All six of this year’s Outstanding Young Alumni award recipients hold a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, showcasing the college’s ability to produce innovative and creative alumni who achieve career success under the age of 36. The awards ceremony will take place in the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on April 9.
Meet the recipients:
Maya Brown, Sociology and Africana Studies ’15
Maya Brown is an educator, political consultant and lobbyist. She founded MB Strategies LLC, a political and public affairs consulting firm leading multimillion-dollar communications and advocacy campaigns and driving statewide initiatives to increase civic engagement. Brown was named among Florida Politics’ “150 Most Influential People in Florida Politics” in 2022 and INFLUENCE Magazine’s “30 Under 30” in 2020.
Raechel Canipe, Psychology ’13
Raechel Canipe is the founder and CEO of Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship. A venture capitalist, she is dedicated to uplifting the next generation of leaders and creating pathways to entrepreneurship. Canipe also serves as chief operating officer for RevStar, a digital transformation agency offering practical AI solutions, and is a former chair of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay.
Dr. Nicole Dinescu-Munoz, Biomedical Sciences ’13 and MS Medical Sciences ’15
Dr. Nicole Dinescu-Munoz is a physician and medical director at Tampa General Medical Group, where she leads clinical care and strategic initiatives. A community health leader, she has lectured extensively, presented her research internationally and advocated for improving access to care and health education. Dinescu-Munoz is double board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics and is a recipient of multiple national and institutional awards.
Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences ’13
Zita Ballinger Fletcher is an award-winning author, military historian, “Forbes” contributor, and journalist for “Military Times” and “Defense News.” The first female editor of two national magazines, Fletcher has written more than 10 books and more than 100 articles on military history, earning honors from the Military Writers Society of America, the National Federation of Press Women and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Lt. Cmdr. Paul W. Johannes, Business Economics ’16
Paul W. Johannes is a lieutenant commander and submarine warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. As engineer officer aboard the USS Columbia, a Los Angeles Class nuclear-powered submarine, Johannes leads a department of 75 highly trained officers and sailors in the safe operation and maintenance of a naval nuclear propulsion plant. He has led watch teams through two extended deployments to the USCENTCOM and USINDOPACOM areas of responsibility.
Dr. Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed, Biomedical Sciences and Political Science ’16 and MD ’22
Dr. Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed was the first MD/JD dual-degree candidate at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Stetson University College of Law. He is an interventional radiology resident and intellectual property lawyer whose passion is innovation in health care and advancing how we care for patients and their families. Mohamed also enjoys serving in clinical and mentorship capacities and teaching the next generation of scholars.
