Alumni

Grady Greats panel at “The View” studios on Feb. 20, 2024, included moderator Deborah Roberts (ABJ ’82) and paneliets Will Carr (ABJ ’06), Mary Katharine Ham (ABJ ’02), Joseph Watson, Jr., Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communication, Michael Giarrusso (ABJ ’92) and Deborah Norville (ABJ ’79). Photo: ABC/ Lorenzo Bevilaqua

Alumni

Alumni

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Newsletter

More alumni in recent news:

Congratulations to Brynn Grant (ABJ ’91), Liberty County Development Authority’s CEO, on being named the USA Today Georgia Woman of the Year. (March 4, 2025)
Congratulations to Marie Hardin (PhD ’98), on being named the president of Quinnipiac University. (Jan. 31, 2025)
Congratulations to Michael Giarrusso (ABJ ’92), on his new role as vice president of news strategy for the Associated Press. (Jan. 29, 2025)
Congratulations to The Bitter Southerner and publisher Eric NeSmith (ABJ ’02) on receiving first place in the Canadian Printing Awards. The Bitter Southerner is printed in Canada.
Congratulations to Blake Bridges (ABJ ’97), on his promotion to president and general manager of WYFF-TV. (Oct. 21, 2024)
Congratulations to Jim Wallace (ABJ ’76) on his retirement from WALB News 10 after 47 years at the station! (July 2, 2024)
Congratulations to Andrew Huff (ABJ ’22), Stakeholder Engagement Communication Manager at Georgia Power Company, on graduating from Leadership DeKalb. (June 24, 2024)
We send our condolences to the family of Martha Ezzard (ABJ ’60), on her recent death. Ezzard was a former state senator in Colorado and served on the editorial Board of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Her obituary can be read here. (Nov. 6, 2023)
We send our condolences to the family of Jim Wooten (ABJ ’68) on his recent death. Wooten was a Grady Fellow from the 2008 class and served as an editor and political columnist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. A remembrance from the AJC can be read here. (Nov. 1, 2023)
Congratulations to Gordon Green (ABJ ’78) on his induction into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Circle, representing 50 years in the Video business tonight. Green is a corporate marketing video lead at NetApp.
We send our condolences to the family of Jonathan Gallo (ABJ ’99) on his recent death. Gallo received our Young Alumni Award in 2007. His obituary can be read here.
We send our condolences to the family of Joshua Jones (ABJ ’08) regarding his recent death. Jones graduated from Grady College with a degree in Public Relations and was an award-winning public relations and public affairs practitioner. His obituary can be read here.
Congratulations to Edward DeMarco (MA ’88) on wining a Nautilus Book Award for his memoir about Ethiopia, “Last Days in Naked Valley.” (June 1, 2023)
Congratulations to Sam Dick (ABJ ’78), a longtime anchor for WKYT, on being named to the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Jenn Sloan (ABJ ’86) on her promotion to senior vice president, public policy and stakeholder engagement for Mastercard.
Congratulations to Rebecca Hannan (ABJ ’11), senior manager of creative strategy and content at Coca-Cola, on being named by Insider Business as one of the 26 Rising Stars in Marketing for 2023.
It is with sadness that we recognize the death of William ‘Ort’ Carlton (ABJ ’79), a DJ, record collector, raconteur and beloved Athens local.
Congratulations to Casey Bruce-White (ABJ ’11), who has been named to a list of Top Women Leaders in Miami.
Congratulations to Ryan Reece (MFA ’16), whose film “Illation” has won more than 20 recognitions from film festivals including “Best Short Screenplay” from the Hollywood Script Awards. Reece teaches Intro to Screenwriting @DaltonState. Watch the film: vimeo.com/735107273
Congratulations to Pastor Nawanna Miller (ABJ ’73), founder of Pamoja arts group on campus, on the 52nd anniversary of the start of the group. Read her interview with the Red & Black. (Dec. 5, 2022)
Congratulations to Ashlea Harris (MA ’03) on being named the global head of client services, SMB, at Tik Tok. (Oct. 27, 2022)
Congratulations to Adam Fouche (ABJ ’02) on being named director of the University of Georgia’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Insurance and Claims Management.
Congratulations to Ed Nichols (ABJ ’62) on publishing his new book, “The Boy In The Book,” a collection of new prose poems and flash fiction.
Congratulations to David Kramer (ABJ ’90) on being named president of United Talent Agency.
We send our heart-felt condolences to the family of Patrick Lee (ABJ ’13) on his recent death. Lee graduated from Grady College with a degree in public relations and was a cloud security specialist with Barracuda Networks. His obituary can be read here.
Congratulations Charles Hicks (ABJ ’13) on winning the Wells-Graham Award for Outstanding Service. The honor goes to one Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, attorney or staff member who goes above and beyond in their dedication to serving the community.
A big shout-out to TJ Adeshola (MA ’08), named an inductee of the Advertising Hall of Achievement by the American Advertising Federation. Adeshola is the head of global partnerships at Twitter. (Aug. 12, 2022)
Congratulations to Nancy Elder (ABJ ’88) on being named the New York Mets’ chief communications officer. (July 14, 2022)
Condolences go to the family of Creg Smith (ABJ ’70) on his recent death. His obituary can be read here. (July 5, 2022)
Congratulations to Brent Hyams (ABJ ’94 ) on his new position as general manager of Cannery Row, a performing arts space in Nashville. (May 27, 2022)
Congratulations to Stacy Willingham (ABJ ’13), whose first novel, A Flicker in the Dark, landed on the New York Times Bestseller list. Read here for a profile by the UGA Alumni Association. (May 19, 2022)
Congratulations to Pam Avery (ABJ ’72) on the release of her new book, The Tanner Side of Town. (May 10, 2022)
Congratulations Alex Urban (MA ’12) on being named executive director of the TOUR Championship.
It is with sadness that we recognize the death of Connie Ward. Ward served in a variety of communications roles, including Jimmy Carter’s gubernatorial campaign teams and later on the nation’s first State Film Commission.
Congratulations Cal Massey (ABJ ’78) on the publication of his first novel, “Own Little Words.” The book won an award from the Journal of Experimental Fiction in Chicago. Massey said: “I wanted to let you know that my love of writing and respect for journalism as necessary, important work was discovered and nurtured at UGA. A 65-year-old first time novelist remains in love with words.” (April 15, 2022)
Our condolences to the family of former Grady professor James Aldridge (ABJ ’60, MA ’62) who passed away March 26, 2022.
Congratulations, Katie Barlow (ABJ ’11), who was named chief legal correspondent for WTTG Washington.

