Each year, the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy presents its Distinguished Alumni Award for professional achievements, contributions to society and support of the college and university.
This year the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy announced the recipients of its Distinguished Alumni Awards, given to four exceptional graduates for their professional achievements, contributions to society, and support of the college and university.
The honorees — John E. Dailey, Renisha Gibbs, Vincent S. Long, and Kathy Mears — will be honored during the College’s Distinguished Alumni Gala in Spring 2025.
“This year’s cohort of Distinguished Alumni in the College highlights the immense impact of our graduates in the fields of public service and higher education,” said Dean Tim Chapin. “Each of these individuals are true leaders, bringing the skills and knowledge they learned as students to the work they do to make Tallahassee, Leon County, the State of Florida, and Florida State University the best they can be.”
John E. Dailey
B.S. Political Science ’96 & Master of Public Administration ’99
Mayor Dailey has dedicated his professional life to building strong, vibrant communities. He has had public service in his sights his entire life.
As the son of Dr. John Scott Dailey, the former executive director of the Florida Institute of Government and a former two-term Leon County School Board member, John Dailey could not have had a better role model to learn the value of just how effective quality leadership in government can be for our community.
He began his professional career working for the Florida League of Cities, representing over 400 municipal governments before the Florida Legislature and Administration. He also represented municipal governments across the nation before the U.S. Congress and Administration while working for the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C.
Dailey received his bachelor’s degree in political science from FSU, where he served as president of the Student Government Association. He received his first master’s degree in public administration from FSU, and went on to receive a second master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the London School of Economics while serving as an aide to Roger Casale (Labour – Wimbledon) in the British Parliament.
He returned to Tallahassee in 2005 and founded JDA Strategies, a research and development consulting firm focused on local governance. In 2006, he was elected to the Leon County Commission by the citizens of District Three and was re-elected twice without opposition. He served as chairman of the Leon County Commission twice (2010-2011 & 2016-2017). Dailey is a graduate of both Leadership Tallahassee and Leadership Florida.
John Dailey was elected mayor of the City of Tallahassee in 2018. He and his wife Virginia have two young boys, Tommy and Henry.
“I am honored to be become a member of the COSSPP Distinguished Alumni Class of 2024. I would not be where I am today if not for the professors that provided me with such an outstanding education. They inspired me to become a public servant and taught me the importance of giving back to the community.”
Renisha Gibbs
B.S. Sociology ’99
Renisha Gibbs is a human resources executive with over 25 years of experience in public sector human resources.
During her 21-year career with FSU, Gibbs has held several positions within the FSU Office of Human Resources, including assistant director of employee and labor relations, director of equal opportunity and diversity, and director of employee and labor relations before being appointed associate vice president for human resources and finance and administration chief of staff in 2014.
As associate vice president for human resources and the finance and administration chief of staff, Gibbs leads a team of 70 professionals in managing the human resources function for approximately 10,000 university employees.
Her team is responsible for the entire employee life cycle, including hiring, training, compensation, labor relations, employee relations, equal employment opportunity, and retirement. Gibbs also serves as chief negotiator for all university labor contracts and provides leadership to the Division of Finance and Administration as chief of staff.
She is a key consultant to faculty, staff, and students, as appropriate, throughout all levels of the university’s community and represents the university’s interests in community activities, regulatory agencies, and professional associations. Gibbs’ concentration areas include employee and labor relations, performance management, equal employment opportunity, and HR legal compliance.
A first-generation college student, Gibbs earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida State University and her master’s degree in human resources management from Troy University. She is actively involved in her community through her work with the Tallahassee Urban League, Pace Center for Girls-Leon, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In 2018, Renisha was named “Outstanding Administrator” by the FSU Black Alumni Association, and in 2019, she was recognized as one of the “25 Women You Need to Know” by the Tallahassee Democrat.
“I am honored to receive this recognition. My time in FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy provided me with a multifaceted lens to understand and better serve employees. This foundation has been crucial to my success in leadership and advocacy at FSU. I hope to give back to future generations by providing visionary leadership and instituting policies and best practices that will benefit employees at my beloved alma mater for many years to come.”
Vincent S. Long
B.S. Criminology ’93 & Master of Public Administration ’96
Vince Long is the county administrator of Leon County, FL, which is home to the state’s capital, two major universities, and is the largest county in the metropolitan area. A highly respected CEO in local government with a proven track record of success and stability, he is recognized internationally as a leader in the profession. In 2022, he was awarded the International City/County Manager’s Association Award for Career Excellence, the top worldwide honor for a local government CEO. Known for his fiscal, strategic, and operational expertise in a uniquely challenging field, Long is a transformational leader who instills a high-performing organizational culture focused on innovation, accountability, and co-creation.
