
Beyond The Runway

New York, New York

Mary Beth Morgan, MAI

Georgia Southern University
2009 B.S. Justice Studies

Owner, Operator, & Principle ASL/Eng Interpreter
Morgan Interpreting

Washington, D.C.

Justin Mullis, Esq.

Georgia Southern University
2005 B.S. Political Science

Senior Assistant District Attorney
District Attorney’s Office,
Clayton Judicial Circuit

Atlanta, Georgia

Maurice Nelson, M.Ed., CDE

Georgia Southern University
2019 M.Ed. Higher Education Administration

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Yale School of Nursing

Milford, Connecticut

Nick Palumbo

Armstrong State University
2014 MAT

Alderman
City of Savannah

Savannah, Georgia

Lauren O. Patterson, Psy.D.

Georgia Southern University
2012 B.S. Psychology
2015 M.S. Psychology
2017 Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Associate Director/Clinical
Services Director
Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

William Probus

Georgia Southern University
2009 B.A. History

Senior Creative Designer
Augusta National Golf Club

Evans, Georgia

MeShaé Prophet

Georgia Southern University
2010 B.S. Public Relations

Social Content Manager
Shondaland

Gardena, California

Kurtis Purtee, M.S.C.J.

Georgia Southern University
2018 M.S. Criminology

Captain, Georgia Southern University Police
Alderman, City of Savannah

Savannah, Georgia

Major Joe Quenga

Georgia Southern University
2009 BBA Logistics and Transportation

Force Management Officer
U.S. Army

Arlington, Virginia

Justin Reynolds

Georgia Southern University
2007 BBA Accounting
2010 MACC

Team Leader
Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

Tia Richardson

Georgia Southern University
2007 BBA Management

Employee Experience Leader, Amazon
Founder & Head Consultant,
Hasil Consulting, LLC

Statesboro, Georgia

Lindsey Maxwell Robinson

Georgia Southern University
2013 B.A. Writing & Linguistics

Manager, Federal Relations
Aflac

Washington, D.C.

Karla L. Sapp, Ed.D., LPC-S, LMHC-S

Georgia Southern University
2004 B.S. Criminal Justice

Drug Abuse Program Coordinator, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Clinical Psychologist,
Dept. of Justice

Midway, Georgia

Kimberly Scott, MPH

Georgia Southern University
2009 MPH Community Health Education

Program Manager
Live Well Wake

Raleigh, North Carolina

Will Thigpen

Georgia Southern University
2009 B.S. Early Childhood Education
2014 M.Ed. Early Childhood Education
2018 Ed.S. Educational Leadership

Principal
Metter Middle School, Candler County

School District
Pulaski, Georgia

Hope R. Williams, LPC

Georgia Southern University
2005 BBA Marketing

Founder/Executive Director
SMILE Project Empowers, Inc

Powder Springs, Georgia