September 27, 2024

Seven Columbus State University graduates and faculty were prominently featured in the most recent edition of Columbus and the Valley magazine as part of its annual “Five Under 40” and “Rising Stars” spotlight. These included four of the five under-40 honorees and three of its five Rising Stars.

The Five Under 40 honorees are highlighted for their exemplary leadership in their chosen professional fields and the community. Their Rising Star counterparts are recognized as the leaders of the future. According to Columbus and the Valley, all 10 “are carving the path toward a better future for all of us, and they’re making the difference in the lives of many.”

A 2023 Rising Star, Dr. Stefan Lawrence ‘09, ‘12 “graduated” to this year’s Five Under 40 class. The 37-year-old Aaron Cohn Middle School principal is a career educator who traces his determination to his days as a student-athlete playing basketball for Columbus State.

“Very few understand the amount of sacrifice that goes into becoming the best student and athlete you can be,” he said. “The rigorous schedules—both athletically and scholastically—can be draining and require maximum grit to accomplish.”

Like Lawrence, fellow two-time graduate and Columbus native Hayley Henderson Tillery ‘12, ‘15 credits Columbus State with providing her a strong foundation.

“CSU taught me how to serve from the heart,” said the 34-year-old Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center executive director. “The Servant Leadership curriculum stays with me with every choice I make—whether it’s leading my team, serving a client or building a relationship for positive change for the city of Columbus.”

Tillery (pictured) is also thankful that the Trade Center provides an atmosphere for Columbus State interns to practice what they learn in the classroom.

“Hosting interns from various Columbus State programs allows me to mentor and guide the next generation of professionals,” she said. “It is deeply fulfilling to see students benefit from the opportunities and guidance I provide. I believe it is crucial in shaping their future success and enhancing the university’s reputation.”

Dr. Jherika Tyler, RN, CNE, CHSE stands out among the seven as the only university employee among this year’s honorees. As an assistant professor and assistant director of undergraduate programs in the School of Nursing, she sees firsthand the benefits alumni bring to teaching and mentoring students.

“Nursing is a challenging degree program for many. Our nursing alumni can relate to our students by recalling their classroom, clinical and preceptor experiences and mentoring them as they transition into the workforce,” the 34-year-old Rising Star and Columbus native said.

Ryne Stokes, CFP ‘08 (pictured), a Five Under 40 honoree, puts the principles he gained as a business student into practice daily as a financial advisor and senior vice president for investments for Synovus Securities.

“My bachelor’s in finance provided me with the foundational knowledge, technical skills and critical thinking abilities necessary to be a competent and trusted advisor,” the 39-year-old said.

A fellow finance major, Rising Star Courtney James ’08, who grew up in Columbus, considers her Columbus State experience vital to her career success.

“CSU prepared me tremendously for my current job—I am fortunate to be working in my field of study,” the 38-year-old Chattahoochee Valley Community College accountant (pictured) said. “The finance program emphasized quantitative skills, critical thinking and data analysis. These skills are essential to my current position, where analyzing financial data and making informed decisions is crucial.”

PREPARING FUTURE LEADERS

Each of this year’s honorees demonstrates a commitment to building the region’s infrastructure—from education and workforce talent to business and economic development. This commitment extends into Columbus State classrooms and other environments where they share their perspectives with students while giving back to their alma mater.

“My involvement is closely connected to my own student experiences,” which, for Tillery, range from her communication and servant leadership courses to serving in the Student Government Association and reigning as Miss CSU. “Each of these activities not only allows me to give back to the university but also serves as an extension of the skills and values I developed as a student. They allow me to share real-world insights and practical experiences. I aim to help students understand how their coursework applies professionally by bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice.”

As a principal and past Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year honoree, Lawrence connects with students pursuing teaching and educational leadership careers.

“As a classroom teacher, I hosted numerous student teachers and practicum students. Now, as a principal, I can hire Columbus State graduates. I’ve also partnered with the College of Education & Health Professions to institute a Teacher Cadet Program to help address state and national teacher shortages.”

