Dr. Jan Keys ’00 ’03 (BSN, MSN nursing), chief nurse executive, became a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s foremost professional society for healthcare leaders. Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. Dr. Keys has been chief executive of the Erlanger Health System since 2013.
Cade Parian ’00 (BBA marketing) was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. This honor is given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Cade’s firm, Parian Law Firm, LLC, is based in Carrollton where he and his wife, Kasin Collins ’01 (BBA management), raise their two children.
Bruce Tidaback ’00 ’04 (M.Ed., Ed.S. administration and supervision), principal of Bay Springs Middle School, was recognized by the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP) at the fall 2014 conference. He received the Georgia Distinguished Principal Award for District 13. He has been the principal of Bay Springs for the last 12 years.
Stanley Williams ’01 (M.Ed. secondary education mathematics), formerly head of the math department at Rockmart High School, has joined the faculty at Georgia Highlands College. Free time is spent with his wife, Tara, and daughter, Katy. He likes to travel, read, play chess, eat good food, and visit social media. He enjoys trivia and karaoke with his friends.
Heather Gilley Hill ’02 (BBA marketing) and Allen Hill were united in marriage on March 1, 2014, in Carrollton. Heather and Allen reside in Newnan.
Jennifer Vandiver LaShells ’02 (M.Ed. guidance and counseling), a counselor and interventionist at Oakbrook Elementary, was named Educator of the Month by Lakewood Rotary. She started working in Clover Park School District as a kindergarten teacher at Lake City Elementary, then at Tillicum Elementary. She has been the counselor at Oakbrook Elementary School since 2004. Oakbrook Elementary is located in Lakewood, Washington.
Don Riggins ’02 (BSED secondary education social sciences), and wife, Amanda, of Carrollton announce the birth of their daughter, Eva Sloan. She was born on April 26, 2014, and weighed 6 lbs., and 5 oz.
James Woodall, Jr., M.D. ’02 (BS biology) received his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. His professional training in orthopaedic surgery includes the completion of an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He provides consultation and treatment for patients with all spinal disorders, including cervical spine and complex spinal deformities.
Dana Shea Smith ’03 (BBA management and marketing) and her husband, John, announce the birth of their second child, Nigel, in January 2014. They live in Seattle, Washington.
Mary Martin Colston ’04 (BA psychology) is the associate director of development at Piedmont College in Demorest. She married alumnus Wes Colston ’03 (BA sociology), and he is employed at Express Jet. They have one son, Wiley, who was born on April 1, 2014. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with family and being active in the outdoors.
April Brewer Harris ’04 (BBA management), owner of the Squire Shop, was named by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce as the 2014 Small Business Person of the Year at a fall membership dinner. She purchased the fine clothing store in 2005 and has continued success with the addition of her own brand, Brewer’s Lantern.
Sarah Leach ’04 ’05 (BSED, M.Ed. early childhood education) was named the 2014-2015 Douglas County School System Teacher of the Year. She teaches advanced placement literature and British literature and is an inspiration to her students. She readily points to her husband, Matt, also a teacher at Chapel Hill, and her 10-year-old son, as her inspiration. Sarah was selected from among 33 teachers of the year from each county, and she was named the overall winner.
Nichole Dyer Fannin ’05 ’10 (BA political science, MPA public administration), and husband Cole, announce the birth of their son, Dalton Cole Fannin on March 20, 2014. He was born at Tanner Medical Center and weighed 7 lbs. and 10 oz. Nichole and Cole live in Carrollton with their daughter, Adalyn, and she’s enjoying being a big sister! Cole is sales account executive for Dreisilker Electric Motors, and is currently pursuing his MBA at UWG and plans to graduate in May 2015. Cole’s undergraduate degree is in finance from Auburn University. They are members of First Baptist Church in Carrollton, where they are active with the children’s youth and Sunday School ministries.
Thad Ferguson ’05 (BSR parks and recreation management) and wife Sadie, announce the birth of their son, Cooper Reid. He was born on June 25, 2014, and weighed 8 lbs. and 7 oz. at Tanner Medical Center. They reside in Carrollton.
Charlotte Maumus ’05 (BA mass communications) has moved back to Georgia after eight years in the New York City area. She continues to work for her NYC-based PR agency, Hunter Public Relations, as a senior account supervisor leading various accounts. She now lives in Atlanta.
Jessica Ainsworth ’06 (M.Ed. special education), Lithia Springs High School assistant principal, was named Georgia’s Assistant Principal of the Year in November 2014. The Assistant Principal of the Year program recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality opportunities for students.
Casey Nichols ’06 (BA mass communications) was awarded a 2014 Emmy Award for his breaking news coverage of the 2013 EF 4 tornado that hit Adairsville. Capturing the tornado on video is especially challenging because of the mountainous terrain in north Georgia. Casey has been a photojournalist since 2006 and spent the last six years with WSB-TV. He is currently assigned to a bureau that focuses news coverage on the northwest metro Atlanta region. Casey recently joined the UWG Alumni Association Board of Directors. Casey jump-started his career as a photojournalist at the ABC affiliate station in Charleston, SC, in 2006 and has been with WSB-TV since 2008. During his free time, Casey enjoys hiking, photography, and spending time at a family cottage in Nova Scotia during the summers. He currently resides in Atlanta.
Michael Perry ’06 (BBA marketing) and Meitra Lak Perry ’09 ’12 (BA psychology, M.Ed. school counseling) were united in marriage on September 20, 2014, in Dallas. Meitra is a senior admissions representative at the University of West Georgia. Michael is employed by Southwire Company as a senior product specialist, and they make their home in Carrollton with their cat, Anderson Perry.
Cody Campbell ’09 (BS education) teaches sixth grade science at Mt. Zion Middle School and coached middle school football and high school baseball. He lives with his wife Lauren and daughters Brylee and Daylan in Carrollton.
Bobby Mehan ’09 (BS political science) and Leanna Stevens Mehan ’13 (BSED early childhood education) were married November 22, 2014. Leanna is a fourth-grade teacher at Bowdon Elementary School, and Bobby is the president and CEO of S.M.C, a strategic management company based locally in Carrollton. They like to spend their free time traveling and being active members of the Bremen Community.
