Each year, Florida State University honors its most successful alumni with various awards and recognitions. Below are the outstanding College of Social Sciences and Public Policy alumni who have received these honors.
For more info about the awards and the recipients, visit this link. You may also click active links at each name for more about that recipient. In most cases, each honoree is listed with the occupation they had when the award was announced.
Grads Made Good
The FSU Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society chooses three Grads Made Good nominees to be recognized at the Homecoming Breakfast every year. The ceremony is put together by the National Collegiate Leadership Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa and the FSU Alumni Association.
2022: Sean Pittman (B.S. Social Sciences ’90; J.D. Law ’94) – CEO, Pittman Law Firm
2021: Neil Rambana (B.A. English Lit/Political Science ’92; M.A. International Affairs ’96) – Senior Partner, Rambana & Ricci, Immigration Attorneys
2021: Bruce McNeilage (B.S. Economics ’88) – CEO/Co-founder, Kinloch Partners
2018: Nancy McKay (B.S. Political Science ’78) – President and CEO of NEST Fragrances
2018: Gene Stearns (B.A. Political Science ’66) – Founder and board chair of the Tallahassee law firm Stearns Weaver Miller, et al.
2015: Rodney Hero (B.S. Political Science ‘75) – Professor, Author
2012: Sen. Bob Johnson (B.S. Political Science ’58) – Florida Legislator
2008: Manuel H. Johnson (M.S. Economics ’74; Ph.D. Economics ’77) – Co-Chair & Senior Partner, Investment/Consulting Firm
2007: William Clay (B.A. International Affairs ’71) – International Authority on Food and Nutrition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2007: Charlie Crist (B.S. Political Science ’78) – Florida Governor
2006: Peter F. Romero (B.S. ’71; M.A. Education/International Affairs ’72) – Diplomat/CEO, Experior Advisory
2006: Laird B. Anderson (B.S. International Affairs ’58) – Journalist
2003: Mel R. Martinez (B.A. International Affairs ’69; J.D. Law ’73) – U.S. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
2002: Lynda Keever (B.A. Political Science [Gov’t] ’69) – Publisher, Florida Trend
1998: Mark S. Ellis (B.S. Economics ’79) – Executive Director, International Bar Association
1994: Lt. Gen. Charles J. Cunningham, Jr. (B.S. Political Science ’57) – Military
1990: Dr. Clyda Stokes Rent (B.A. ’64; M.S. ’66; Ph.D. Sociology ’68) – Educator/College Administrator
1988: Thomas M. Culligan (B.A. Political Science [Gov’t] ’73; M.P.A. Public Administration ’77) Business/Gov Lobbying
1986: Dr. Raul P. de Guzman (M.P.A. Public Administration ’55; Ph.D. Political Science ’57) – Educator/College Administrator
1985: Dr. Douglas M. Windham (B.A. Economics ’64) – Educator
1981: Gen. William H. Ginn, Jr. (B.A. Social Sciences ’58) – Military
1980: James C. Smith (B.S. Political Science [Gov’t] ’62) – Florida Attorney General
1979: Justice Alan C. Sundberg (B.S. Political Science [Gov’t] ’55) – Florida Supreme Court
1977: James B. Tippin, Jr. (B.S. Political Science [Gov’t] ’50) – Author, Director Florida Bar Board of Examiners
1974: Honorable Reubin O’D. Askew (B.S. Public Administration ’51) – Florida Governor
Askew Young Alumni Awards
The Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award is the highest honor Florida State University Alumni Association presents to young alumni (formerly known as the 30 Under 30 Award).