Over his almost 30-year career, he has demonstrated a steady hand in managing historic crises, implementing generational projects, and consistently setting the standard in the practice of good governance and public service. A superior communicator with outstanding interpersonal and analytical skills, he has demonstrated an uncommon ability to maintain the highest confidence of elected officials, the commitment of staff, and the trust of citizens and community partners while effectively dealing with the complex management issues of large organizations, as well as the often inherently divisive issues of public policy.
He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from FSU’s Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and is a graduate of the Harvard University, JFK School of Government Institute for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. He is a credentialed manager by the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and is a past president of the Florida Association of County Managers (FACM). He sits on the Board of Directors of the Florida Local Government Investment Trust (Florida Trust), the Institute for County Government (ICG), and the Advisory Board for the Askew School where he is also a former adjunct professor and continues to lecture regularly. He is a long-time speaker and trainer with the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and is a graduate of both Leadership Florida and Leadership Tallahassee. He has also authored numerous articles published in national professional publications and is a highly sought-after speaker on topics of leadership and management and an expert source on local government issues who has been featured in national news outlets and publications, including CNN, NPR, The Weather Channel, Forbes, Axios, The Hill, Politico, NBC News, The Washington Post, CBS News, Salon, The Daily Mail, Florida Trend, and others. His work was also featured by New York Times Best Selling Author, Peter Kageyama, in his book, Love Where You Live. Most importantly, Vince and his wife Julann are the proud parents of three children Kellen, Jack, and Riley.
“I am deeply grateful, not only to receive this award, but for the tremendous influence of FSU and COSSPP in shaping my career and enriching my life. You have given me professors who became trusted mentors, classmates who became lifelong colleagues, students who became brilliant collaborators, and a campus that became a laboratory for public policy and an incubator for the next generation of professionals. On top of all that, you gave me my incredible wife, whom I met in my undergraduate studies, and subsequently three amazing children who all became Noles! Indeed, I attribute my career success, and so much more, to the FSU and COSSPP community – to which I am eternally indebted.”
Kathy J. Mears
B.S. Social Science ’03 & Master of Public Administration ’11
Kathy Mears is the assistant commissioner of agriculture for the State of Florida. She has over 25 years of state government service, including three terms as chief of staff in the Florida Legislature, and a term as the deputy chief of staff for the governor. Additionally, she worked as the chief legislative affairs officer at Florida State University and as the vice president of a public relations firm in Tallahassee.
Mears is the highest-ranked staff member for the Commissioner of Agriculture, one of the four independently elected Florida cabinet officers. Agriculture is a $180 billion industry in the state of Florida and is second only to tourism in economic revenue, supporting more than 2.5 million jobs. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services oversees 20 divisions and offices, including the Energy Office, Agricultural Water Policy, Florida Forest Service, Agriculture Environmental Services, and the one-billion-dollar school nutrition program. The department has over 3,700 full-time employees and a total budget of over $2 billion.
Mears is a first-generation college graduate. She started her higher education journey well into adulthood, working full-time while earning two degrees at Florida State University. She credits her education at FSU for her rise in the ranks of state government. “I received a well-rounded academic and practitioner experience at Florida State. The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has a mix of high-quality scholars and talented professionals who work in the halls of the Florida Capitol. I love returning to the campus to speak to students and connect them with job opportunities at the Capitol because they are some of the best new team members we can hire. To receive this award from Florida State University is so meaningful to me because of my love and dedication to my alma mater.”
Mears earned her bachelor’s in sociology, graduating summa cum laude, and her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Florida State University.
Mears is involved in the Tallahassee community, currently serving as a board member for Capital Health Plan and as a member of the FSU Health/TMH Transition Committee. She has been recognized four times as a top political influencer by Florida Politics. Last year, she received the 2023 Above and Beyond Award, recognizing women in government and public service, and was inducted into the Florida State University Circle of Gold.
Mears and her husband, a triple-degreed FSU Nole, reside in Tallahassee with their two adorable rescue dogs.
