20 Under 40 Recognition

Rose-Gaëlle Belinga is a vice president for technology at Morgan Stanley, where she focuses on implementing and maintaining cutting-edge web and mobile engineering application infrastructure for institutional users. A native of Yaoundé, Cameroon, she also co-chairs the Spatial Computing Innovation Program, which connects business leaders and innovators to solve various business challenges. Belinga received the Auburn Alumni Association’s 2023 Young Alumni Achievement Award and was recognized as the “2009 Auburn University Student of the Year” while a graduate research assistant.

Raymond J. Harbert  College of Business

Jay Bland serves as GreenCourt’s chief growth officer and a member of the company’s executive team. A member of the Georgia State Bar, Bland assisted with the implementation of software solution PeachCourt, enabling thousands of litigants to electronically file pleadings and research court records remotely. In 2020 Greencourt unveiled GovLink, the agency performance platform designed to improve government agency operations across the country. Bland serves on the board of directors for the National Child Support Engagement Association, and started the charity Jack’s Army to help raise money for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

College of Human Sciences

Courtney Brannan is a principal at Champalimaud Design, applying her elevated personal style to hotels and residences around the world. Over more than a decade with Champalimaud she has used her love of research and keen eye for detail to create authentic and memorable experiences. She’s collaborated on a variety of high-profile properties, including the Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel in California, the St. Regis Jakarta, The Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman, and the anticipated renovation of the St. Regis New York.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Kelly East is the vice president for educational outreach at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and co-chair of the Alabama Board of Genetic Counseling. A licensed and certified genetic counselor with more than a decade of clinical experience caring for patients afflicted with rare genetic diseases, in 2023 more than 1.6 million students, educators, practitioners, and members of the general public were impacted by her team’s efforts. East is also an adjunct faculty member for the UAH College of Nursing in Huntsville and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, helping to improve genome literacy and prepare tomorrow’s biotechnology workforce.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

David Elmer is department chair and associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Berry College. An accomplished educator, researcher, and leader in the field of exercise science, Elmer was granted tenure and promoted to his current position at the age of 31. Conducting research on varied topics like running economy and muscle activation, Elmer has presented at numerous national and international conferences, as well as publishing articles in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and mainstream publications.

College of Education 

Paras Goel is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) board-certified geriatric clinical specialist and a diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Born in India, he has more than 15 years in the geriatric healthcare sector, applying a holistic approach to the well-being of aging adults across various clinical settings. He leads numerous interprofessional programs focused on home-based modifications and fall prevention, ensuring the elderly lead dignified, independent lives. Goel currently serves as a chair of Geriatric Council of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) and was the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Home Health Clinical Leadership Award.

College of Education

Brock Kelley is the president of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. A former regional director of workforce development for the Alabama Community College System, he helped create education-to-industry pipelines, and was instrumental in developing career awareness and preparation across the state. Kelley founded the Alabama RISE Program at LBW to train individuals with disabilities for the workforce, and worked with community colleges to make connections between educational institutions, highlighted by his integral part in the JumpstartAL initiative.

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 

Lauren Lathem is the advanced nuclear program manager within Southern Company’s Research & Development organization, supporting the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technology. She works with congress and the Department of Energy to establish and support multi-year funding programs in support of new technology development. Lathem serves as program manager for two public-private partnerships totaling over $250 million, and provides strategic thinking to the economy-wide decarbonization conversation. She is also a member of the Auburn Engineering Young Alumni Council and has guest lectured for classes on nuclear power generation.

Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

A.J. Lee is manager on the customer success team at FranklinCovey, leading a team of learning consultants who partner with corporate clients to identify the critical leadership skills and implementation strategies they need to help accomplish their business results. Utilizing her expertise in organizational leadership and adult learning, Lee has delivered training programs for a diverse array of clientele, including Fortune 500 organizations like Deloitte and Verizon Media Group. A former Auburn gymnast, Lee previously served as vice president of business operations for Game On Nation, a professional development firm that created interactive training programs for corporations, the military, and college as well as professional sports teams.

College of Liberal Arts 

Trey Oliver is a litigation partner at the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, handling matters in commercial, product liability, construction, real estate and toxic tort litigation. Oliver has successfully represented sophisticated entities—including Fortune 500 companies—in complex litigation, and is consistently recognized by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch.” Oliver has been an active leader for various community and professional organizations in Birmingham, and served as a Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham.

College of Liberal Arts

Justin Saia is vice president of Europe communications and CEO Public Relations at Schneider Electric, recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable companies. Based in Paris, France, he also serves as adjunct professor at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, and is a board member for Earth05, a global social enterprise dedicated to advancing solutions within the water, energy, and food security nexus. With a background in corporate affairs, Saia has guided management teams and boards of directors through crises, market disruptions, and brand articulation. His experience encompasses work across three Fortune Global 500 companies, a Wall Street management consultancy, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the office of the Lt. Governor of Alabama.

Takova D. Wallace-Gay is a clinical associate professor in the Departments of Medical Education, Fisch College of Pharmacy, and Family Medicine Clinic at The University of Texas. With professional interests in diabetes, cardiovascular disease and interprofessional education, she’s established an “Interprofessional Clinic Under the Bridge” to assist underserved members of the community. Wallace-Gay was the 2020 Texas Pharmacy Association Bowl of Hygeia recipient. She has also taken an active role at Auburn, accepting a position on the Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

College of Agriculture

Whitman Welch is a dentist for a practice that encompasses two locations in Oxford, Alabama, with five doctors and more than thirty staff members. Utilizing the latest advancements in the field, he’s dedicated his career to providing exceptional dental care to his community. A fellow in the International College of Dentists, Welch’ s volunteer efforts focus on the Interfaith Ministries Free Dental Clinic in Anniston, Ala., which provides free dental care for low-income patients. Since joining as a volunteer, he has helped grow the clinic to include UAB dental students, assisting in their rotation through the clinic and serving as adjunct faculty for UAB’s school of dentistry.

College of Liberal Arts

Sarah Funderburk Weston is a senior vice president of the Wilbert Group, where she provides strategic public relations counsel to professional organizations, primarily focusing on commercial real estate. Weston earned her accreditation in public relations in 2015—the youngest person in Georgia history to earn her accreditation—and has placed clients in publications ranging from local outlets to The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. In 2019 she started the “W: Cares” program at Wilbert, which focuses on three initiatives—pro-bono work, volunteering, and supporting the PR industry. Through this, Wilbert has donated nearly $400,000 of services to local organizations.

College of Architecture, Design & Construction 

Hunter Whitten is a project manager for the Nashville-based Turner Construction Company, as well as chair of the board of directors of Rebuilding Together Nashville. A native of Hackleburg, Ala., Whitten has served in many roles at Turner, constructing more than 1.2 million square feet of space in multi-family, healthcare, and office space totaling more than $300 million in total revenue. He is currently the project manager for a $120M, 30-story high-rise being constructed in downtown Nashville. A member of the ACE Mentorship Board of Directors, he assisted in providing nearly $100,000 in scholarships to local high school students.