The SPIA Alumni Speaker Series features an hour of conversation with leaders in business and public service who bring local and global perspectives on public policy and the most pressing issues of the day.

If you have questions about the speaker series events or a suggestion for a topic or speaker, please contact Ryan Leonard at [email protected].


The content and opinions expressed during events hosted by the School of Public & International events do not necessarily reflect the views of nor are they endorsed by the University of Georgia or the University System of Georgia.

PAST SPEAKERS
Watch past speaker series events »
  • Ambassador David Adelman (ABJ ’86)
    Partner, Reed Smith, LLP
  • Greg Bluestein (ABJ ’04, AB ’04)
    Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Carolyn Bourdeaux
    Former Congresswoman
  • Chris Carr (BBA ’95, JD ’99)
    Attorney General of Georgia
  • Jason Carter (JD ’04)
    Partner, Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore
    Former State Senator and Gubernatorial Candidate
  • Caroline Davis (MPA ’18)
    Economic Development Manager, City of Sandy Springs
  • Nick Fernandez (AB ’16)
    Senior Manager, Government Relations, Metro Atlanta Chamber
  • Amy Fletcher (MA ’91, PhD ’97)
    Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Canterbury
  • Jim Galloway (ABJ ’77)
    Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Tom Graves (BBA ’93)
    Former U.S. Representative
  • Audrey Haynes (ABJ ’87, MA ’91)
    Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor & Associate Professor of Political Science
    UGA School of Public & International Affairs
  • Scott Hilton
    Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, SouthState Bank
  • Kelly Loeffler
    Former U.S. Senator
  • Ryan Loke (AB ’16)
    Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Office of Governor Kemp
  • Nadgey Louis-Charles (BS ’14)
    Communications Director for Congressman Drew Ferguson
  • Joseph “Jack” Lumpkin
    Deputy COO of Public Safety, Dekalb County
  • Steve Mensch
    President/General Manager of Studio Operations, Tyler Perry Studios
  • Tia Mitchell
    Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Robin Pennington, PhD (BS ’85)
    Supervisory Mathematical Statistician, U.S. Census Bureau
  • Margaret Reams (MA ’84, PhD ’90)
    Joseph D. Martinez Professor of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University
  • Karen Remley, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAP
    Director, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
  • Ed Richardson
    Founder & Managing Partner, Atlanta Metro Studios & 404 Studio Partners
  • Deep Shah (AB ’08, AB ’08), MD, MSc
    Gwinnett Clinic VP/Primary Care Physician
    Director, NCBDDD, Center for Disease Control
  • Josh Stephens (BS ’09)
    Director, Policy & Government Affairs, Georgia Department of Economic Development
  • Chris Tomlinson
    Executive Director, State Road & Tollway Authority
    Executive Director, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
  • Tawny Waltz (AB ’10, MPA ’12)
    Manager of Operations and Emergency Management, Northside Hospital Gwinnett & Duluth
  • Pat Wilson (AB ’96)
    Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development
    Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Governor Kemp
  • Rob Woodall (JD’ 98)
    Former U.S. Representative