Previous Honorees
2023: Mark P Barnebey, J.D. (B.S. Finance ’78; M.S. Urban and Regional Planning ’83; J.D. FSU College of Law ’83), a benefactor of Florida State University’s state-of-the-art Mark & Marianne Barnebey Planning & Development Lab, which with their support has become a nationally recognized resource connecting our students and faculty with public and private partners to provide capacity and innovative planning for the sustainable growth and long-term viability of Florida communities; Doby L. Flowers (B.S. Social Work ’71; M.S. Urban & Regional Planning ’73), Florida State’s first black Homecoming Queen and a co-founder of Florida State’s Civil Rights Institute; Fred H. Flowers, J.D. (B.A. Philosophy ’69; M.S. Urban & Regional Planning ’73), the first African American athlete to wear an FSU uniform and a founding member of the first African American Greek-letter organization on campus, the Chi Theta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity; Thomas M. Henderson (B.S. Political Science ’74), a previous journalist for several Florida newspapers and United Press International and for the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.
2022: Cecelia Bonifay, J.D. (B.A. ‘71 Political Science, M.S.P. ‘73 Urban and Regional Planning, J.D. ’84 FSU College of Law), chair of Akerman’s Land Use and Development Practice, helps developers navigate the governmental approval process for their real estate projects; Daniel M. Gropper, Ph.D. (M.S. ’85 & Ph.D. ’89, Economics) has served as Dean of the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University since July 2013; Jimmy Patronis (B.A. ‘96 Political Science) serves as the State of Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, State Fire Marshal, and a member of the Florida Cabinet; Nigel Parkinson, Sr. (M.S.P.A. ’75, Public Administration and Management) is President and CEO of Parkinson Construction Company, the oldest and largest African American owned, self-preforming construction company in the Washington metropolitan area.
2021: Dan Berger (B.S. ’89 Economics), president and CEO of the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions; Rosemary Magee, Ph.D. (B.A. ’73 Sociology), an accomplished higher education professional who has served in a variety of capacities at Emory University, including as faculty, dean, director and vice-president; Mel Martinez (B.A. ’69 International Affairs), Chairman of the Southeast U.S. and Latin America for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Former Senator and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Karen Rasler, Ph.D. (M.S. ’77, Ph.D. ’81 Political Science), a dedicated academician with decades of research and teaching at major universities throughout the U.S.
2020: Jeff Butler (B.S. ’95 Interdisciplinary Social Science), entrepreneur and senior executive in the healthcare and technology industries; Jorge Gonzalez (B.S. ’87 Political Science, M.S.P. ’89 Urban and Regional Planning), real estate professional and CEO of St. Joe Company; Robert Hummer (M.S. ’90, Ph.D. ’93 Sociology), distinguished professor of sociology at UNC and acclaimed scholar of population health and mortality patterns and trends; Angela Riley Santone (B.S. ’93 Sociology); Angela Riley Santone (B.S. ’93 Sociology), Senior Executive Vice President for Human Resources at AT&T
2019: William Desvousges (M.S. ’74, Ph.D. ’77 Economics), natural resource damage assessment specialist; Joyce Godwin (B.A. ’65 Political Science), philanthropist and corporate/nonprofit/education board member and consultant; Patrick D. Sargent (B.S. ’85 Political Science), commander of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence
2018: Eric Reading (B.S. ’92, M.S. 93 International Affairs): Executive Vice President of Chemonics International development firm
2017: Marshall Cohn (B.S. Economics, Social Sciences ’81): Founder of real estate firm The Dunhill Companies; teaching assistant for online MBA classes at FSU in real estate finance and valuation; sponsor of the university’s annual Real Estate Trends Conference; Florida State University Real Estate Network Award in 2014
2016: Susan MacManus (B.A. Political Science ’68, Ph.D. Political Science ’75): Distinguished Professor, Department of Government and International Affairs, University of South Florida; political expert for state and national media
2015: Ed Moore (M.P.A. Public Administration ’76, Ph.D. Public Administration ’07): President, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida; former president and CEO, James Madison Institute; former executive director, Broward County Community Mental Health Board; Fulbright SpecialistFlorida Advisory Council for U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
2014: Gordon Gaster (B.S. Economics ’58): Financial consultant, Florida State University Foundation trustee and vice chair, FSU Alumni Association president, founder of the Gordon D. Gaster Endowment Fund supporting the Gus Stavros Center for Economic Education and its Economic Literacy Initiative, 2010 Circle of Gold honoree
