NEW ORLEANS – Xavier University of Louisiana announced its 2015 Class of 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Awardees.
These recipients, who were selected from among 150 candidates, have demonstrated significant accomplishments before the age of 40 in arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service or government.
“Xavier alumni have always excelled in their chosen professions, but the number of alumni 40 and under that are making significant contributions to their career field and the community is awe-inspiring,” said Kimberly Reese, Xavier University Class of ’95 and Director of Alumni Affairs. “This celebration gives the University an opportunity to highlight its rising stars.”
Included among Xavier’s 2nd Class of 40 Under 40 awardees are nationally prominent physicians, writers, a finalist for “Last Comic Standing”, international service officers and several a nationally recognized government and law professionals.
Xavier University created the 40 Under 40 program to identify and engage high-achieving younger alumni who are well positioned to serve as advocates and ambassadors for the university, and who have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining a lifelong relationship with the university. The selection committee included a panel of alumni, university personnel and industry leaders.
The 2015 Awards Gala will take place on Friday, November 20, 2015, in the University Center Grand Ballroom, at 5:30 p.m., and will feature entertainment by T-Ray the Violinist and Dj Rx.
The event which is a part of Xavier’s homecoming celebration, will be hosted by Lavar Walker, an alumnus and award recipient.
The 2015 honorees are:
• Dwayne Aikens ’05, MBA
CEO, We Lead Ours
Oakland, CA
• Sarah Al-Dahir ’06, Pharm.D
Clinical Assistant Professor, Xavier University College of Pharmacy
New Orleans, LA
• Fronce Mario Barnes ’08, Pharm.D
Pharmacist and Entrepreneur, Kearney Park Compounding Pharmacy
Dallas, TX
• Brandon Batiste ‘05
Director of Physician Alignment & Program Innovation, Evolent Health
Washington, DC
• Teniesha Biagas ‘10
Co-Founder, Nolablackprofessionals
Influence and B2B Marketing Manager, Brock Beauty
New Orleans, LA
• Alecia Blake ’00, MD, MPH,
Manager, Drug Safety Surveillance, Pharmacyclics, LLC
San Jose, CA
• Councilmember Jared Brossett ’05
District "D" Councilmember, City Of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
• Farai Caldwell ’11, JD
Artist and Author
CEO, Farai Art
New Orleans, LA
• Letitia Clark ’05, MPP
District Director of Public Affairs, Marketing and Government Relation, Coast Community College District
Tustin, CA
• Kimberly Clay ’98, Ph.D, MPH, MSW,
Founder and Executive Director, Play Like A Girl!
Nashville, TN
• Royce Duplessis ’04, Esq.
Special Counsel To Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, Louisiana Supreme Court
New Orleans, LA
• Simone Ellis ’05, DMD
Owner And Dentist, Smile Design Studios, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Founder, President, Houston Minority Dental Society
Houston, TX
• David Forsh ’02, MD
Chief of Orthopedic Trauma, Mt Sinai Health System
New York, NY
• Nicole M. Golden ’00, Esq.
Chief Assistant District Attorney, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office
Tucker, GA
• Christie Gooden ’98, MD, MPH
Surgical Director, Kidney Transplant Program, St Luke’s Health Systems
Founder/Director of St. Luke's Health Dialysis Access Center, St. Luke's Health Systems
Kansas City, MO
• Piia Hanson ’00, MSPH
Bureau Chief, Perinatal and Infant Health, DC Department of Health
Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University
Arlington, VA
• Aja D. Hardy ’00, MBA, MPH,
Healthcare Strategy & Operations Consultant, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Chicago, IL
• Allison Hudson ’08
Public Information Officer, Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office
Gonzales, LA
• Ayanna Jackson ’05, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Dow Agrosciences
Indianapolis, IN
• Nia Johnson-Jones ’00, MD
Emergency Room Physician, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, First Choice Emergency
Philanthropist
Houston, TX
• Maya Jones ’12
Senior Researcher, ESPN The Magazine
Bristol, CT
• Varion Laurent ’01
Visual Artist
New Orleans, LA
• Kim LeDuff ’96, Ph.D.
Chief Diversity Officer And Associate Vice Provost for Equity, Diversity, and International Affairs, University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL
• Nicole Lee ’05, MD
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Fellow, Maternal Fetal Medicine, University Of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS
• Leonard Lightfoot ’04, Ph.D.
Research Electrical Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory
Miamisburg, OH
• Chawla LaToya Mason ’98, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine
Director of Obstetric Anesthesia Education, Baylor College Of Medicine
Houston, TX
• Robert Melvin ‘99
CEO, Alpha Omega Strategic Partners
San Antonio, TX
• Jaime L. Moody ’07, M.A.
Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Geneva, Switzerland
• Aaron Omotola ’99, MD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Alton Orthopaedic Clinic
Edwardsville, IL
• Alejandro Perkins ’99, Esq. ‘
Deputy General Counsel, National Bar Association
Partner, Hammonds, Sills, Adkins, and Guice, LLP
Baton Rouge, LA
• Kristine Pichon ’99
Fashion Designer and Owner, K’Pich
New Orleans, LA
• Synim Rivers ’03, MPH
Vice President of Healthcare, Edelman Marketing Firm
Washington, DC
• Leslie Rose ‘05
Editor, Weekly Citizen and The Donaldsonville Chief
Baton Rouge, LA
• Juval Scott ’97
Attorney Advisor
Administrative Office of Courts Defender Services Office Training Division
Washington, D.C.
• Evelyn Simien ’96, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Of Political Science And Africana Studies, University of Connecticut
Coventry, CT
• L. Chris Stewart ’00, Esq.
Managing Partner, Stewart, Seay & Felton Trial Attorneys
Atlanta, GA
• Dolores Deneen Tarver ’98
Licensed Psychologist, Columbus Psychological Associates
Columbus, GA
• Lavar Walker ’02, Pharm.D
Comedian and Pharmacist
Atlanta, GA
• Candace Weber ’03
Senior Product Marketing Manager, AT&T
Frisco, TX
• Alfred “AJ” Williams ’08
Head Coach for Men's Basketball, Harris Stowe State University
St. Louis, MO