Two-time Turner College of Business & Technology graduate and Rising Star Ashley Becker, SHRM-CP ‘07, ‘20 shares her business, nonprofit and human resource experience with students preparing to transition from the classroom to the workforce.

“My background is in career development, so I love having an opportunity to encourage students wherever they are in their program,” the 39-year-old Columbus native and Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce program manager (pictured) said of her focus on prepping students during mock job interviews. “[My chamber role] allows me to develop and support emerging leaders to drive community improvement.”

One benefit of alumni returning to the classroom is sharing lessons learned. Stokes always shares one lesson about the benefit of getting involved with the students he speaks to.

“I encourage students to get involved in whatever way they can, knowing that these experiences will help shape their personal and professional lives in many beneficial ways.,” he said.

Tyler sees the fruits of her labor every day as she helps prepare the next generation of nursing professionals.

“I love helping students accomplish their goals of furthering their education or joining their desired career field,” she said. “Nursing has been my passion since I was a child, and teaching allows me self-fulfillment by passing on the torch and assisting with the nursing shortage—one student at a time. Being a nurse and an educator is challenging, but the reward is much greater.”

THE ROLE OF MENTORS

As a Nursing faculty member, Tyler mentors students herself and helps them find mentors from among the university’s alumni and the professional field. She noted that mentoring relationships can be as crucial to affirming a student’s career decisions as they are to imparting knowledge and experience.

“A mentor relationship looks different for each pair; it really should focus on the student’s needs,” Tyler (pictuired) explained. “Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon affecting both nursing students and new nurse graduates. Many alumni have been there as novice nurses. Mentorships between nursing students and alumni can be beneficial in assisting students to build confidence, realize how valid their feelings are and overcome their fears.”

Stokes also finds that true as he connects with students through the university’s professional clubs like the Student Finance Association.

“I’ve been able to talk about my role as a financial advisor and how I have found it to be a very fulfilling career path. One of the things I tried to convey about a career in finance is that there are many different avenues that one can take within the discipline. I also had time to field many good questions from current students about why I chose this field,” he said.

Most of this year’s honorees remain connected with the university beyond their interactions with students. Those connections date back to their days as students—and represent decades-long relationships that continue to benefit them in their professional careers.

“[Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations] Julio Llanos has played a very significant role in keeping me connected to the university,” Lawrence (pictured) explained of the friendship that dates to his basketball days when Llanos was the university’s head athletic trainer. “We talk monthly, and he always keeps me informed on the events happening on campus. He also lends me very pertinent advice in my professional and personal life.”

Tillery draws inspiration from multiple Columbus State mentors who have remained constants in her life—including President Stuart Rayfield, who taught servant leadership courses and led the Servant Leadership Program during Tillery’s undergraduate years. She still relies on the communication principles instilled in her by Dr. Danna Gibson, chair of the Department of Communication and another of Tillery’s undergraduate professors.

The foundation laid in her organizational theory classes as a master’s degree student continues to serve Tillery as she pursues a doctoral degree in hospitality administration and management.

“[Management & Marketing professor] Dr. Phil Bryant opened my eyes to organizational leadership theory and how to balance when things do not go as planned,” she explained. “He has inspired me with his dedication to research and wanting to see the world around him improve. He is the individual who helped me find deeper value in academic research, and I’m grateful to have him as a resource for my doctoral studies and as I work on my dissertation.”

And, like Stokes, she hopes speaking to classes, hosting interns and serving on scholarship committees inspire current students and lead to future mentoring opportunities.

“My involvement allows me to give back to the community that supported me during my academic journey,” she said. “It is deeply fulfilling to see students benefit from the opportunities and guidance I provide. I believe it plays a crucial role in shaping their future success and enhancing the university’s reputation.”

Read the digital version of Columbus and the Valley’s “Five Under 40” September/October 2024 edition on the magazine’s website.

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Note: Ashley Williams (pictured) , who earned her master of business administration degree at Columbus State in 2016, was also among the university’s four Five Under 40 honorees.

Five Under 40 photos courtesy of Columbus & the Valley magazine; Rising Star photos provided by the honorees.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu