The mission of the SPIA Alumni Board of Directors is to serve students and graduates of SPIA through its support of the School’s programs and activities in order to cultivate and encourage a continuing affiliation between and among graduates and the School.
The Board serves in a variety of ways, working on committees to host annual fundraising events like the Georgia Legislative Outlook, Federal Policy Outlook Series and Alumni Speaker Series which raise money for undergraduate study abroad scholarships, MPA student support, and additional funding priorities set annually by the dean. Alumni Board members are committed to participating in the UGA Mentor Program and some also serve on a mentoring committee to further connect alumni to students. The timeline for the 2022-2025 application process is tentatively as follows:
2022 SPIA Alumni Board of Directors Bylaws
To learn more about this organization or to get involved, contact Board Chair Wells Ellenberg.
Kevin Abernathy (AB ’99)
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Office Middle District of Georgia
Francesca Amodeo (AB ’13)
Press Secretary
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen
Shallum Atkinson (AB ’17, ABJ ’17)
Senior Policy Advisor
Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney
Alex Baker (AB ’07)
Manager
Location Investment Services at EY
Betsy Bradfield (AB ’17)
Political Affairs Manager
Georgia Association of REALTORS
Leanna Brown (AB ’10, MIP ’12)
Director of Government Affairs
Metro Atlanta Chamber
Clayton Cox (AB ’10)
Vice President of Federal Affairs
McGuireWoods Consulting
David Dove (AB ’09, JD’ 14), Vice-Chair
Executive Counsel
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
Jaren Dunning (MPA ’13, JD ’13)
Senior Counsel
Global Human Rights & Employment Law, PepsiCo
Wells Ellenberg (AB ‘13), Chair
Director of Governmental Affairs
Southern Company
Houston Gaines (AB ’17)
Affairs Client Advisor
Cannon Financial Institute
Vivian Greentree (ABJ ’00, AB ’01)
Senior Vice President
Head of Global Corporate Citizenship, Fiserv
Scott Haggard (ABJ ’94, AB ’95)
Director of Government & External Affairs
ATL Transit Authority/State Road and Tollway Authority
Caulder Harvill-Childs (AB ’12)
Senior Consultant
Deloitte Consulting
Rebecca Howell (AB ’13)
Senior Director
America Rising
Josh Kivett (AB ’95)
Senior National Strategist
Majority Strategies
Jordan Layson (AB ’09), DC Liaison
Director, U.S. Government Affairs
Amgen
Larissa Martinez (AB ’04, AB ’04)
President/Co-Founder
Women’s Public Leadership Network
Taylor Murray (AB ’17)
Manager-Locations and Incentives Analysis
Maxis Advisors
Ronnie Kurtz (AB ’15, MPA ’15)
Director of Planning and Community Development
City of Grovetown, Georgia
Hadas Peles (AB ’09)
Manager
Jamestown, LP
Tyler Reinagel (MPA ’09, PhD ’09)
Associate Vice President for Economic Development
Kennesaw State University
Miller Robinson (AB ’16)
Legislative Assistant
Congressman Drew Ferguson
Wes Robinson (AB ’12), Secretary/Treasurer
Senior Director, State Affairs
American Chemistry Council
Jessica Simmons (AB ’10)
Deputy CIO for Broadband and Special Projects
Georgia Technology Authority
Michael “Sully” Sullivan (AB ’97)
President & CEO
ACEC Georgia
Casey Tanner (MPA ’19)
Executive Director of Government Relations
University System of Georgia
Grant Thomas (AB ’15, MBA ’20)
Director of Health Strategy and Coordination
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
Meg Turlington (AB ’09)
Associate County Attorney
Montgomery County, MD
Rob Underwood (AB ’06)
President
Energy Marketers of America
Sean Walker (MPA ’18)
Senior Director, Development
Semper Fi and America’s Fund