Georgia State president earns TU’s Distinguished Alumni Award

Several additional TU graduates were also lauded Friday night for their outstanding service and achievement

By Ray Feldmann on May 8, 2017

Mark P. Becker ’80, current president of Georgia State University, the Honorable Kathy Szeliga ’94, and Ambassador Michael Ranneberger ’71 were honored Friday night at the 2017 Distinguished Alumni and Deans’ Recognition Awards Banquet in the West Village Commons Ballrooms on the Towson University campus.

President Becker was the recipient of Towson University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies continued professional development, success in his or her field, and a commitment to Towson University. The award has been conferred since 1958.

Celebration of Excellence brand mark

This year, the annual awards ceremony had added significance because it was part of a new “Celebration of Excellence” launched last month to better showcase the university’s best and brightest students, alumni, faculty and staff.

A first-generation college student, Becker began his academic studies at Harford Community College before transferring to what was then Towson State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1980. He received a doctoral degree in statistics from Pennsylvania State University.

Since beginning his tenure as Georgia State University’s seventh president in 2009, Becker has led the university through a dynamic period of growth and advancement. Georgia State University has emerged as one of the nation’s leading urban research universities. It is a national model for student success, setting records for its graduation rates, and leading the country in eliminating disparities in student achievement based on race, ethnicity and income.

Becker serves on numerous boards and executive committees, including the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, World Affairs Council of Atlanta, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Research Alliance. He and his wife, Laura Voisinet, have two adult children, Matthew and Julia. Voisinet is a class of ’81 TU graduate. The two met on the Towson University campus.

Del. Szeliga, who graduated from Towson University in her 30s with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, received the Dean’s Award from the College of Education. Del. Szeliga uses her experience as a nontraditional student to encourage, mentor and help other women to obtain a college degree regardless of age. First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010, she is the Republican representative for District 7, which includes both Baltimore and Harford counties. She has served as Minority Whip since 2013.

Ambassador Ranneberger received the Dean’s Award from the College of Liberal Arts.  After graduating from Towson University with a dual major in history and social science, Ranneberger obtained a master’s degree in history at the University of Virginia before entering the United States Foreign Service. He has had a distinguished diplomatic career representing the United States in Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He has served as ambassador to Mali and Kenya, and was the principal deputy assistant secretary for African affairs, where he led policy development and implementation for the African region.

As the special representative of the Secretary of State, he helped lead negotiations, which resulted in the Sudan Peace Agreement of 2005. When crisis erupted in Kenya following the disputed presidential election at the end of 2007, he was instrumental in ending the bloodshed and bringing about fundamental reforms through adoption of a new constitution in 2010. For those efforts, he was named “Ambassador of Peace” by the Kenyan people.

Ranneberger recently returned to TU where he spoke at the Department of History’s annual Career Day about the variety of careers open to history graduates, the skills they develop by studying history, and the way these skills have helped advance his career.  He is married to Ruth Konchellah.

The following alumni also received 2017 Deans’ Recognition Awards: