New Orleans, La. - New Orleans, LA – Xavier University of Louisiana is pleased to announce its 2023 Class of 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Awardees to encourage the support of the young alum community.

From over 200 nominations, the university’s chosen recipients are alumni who have accomplished significant tasks within their communities. These awardees have showcased remarkable achievements in arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service, government, and more, all before age 40.

“Xavier graduates alumni who excel in their fields, and it was challenging to review all the great things our young alums have accomplished and select only forty honorees.” said Kimberly Reese (‘95), assistant vice president of Institutional Advancement. “And so we celebrate all of our young alumni while recognizing some of the rising stars who will continue to press forward and enact the university’s mission to promote a more just and humane society.”

In 2014, Xavier established the “40 Under 40” initiative to recognize and involve accomplished, younger alumni who can actively support and represent the university. These individuals are strongly dedicated to a lasting connection with the institution. The selection process involved a committee of alumni, university staff, and influential figures from various industries.

The 2023 Awards Celebration is set for November 2nd, from 8- 11 p.m., at the Arbor Room at Popp Fountain. 

The complete list of awardees is visible below.  

Allen J. Antoine, M.Ed. (‘04)

Director, Computer Science Education Strategy, 

The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center      

Ashley N. McPhie, M.D. (‘07)

Chief Medical Officer

Tampa Family Health Centers          

Brittaney Hill D.D.S, M.S., MPH (‘11)            

Clinical Assistant Professor and Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry          

Chandler David Schexnayder, Pharm.D. (‘17)

BCPS, CDCES, BCACP,

Educator & Writer | SchexLevel Education, LLC

Denisa Charles, Pharm.D. (‘13)

Clinical Staff Pharmacist 

Memphis VA        

DeriAnne Honora  (‘13)

College and Career Counselor

John F. Kennedy High School

DeVon A. Pruitt (‘15)

Financial Advisor 

WestPoint Financial Group              

Brittany Singleton, Pharm.D. (‘13)

Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy

Xavier University of Louisiana

Danaka Hancock, Pharm.D. (‘15)

Clinical Staff Pharmacist

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital            

Kandys McKinley-Foster, Ph.D., M.Ed. (‘06)

Owner/Psychotherapist

Restored Haven Counseling, PLLC

Emmanuel Spence (‘14)

Principal Advisor, Inclusive Philanthropy

ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Felipe Perrier Jr. (‘18) 

Music Producer / DJ

Gina M. Ricard (‘13)

Director, Strategic Initiatives

Ichor Strategies

Ja’Nelle Maxine Blocker, M.D. (‘06)

Integrative Medicine Fellow

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health

Thomas Jefferson University

Jasmin Patriana Eugene, Pharm.D., BCOP (‘14 & ‘18)

Clinical Assistant Professor

Xavier University of Louisiana

Jasmine Martin Burds (‘14) Owner, Director of Publishing/ Founder Burds of a Feather Publishing Co. 

Jonathan Spears Newsome, Pharm.D., BCGP (‘08)

Interim Chair and Associate Professor

The University of Texas at Tyler Fisch College of Pharmacy Jordan Reaves (‘15)

Associate Controller

Mosaic Development Partners JV (Mosaic)

Keairez Coleman, P.T., D.P.T., CSCS (‘19)

Performance Physical Therapist

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kwame Terra, MPH (‘15 & ‘22) Founder & CEO  bEHR Health Systems, Inc.

Mark Veals Jr. (‘20)

Assistant Director of Marketing & Digital Media

Xavier University of Louisiana

Mecca Abdullah, D.D.S. (‘07)

Owner/Orthodontist

Harvest Grove Orthodontics

Mia Gonzales Washington, MAT (‘08 & ‘10)

Director of the New Orleans College & Career Attainment Network (NOLA CCAN) at the Cowen Insititute Tulane University

Michael Dwight Sanders Jr., Ed.M. (‘08)

Marketing + Communications Lead, Social Impact & PlayStation Career Pathways

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Naomi Winston (‘21)

Founder & Creative Director

Revolutionary Hearts Industries

Nwamaka Ngoddy , O.D. (‘07) 

Founder and CEO 

EyeServe & Anwuli Eyewear

Pauline Sequoia Storms-Perkins (‘11)

Founder & CEO 

Storms Secured Services

Peyton Williams, MBA (‘15)

Sustainability and Communications Specialist

NTT Data Services

Porscha Showers, Pharm.D., AAHIVE (‘14)

Principal Medical Scientist 

Gilead Sciences

Rev. Javon Elisea Bracy (‘14)

Minister & Mental Health Counselor            

Ronicka Briscoe, Ph.D. (‘06)

Chair - Department of Education,

University of Holy Cross

Shandrell Briscoe (‘09)

Senior Manager of Strategic Communications

InspireNOLA Charter Schools

Timothy Al Ambrose Jr. (‘19)

Presidential Fellow

Xavier University of Louisiana

Torrey Fingal (‘08)

Lead Pastor          

The City of Love

Tyre’ Jenkins, Ed.D. (‘21)

Literacy and Learning Specialist

The Center for Literacy & Learning

Varsha Castro Gusman, MPAS, PA-C (‘06)

Program Director of the Xavier-Ochsner Physician Assistant program

Xavier University of Louisiana

Vernon K. Dunn Jr., Ph.D. (‘10)

Research Staff

Science and Technology Policy Institute

Vincent Ekenga, Pharm.D. (‘12)

Clinical Associate Professor

Xavier University of Louisiana

Zoe Trask (‘23)

Journalism Graduate Student

University of Southern California

Alexis Stokes, Ed.D. (‘05)

Associate Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer 

Harvard University

###

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country.

Established in 1925 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African Americans and Native Americans to receive quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (3,419 students) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula provides students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all. For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.XULA.edu or contact Melissa Newell at (504) 520-5240 or XULANews@XULA.edu