by Rebecca Hightower
The University of West Georgia Alumni Association is proud to announce the 2015 class of 30 Under 30. From pharmacists and counselors to international business owners and educators, this list represents the brightest and most ambitious UWG graduates under the age of 30.
Those nominated and chosen must have met several criteria. First, they must have earned an undergraduate degree from the University of West Georgia and must have been 30 years old or younger as of March 15, 2015. The nominees must have made a documentable impact in business, education, leadership, government, research, service, or other area, while also demonstrating dedication to the University of West Georgia and its mission of teaching, research and service.
These talented entrepreneurs, brand-builders, and high achievers are leading the way in their industries. They have taken their educations and their ambition and are forging a new path to success. Meet the 30 graduates that are proudly improving the world around them right now:
Chris Adamson
Promotion coordinator for iHeartMedia Atlanta
BA Mass Communications
Class of 2013
Ali Aust
Admissions representative at UWG
BS Sociology
Class of 2014
Clint Backstrom
Assistant director of Enrollment Services at UWG
BBA Accounting, MBA
Class of 2009, 2013
Megan Bell
Co-owner and online inventory manager of Underground Books
BA English
Class of 2013
Ashton Blackwood
Legislative assistant for the Office of the Governor
BS Mass Communications
Class of 2013
Dr. Kristin R. Brown
Clinical pharmacist with Tanner Health System in Villa Rica
BS Biology
Class of 2010
Taylor D. Brown
Accounting specialist with Carroll EMC
BBA Marketing
Class of 2015
Kayla Bruno
Campus police officer at UWG
BS Criminology
Class of 2013
Dr. Zachary D. Bush
Pharmacy manager and resource clinical pharmacist at Wellstar Health System’s Paulding Hospital
BS Biology
Class of 2007
Brittany Campbell
Senior marketing specialist for LocumTenens.com
BBA Marketing
Class of 2010
Stuart Campbell
Self-employed consultant for multiple companies in the healthcare and IT industries
BS Economics, MBA
Class of 2011, 2015
David Carpio
Property manager for Brixmor Property Group in Atlanta
BBA Management
Class of 2008
Jessica Rae Hodge
Catastrophe claims adjuster with State Farm Corporate
BA Psychology
Class of 2011
Benjamin Jenkins
Senior physics laboratory coordinator and associate director of the Observatory at UWG
BS Physics
Class of 2010
Ameen Mehdi Kazerouni
Founding partner of Bumblebee Analytics headquartered in Mumbai, India
BS Computer Science
Class of 2012
Ashley Harvard Kovac
Speech-language pathologist for Gwinnett County Public Schools
BSED & MED Speech-Language Pathology
Class of 2011, 2013
Jamie L. Kramer
Client support specialist for Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc
BS Sport Management
Class of 2010
Jared LeClaire
Freelance entertainment designer and teaching assistant at the University of Texas at Austin
BA Theatre
Class of 2013
Leslie Lewis
First grade teacher at Green Hedges School just outside of Washington, DC
BSED Early Childhood Education
Class of 2009
Kyle Marshall
Associate director of operations for the Hanger Clinic’s central zone
BBA Management
MBA
Class of 2008, 2009
John Morgan
Audio visual technician for special events at the UWG
BA Mass Communications
Class of 2012
Stephanie G. Parker
Business operations specialist for the Department of Housing and Residence Life at UWG
BBA Management, BFA Art, MBA
Class of 2009, 2012, 2015
Meitra Lak Perry
School counselor for the Douglas County School System
BA Psychology, MED Professional Counseling
Class of 2009, 2012
Lindsey Robinson
Director of the Fusion Center for Innovation and STEM Education at UWG
BBA Management, BBA Marketing, MBA
Class of 2009, 2011
Terence Rushin
Visual production specialist at Southwire and entrepreneur
BA Mass Communications
Class of 2010
Jacob Skelton
Owner of 302 South Street Restaurant
BBA Marketing
Class of 2010
Kristen Hope Thompson
In-house graphic designer and marketing director at Temporary Apartment Management in Suwanee
BFA Art
Class of 2009
Thomas A. Vance, Jr.
Third-year Ph.D. student in counseling psychology at the University of Akron
BA Psychology
Class of 2011
Katie Watkins
Associate producer for Risk/Reward Festival in Portland, Oregon
BA Theatre
Class of 2010
Amanda Lynn Wright
Program coordinator in UWG’s Office of Community Engagement
BS Mathematics
Class of 2011
For more information on this year’s list, or to find out how you can nominate an outstanding UWG alumni for next year’s list, please visit the UWG Alumni website at www.alumni.westga.edu.
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