Alumni Awards

Every year, our Distinguished Alumni Awards honor our graduates who, through their service, contributions, and accomplishments, bring distinction and honor to the College of Education and beyond.

Upcoming Dates

2024 Alumni Awards Recipients

Marcus Johnson (PhD '14, Educational Theory and Practice)

Early Career Practitioner Award

As a first generation college student, Marcus Johnson attended Georgia Military College from 1991 to 1993 and UGA from 1993 to 1997. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then returned to UGA to double major in philosophy. From 2001 to 2011, he taught at the Westbrook School in Quitman, Georgia; Monroe Academy in Forsyth, Georgia; and Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia.

Sophia Jeong (PhD '18, Science Education)

Early Career Researcher Award

Sophia Jeong is an assistant professor of science education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. Her scholarly work draws on theories of new materialisms to examine ontological complexities of subjectivities and socio-material relations in science classrooms.

Michelle Lyn (PhD '01, Counseling Psychology)

Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Michelle King Lyn is a licensed psychologist and currently serves as director of the Counseling Center at Oglethorpe University. In addition to serving as a lead mental health professional, Lyn is a member of the President’s Leadership Institute and a member of the behavioral intervention and care team on campus. She counsels students with a variety of mental health concerns such as depression, trauma, as well as racial and identity development issues.

Meca Williams-Johnson (PhD '06, Educational Psychology)

Mid-Career Researcher Award

Meca Williams-Johnson is a professor of educational research and serves as the interim co-dean of the College of Education at Georgia Southern University. In 2022, Williams-Johnson was selected as a Governor’s Teaching Fellow for the state of Georgia. She is a graduate of the Mary Frances Early College of Education, earning her doctoral degree in educational psychology and a Certificate in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research Methodology in 2006.

Chris McMichael (EdD '04, Educational Leadership)

Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Chris McMichael is currently serving in his 29th year as an educator in both public and private schools, with 25 of those years in leadership positions. His career includes positions as superintendent, executive director for teaching, learning, and support services, and an elementary principal in the Barrow County School System.

Charles Ellis (BSEd '90, Communication Sciences and Disorders; MA ’92, Education)

Lifetime Achievement Researcher Award

Charles Ellis Jr. is a professor and chair of the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at the University of Florida. Ellis is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist whose academic concentration focuses on adult neurogenic disorders. He teaches courses related to aphasia and cognitive disorders.

Nancy Wallace (BSEd '66, MEd '70, EdS '73, Business Education)

Outstanding Service Award

Nancy Wallace is a triple Dawg that earned her bachelor’s degree in science education in 1966, her master’s degree in business education in 1970, and her educational specialist degree in business education in 1973. From 1966 to 1986, she taught for Cobb County and at Chattahoochee Technical College. During that time, she was awarded the Georgia Business Education Association’s Outstanding Service Award in 1972 and elected as a member of the Phi Beta Phi Honor Society in 1973.

The Awards

Early Career Alumni Awards

Researcher	Practitioner
Recognizes a graduate of the College who has demonstrated significant achievement in a research field in the early years of their career. Nominees are eligible for this award within 10 years of receiving their College of Education degree(s).	Recognizes an early career graduate of the College who has demonstrated significant achievement as a practitioner in the early years of their career. Nominees are eligible for this award within 10 years of receiving their College of Education degree(s).

Mid-Career Alumni Awards

Researcher	Practitioner
Recognizes a graduate of the College who has made outstanding contributions in a research field at mid-career. Nominees are eligible for this award within 11-24 years of receiving their College of Education degree(s).	Recognizes a graduate of the College at mid-career who has made outstanding contributions as a practitioner. Nominees are eligible for this award within 11-24 years of receiving their College of Education degree(s).

Lifetime Achievement Alumni Awards

Researcher	Practitioner
Recognizes a graduate of the College who has demonstrated outstanding success in their work in a research field. The recipient must be a recognized leader who has made a significant impact. Nominees are eligible for this award 25 or more years after receiving their College of Education degree(s).	Recognizes a graduate of the College who has demonstrated outstanding success in their work as a practitioner. The recipient must be a recognized leader who has made a significant impact. Nominees are eligible for this award 25 or more years after receiving their College of Education degree(s).

Nominate an Individual

Nominations for the 2024 Alumni Awards closed October 31, 2023.

Questions? Please email the Office of Development and Alumni Relations

Award Recipients

2024

Charles Ellis
Lifetime Achievement Researcher

Sophia Jeong
Early Career Researcher

Marcus Johnson
Early Career Practitioner

Michelle Lyn
Mid-Career Practitioner

Chris McMichael
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner

Nancy Wallace
Outstanding Service Award

Meca Williams-Johnson
Mid-Career Researcher

2023

Deborah B. Altschul
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Brittany N. Anderson
Early Career Researcher Award

Crystal L. Beach
Early Career Practitioner Award

Jason L. Branch
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Clifford D. Conner
Lifetime Achievement Research Award

Janice B. Fournillier
Mid-Career Researcher Award

Xernona J. Thomas
Outstanding Service Award

2022

Laurie Barron
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Gayle and Andy Horne
Outstanding Service Award

Sharon G. Horne
Mid-Career Researcher Award

Shakhnoza Kayumova
Early Career Researcher Award

Tasha M. Myers
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Jack Naglieri
Lifetime Achievement Researcher Award

Philip Peavy
Early Career Practitioner Award

2021

Jamilia Blake
Mid-Career Researcher Award

Bonnie Cramond
Lifetime Achievement Researcher Award

Candace Moore
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Carla Moore
Early Career Practitioner Award