2013: Mark Ellis (B.A. Economics ’79): Executive Director of International Bar Association, director of American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative, Fulbright Scholar, media commentator, author
2012: Stephen Lawry (B.S. Political Science ’73, M.S.P. Urban and Regional Planning ’75): Global Practice Lead for Land Tenure and Property Rights at consulting group Development Alternatives, Inc., president Antioch College, associate director for Africa programs at University of Wisconsin Land Tenure Center, director Ford Foundation Office of Management Services
2011: Lettie Bien (B.S. Political Science ’76): Retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, Senior Adviser to Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals, South Florida Area Coordinator for Admissions at West Point, recipient of Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2010: Harry Lerner (B.S. Economics ’82, M.S.P. Urban and Regional Planning ’84): President of Maxcy Development Group, Inc., member of Association of Florida Community Developers and Urban Land Institute, City of Jacksonville planner, planning project manager for private firms
2009: Victor Holcomb (B.S. Economics ’76): Senior principal Holcomb & Mayts law firm, trustee Kaul Foundation; and John Holcomb (B.S. Political Science ’77): Partner with Hill, Ward, & Henderson law firm, National President of American Board of Trial Advocates, trustee Kaul Foundation
2008: Clyda S. Rent (B.A. Sociology ’64, M.S. Sociology ’66, Ph.D. Sociology ’68): President Emerita of Mississippi University for Women; and George Rent (Ph.D. Sociology ’68): Associate Provost at Mississippi State University; faculty at University of North Carolina at Charlotte; consultant to U.S. Office of Higher Education, National Science Foundation, and United Family Services
2007: Laird Anderson (B.S. International Affairs ’58): Professor Emeritus of Journalism, School of Communication, American University; retired Colonel, US Army Reserves; reporter for Wall Street Journal, Chicago and Washington bureaus; Tallahassee bureau chief, Miami News and Palm Beach Times; international lecturer U.S. State Department
2006: Thomas M. Culligan (B.S. Political Science ’73, M.P.A. Public Administration ’77), M.S. Public Administration): Executive Vice President of Business Development for Raytheon Company, CEO of Raytheon International, Inc.
2005: Janice Kaminis Platt (B.S. Political Science ’58): Hillsborough County Commissioner
2004: Mark Filteau (M.S.P. Urban and Regional Planning ’76): President, Facilities Division, Johnson Controls
2003: Manuel H. Johnson (M.S. Economics ’75, Ph.D. Economics ’77): Senior Partner Johnson Smick International; Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (1982-86); vice chair Board of Governors of Federal Reserve System (1986-90);
2002: Carl Blackwell (B.S. Education ’58, M.S. Political Science ’59): Interim Chancellor of Florida Board of Education, Associate Vice Chancellor of of Planning and Budgeting of Florida Board of Regents, Associate State Budget Director and Chief of Bureau of Budgeting in Department of Administration
2001: Barbara W. White (Ph.D. Political Science ’86): Dean of School of Social Work,University of Texas (Austin); Associate Dean School of Social Work, Florida State University
2000: Alan Sundberg (B.S. Political Science ’55): Florida Supreme Court Justice 1975-1982, Chief Justice 1980-82.
1999: Arnold Greenfield (B.S. Social Sciences ’58): Investment banker, managing director of Lehman Brothers, Chair of Florida Preservation Advisory Council
1998: Barby Barone (B.S. Political Science ’69, M.S. Political Science ’70): Founder of Biltmore Advisers Inc., strategic investment management and financial planning
1997: Melvin Magidson (B.S. Economics ’48, M.S. Economics ’49): President and CEO of MCM Financial Corp.; and Lynda Keever (B.S. Political Science ’69): Publisher of Florida Trend magazine; board member of Florida Chamber of Commerce, Leroy Collins Center, Florida Education Foundation, Florida Council on Economic Education; Board of Trustees Florida State University and Leadership Florida
1996: Peter F. Romero (M.A. International Affairs ’72): CEO Experior Advisory, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, Assistant Secretary of State of Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau, Chief of Mission for U.S. Embassy in San Salvador
1995: James Ammons (M.S. Political Science ’75, Ph.D. Political Science ’77): President of Florida A&M University, Chancellor of North Carolina Central University
1994: Alan Bayer (M.S. Sociology ’63, Ph.D. Sociology ’65): Professor Emeritus Virgina Tech; and Reuben O’D. Askew (B.S. Public Administration ’51): 37th Governor of Florida (1971-79)
1993: Parris Glendening (B.A. Political Science ’64, M.A. Political Science ’65, Ph.D. Political Science ’67): 59th Governor of Maryland
1992: David Coburn (B.S. Political Science ’73, M.S.P. Urban and Regional Planning ’77): Chief of staff in Florida House and Senate; staff director of Senate Rules Committee, Senate Ways and Means Committee, House Appropriations Committee