The Distinguished Alumni Awards honor exceptional alumni from each of the six academic schools and three Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Selected by the school from which they earned their degree or their respective ROTC unit, alumni are recognized for their significant contributions to the College, Institute, and public welfare.
2026 Award Recipients
Blurb / Gallery Set
Edward Byrns
M.S. AE 1988, M.S. ECON 1991, Ph.D. AE 1991
Alyssa Sheehan
HTS 2013, M.S. DM 2018, Ph.D. HCI 2024
Austin Long
INTA 1998
Andrew Pilsch
STC and CS 2005
Najia Humayun
IAML-Spanish 2019
Trey Childress
INTA and IE 2000, M.S. PUBP 2002
Patrick H. Mason
Army ROTC, IE 1986
Gen. Philip M. Breedlove
Air Force ROTC, CE 1977
Perry Solomon
Navy ROTC, CE 1999
past
Past Recipients
2025 Awards Recipients
- John Wylder, ECON 1973
- Wilson Arnold Garrett, HTS 2024
- Jessica Cox, INTA 2000
- Molly Heacock, STC 2010
- Yvonne Ploder, IAML-French 2015
- Lynn Austin, Ph.D. PUBP 2000
- Maj. Gen. Kelly McKeague, Air Force ROTC, IE 1981, M.S. IE 1987
- Brig. Gen. Tom Blackstock, Army ROTC, CE 1987
- Maj. Gen. Larry Taylor, Navy ROTC, IM 1962
2024 Awards Recipients
- Wendy Horton McLeod, M.S. ECON 1996
- J. Danielle Sharpe, HTS 2014
- Betsy Bulat, IAML-Spanish 2004
- Sarah W. Mallory, STC 2003
- Kelly Kloster Hon, ME and German 2011
- C. Michael Cassidy, M.S. TASP 1987
- Col. Stephen C. Hall, Air Force ROTC, IM 1967
- LTC Gregory D. Louden, Army ROTC, ME 1988
- Maj. David Van Pham, Navy ROTC, MGT 2010
2023 Awards Recipients
- Vernon O’Neal, ECON 1979
- Rodney Jordan, M.S. HSTS 2009
- Alexious Butler, M.S. INTA 2002
- Jason Ellis, STC 2006
- Daniela Galvez Sghiatti, ALIS 2016
- Susan Graff, M.S. TASP 1985
- Ignacio Montoya, Air Force ROTC, MBID 2018
- 2nd Lt. Zach McGee, Army ROTC, CS 2022
- CDR Dan DeCicco, Navy ROTC, IE 2001
2022 Awards Recipients
- Chaunté Lowe, ECON 2008
- Sybrina Atwaters, M.S. HSTS 2009, Ph.D. HSTS 2014
- Rachael Lammers, M.S. INTA 2007
- Nettrice R. Gaskins, Ph.D. DM 2014
- Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson, IAML-Spanish 2011
- Margaret Burgess, PUBP 2004, ECON 2004
- Col. Mark Massaro, Air Force ROTC, CE 1998
- Retired Col. Tom Taylor, IM 1972
- 2nd Lt. Nicholas Collins, IA 2021
2021 Awards Recipients
- Philip Cheaney, ECON 1971
- Phillip B. Jones, ECON 1971
- William Thompson, ECON 1971
- Prakash Kumar, Ph.D. HTS 2004
- Sarah Cooper, M.S. DM 2001
- Ted Danowitz, IAML-Chinese 2010
- Tong Zhao, Ph.D. STIA 2014
- Fatimot Ladipo, M.S. PUBP 1999
2020 Awards Recipients
- Sterling Gerdes, International Affairs and Modern Languages-French 2008
- Nicole B. Kruse, M.S. International Affairs 2000
- Francois Rollin, History, Technology, and Society 2004
- Özge Samanci, Ph.D. Digital Media 2009
- Richard L. Tuley, Economics 1992
- Cynthia Warrick, M.S. Public Policy 1994
2019 Awards Recipients
- Blake Butler, Science, Technology, and Culture 2003
- Angelina Long Callahan, M.S. History and Sociology of Technology and Society 2009 and Ph.D. 2013
- Leisha DeHart-Davis, M.S. Public Policy 1993 and Ph.D. Public Policy 2000
- Andrew Harris, M.S. International Affairs 2010
- Kristin Lundberg, International Affairs and Modern Languages 2006
- Joseph B. Owens, Jr., Economics 1977
2018 Awards Recipients
- Melody DeBussey, Public Policy 2006
- Johnny Jones, International Affairs 2002
- Kelly Orman, Economics 1995
- Susan J.Robinson, Ph.D. Digital Media 2015
- Hannah L. Taylor, International Affairs and Modern Languages - French 2009
- L. Christopher Young, History, Technology, and Society 2000
2017 Awards Recipients
- Austin Dickson, M.S. Public Policy 2010
- Rawi Abdelal, Economics 1993
- Gwen Ottinger, Science, Technology, and Culture/Aerospace Engineering 1997
- Laurence Ralph, History, Technology, and Society 2004
- Jeremy Farris, International Affairs 2004
- Parker Kemp, Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies-German and Mechanical Engineering 2014
2016 Awards Recipients
Trailblazers
The Trailblazer Award recognizes alumni for outstanding early career contributions in their chosen professions and distinguished service to society at large, thus honoring their respective School, Georgia Tech, and Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
- Benjamin D. Bennett, International Affairs and Modern Languages-French 2012
- Michelle Homier, History, Technology, and Society 1999
- Susan Van Aacken, M.S. Public Policy 1999
Pioneers
The Pioneer Award recognizes alumni with long-term personal and professional achievements who have brought distinction to themselves, tangible benefit to their communities, and credit to their School, the Ivan Allen College, and Georgia Tech.
- Ayoka Chenzira, Ph.D. Digital Media 2011
- Richard R. House Jr., Economics 1985
- David Cooper, International Affairs 1996
2015 Awards Recipients
Trailblazers
- Scott W. Bray, International Affairs 1996
- John Lambert, International Affairs and Modern Languages – German 2011
- Leslie N. Sharp, Ph.D. History, Technology, and Society 2004
Pioneers
- Gonzalo Frasca, M.S. Information Design and Technology 2001
- Douglas R. Hooker, M.S. Technology, Science, and Policy 1985
- Richard B. Inman Jr., Economics 1973