KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 11, 2026

Kennesaw State University President Kathy S. Schwaig, seven alumni, and two longtime benefactors are among those listed in Atlanta Magazine’s 2026 Atlanta 500. The annual list recognizes the most influential leaders in education, business, the arts, and nonprofit organizations across metro Atlanta.

Recently named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians list, Schwaig appears in the Atlanta 500 for the fourth consecutive year. She is joined by Kennesaw State alumni John Welker ’17, ’19; Bert Wesley Huffman ’06; David Nicholas ’09; Leonard L. Adams Jr. ’14; Kelli Stewart ’11; DePriest Waddy ’93; and Albert G. Edwards ’93. Benefactors Norman J. Radow H’23 and Michael J. Coles H’99, both of whom were awarded honorary doctorates from KSU, were also named.

“I’m deeply honored to be named to the Atlanta 500 alongside so many leaders who are shaping the region’s future, including several Kennesaw State alumni,” Schwaig said. “Having KSU alumni represented among this group is proof positive of the University’s far‑reaching impact across the Atlanta area. We take great pride in opening doors to opportunity, preparing graduates to lead with purpose, and strengthening the communities we serve.”

Under Schwaig’s leadership, KSU has expanded student success efforts, launched more than 50 new programs in high-demand fields, and experienced major growth in research funding, expenditures, and fundraising. The University also completed nearly 20 capital projects that strengthened academic, research, and technology infrastructure across both campuses. Schwaig further led KSU’s transition to Conference USA, highlighted by a 2025 football conference championship and the program’s first bowl game appearance. KSU’s 2025 Annual Report recently touted the institution’s $2.3 billion economic impact and the largest enrollment of Georgians of any public university in the state.

The list includes KSU alumni who have been celebrated for their professional accomplishments in their chosen fields.

Welker has been a driving force in Atlanta ballet and contemporary dance as a performer and leader. A longtime Atlanta Ballet principal dancer, he later co-founded Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, commissioning 28 world premieres and helping establish the Terminus Ballet School. He also founded Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi initiative, commissioning 35 new dance works. Last fall, he was honored with the 2025 Alumni Service Award from the Kennesaw State Alumni Association.

Huffman leads Georgia Public Broadcasting as CEO, overseeing one of the state’s most respected public service organizations serving millions through news, cultural, and educational programming. He joined GPB in 2014, became president in 2021, and was appointed CEO in 2023. Previously an arts and education development leader, he recently received the 2025 Alumni Community Impact Award from the Kennesaw State Alumni Association.

Nicholas is founder and CEO of Nicholas Wealth Management, a financial advisement firm, whose expertise is widely sought by many of the leading financial journalists in the U.S. He has been a featured guest on CBS News, CNBC, CNN, Fox Business, and Fox & Friends.

Adams is a leader in affordable housing, working to address the widespread issue as founder, president, and CEO of Quest Community Development Organization. Quest launched the $110 million Westside Affordable Housing Trifecta, which is intended to create affordable housing for the unhoused and very low-income residents, including older residents and veterans, in Atlanta’s historic Westside.

Stewart is dedicated to improving educational opportunities through the nonprofit organization she founded with her husband, C.J., called L.E.A.D. Center For Youth, which serves students through participation in youth sports. Program participants have achieved a 100% high school graduation rate and a 91% college enrollment rate, with many of the students earning academic, athletic and need-based scholarships.

Waddy connects philanthropy to societal needs in his role as president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, which he assumed in 2022. CFNG has directed nearly $150 million in grants to worthy causes since its founding in 1985. Prior to his current position, Waddy was CEO of Families First, which served more than 17,000 individuals and families each year with mental health support, coaching, foster care, adoption, early education, parenting skills, and supportive housing.

Edwards is the founder and CEO of Corporate Environmental Risk Management, a leading minority-owned engineering and program management firm launched in 1995. Having earned a Master of Business Administration from Southern Polytechnic State University, Edwards chairs the firm’s advisory board and executive committee, providing strategic direction to its business management, project delivery, and client management functions. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a quartermaster officer.

“Recognition of Kennesaw State alumni among the Atlanta 500 is an honor that underscores the growing prominence of our university,” said Frances Beusse, associate vice president for alumni and constituent engagement. “Our graduates are driving meaningful impact across industries locally, regionally, and nationally, helping elevate KSU’s reputation through their leadership and innovation. We are immensely proud of our Forever Owls and the influence they continue to have on Atlanta and beyond.”

Radow, the founder and CEO of The RADCO Companies, is a longtime KSU benefactor whose philanthropy has transformed the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. His substantial gift in 2020 renamed the college, expanded scholarships, strengthened academic programs, and advanced research, leaving a lasting institutional legacy for generations of students. Radow previously served as chairman of the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board of Trustees, and in 2023, he was honored with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, recognizing his extensive contributions to the KSU community.

Coles is an entrepreneur and philanthropist whose leadership and generosity has shaped Kennesaw State since the 1990s, when he first joined the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. The founder of The Great American Cookie Co. and a former KSU Foundation Board of Trustees chair, he has made numerous major gifts, strengthening business education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. He is the namesake of the Michael J. Coles College of Business, a member of the Coles College Hall of Fame, and a Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters recipient.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University 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.