On July 1, the Georgia State University Alumni Association welcomed a new slate of officers and seven new members to its Board of Directors. These directors and officers were selected for their commitment to advancing the association’s mission of fostering meaningful connections and enriching the lives of Georgia State alumni and students.

“Our new officers bring a valuable array of expertise, viewpoints and experiences to the Alumni Association leadership, and their passion and dedication to Georgia State will truly enhance its role in the university community,” said Renee Bazemore, interim associate vice president of advancement for alumni engagement and interim executive director of the Georgia State University Alumni Association. “We’re also so pleased to welcome our seven impressive new directors and look forward to the meaningful connections and contributions they make to boost students and Panther professionals.”

With two-year terms that started July 1, the new officers of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are:

● Denise Kennedy (B.A. ՚06, M.A. ՚14), chair – Most recently the senior talent and development specialist for Piedmont Healthcare, Denise Kennedy has over a decade of experience in corporate training, labor analytics and talent strategy. Within the Georgia State community, Kennedy served as president of the Young Alumni Council.

● Bryant Springer (B.B.A. ՚96), vice chair – Retired from a career spanning 40 years —including nearly three decades of service in the U.S. Army, during which he gained extensive leadership experience — Bryant Springer brings research and technology expertise gained from his various roles as program manager and program director for Microsoft, Alion Science and Technology, and Georgia Tech Research Institute. In addition to his involvement with the Georgia State Alumni Association, Springer is also a member of the board of directors for the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership.

● Suman Gera (B.B.A. ՚82), treasurer – Suman Gera is an accomplished commercial real estate investment management leader. Throughout her career, Gera has served on a variety of investment committees, formed and served on operations committees, and served on over 10 global J.V. and fund advisory boards. She also serves as a member of the GSU Honorary Real Estate Advisory Board.

The following alumni joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2025:

● Charleata Battle (M.B.A. ՚12, D.B.A. ՚22), assistant professor of healthcare management, California State University, Los Angeles

● Latoya M. Byrd (B.S. ՚11, M.Ed. ՚14, Ed.D. ՚20), senior vice president of client and partner success, Illustrative Mathematics

● Odie A. Donald II (B.A. ՚03, M.B.A. ՚12), chief of staff to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

● Byron Fitch (B.B.A. ՚06), strategic consulting director, Georgia Institute of Technology

● Kiara Maddox (Dr.P.H. ՚23), health scientist and program coordinator, CDC Division of Workforce Development

● Frederico Rowe (M.Ed. ՚05), executive administrator of schools, DeKalb County School District

● Tiffany Wills (B.A. ՚08), vice president of real estate development and strategic initiatives, Decide DeKalb Development Authority

Learn about the work of the Georgia State Alumni Association and how it is serving the university community at alumni.gsu.edu. Explore the many ways Georgia State supporters are making a meaningful difference at giving.gsu.edu.