FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 3, 2026
Contact: Bill McCausland
USF Alumni Association Executive Director
813-974-1868
USF Announces 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni
Six University of South Florida alumni aged 35 or younger have been named the university’s 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni in recognition of their exceptional professional and community accomplishments.
The award recipients will be celebrated Thursday, April 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. during a reception, panel discussion and networking opportunity at the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on USF’s Tampa campus. Tickets are available at usf.to/OYAA.
The 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni, listed with USF degrees only:
Maya Brown, Sociology and Africana Studies ’15, 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, 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 into entrepreneurship. Canipe also serves as chief operating officer for RevStar, a digital transformation agency shipping 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, 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 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, is an award-winning author; military historian; Forbes contributor covering drones, aerospace and defense; 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.
LCDR Paul W Johannes, Business Economics ’16, is a 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, 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.
About the USF Alumni Association
The USF Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization composed of former students and friends of the University of South Florida. We provide meaningful ways for over 400,000 USF graduates to support, protect and promote their university. For more information, visit usfalumni.org, facebook.com/USFalumni, X.com/USFAlumniAssn or instagram.com/usfalumni.
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