The University of Georgia Alumni Association has unveiled the 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, a group that includes a Country Music Award-winning musician, a New York Times bestselling author, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and more.
40 Under 40 celebrates the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of successful UGA graduates under the age of 40. The honorees will be recognized during the 13th annual 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon on campus this fall.
“We are excited to recognize this year’s 40 Under 40 class and celebrate their achievements in Athens,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, UGA’s executive director of alumni relations. “I am continually impressed by the leadership and service of these young alumni within their communities and industries across the country.”
Nominations for 40 Under 40 were open from February to March, and the alumni association received hundreds of nominations. Honorees must have attended UGA and uphold the three pillars of the Arch: wisdom, justice and moderation. Additional criteria are available on the UGA Alumni website.
“Across their industries, these graduates represent the pillars of the Arch and the Bulldog spirit as they lead the charge to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges,” said Johnson. “We are so proud of their accomplishments and are pleased to welcome them back to Athens.”
The 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, including graduation year(s) from UGA, city, title and employer, are:
Tiffany Y. Barney (BSED ’09, MS ’10, MAT ’15, MED ’17, PHD ’18) Kennesaw, Ga.; director of the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, Cobb County School District
Jason M. Brown (AB ’06, BS ’06) Atlanta, Ga.; assistant professor, Emory University School of Medicine
Christopher Bruce (JD ’12) Atlanta, Ga.; political director, ACLU of Georgia
Brittany Romig Caison (BS ’10, MBA ’16) Hoschton, Ga.; vice president of marketing, member services and governmental affairs, Jackson EMC
Ebony Caldwell (BSHP ’13, MPH ’13) Washington, D.C.; addiction psychiatrist, Yale School of Medicine
Kim Gebbia Chappell (ABJ ’06) Austin, Texas; vice president of marketing and communications, Bobbie
Kengelle Chukwurah (BSBE ’13, MS ’16) Raleigh, N.C.; product manager, Ernst & Young
Collier Collier (AB ’10, BS ’10) Acworth, Ga.; director of state board operations, Technical College System of Georgia
Katie Comer (BSA ’12) Atlanta, Ga.; head of community development, North America, Meta
Clayton Cox (AB ’10) Silver Spring, Md.; vice president-federal affairs, McGuireWoods
Kaitlin Miller Febles (AB ’13, AB ’13, ABJ ’13) Nashville, Tenn.; principal category lead, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Ray Fulcher (BSED ’08, MED ’10) Mount Juliet, Tenn.; artist and songwriter, Ray Fulcher Music
Jim Griffin (BS ’07) Athens, Ga.; director of surgical oncology and HPB surgery, University Cancer & Blood Center
Lawrence Harris (BS ’12, PHD ’21) Winterville, Ga.; chief impact officer, KIPP Metro Atlanta Public Schools
Mika Kawana (AB ’06) Atlanta, Ga.; director of brand partnerships, Intercontinental Exchange
Bill King (AB ’07, MPA ’09) Raleigh, N.C.; president and CEO, Downtown Raleigh Alliance
Christina P. Koebel (ABJ ’07) Midlothian, Va.; chief of staff to the CEO, The Weather Company, an IBM Business
Tionya Lawrence (BS ’07) Athens, Ga.; family nurse practitioner, Athens Neighborhood Health Center/Hilsman Health Center
Allen Ligon Jr. (BSED ’08) Atlanta, Ga.; pediatric and adult interventional cardiologist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology
Ashley Lott (AB ’05, AB ’05) Ridgewood, N.J.; senior legal counsel, Spotify
Clyde McGrady (AB ’07) Washington, D.C.; national correspondent, New York Times
Kevin Mitchell (AB ’05) Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; major and judge advocate general, United States Air Force
Simone Moonsammy (AB ’10, BS ’10, MSW ’20) Athens, Ga.; owner, Athena Health & Consulting Group
Mallory O’Brien (ABJ ’12) New York, N.Y.; senior manager of global corporate brand marketing, GE
Ivy Odom (BSFCS ’15, AB ’15) Homewood, Ala.; senior lifestyle producer, Dotdash Meredith Corporation
Kurinji Pandiyan (BS ’07) Sherman Oaks, Calif.; head of corporate and product strategy and global commercial (oncology and autoimmune disease), Atara Biotherapeutics
Gabrielle Pierre (BSENVE ’17, MEPD ’18) Atlanta, Ga.; engagement manager, McKinsey and Company
Delishia M. Pittman (PHD ’12) Washington, D.C.; associate professor, The George Washington University
Mandy Rodgers (ABJ ’08, AB ’08) Atlanta, Ga.; founder and CEO, Mandy Kay Marketing
Patrick Singletary (BSA ’12, DVM ’16) Marietta, Ga.; owner and medical director, Good Dog Veterinary Care
Ashlee Nicole Tillery (BSA ’13) Vidalia, Ga.; obstetrician gynecologist, Meadows Memorial Hospital
Yaritbel Torres-Mendoza (MPH ’17, DVM ’18) Dulles, Va.; lieutenant commander, Center for Disease and Prevention, U.S. Public Health Service
Fernando Velasco (BSED ’08) Flowery Branch, Ga.; director of player engagement, Atlanta Falcons
Scott Voigt (BBA ’07, MACC ’08) Athens, Ga.; partner and co-founder, Verisail Partners
Cade Warner (MFR ’14) Tuscaloosa, Ala.; chief operating officer, The Westervelt Company
Derrick A. Williams (BBA ’12) Beaverton, Ore.; global technology audit and advisory manager, Nike, Inc.
Harriett Williams (BBA ’12) Atlanta, Ga.; co-founder and vice president, Village Micro Fund
Stacy Willingham (ABJ ’13) Charleston, S.C.; New York Times bestselling author, self-employed
Taylor Winkleman-Cagle (MPH ’15, DVM ’16) New Windsor, N.Y.; consultant, World Health Organization
John Younker (DVM ’12) Atlanta, Ga.; founder, CEO and medical director, Common Companion Vet Co.