2022: Drew Piers (B.S. Political Science and Public Relations ’14; M.S. MAAPP ’18) – Partner & Managing Director, Sachs Media
2022: Cameron Pennant (M.P.A. Public Administration ’17) – Legislative Manager, Charlotte County, FL, and International Affairs Guest Lecturer, FSU
2020: Ryan Kitchens (B.S. Criminology ’10; M.P.A. Public Administration ’17) – U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations
2016: Max Haney (B.S. Social Science ‘12) – Commercial Insurance Consultant, Risk Management Insurance
2016: Zachary Sobeck (B.S. Economics ‘13) – Deputy Chief of Diplomatic Missions, United States Air Force
2014: Carisa Champion-Lippmann (B.S. International Affairs ‘08) – 2013 American Osteopathic Association Presidential Memorial Leadership Award
2013: Joe O’Shea (B.S. Social Science ‘08) – Assistant Provost and Assistant VP for Academic Affairs, FSU
2012: Audrey Chisolm (B.A. International Affairs ‘04) – Partner/Attorney, Chisholm Law Firm, LLC
2012: Matthew Gaetz (B.S. Social Science ‘03) – U.S. Representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district
2012: Garrett Johnson (B.S. Political Science ‘05) – Co-Founder and CEO, SendHub
Notable Noles
The university annual recognizes these alumni, age 35 or younger, for their significant contributions to their professions, communities or alma mater.
2022
Omar Al Busaidy (M.S. International Affairs ’21) – CEO & founder, Global Possibilities LLC
Argentina Charles (B.A. International Affairs ’16; M.P.H. Public Health ’18) – Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention Program Manager, Florida Health
Natalie Nolan (B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies ’18) – Product Marketing Specialist, Co-op Solutions
Tyler Price (B.S. International Affairs ’11, MPA ’13 Public Administration) – Director of Operations, Mercy
Aaron Treadwell (B.S. Political Science ’08) – Assistant Professor of History, Middle Tennessee State University
Austin Wilson (B.S. Economics ’18; M.S. Marketing ’19) – NFLPA certified contract advisor, Vanguard Sports Group
2021
Justine Hicks (B.A. International Affairs ’14) – External Affairs Coordinator for the Secretary, Florida Department of Children and Families
Mike Mitchell (B.S. Economics ’13) – Assistant Director of Research Strategy and Impact, Office of Research Development, FSU
Ky’Eisha Penn (B.S. Political Science and African American Studies ’13) – Staff Attorney, Advancement Project’s Opportunity to Learn project
2020
Christherson Jeanty (B.A. Economics and International Affairs ’08; M.S. Economics ’09) – Curriculum engineer for Data Science and Data Analysis at Hacker USA
Robyn Metcalf (B.S.W. Social Work ’13; M.S.W. Social Work ’15; M.P.A. Public Administration ’15) – Director of Special Projects for Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking
2019
Austin Burch (B.S. Interdisciplinary Social Science ’17) – Director of Operations, Papa, Inc.
Dan Daley (B.S. Political Science ’10) – Florida House of Representatives
Chris Land (B.S. Political Science ’11) – General Counsel, State of Wyoming Division of Banking; Research Fellow, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Jamie Leigh Price (B.S. Political Science ’12; M.P.A. Public Administration/Emergency Management ’14) – Mitigation Investment Lead, Risk Management Directorate within FIMA at FEMA
2018
Valerie Laboy (B.S. International Affairs ’04) – Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Divam Mehta (B.S. Economics ’05) – President, Mehta Financial Group, LLC
Janel Robinson (B.S. Sociology ’14) – Program Coordinator, Center for Interpersonal Violence Intervention and Prevention, Florida A&M University
2017
James Kassaga Arinaitwe (B.S. Biomathematics ’09; M.P.H. Public Health & Policy ’11) – CEO & Co-founder, Teach for Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
Sarah Harman (B.S. Political Science ’10) – Emergency Management Specialist, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Michael Lopez (B.S. Political Science ’05) – Chief of Training, 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, U.S. Air Force
Valeria Obi (B.S. Political Science ’10) – Staff Attorney, Midland Credit Management, Inc.
