成人直播 Alumni Association announces 40 Owls Under 40 Class of 2026
KENNESAW, Ga. | Jan 29, 2026
The recognition program celebrates 成人直播 and Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) alumni who are under 40 and making bold strides in their professions and their communities since graduation.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 class of 40 Owls Under 40 is an impressive group of alumni making impacts across the spectrum of business, government, education, public service and more,鈥� said 成人直播 President Kathy S. Schwaig. 鈥淭heir accomplishments embody the proud spirit of Kennesaw State and serve as an inspiring example for our current students.鈥�
With nearly half of 成人直播鈥檚 alumni under the age of 40, more than 75,000 成人直播 and SPSU graduates were eligible for the 40 Owls Under 40 Class of 2026. The honorees were chosen through a competitive selection process, with candidates evaluated on their professional achievements, community involvement, and commitment to the university. Throughout Fall 2025, the 成人直播 Alumni Association collected over 450 nominations.
鈥淜ennesaw State graduates continue to make exceptional contributions to their communities, industries, and society at large in Georgia and far beyond,鈥� said Frances Beusse, associate vice president, Alumni and Constituent Engagement. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to be honoring these outstanding members of the 40 Owls Under 40 Class of 2026.鈥�
Representing a wide range of organizations, the class includes alumni from Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, the New York City Ballet, Los Alamos National Laboratory, among others. The 40 honorees include alumni from each of 成人直播's 11 colleges, 16 Georgia cities, and eight states and eight of those selected represent 成人直播鈥檚 Marietta Campus/SPSU.
The 成人直播 Alumni Association 40 Owls Under 40 Class of 2026:
Jonathan Boardman (MS 鈥�18, Ph.D. 鈥�22), senior data scientist, Equifax
Daniela Burleyson (BS 鈥�13), senior manager, brand marketing and fan engagement, Atlanta United Football Club
Wesley Cooper (Ed.S. 鈥�21, Ed.D. 鈥�25), assistant principal and K-12 mathematics specialist, Morgan County Charter School System
Jeff Croft (BBA 鈥�09), founder and president, Meridian Partners
Diijon DaCosta, Sr. (BS 鈥�13), board emeritus District 6 representative, DeKalb Board of Education
Jorge Diez (MBA 鈥�25), founder and principal, Georgia Strategy Group
Brooke Doss (BS 鈥�17), constituent services representative, office of U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock
Anita Douglas Murphy (BS 鈥�14, MPA 鈥�19), chief development officer, Status: Home
Samuel Dupervil (BS 鈥�11), regional program director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start
Blake Eason (BS 鈥�19), news anchor, WISN
Allen English (BBA 鈥�18), vice president, Haddow & Company
Oscelius Farrar III (BS 鈥�17), engineering program manager, Avicado Construction Technology
Mirabhai Grenham (BBA 鈥�19), senior managing consultant, Hitachi Solutions
Sarah Groves (BBA 鈥�17), director, financial planning and analysis, Cox Communications
Lisa Hardt (BS 鈥�17, MPA 鈥�20), program director innovation and entrepreneurial strategies, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
Brooke Hoda (BBA 鈥�19), founder and CEO, AFA Staffing and Riverbrook Property Group
Stephanie Hogue (BA 鈥�12, MA 鈥�17), senior employee relations manager, Delta Air Lines
Chad Kerr (BS 鈥�11), program manager and head of systems development branch, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Jamal Longwood (BS 鈥�20), thermal development engineer, General Motors
Bhawan Mathur (BBA 鈥�11), senior vice president, Camptra Technologies
Miaja Mitchell (BS 鈥�20), police officer, Community Affairs Unit, Cobb County Police Department
Efrain Zachary Navejas (BS 鈥�14), senior data and application engineer, Kairos Inc.
Kendra Pannell (BS 鈥�16), executive director of communication, Dalton Public Schools
Angelina Pellini (BA 鈥�17), stage manager, New York City Ballet
Breighlynn M. Polk (MA 鈥�23), executive director, The Iberia African American Historical Society
Michael Powell (BS 鈥�13), manager of technology partnerships, Southwire Company LLC
Taron Ragan (BBA 鈥�21), senior finance manager, Microsoft
Nikita Raper (MSW 鈥�21, MBA 鈥�21), program director, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
Arica Ratcliff (BS 鈥�13), member engagement manager, Georgia Municipal Association
Patrick Rodriguez (BS 鈥�22), co-executive director, Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison
Christopher D. Roper (BS 鈥�18), Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Shahzib Sarfraz (BS 鈥�19, MBA 鈥�22), chief executive officer, Driven Software Solutions
Stephanie Scearce (BS 鈥�08), manager, workforce development, Georgia Power Company
Catherine Fann Smith (BS 鈥�09, MPA 鈥�11), corporate social responsibility program manager, Shaw
Darral Tate (Barch 鈥�19), architect at Novus Architects
Ket Preamchuen Vanderpool (BS 鈥�14, MS 鈥�17), women鈥檚 golf head coach, 成人直播
Haley Weaver (BA 鈥�14), head of military relations, The Home Depot
Tucker West (BBA 鈥�17), director of finance, The Coca-Cola Company
Kathryn Worsham (BS 鈥�13), senior manager, community affairs and Atlanta Braves Foundation, Atlanta Braves
Madlyn Wright (BS 鈥�21), project manager, BDR Partners
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 成人直播 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.