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Update

Notable Alumni

Grady College alumni are working in all aspects of the media and include Pulitzer Prize, Emmy and Peabody Award winners. A sampling of our notable alumni include:

“The biggest thing I remember about the school is the willingness of everyone to make you be your best self. I had wonderful professors who pushed you as hard as they could, but they also loved you and let you know you could accomplish any of your goals if you put in the hard work and effort.”

Maria Taylor

ABJ ’09, MBA ’13 Host for NBC sports and “Football Night in America”

“The view of the world that I developed and refined as a student at UGA helped me become a successful journalist and person.”

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

ABJ ’63 Award-winning journalist

“My career ultimately evolved into a different realm of storytelling, filmmaking, but journalism is something I revere. This is why I am so encouraged today to see young people again being galvanized by the news of our time.”

Bonnie Arnold

ABJ ’77 Former president DreamWorks Animation

“The thing that keeps pulling me back to UGA is the Grady College. I remember sitting in those desks. I love speaking to the kids, and I think that’s part of the responsibility that goes with having a long career in journalism. You want to share the experience with the next generation of broadcasters and raise up that next wave of journalists, especially at the University of Georgia.”

Ernie Johnson

ABJ ’78 Host of “Inside the NBA”

“I want to inspire another kid…who might be dreaming of doing big things but may not even think it’s possible, and I want to give that kid a possibility of great success.”

Deborah Roberts

(ABJ ’82) Co-Host, 20/20; ABC News National Sr. Affairs Correspondent

“Professor James Biddle taught me how to make movies in his Advanced Production class. More than any single piece of advice, I remember learning from him that what seemed impossible was always, in fact, achievable. He demystified the technical filmmaking process, and vanquished my assumption that this wasn’t a viable career path.”

Michael Waldron

ABJ ’10 Creator of “Loki”

“The thing about fiction is that it is always rooted in the truth, and the skills I learned at Grady and the Red & Black, which was my learning lab, I learned to ask important questions…and follow up questions.”

Kathy Trocheck

(ABJ ’76), aka Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times best selling author of more than 20 books

“Take what you have learned at UGA into the world. Carry it with you and put it to great and powerful use.”

David Kramer

(ABJ ’90), co-president of United Talent Agency

Brooke Anderson

(ABJ ’00)

Correspondent, Entertainment Tonight

Bonnie Arnold

(ABJ ’77)

President of DreamWorks Animation

Jack Avrett

(ABJ ’50, deceased)

Chairman of Avrett, Free, and Ginsberg, New York. Former Chairman of the American Advertising Federation

Joel Babbit

(ABJ ’76)

Co-founder and CEO, Mother Nature Network

Danny Beard

(ABJ ’74)

Music producer, member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Dennis Berry

(ABJ ’66)

Former President and COO, Cox Enterprises

Deborah Blum

(ABJ ’77)

Pulitzer Prize winning science writer

Ernest Camp, Jr.

