ATHENS, Ga., Oct. 26 -- The University of Georgia issued the following news release:

The University of Georgia Graduate School celebrated seven outstanding graduates with the 2026 Alumni of Distinction Award. This elite honor recognizes visionary leaders who have achieved monumental success in their professional careers while driving transformative service and shaping a legacy of global and local impact. These alumni exemplify the University of Georgia mission "to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things."

"Each of our distinguished graduate alumni embody the excellence to which we encourage our current and future graduate students to aspire," said Anne Shaffer, interim dean of the Graduate School. "Graduate students are ...