October 31, 2024

SVSU recognizes outstanding alumni

SVSU will honor seven alumni during the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Celebration. Military veterans, business leaders, and educators are among the individuals whose accomplishments and dedication to excellence are recognized by Saginaw Valley State University’s Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association's selection committee selected five individuals — one graduate from each of SVSU’s academic colleges — to receive the Distinguished Alumni award:

• Samantha McKenzie, of Hemlock, College of Arts & Behavioral Sciences
• Georgina Wilson, of Midland, College of Education
• Kiersten Mead, of Saginaw, Crystal M. Lange College of Health & Human Services
• Ann Woys, of Belmont, California, College of Science, Engineering & Technology
• Pamela Oberski, of Burt, Scott L. Carmona College of Business

The Alumni Association will recognize two additional alumni: Aaron Mowen will receive the Veteran Alumni award, and Scott Ellis will receive the GOLD (Graduate Of the Last Decade) Alumnus award.

The seven graduates will be honored at a celebration dinner on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 6-8 p.m. at the Curtiss Hall Banquet Rooms at SVSU. More information about the event, including a link to purchase tickets, can be found at https://www.svsu.edu/alumni/events/alumnicelebration/.

Additional information about the award recipients follows:

Samantha McKenzie

Samantha McKenzie graduated from SVSU in 2005 with a B.A. in communication. She is a dedicated leader in the nonprofit sector, serving as president and CEO of Hidden Harvest since 2016. Under her leadership, the organization rescues and distributes over $10 million worth of food annually, supporting over 195 nonprofit programs. McKenzie is deeply engaged in community service, working with the United Way of Midland Board of Trustees, holding leadership roles in various organizations, and serving as treasurer of the Rauchholz Memorial Library Board in Hemlock.

Georgina Wilson

Georgina E. Wilson, Ed.D., graduated from SVSU in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in English education, returning to earn a Master of Education in 2001. She serves as an assistant professor at Central Michigan University, where she directs the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Specialist in General Administration programs. Her work is shaped by her leadership roles in PK-12 education and her research on trauma-informed practices and social justice. Wilson serves on multiple boards and committees, earning recognition for her commitment to inclusive excellence and social justice, including the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region’s Women of Achievement award.

Kiersten Mead

Kiersten Mead graduated from SVSU in 2013 with a B.S. in exercise science, and in 2021 with a Master of Business Administration. She is the director of inpatient practices at Covenant HealthCare, where she has worked for eight years. Beginning as a scribe in Covenant’s emergency department after completing SVSU’s medical scribe course, she quickly advanced to lead scribe and discovered her passion for health care administration. Mead is a previous adjunct faculty member at SVSU, where she taught the same medical scribe course she once took, mentoring students into successful health care careers.

Ann Woys

Ann Woys graduated from SVSU in 2006 with a B.S. in chemistry. She is a pod leader and senior scientist in pharmaceutical development at Genentech. She has over 15 years of development experience in protein analytics, formulations and novel excipients for immuno-oncology and ophthalmology. After graduating from SVSU, Woys earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She subsequently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. She has an impressive publication record and one awarded patent, with a second patent in the evaluation stage.

Pamela Oberski

Pamela Oberski earned a B.B.A. in accounting from SVSU in 1995. She will serve as vice president and corporate auditor at Dow beginning November 1, one of the most prestigious leadership roles in the profession. Since joining Dow in 1995, she has progressively assumed higher-level leadership roles. She is currently the vice president of global financial accounting & reporting, overseeing 100+ employees across regions to ensure Dow's compliance in financial reporting worldwide. Oberski actively mentors fellow SVSU alumni, and this dedication has had a significant impact on the professional growth of many alumni at Dow.

Scott Ellis

Scott Ellis, of Bay City, is a 2014 SVSU graduate who holds a B.A. in communication. Ellis serves as the executive director of Great Lakes Bay Pride. He joined the organization’s board in 2017 and became the coordinator of the Great Lakes Bay Pride Festival as well as other annual events. In 2019, he became the nonprofit's first full-time employee. Under his leadership, the organization has grown significantly, serving the LGBTQ+ community across four counties. Ellis also serves on several local boards and committees, including the Saginaw Community Foundation, and chairs the Michigan LGBTQ+ Centers Network.

Aaron Mowen

Aaron Mowen graduated from SVSU in 2008 with a B.S. in exercise science. With a distinguished 16-year career in collegiate recreation and 21 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he now serves as the director of recreation and wellness at Grand Valley State University. While attending SVSU, Mowen was actively involved in campus recreation and kinesiology studies. After enlisting in the Marine Corps in 2003 and being deployed to Iraq, he returned to lead SVSU’s intramural programs and established its first student veteran organization.