Meet the 40 Owls Under 40 Class of 2026

Celebrate Kennesaw State University's 40 Owls Under 40 and the pride these remarkable alumni bring to the university.
Read the full press release to learn more!

Full Press Release 2025 Honorees

jonathan boardman

Jonathan Boardman

MS '18, Ph.D. '22

  • College
    College of Science and Mathematics College of Computing and Software Engineering

    Major
    Applied Statistics
    Analytics and Data Science

    Occupation
    Senior Data Scientist, Equifax

Daniella Burleyson

Daniela Burleyson

BS '13

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Communication 

    Occupation
    Senior Manager, Brand Marketing & Fan Engagement, Atlanta United Football Club

     

Wesley Cooper

Wesley Cooper

Ed.S. '21, Ed.D. '25

  • College
    Bagwell College of Education

    Major
    Secondary and Middle Grades Education, Mathematics

    Occupation
    Assistant Principal and K-12 Mathematics Specialist, Morgan County Charter School System

Jeff Croft

Jeff Croft

BBA '09

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Management

    Occupation
    Founder & President, Meridian Partners

Diijon DaCosta, Sr.

Diijon DaCosta, Sr.

BS '13

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Sociology 

    Occupation
    Board Emeritus District 6 Representative

jorge diez

Jorge Diez

MBA '25

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Business Administration

    Occupation
    Founder and Principal, Georgia Strategy Group

Brooke Doss

Brooke Doss

BS '17

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Journalism and Emerging Media

    Occupation
    Constituent Services Representative, U.S. Senate, Office of Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock

anita murphy

Anita Douglas Murphy

BS '14, MPA '19

  • College
    Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, 
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Human Services
    Public Administration 

    Occupation
    Chief Development Officer, Status: Home

 

samuel dupervil

Samuel Dupervil

BS '11

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Political Science

    Occupation
    Regional Program Director, US Dept. Health Human Services/Office of Head Start

blake eason

Blake Eason

BS '19

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Journalism and Emerging Media

    Occupation
    News Anchor, WISN

allen english

Allen English

BBA '18

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Management

    Occupation
    Vice President, Haddow & Company

Oscelius Farrar

Oscelius Farrar III

BS '17

  • College
    Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    Major
    Industrial Engineering Technology

    Occupation
    Engineering Program Manager, Avicado Construction Technology

Mirabhai Grenham

Mirabhai Grenham

BBA '19

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business
    KSU Journey Honors College

    Major
    Marketing

    Occupation
    Senior Managing Consultant, Hitachi Solutions

Sarah Groves

Sarah Groves

BBA '17

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Finance

    Occupation
    Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, Cox Communications

Lisa Hardt

Lisa Hardt

BS '17, MPA '20

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Political Science 
    Public Administration

    Occupation
    Program Director Innovation & Entrepreneurial Strategies, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Brooke Hoda

Brooke Hoda

BBA '19

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business
    KSU Journey Honors College

    Major
    Professional Sales

    Occupation
    Founder & CEO,  AFA Staffing and Riverbrook Property Group

Stephanie Hogue

Stephanie Hogue

BA '12, MA '17

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    English
    American Studies

    Occupation
    Senior Employee Relations Manager, Delta Air Lines

Chad Kerr

Chad Kerr

BS '11

  • College
    Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    Major
    Electrical Engineering Technology

    Occupation
    Program Manager & Head of Systems Development Branch, Georgia Tech Research Institute

Jamal Longwood

Jamal Longwood

BS '20

  • College
    Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    Major
    Mechanical Engineering

    Occupation
    Thermal Development Engineer, General Motors

Bhawan Mathur

Bhawan Mathur

BBA '11

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business 

    Major
    Management 

    Occupation
    Senior Vice President, Camptra Technologies

Miaja Mitchell

Miaja Mitchell

BS '20

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Criminal Justice 

    Occupation
    Police Officer, Community Affairs Unit

Efrain Zachary Navejas

Efrain Zachary Navejas

BS '14

  • College
    College of Science and Mathematics

    Major
    Mathematics

    Occupation
    Senior Data and Application Engineer, KAIROS, Inc.

Kendra Pannell

Kendra Pannell

BS '16

  • College
    Wellstar College of Health and Human Services

    Major
    Sport Management

    Occupation
    Executive Director of Communication, Dalton Public Schools

Angelina Pellini

Angelina Pellini

BA '17

  • College
    Robert S. Geer Family College of the Arts

    Major
    Dance

    Occupation
    Stage Manager, New York City Ballet

Breighlynn Polk

Breighlynn M. Polk

MA '23

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    American Studies

    Occupation
    Executive Director, The Iberia African American Historical Society

michael powell

Michael Powell

BS '13

  • College
    Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    Major
    Industrial Engineering Technology

    Occupation
    Manager of Technology Partnerships, Southwire Company LLC

taron ragan

Taron Ragan

BBA '21

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business 

    Major
    Accounting

    Occupation
    Senior Finance Manager, Microsoft

nikita raper

Nikita Raper

MSW '21, MBA '21

  • College
    Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Social Work 
    Business Administration 

    Occupation
    Program Director, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Arika Ratcliff

Arica Ratcliff

BS '13 

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Communication

    Occupation
    Member Engagement Manager,  Georgia Municipal Association

Patrick Rodriguez

Patrick Rodriguez

BS '22

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Organizational and Professional Communication

    Occupation
    Co-Executive Director, Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison

Christopher Roper

Christopher Roper

BS '18

  • College
    Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

    Major
    Mechanical Engineering

    Occupation
    Department of Energy, NNSA Fellow, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Shahzib Sarfraz

Shahzib Sarfraz

BS '19, MBA '22

  • College
    College of Computing and Software Engineering
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Software Engineering
    Business Administration

    Occupation
    Chief Executive Officer, Driven Software Solutions

Stephanie Scearce

Stephanie Scearce

BS '08

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Communication

    Occupation
    Manager, Workforce Development, Georgia Power Company

Catherine Fann Smith

Catherine Fann Smith

BS '09, MPA '11

  • College
    Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Human Services
    Public Administration

    Occupation
    Corporate Social Responsibility Program Manager, Shaw

darral tate

Darral Tate

BArch '19

  • College
    College of Architecture and Construction Management

    Major
    Architecture

    Occupation
    Architect, Novus Architects

Ket Preamchuen Vanderpool

Ket Preamchuen Vanderpool

BS '14, MS '17

  • College
    Wellstar College of Health and Human Services

    Major
    Sport Management
    Applied Exercise and Health Science and Sport Management

    Occupation
    Head Women's Golf Coach, Kennesaw State University

Haley Weaver

Haley Weaver

BA '14

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    International Affairs

    Occupation
    Head of Military Relations, The Home Depot

tucker west

Tucker West

BBA '17

  • College
    Michael J. Coles College of Business

    Major
    Finance

    Occupation
    Director of Finance, The Coca-Cola Company

Kathryn Worsham

Kathryn Worsham

BS '13

  • College
    Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Major
    Communication

    Occupation
    Senior Manager, Community Affairs and Atlanta Braves Foundation, Atlanta Braves

madlyn wright

Madlyn Wright

BS '21

  • College
    College of Architecture and Construction Management

    Major
    Construction Management

    Occupation
    Project Manager, BDR Partners