(ABJ ’27, deceased)

Founder of the Society of Professional Journalists

Chip Caray

(ABJ ’87)

Sports broadcaster, Foxs Sports South

Maxine Kasselman Clark

(ABJ ’71)

Founder and former CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop

Cathy Cox

(ABJ ’80)

Dean of Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law and former Secretary of State of Georgia

Jackie Crosby

(ABJ ’83)

Winner of a 1985 Pulitzer Prize for their examination of academics and athletics

Donald A. Davis

(ABJ ’62)

Former UPI reporter and White House correspondent. New York Times bestselling author

Steve Dorff

(ABJ ’71)

Award-winning songwriter and music producer

Tom Dowden

(ABJ ’62, MA ’64)

Founder and CEO of Dowden Communications

Lee Duffey, Jr., and Jenny Neal Duffey

(ABJ ’76)

Founders of Atlanta-based Duffey Communications

Justin Gillis

(ABJ ’82)

Climate change science reporter, New York Times

Amy Glennon

(ABJ ’90)

First female publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2012-2016), publisher vertical businesses – Cox Media Group

Lewis Grizzard

(’84, deceased)

Best-selling author, humorist and syndicated newspaper columnist

Brenda Hampton

(ABJ ’72)

Creator and executive producer, “7th Heaven” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”

Krista Harden

(ABJ ’81)

Former deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture

John Holliman

(ABJ ’70, deceased)

War correspondent, CNN

Lisa Ryan Howard

(ABJ ’92)

Senior vice president of advertising, New York Times

Betty Hudson

(ABJ ’71)

Senior vice president of communications at National Geographic Society. Former senior vice president of NBC

Charlayne Hunter-Gault

(ABJ ’63)

Peabody Award winning journalist for PBS, CNN & NPR, one of two students to integrate UGA in 1961

Josh Jackson

(ABJ ’94)

Co-founder/editor of “Paste” music magazine

Tom Johnson

(ABJ ’63)

Retired chairman, CNN

Ernie Johnson, Jr.

(ABJ ’78)

Host, “The NBA on TNT”

Randy Jones

(ABJ ’77)

CEO, Capital Publishing Inc. and founder of Worth magazine

John Kasay

(ABJ ’94)

Retired NFL player, Carolina Panthers

Ashley Kohler

(ABJ ’96)

President and executive producer, Awesome Incorporated

David Kramer

(ABJ ’90)

Co-president of United Talent Agency

Jason Kreher

(ABJ ’00)

Creative director, Wieden + Kennedy

Earl Leonard

(ABJ ’58)

Former senior vice president for public affairs for the Coca-Cola Company

Tim Mapes

(ABJ ’86)

Senior vice president of marketing for Delta Airlines

Dan Magill

(ABJ ’42, deceased)

Sports information director, head tennis coach at UGA, retired

Gene Methvin

(ABJ ’55, deceased)

Former senior editor, Reader’s Digest

Hala Moddelmog

(ABJ ’81)

CEO, President and CEO, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Julie Moran

(ABJ ’84)

Host, “Mission Makeover” (Lifetime)

Powell Moore

(ABJ ’59, deceased)

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs

William S. (Billy) Morris III

(ABJ ’56)

Chairman and CEO, Morris Communications Company

Chad Mumm

(ABJ ’08)

Creative director, Vox Media; founder, Vox Entertainment

Dink NeSmith

(ABJ ’70)

President of Community Newspapers

Deborah Norville

(ABJ ’79)

Host, “Inside Edition”

Steve Oney

(ABJ ’79)

Los Angeles-based writer/author

Eugene Patterson

(ABJ ’43, deceased)

Editor Washington Post, St. Petersburg Times, Pulitzer Prize 1967

Don Perry

(ABJ ’74, deceased)

Vice-president of public relations, Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Edwin Pope

(ABJ ’48, deceased)

Long time sports columnist, Miami Herald

Deborah Roberts

(ABJ ’82)

ABC News

Randall Savage

(ABJ ’72)

Winner of a 1985 Pulitzer Prize for their examination of academics and athletics

Mark Schlabach

(ABJ ’96)

Reporter and correspondent, ESPN and New York Times best-selling author

Meredith Seacrest

(ABJ ’03)

Executive director and COO, Ryan Seacrest Foundation

Loran Smith

(ABJ ’62)

Columnist and broadcaster for the Georgia Bulldogs