Carly Nasehi Ros (B.A. International Affairs ’09) – Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
2016
Max Haney (B.S. Social Science ‘12) – Commercial Insurance Consultant, Risk Management Insurance
Candace Lerman (B.S. International Affairs ’09; M.S. International Affairs ’10) – U.S. Corporate Attorney, Adheris Health
Danielle Quercia (B.S. Political Science ’07) – Director of Scheduling and Logistics, Office of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey
Jay Revell (B.S. Political Science ’09; M.S. MAAPP ’12) – President, Revell Media
Anisha Singh (B.A. Communication & Political Science ’09) – Campaign Manager, Center for American Progress
Zachary Sobeck (B.S. Economics ‘13) – Deputy Chief of Diplomatic Missions, United States Air Force
2015
Pradiip Alvarez (M.S. International Affairs ’14) – World Humanitarian Summit Project Assistant, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Nydia Counts (B.S. Political Science ’08) – Senior Managing Director, Teacher Leadership Development, Teach for America
Matthew Hauer (B.S. Social Science ’07; M.S. Demography ’08) – Applied Demographer, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
Sarah Mandell (B.S. Sociology and Political Science ’08) – Director of Research and Programming, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
Amber McIntyre (B.S. Political Science ’09) – Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Michael Molczyk (B.S. Geography and Social Science ’08) – Chief of Operation, Task Force Lethal, U.S. Army
Mark Neifeld (B.S. Communications and Social Science ’09) – Events Manager, Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium; General Manager, Ingress Events
2014
Carisa Champion-Lippmann (B.S. International Affairs ‘08) – 2013 American Osteopathic Association Presidential Memorial Leadership Award
Jacob Cremer (M.S. Urban & Regional Planning ’10) – Attorney, Smolker Bartlett Schlosser Loeb & Hinds, PA
Christopher LaPrade (B.A. International Affairs and Political Science ’07) – Manager of Global Affairs, The Society for Neuroscience
Hoyt L. Prindle III (B.S. Political Science ’07) – Assistant Vice President, Florida Business Development Corporation
2013
Natalie Binder (B.S. Political Science ’06) – Librarian, Jefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library
Ryan Duffy (B.S. Political Science ’06) – Communications Director, Florida House of Representatives
Juan Escalante (B.A. Political Science and International Affairs ’11; M.P.A. Public Administration ’15) – Digital Immigration Advocate
Dana Ford (B.S. Political Science ’08) – Foreign English Teacher, English First
Gregory LaManna (B.S. Political Science ’05) – Director of Product Development, WellCare Health Plans
Joe O’Shea (B.S. Social Science ‘08) – Assistant Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, FSU
Aakash Patel (B.A. Political Science ’06) – President, Elevate, Inc.
Garrett Schanck (B.S. Economics ’10) – CEO, COO & Treasurer, Stellar Recovery, Inc.
Kari Whaley Ramsey (B.S. Social Science ’08) – President and Co-Founder, Speaking of History, Inc.
2012
Junior Bernadin (B.A. International Affairs ’08) – Technology Manager, The Ron Clark Academy
Audrey Chisolm (B.A. International Affairs ‘04) – Partner/Attorney, Chisholm Law Firm, LLC
Dustin Daniels (B.A. International Affairs ’11; B.S. Economics ’11) – former Chief of Staff to former Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum
Matthew Gaetz (B.S. Social Science ‘03) – U.S. Representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district
Nelson Hernandez (B.A. Political Science and Economics ’07) – Council member, City of Miami Lakes
Garrett Johnson (B.S. Political Science ‘05) – Co-Founder and CEO, SendHub
Jared Lyon (B.S. Social Science ’11) – National Program Manager, Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University
Navarro Moore (M.A. International Affairs ’09) – Diplomat, U.S. Department of State
Stephanie Nisivoccia (B.S. International Affairs ’04; M.S. International Affairs ’06) – Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Ryan Powers (B.S. Social Science ’09) – Legislative Correspondent, Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
Seminole 100
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University’s College of Business, in partnership with the FSU Alumni Association and Ernst & Young, recognizes the fastest-growing U.S. businesses owned by Florida State alumni, who are responsible for some of the most innovative and profitable companies in America.