Celebrating our 2025 Alumni Award Winners!
November 03, 2025
We love to celebrate our COMM alumni!
Congrats to the 2025 COMM Alumni Award Winners!
Earlier this year, the Department of Communication invited alumni and friends of the department to submit nominations for the following four awards that celebrate the outstanding and consequential contributions of UMD COMM alums. All awards were designed to recognize alums who advance COMM’s guiding principle of Communication for the Public Good. The awards ceremony took place during Homecoming Week on Wednesday, October 29.
You can read more about our award winners in our Alumni Newsletter.
Julie Gowin and Melissa Lucas at Alumni Event
COMM Achiever Awards
These awards recognize UMD COMM alumni with outstanding achievements in career, public service, and/or volunteer activities that promote COMM’s mission of Communication for the Public Good. Our 2025 winners are:
Ali Badalov, Digital Communications & Design Specialist, Green America, Class of 2016
Jennifer Blackburn, Quality Assurance Program Manager, Human Research Protection Program, Class of 2010
Gillian Casey, Vice President, GCI Health, Class of 2019
London Faust, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Success, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, George Washington University, Class of 2011
Jessie Garten, Sales Coordinator, Hearst Autos, Class of 2018
Bash Kamara, Founder, Technically Communicating LLC, Class of 2007
Jameson Roth, Account Director, McCabe Message Partners, Class of 2016
Jennifer Strohm, Senior Director of Public Relations & Engagement, Fors Marsh, Class of 2000
Ryan Weitz, Marketing and Content Strategy Consultant, Ryan Weitz Creative, Class of 2025
Rebecca Winkert, Public Affairs Specialist, Internal Revenue Service, Class of 2015
Takirra Winfield Dixon, Founder, Unapologetic Communications, Class of 2006
COMM Community Hero Awards
Community Hero Awards recognize UMD COMM alumni with a distinguished record of community service that advances COMM’s mission of Communication for the Public Good. This year's honorees are:
Dr. Ai Addyson-Zhang, Founder, Classroom Without Walls, Class of 2009
Jennifer Friedel, Founder, 10F Communications, Class of 2002
Kaitlyn McCoach, North American Reporting Practice Lead for Social Impact & Sustainability, Weber Shandwick, Class of 2014
COMM Alumni Service Awards
The Service Awards recognize UMD COMM alumni with a distinguished record of alumni service to UMD and especially the Department of Communication. Those recognized for distinguished service in 2025 are:
Jaya Koilpillai Bohlmann, Founder, Designing Communication and ROSES Inc., Class of 1988
Eric Glazer, Senior Account Executive, Allied Global Marketing, Class of 2011
Emily Smith, PR & External Comms Lead, Nestlé Health Science, Class of 2014
COMM Leadership Achievement Awards
These awards recognize UMD COMM alums with a long and distinguished record across their career, public service, and volunteerism that advances COMM’s mission of Communication for the Public Good. Our 2025 Leadership Achievement Award winners are:
Shawn Bartley, Founder, Shawn D. Bartley & Associates, LLC, Class of 1994
Lakeisha Mathews, Owner, Right Resumes & Career Coaching LLC, Class of 2004
Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, CEO, Root Branch Media Group, Class of 2008
Amy Yip, CEO and Founder, Amy Yip, LLC, Class of 2004
Tim Strachan, In Memoriam, Class of 1999
Dr. Shawn Parry-Giles and Tim Strachan's Family