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Alumni Updates

Recent Alumni Updates
James Johnson, UMO alumnus and Johnston County Teacher of the Year
Alumni Spotlight James Johnson Just six years after graduating from UMO, James Johnson has earned one of the highest honors in public education — the 2026 Flame for Learning Teacher of the Year Award for Johnston County Public Schools. A native of Selma, North Carolina, he teaches agricultural mechanics at his alma mater, North Johnston High School.
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Alan Johnson, UMO alumnus and national agribusiness leader
Alumni Spotlight Alan Johnson Today, Alan Johnson helps guide national strategy for a portfolio of agricultural products used by farmers across the United States. As a National Product Manager for BASF, the UMO alumnus works with teams across the country to support growers and strengthen one of the world’s largest agricultural businesses.
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Emily Chaisson, UMO student and science researcher
Alumni Spotlight Emily Chaisson Emily Chaisson never set out to become “just” a scientist. She set out to ask questions, solve puzzles, and have fun doing it. That curiosity, paired with a strong foundation built at UMO, has carried the 2020 alumna from a small-town upbringing in North Carolina to earning a doctorate and contributing to cutting-edge scientific research.
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Natalia Kaminski, UMO student and ABC7 reporter
Alumni Spotlight Natalia Kaminski When Natalia Kaminski first began filming homemade videos as a child in St. Louis, Missouri, she had no idea those early storytelling experiments would eventually lead her to a professional newsroom. Today, the UMO sports communication major is living out that passion as a reporter for ABC7 WWSB-TV in Sarasota, Florida.
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H.D. Grady, UMO alumnus and chamber leadership figure
Alumni Spotlight H.D. Grady H.D. Grady, a 2013 graduate of Mount Olive College and owner of Mount Olive Motor Company, has been named Chair of the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce — assuming a leadership role dedicated to supporting local businesses, strengthening economic development, and fostering deeper collaboration throughout the community.
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