Andy Plemmons
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Inez Tenenbaum
Outstanding Service Award

Leo Twiggs
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Julianne Wenner
Early Career Researcher Award

2020

Joyce Alexander
Lifetime Achievement Researcher Award

Kakali Bhattacharya
Mid-Career Researcher Award

Carl Glickman
Outstanding Service Award

Ann Levett Polite
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Julio Rojas
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Cristalís Capielo Rosario
Early Career Researcher Award

Chelsea Sexton
Early Career Practitioner Award

Mariana Souto-Manning
Mid-Career Researcher Award

2019

Tim Brown
Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award

Jimmy DeLoach
Outstanding Service Award

Earl Ginter
Lifetime Achievement Researcher Award

Ashraf Gorgey
Mid-Career Researcher Award

Colin Muething
Early Career Researcher Award

Kim Osborne
Mid-Career Practitioner Award

Jamie Scheidt
Early Career Practitioner Award

2018

Matt Arthur
Lifetime Achievement Award

Marc Grimmett
Outstanding Educator

Candice Hargons
Outstanding Young Alumni

Rebecca Miller
Professional Achievement Award

Johnny and Rubye Sanders
Outstanding Service Award

2017

Delbert S. Carpenter (Stan)
Lifetime Achievement Award

Dionne Cross Francis
Outstanding Young Alumni

Sheila O. Kahrs
Outstanding Educator

Ruth Langevin
Outstanding Service Award

Mary R. Marlino
Professional Achievement Award

Gail Nemec
Professional Achievement Award

Cindy R. Quinlan
Outstanding Educator

Lois Shortt
Outstanding Service Award

Grady F. Shumake (Franklin)
Lifetime Achievement Award

Philip Young
Outstanding Young Alumni

2016

Christopher Ryan Akers (Ryan)
Outstanding Young Alumni

Kimberly S. Bearden
Outstanding Educator Award

Catherine P. Bradshaw
Professional Achievement Award

Cindy A. Darden
Lifetime Achievement Award

Jessica DeCuir-Gunby
Outstanding Educator Award

Erin L. Hames
Professional Achievement Award

Philip Lanoue (Phil)
Outstanding Service Award

Timothy W. Puetz (Tim)
Outstanding Young Alumni

James A. Wilbanks (Alvin)
Lifetime Achievement Award

2014

Ian Altman
Crystal Apple Award

Tonya Harris Cornileus
Professional Achievement Award

Whitney Myers
Lifetime Achievement Award

Kimber Shelton
Professional Achievement Award

Mark Slonaker
Service Award

2013

Tena B. Crews
Professional Achievement Award

Timothy Dixon
Crystal Apple Award

Merrianne Dyer
Crystal Apple Award

Stephen Gordon
Lifetime Achievement Award

Jovita Ross-Gordon
Lifetime Achievement Award

Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria
Professional Achievement Award

Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Womack
Crystal Apple Award

2012

Bruce Bracken
Lifetime Achievement Award

Nicole Pfleger
Crystal Apple Award

William Schofield
Professional Achievement Award

Vicki Tarleton
Crystal Apple Award

2011

Betsy Bockman
Professional Achievement Award

Pamelia Carsillo
Crystal Apple Award

Robert Fore
Lifetime Achievement Award

Emily Lembeck
Professional Achievement Award

2010

Debbie Clark
Crystal Apple Award

Mary Frances Early
Alumni Service Award

Evan Glazer
Professional Achievement Award

Patti Harrison
Lifetime Achievement Award

Janis Stephens
Crystal Apple Award

2009

Paul Cobb
Lifetime Achievement Award

Wei-Ming Luh
Professional Achievement Award

Barbara Michalove
Crystal Apple Award

Xue Lan Rong
Professional Achievement Award

2008

Kathleen Davis
Lifetime Achievement Award

Sherman Day
Lifetime Achievement Award

Jacqueline Huffman
Crystal Apple Award

Randy Kamphaus
Lifetime Achievement Award

Kathryn Shreve
Professional Achievement Award

2007

Kris Beisginer
Professional Achievement Award

Joan Berryman
Alumni Service Award

Glenda Lappan
Lifetime Achievement Award

David Ragsdale
Crystal Apple Award

Vasti Torres
Professional Achievement Award

2006

Julia V. Clark
Lifetime Achievement Award

Rachael Burton Dillon
Alumni Service Award

Lawrence Gerstein
Lifetime Achievement Award

Carol Kasworm
Professional Achievement Award

Lisa A. Sheehy
Crystal Apple Award

Kathleen Thompson
Crystal Apple Award

Patrick Thompson
Professional Achievement Award

Craig Weidemann
Professional Achievement Award

2005

Damon M. Evans
Professional Achievement Award

Marc E. Fey
Lifetime Achievement Award

Michael R. Gwatney
Crystal Apple Award

Kimberly S. Halstead
Crystal Apple Award

Sylvia McCoy Hutchinson
Alumni Service Award

Cecil R. Reynolds
Lifetime Achievement Award

2004

Wally W. Bassett
Lifetime Achievement Award

Deborah Dillon
Lifetime Achievement Award

Sally Krisel
Professional Achievement Award

Karen L. Rutter
Crystal Apple Award

Cecile C. Waronker
Outstanding Service Award

Sharon Webber
Lifetime Achievement Award

Roger Winston
Lifetime Achievement Award