Media Contact
Laura Deupree
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
[email protected]
ATLANTA—Several Andrew Young School alumni were named among the top leaders and influencers in Georgia earlier this year by two of the state’s leading magazines: Georgia Trend and Atlanta. Alumnus Jerry Gonzalez (M.P.A. ‘05) was recognized by both.
Gonzalez, founder and executive director of the Georgia Association of Elected Latino Officials (GALEO), was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 2020 “100 Most Influential Georgians” and in Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500.
Ann Hanlon (M.P.A. ’05), executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (CID), was named among the state’s “100 Notable Georgians” in Georgia Trend.
Additionally, three AYS alumni joined Gonzalez among this year’s Atlanta 500:
- Maria Saporta (M.A. ’80), a longtime business reporter and columnist, and the founder of SaportaReport.com
- Kwajelyn Jackson (M.A. ’05), executive director of the Feminist Women’s Health Center and a respected voice on reproductive justice both locally and nationally
- Michael Halicki (M.P.A. ’09), executive director of Park Pride, a nonprofit that works with neighborhoods and community groups to improve parks and greenspace in Atlanta and DeKalb County
Gonzalez was also recently recognized as one of the state’s 50 most influential Latinos by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
“While it is a humbling honor to be acknowledged, I believe it is a tribute to the great teamwork we are accomplishing at GALEO to promote greater civic engagement and leadership development of the Latinx community in our state,” he said. “Georgia’s Latino population continues to grow in population, economic and electoral power and influence. I am proud to be serving in a role to bring attention to our community’s dreams and opportunities.”
Story by Alison Tyrer