The University of Georgia Graduate School is pleased to present the 2026 recipients of the Alumni of Distinction Award.
This award recognizes graduates who have achieved meritorious success in their professions, distinguished themselves as mentors and role models in their fields, and made substantive impact at the regional, national, and international levels. These graduate alumni exemplify the University of Georgia mission, “to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.”
All graduate-level UGA alumni are eligible to be considered for the annual award. Recipients were nominated by their respective schools and colleges and selected by members of the Graduate Education Advancement Board.
The Graduate School Alumni of Distinction Award was established in 2012.
The 2026 awardees:
Derek Alderman
MA and PhD in Geography, 1993 and 1998
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Phillip Brannen
BS in Plant Protection and Pest Management, 1983
MS in Plant Pathology, 1987
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Josh Brooks
MS in Sports Management, 2014
Mary Frances Early College of Education
Gary Miller
PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology, 1995
College of Veterinary Medicine
Kimberly Osborne
PhD in Adult Education, 2006
Mary Frances Early College of Education
Asma Sharafi
MS in Chemistry and Materials Science, 2013
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Monica Turner
PhD in Ecology, 1985
Odum School of Ecology
Learn more about the Alumni of Distinction Award.
Stay tuned and follow the Graduate School social media to learn more about each recipient.
