Nike executive, state educational leader, Georgia Power CEO, World Trade Savannah director and leading physician among speakers for Georgia Southern University’s Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremonies

Georgia Southern University has named five acclaimed speakers for the University’s Spring 2024 Commencement ceremonies on May 7, 8, 9 and 11.

Approximately 4,200 students will graduate with associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees this semester during five ceremonies in Statesboro and Savannah. Candidates will have the option to choose the location where they would like to graduate.

The dates, colleges and speakers for each ceremony are:

Tuesday, May 7 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

College of Arts and Humanities, College of Science and Mathematics, Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Mackenzie Anderson is the global director of Corporate Communications at Nike in Beaverton, Oregon. Since joining in 2019, Anderson has driven storytelling efforts for Nike’s executives and purpose initiatives across sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and social and community impact. She is also a member of the Women of Nike Leadership team.

Prior to joining Nike, Anderson held a variety of roles leading global sustainability and strategic communications at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. She also served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer. Previously, she led business communications and media relations for the Atlanta Braves.

A proud graduate of Georgia Southern University, earning a bachelor’s in communications with an emphasis in public relations, Anderson started her career as a spokesperson for the world’s largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium. In this role, she won two Emmy® awards for a television series on ocean conservation.

She has been named to PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 and served on the board of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Emerging Leaders.

Wednesday, May 8 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

Parker College of Business and College of Education

Alton M. Standifer, Ph.D., serves as Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Chief of Staff to the Provost at the University of Georgia (UGA). In this capacity, Standifer leads the Office of Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness and the Office of Institutional Diversity, and has overall responsibility for the operations in the Office of the Provost.

In this role, Standifer leads a focused effort to develop and implement strategies and initiatives designed to advance academic excellence goals and create an environment at the institution where faculty, staff and students feel that they can learn, grow and thrive. He supports UGA’s particular focus on rural, economically disadvantaged, first-generation, underserved, military and transfer students. Standifer is also responsible for matters related to the University’s institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Prior to joining UGA, Standifer taught middle school math and coached basketball in his hometown of Monticello, Georgia.

Standifer earned a doctorate in public administration and policy from UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, where he now also serves as an adjunct faculty member. He received a bachelor’s in middle grades education and a master’s in higher education administration from Georgia Southern.

A member of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 and the Georgia Southern University 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, Standifer was selected by the University System of Georgia to participate in its 2022-2023 Executive Leadership Institute. In addition, he is a member of the 2022 class of Leadership Georgia and currently serves as program chair for the Class of 2024. He is also a 2020 graduate of LEAD Athens and served as president of the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2020 to 2022.

Thursday, May 9 – 10 a.m. — Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Kim Greene is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power, and is a strong voice in the energy sector, especially on issues related to safety, emerging technologies, innovation and STEM-related education. She is a respected thought leader and advocate for the future of energy – from national energy policy to the overall customer experience.

Prior to her current position, Greene served for five years as chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company Gas.

Throughout her career, she has taken on diverse and challenging roles across all areas of the utility industry including engineering, operations, finance, external affairs and asset management and trading. She has also held executive roles for Southern Company’s subsidiaries as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), including chief executive officer for Georgia Power and Southern Company Gas; chief operating officer for Southern Company; president of Southern Company Services; chief generation officer for TVA; group president for TVA’s Strategy and External Relations; and chief financial officer for TVA.

Greene currently serves on the board of directors for the Atlanta Committee for Progress, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, Valero Energy Corporation, the Georgia Research Alliance and the Rowen Foundation. She serves on the board of trustees for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and The Woodruff Arts Center, and on the Board of Governors for the Georgia Historical Society. Greene is also a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club.

Most recently, the Atlanta Business Chronicle named Greene as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs. In 2022, she was awarded the Edison Electric Institute’s inaugural Thomas F. Farrell, II Safety Leadership and Innovation Award by her industry peers for her significant contributions to improving safety in the utility industry. She is a member of the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, a recipient of the University of Tennessee’s Distinguished Alumna Award and the University of Tennessee’s Nathan W. Dougherty Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed by the College of Engineering.

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Greene earned a bachelor’s in engineering science and mechanics from the University of Tennessee, a master’s in biomedical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s in business administration from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Greene also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Saturday, May 11 – 10 a.m. — Enmarket Arena in Savannah

College of Arts and Humanities, College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Parker College of Business, Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Chris Ahearn is the director of research and trade development for the World Trade Center Savannah, where he facilitates and oversees all aspects of partner-specific research, international lead development, and planning and receiving of inbound and outbound delegations. He also manages the Savannah side of TradeBridge, a partnership between World Trade Center Savannah, the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the county of Wexford, Ireland.

Ahearn graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in Irish Studies. He then attended Dublin City University in Ireland where he earned a master’s in international relations. Following that, Ahearn spent 12 years working in higher education and nonprofit organizations in Chicago, Illinois. In 2022, Chris returned to Georgia to begin the position with World Trade Center Savannah.

Saturday, May 11 – 3 p.m. — Enmarket Arena in Savannah

Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Candicee Childs, M.D., is an emerging beacon of inspiration in the fields of medicine and literature. At present, she is a resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry.

Her literary work, including the Amazon bestseller Christian memoir, “Lemons, Lemonade, and the Lemonade Stand,” reflects her passion for living life with purpose and making a positive impact on those around her.

Dr. Childs is also a public speaker, model, fitness enthusiast and mentor. Most recently, she presented at TEDxSavannah in 2023 where she discussed embracing empathy while also protecting your mental wellness.

From Savannah, Childs earned a bachelor’s in chemistry with a minor in Spanish from Valdosta State University, a Master of Health Administration from Georgia Southern University and a Doctor of Medicine from Augusta University – Medical College of Georgia. She also has two certifications in nutrition and personal training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Georgia Southern University