Florida State University will recognize 5 distinguished alumni of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy during the annual Alumni Awards event on Friday, Oct. 20, as FSU celebrates its 75th anniversary of homecoming this year.
For the first time, the FSU Alumni Awards will be a combined celebration of recipients of the Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni, Inspire, Circle of Gold, and the Bernard F. Sliger Awards.
“These incredible alumni inspire us, and it’s a joy to celebrate them during the 75th anniversary of FSU’s Homecoming,” said Julie Decker, president and CEO of the Alumni Association. “They represent the best and brightest of our alumni and demonstrate what is possible with a degree from Florida State University. Homecoming week reminds us of the wonderful traditions and fellowship that bind our hearts to Tallahassee. All alumni, students, parents, and friends are invited to join us, wherever you are, in celebrating this momentous occasion in FSU’s history.”
Alumni Awards – Friday, Oct. 20
The Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon young alumni by the FSU Alumni Association. The 2023 Askew Award honorees are Garit Poire, Amanda Schell, a COSSPP graduate, and Max Spanier.
Amanda Schell (B.S. Social Sciences ’17, M.S. ’18)
Amanda Schell, an alumna of COSSPP, specializes in applying machine learning models and other artificial intelligence algorithms to inform policymaker decision-making on national security issues. She has presented at conferences for foreign governments, national security practitioners, and technical specialists. Due to her transformative work, Schell has received multiple awards recognizing her exceptional analytic tradecraft, collaboration, innovation, and mission impact. She previously worked at the Florida Division of Emergency Management, where she served as the youngest Deputy Chief of Staff of a Florida state agency. Through her tenure, she supported the immediate statewide response and long-term recovery efforts to Hurricanes Michael, Irma, Matthew, and Hermine. Schell is actively engaged in her community as a Board Member for the Randy Roberts Foundation, Board Chair of Awesome Foundation DC, and Board Member for the Institute of Higher Awesome Studies.
The Inspire Award recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves as a leader in the industry and serve as an inspiration to students and young alumni. The 2023 Inspire Award recipient is COSSPP alumna, Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz.
Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz (B.S. Social Sciences ’97)
Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz is an attorney and partner at Holland & Knight, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. As the firmwide deputy section leader of the real estate section, she oversees their nationwide real estate practice, ensuring its seamless management and success. Diaz served as the past President of the Cuban American Bar Association and the Florida Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the Southern District. She is a volunteer who has served the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Beacon Council, Commercial Real Estate Women of Miami, and the Latin Builders Association. She serves Florida State University at the highest level as a member of the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the Real Estate Foundation board of directors.
The Circle of Gold recognizes those whose service and achievements personify Florida State University’s tradition of excellence. The 2023 Circle of Gold inductees include Maura Hayes and Fred Tresca, along with three COSSPP graduates, Jeanne Curtin, Kathy Mears, and Fred Flowers.
Jeanne Curtin (B.S. Political Science ’92, MBA ’99, J.D. ’01)
Jeanne Curtin is the Policy Chief of the Water Quality, Supply, and Treatment subcommittee for the Florida House of Representatives. She has held positions as Deputy General Counsel of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and Director of its Livable Florida initiative and in private practice. At FSU, she has served as Assistant Dean for Development and Professor of Legal Research and Writing, and Law Practice Management at the FSU College of Law. Curtin is the current Chair of the FSU Alumni Association national board of directors and serves on the College of Law’s board of visitors. She has twice served as a volunteer coach of the law school’s nationally recognized moot court team and as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Women for FSU. Committed to student success, she endowed a scholarship in honor of her late mother, the Roberta “Bobbie” Rusk Clark Endowment for Marching Chiefs, to support clarinetists. She and her husband, Larry, also established the Larry and Jeanne Curtin Endowed Scholarship in the College of Law to recruit top law students to FSU.
Fred Flowers (B.A. ’69, M.S. Social Sciences ’73)
Fred Flowers of Flowers Law LLC is an expert trial attorney who, for more than 40 years, has litigated hundreds of cases involving civil rights, personal injuries, wrongful deaths, wills, probate, and guardianship. He was notably the first African-American athlete to wear an FSU uniform. Flowers joined the varsity baseball team as a walk-on player and pitched under FSU Hall of Fame coach Fred Hatfield. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Flowers helped create the Black Student Union and was a founding member of the Chi Theta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the first African American Greek-letter organization at FSU. In 2004, he was immortalized in the iconic Integration Statue on FSU’s campus. Flowers has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1981 and has played an active role at Florida State, including establishing the FSU Civil Rights Institute.
Kathy Mears (B.S. Social Sciences ’03, MPA ’11)
Kathy Mears is the Assistant Commissioner for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. With a career spanning over 25 years in state government, she has held prominent roles in various offices, including the Florida House, Senate, and the Office of the Governor. Previously, Mears was the chief lobbyist for Florida State University, where she played a crucial role in securing record funding. She worked closely with President Emeritus John Thrasher and his leadership team to develop strategic legislative priorities and plans that she successfully implemented for three fiscal years. Mears’ involvement extended beyond governmental affairs. She is also involved in the Tallahassee community, serving on FSU Health’s transformational committee and as a member of the board of directors for Capital Health Plan.
For more information and to register to attend the FSU Alumni Awards, visit gonol.es/alumniawards.
The FSU Alumni Association works to create meaningful connections between alumni and Florida State University, strengthening the alumni network and supporting students on campus every day. All graduates of FSU are members of the FSU Alumni Association; no dues are required. Alumni are encouraged to stay connected through the Alumni Association’s career resources, networking opportunities, mentorship programs, travel benefits, and more. Learn more at alumni.fsu.edu.