Columbus State Alumni Association honors 10 with annual awards

October 20, 2026

The Columbus State University Alumni Association presented its top awards at an awards luncheon on Friday, Oct. 16, as part of the university’s annual Homecoming Week celebration.

The Alumni Association has bestowed alumni awards for 46 years, beginning with the Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award and later adding others to honor graduates’ achievements and supporters’ loyalty to Columbus State.

This year’s award recipients included:

Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award

Bobbi Starr ’14, ’16

Starr first learned about the commercial sexual exploitation of children in 2009, while attending the National Victims of Crime Conference in New Orleans. She then focused her education on the issue, earning two degrees from Columbus State: a bachelor’s in sociology, with a concentration in crime, deviance and society, and a master of public administration specializing in criminal justice. 

She brings her lived experience as a survivor of child abuse and sexual assault to her advocacy work as executive director and co-founder of Micah’s Promise. In this role, she addresses the commercial sexual exploitation of children, drawing on her previous experience as a victim’s advocate and prevention and awareness coordinator with the Sexual Assault Support Center of Columbus. Her longstanding activism has led to service on numerous local and statewide committees and task forces, and organizations throughout Georgia have honored her commitment to serving and protecting youth affected by sexual assault.

About the award: Since 1980, the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award has recognized graduates who live up to the high standards set by its namesake and Columbus State’s first president. It is the university’s most prestigious alumni award.

Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award

Jack and JoRhee Pezold

Prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist Jack Pezold and his wife JoRhee have built a vast hospitality and business organization that has shaped the Chattahoochee Valley economy for decades. After moving to Columbus in 1980, they began building their umbrella company, Pezold Management, which at its peak owned and operated 22 McDonald’s restaurants in the area. They have since sold the restaurants, but their remaining corporate investments include Valley Hospitality, which operates several local hotels and venues, and Denim North America.

Their business success has enabled them to make a lasting philanthropic impact throughout the region, particularly at Columbus State University. Their generous support made possible the recently announced Pezold Center for Emergent Technology, which will strengthen the university’s impact on STEM education, technology innovation, and workforce development in Columbus, across Georgia, and beyond. This support builds on their longstanding contributions to campus life and student engagement initiatives, students’ artistic and musical endeavors, student-athletes, athletics programs, and other areas.

Mr. Pezold served on CSU’s Foundation Board of Trustees, which guides the university’s fundraising efforts and oversees its endowment investment strategy. He is now a trustee emeritus.

About the award: The Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award is presented only when extraordinary achievement or service merits it. Named for Columbus State’s third president, it recognizes a graduate or member of the community who has made exceptional contributions to educational excellence at, or whose achievements have brought honor and distinction to, the university. 

Distinguished Alumnus in Military/Public Service Award

Greg Countryman ’07

Countryman’s 36-year career in law enforcement and public service includes 16 years as the elected Muscogee County marshal. Elected Muscogee County sheriff in 2020, he became the first person in the municipality’s history to hold both elected roles. He earned a master of public administration from Columbus State during his career.

He is recognized throughout the state and region for his commitment to collaboration, community safety and servant leadership. Under his leadership, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with local and federal agencies on major public safety initiatives, including the recent “Operation Sweet Silence,” which led to more than 100 arrests and the seizure of more than $279 million in illegal drugs. His service has earned him numerous honors, including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.’s John R. Lewis Humanitarian Award, Scouting America’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award, and the Legacy of Leadership Award.

About the award: The award recognizes alumni who, as active-duty military service personnel, military veterans or public service professionals, bring distinction to the university through their local, statewide, regional or national service.

Young Alumni Award

Eboni Thomas ’09, ’24

Since moving to Columbus in 2005, Thomas has built her life, family and career in the community she proudly calls home. She applies her Columbus State degrees—a bachelor’s of business administration in marketing and a master of business administration—in her role as strategic planning specialist at Columbus Water Works. There, she leads organizational alignment initiatives, strengthens cross-functional collaboration, and supports community-facing programs.

She is deeply committed to serving and engaging with the university and community. Her contributions include serving as the marketing and communications chair for the CSU Black Alumni Council, participating in the CSU Mentor Collective, and being recently appointed to the CSU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

About the award: The Young Alumni Award honors alumni who have graduated in the last 15 years, their commitment to excellence through their post-collegiate efforts, and their significant or ongoing commitment to extraordinary work, research, volunteerism or service to their alma mater.

Columbus State Employee Appreciation Award

Dr. Kerri Shelton Taylor

Taylor, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and a Columbus State faculty member since 2016, exemplifies a commitment to academic excellence and student-centered mentoring.

In the classroom, her innovative, equity-driven approach has strengthened academic quality and actively engaged students in STEM. She has developed accessible tools for visually impaired students and helped many secure fellowships, publish research and advance toward their career and graduate school goals. Across the university, her leadership has also transformed the annual Tower Day research conference into a vibrant celebration of student achievement.

The University System of Georgia recognized her commitment to exceptional teaching and mentorship with its 2026 Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award.

Debra Tommey 

Columbus State students are at the heart of Tommey’s work. Watching them grow, succeed, return, and share their stories remains one of the greatest privileges of her career. For nearly 18 years, she has supported students’ academic journeys and professional aspirations in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music. As academic operations coordinator, she works closely with students as they begin their studies, connects them with university resources, and serves as a liaison for international students. She also supports graduate assistants throughout their employment and remains a trusted resource and reference as they pursue opportunities after graduation.

One of the most meaningful parts of Tommey’s work is the lasting relationships she builds with students and alumni. Whether she’s reconnecting with graduates at the Georgia Music Educators Association conference, welcoming distinguished alumni back to the Schwob School of Music, or celebrating their professional and personal milestones, Tommey takes great pride in staying connected with former students.

About the award: This award highlights current employees’ contributions to the Alumni Association. Award nominations are accepted only from board members.

Special Alumni Recognitions

Alumni Service Award and Honorary Alumni Status

The CSU Alumni Association honored Ride for Miracles volunteer Marion Scott ’75 with its Alumni Service Award and first-time Miracle Riders Howard Miles and Will Stephenson with honorary alumni status. The honors are related to Scott’s longstanding support of the Ride for Miracles organization and Miles’ and Stephenson’s participation in its most recent cross-country fundraising motorcycle ride. They join past Miracle Riders who, since 2021, have been honored with Alumni Service Awards or honorary alumni status for their long-term efforts to support the School of Nursing’s pediatric nursing program. 

Outgoing Directors

The association also recognized Al Bruni ’82; David Britt ’03; Melissa Ingle Hammer ’05; Troy Jackson ’11; and Twilya Toombs ’05 for their service as outgoing directors.

About the Alumni Association

Established in 1960, the CSU Alumni Association represents and provides programming for the university’s 45,000-plus alumni from all 50 states, three U.S. territories and 70 countries worldwide. Membership in the association is free for graduates. 

Photos from the awards dinner are available on the university’s Flickr account.

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Main news image: photos of the award winners appear left to right in the order they appear in this article.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR