During Founders Week, President F. DuBois Bowman '92 welcomed the inaugural class of the Morehouse 50 Under 50 at a special reception honoring the College’s rising alumni leaders. The gathering celebrated and spotlighted alumni whose leadership, service, and impact exemplify the institution’s enduring mission.
Addressing the honorees, President Bowman reflected on the extraordinary influence represented in the room and the pride the College takes in recognizing this inaugural class.
“I take you everywhere,” President Bowman said. “When I speak to prospective students, partners, and donors, I point to you. Your influence, excellence, and service are living testimony to the true power of Morehouse and what this institution makes possible.”
He emphasized that the 50 Under 50 honorees represent far more than individual success. Collectively, they embody the values of leadership, integrity, and service that define the Morehouse Man, values that resonate across industries and communities around the world.The College formally recognized the inaugural class as a powerful network of leaders who are shaping public discourse, driving innovation, and strengthening institutions across sectors.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees, the inaugural 50 Under 50 class includes alumni making measurable impact across public service, law, education, healthcare, journalism, philanthropy, business, and social innovation. Their work reflects both national and global reach, with honorees leading in major cities across the United States and internationally.
Notably, every member of the inaugural class is also a Morehouse College donor, demonstrating a shared belief in the institution that helped shape their journeys and a commitment to investing in future generations of Morehouse Men.
The 50 Under 50 initiative celebrates not only excellence and achievement, but also stewardship and service beyond self. As President Bowman noted, these alumni are living examples of the transformative power of a Morehouse education and ambassadors of the College’s mission wherever they go.
The Inaugural Class of the Morehouse 50 Under 50
Olajuwon Ajanaku '12 • Founder and Creative Director, Eastside Golf
Mohammed Balla '00 • Chief Financial Officer, The City of Atlanta
Geoff Bennett '02 • Co-Anchor & Co-Managing Editor, PBS NewsHour
Grant Bennett '20 • Partnerships & Experiential Program Manager at Google, Founder of The Two-Six Project
The Honorable Nick Brown '99 • Attorney General of Washington State
Charles Carithers '05 • Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Austin Clements '05 • Managing Partner, Slauson & Co.
Darrell Comer '11 • Senior Vice President - Talent Representation, CSE Talent
Earl Cooper '11 • Co-Founder, Eastside Golf
Nicholas Crews '05 • CEO, Crews Companies
Golden Daka '20 • Chief of Staff, PlayList
Delmont Early '99 • Founder and Managing Partner, Carter Hill Advisors
Ronald Falls '00 • CEO / LA Executive 9 Group; Mentor and Investor in Residence (Morehouse) /Center for Black Entrepreneurship
Rev. Dr. Willie Francois '09 • Senior Pastor, Fountain Baptist Church | Associate Professor of Theology, Union Theological Seminary
Kennard Garrett '01 • CEO, PACE Recordings/Director of Multimedia, Morehouse College
Carlton Gordon '08 • Business Teacher, Brother Rice High School
The Honorable John C. Grey '04 • Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Corey Hardiman '14 • Vice President, Herrendorf Family Foundation
The Honorable Lee Harris '00 • Mayor, Shelby County, TN
Dr. William Hayes '07 • CEO, Boys Latin of Philadelphia
Dr. Adriel Hilton '03 • Vice President of Institutional Strategy, Columbia College Chicago
The Honorable Chris Hollins '07 • City Controller, City of Houston, TX
Ernest Holmes '19 • President, CodeHouse and Technical Program Manager, Google
Brandon Hudspeth '02 • Chargé d’affaires, a.i. and Deputy Chief of Mission/U.S. Embassy in Namibia/U.S. Department of State
Dr. David Hughes '11 • Associate Professor in the Practice of Sport Management, Gordon College
Randall Jackson '99 • Partner, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz
Harry Johnson '07 • Government Affairs and Public Policy Adroid Global Lead, Google LLC
Dr. Samaad Keys '08 • Senior Program Officer, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Honorable JC Love '01 • Probate Judge, Montgomery County, AL
Warren Luckett '07 • Founder and Managing Partner, Black Restaurant Weeks
Dr. Brock Mayers '00 • AVP Student Services and Dean of Students, Morehouse College
Stacy Merritt '05 • Famed Civil Rights Attorney
Dr. Artesius Miller '09 • Founder & CEO, Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School Network
Hon. Winfield Murray '98 • United States Immigration Judge, United States Department of Justice
Lodriguez Murray '04 • Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, UNCF
Lt. Col. Timothy Patterson '01 • Deputy Commanding Officer, Fort Knox
Donovan Ramsey '10 • Journalist, Author and Professor at Morehouse College
Bryan Rand '01 • Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rand & Co. Holdings LLC
Elliott Robinson '06 • Partner, Co-Head of Bessemer Growth
Dr. Emmanuel Rowe '02 • Research Electronics Engineer, Foundational Technology Directorate, Air Force Research Lab
Kenneth Saffold '99 • Co-Founder and Managing Partner, o15 Capital Partners
Dr. Thomas Searles '04 • Associate Professor, University of Illinois Chicago and President, National Society of Black Physicists
Marcus Shaw '00 • President and CEO, AltFinance
Davon Snipes '00 • Operations Strategy Lead, Google
Hon. Isaac Taggart '14 • Special Envoy - U.S. Trade & Investment, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs | Republic Of Liberia
Dr. Wesley Thomas '01 • General Dentist, Defense Health Agency, Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel (O5), United States Army National Guard, District of Columbia, Active
Julien Turner '20 • Co-Owner of Dreadhead Films and Art Director at Abercrombie and Fitch Co.
The Honorable Randall Woodfin '03 • Mayor, Birmingham, AL
Dr. Kevin Woods '99 • Gastroenterologist, Founder, Therapeutic GI Endoscopy & Associates | Tiger Shark Ventures
Marques Zak '05 • Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, the Atlantic Coast Conference