New members join Georgia Southern鈥檚 Alumni Association Board of Directors
Four new members recently joined 快猫app短视鈥檚 .
鈥淥ur alumni board plays a vital role in shaping the future of our University and guiding our strategic engagement efforts,” said Ava Edwards, director of Alumni Relations. “These four accomplished alumni bring an incredible wealth of experience across economic development, health care, education and public policy. I am confident their leadership and vision will inspire our community and advance Georgia Southern鈥檚 mission for years to come.”
The new board members include:
Will Byington (鈥�01)
Will Byington is the director of community engagement, government relations and real estate at Atrium Health Floyd in Rome, Georgia, where he leads strategic initiatives focused on strengthening partnerships, advancing organizational priorities and supporting community-centered growth across the region.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Byington is deeply engaged in civic and leadership development efforts. At present, he serves as chair of the Rome, Georgia, Leadership Chapter, where he supports leadership cultivation, community collaboration and regional engagement initiatives.
Byington earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in business administration and management from Georgia Southern. During his time at the University, he also served as a student assistant in the championship football program under legendary head coach Paul Johnson.
Dorian DeBarr (鈥�04, 鈥�04)
Dorian DeBarr is a native son of DeKalb County, Georgia, and a champion for inclusive economic growth. Since assuming the role of president of Decide DeKalb Development Authority in 2021, DeBarr has led with a focus on strategic investments, job creation and equitable redevelopment. Under his leadership, Decide DeKalb has facilitated more than $2.4 billion in investments, supported the creation and retention of more than 11,000 jobs since 2020 and been instrumental in securing major economic development wins for DeKalb County, including projects with Sugar Bowl Bakery, TriNet, PepsiCo and The Home Depot.
DeBarr is also an active civic leader, serving on the Urban Land Institute Atlanta Advisory Board, Rotary Club of Decatur, Georgia, and Leadership DeKalb, where he is board chair.
Named to Georgia Trend magazine鈥檚 500 Most Influential Georgians multiple times, DeBarr was honored as a 2025 Most Notable Georgian. In 2025, he was also recognized as a Titan 100 honoree and is a member of the 2026 Leadership Atlanta class.
DeBarr earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a master鈥檚 degree in accounting from Georgia Southern.
Jennifer Lewis (鈥�08, 鈥�10)
Jennifer Lewis is the principal of Metter Elementary School in Georgia鈥檚 Candler County School District, where she provides instructional leadership focused on student achievement, school culture and community engagement.
In addition to her professional leadership in K-12 education, Lewis remains deeply engaged with Georgia Southern through multiple roles. She currently serves on the Bulloch County Alumni Chapter Leadership Team, where she supports local alumni engagement efforts and regional programming. She also serves as the chapter adviser for Alpha Delta Pi, one of the largest sororities at Georgia Southern, where she mentors student leaders and supports chapter development, engagement and success.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and a Master of Science in counselor education from Georgia Southern. She was recognized as part of Georgia Southern鈥檚 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 and named Candler County Teacher of the Year in 2015.
Tommy Reynolds (鈥�15)
Tommy Reynolds is a director of government relations at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) where he advocates for federal policies to promote reliable and affordable American energy that drives economic development and job creation while decreasing emissions and preserving the environment.
Reynolds has nearly a decade of experience on Capitol Hill. Before joining CRES, he was the legislative director for the U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter from Georgia鈥檚 1st Congressional District. There, he led the congressman鈥檚 work as chairman of the Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee and helped champion legislation and policies to advance U.S. nuclear energy leadership, expand access to critical materials, incentivize advanced manufacturing and promote energy production.
Prior to that, he worked for U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson.
Reynolds earned a bachelor鈥檚 in political science from Georgia Southern.
Founded in 1933, the 快猫app短视 Alumni Association serves the University by establishing lifelong relationships with alumni and friends, which results in alumni participating in and contributing to the continued growth of the University. The is made up of alumni volunteers who are leaders in their communities and who have given tirelessly of their time in order to promote Georgia Southern.