Chloe Manzelli (environmental studies) received an honorable mention at the 26th Annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards presented by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and The News-Press Media Group. As a wildlife first responder at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, Manzelli plays a critical role as the first point of contact for wildlife emergencies and public inquiries about rescues. CROW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife. Manzelli has worked there since 2024.

Gavin Humble (political science) was recognized as one of America’s Rising Republican Operatives “30 Under Thirty” for 2025. He is president of 5 Point Strategy.

Anna “Chiara” Birkart ('23, M.S. entrepreneurship) and John Ryan ('21, B.S. entrepreneurship; '23 M.S. entrepreneurship) were married Sept. 28, 2025. They met in 2022 in a  course taught by Jason Lortie, associate professor of entrepreneurship, and took several of his courses together. Lortie served as the officiant at their wedding.

McKenna Houston (Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Studies) has completed the Orr Fellowship, a two-year early-career development program in Indiana. She also was the recipient of the organization's Career Award, given to a participant who has made career development a priority and made significant strides to grow as a professional.

Adalynn Elise Peer was born on Feb. 14, 2022, at HealthPark Labor & Delivery to Jessica Carter Peer (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and Douglas Peer of Fort Myers. Jessica is the owner of Concierge Physiotherapy.

Michael Briggs (Marketing) has joined TechTronics Inc. as an event marketing specialist for the Ryobi lines at Home Depot.

JoDee Lupacchino (Finance) has been promoted to logistics team manager at Allyn International Services Inc., a private company specializing in transportation management, logistics sourcing, supply chain consulting and tax and trade compliance management. She joined Allyn at their global headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida, in August 2021. In her new role, Lupacchino will oversee a Fort Myers logistics team and provide additional leadership support to another team supporting a large oil and gas client. She co-led Allyn's quarterly charity in 2024, where she set up events raising over $2,500 and over 500 personal care items for Abuse Counseling & Treatment Inc.

Laurel De Luca (Journalism) has joined Soukup Strategic Solutions in Naples as fundraising, marketing and communications coordinator. In her new role, she will specialize in branding, social media and public relations. During her time at FGCU, De Luca served as a staff writer for Eagle News. Soukup Strategic Solutions has expanded with plans to serve more nonprofits nationwide.

Connor Leonarczyk (Entrepreneurship) has launched his own business, Midnight Delights Cookies, delivering fresh, homemade cookies to FGCU residence halls and off-campus housing. "Since graduating in December 2020, I have moved into a commercial kitchen and continue spreading happiness through cookies by partnering with various sororities and clubs at FGCU for fundraising events. And on any given weekend, you can find our delicious cookies at local green market events like University Village."

Joshua Ballin (Integrated Studies) has promoted senior sales executive at Prudential Financial and will be relocating to Tampa.

Gabriela Rivas (Communication) has been promoted to account manager at Wilson Creative Group, a full-service advertising and marketing agency in Naples. Rivas joined the company in June 2021 after earning a master’s degree in media and communication studies from Florida State University, where she served as a graduate teaching assistant in FSU’s College of Communication, taught a public speaking course and provided writing workshops and mentorship for first-year college students. At FGCU, she worked as a continuous improvement initiative intern for the Office of the Ombuds.

Shannon Williamson (Communication) recently earned her professional public relations accreditation (APR) from the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). As media specialist at LCEC, a not-for-profit electric cooperative in Southwest Florida, Williamson is responsible for leading events, managing social media, supporting projects, media relations, strategic campaigns and contributing to newsletters.  Since joining FPRA in 2020, she has served as board secretary for two years and as event chair for the chapter’s annual Local Image event, where she won the 2023 Rising Star Award.  

Tyler Gateman (integrated studies) is an owner of Scopa Italian Kitchen in Lynn, Massachusetts, which was recently featured in the Boston Globe.

Alexandria Loren (criminal justice) has been included in the Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 for 2026. The list recognizes 40 professionals who have distinguished themselves professionally while making meaningful contributions to the community through leadership, volunteerism and service. Loren is community awareness and outreach coordinator at Children's Advocacy Center of SWFL.  

Blake Sylvester, (Civil Engineering), has accepted the position of restoration engineer at Walker Consultants in Tampa.