The University of Alabama National Alumni Association recently honored its 2026 class of 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Award recipients. Of the 18 recipients, five are alumni of the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering. Learn more about these outstanding young alumni and the impact they have already made on their industries and communities.
Dr. Jay Little Cunningham
Dr. Jay Little Cunningham is a computer scientist and assistant professor at DePaul University, where he directs the Responsible AI Systems & Societal Experiences Lab and conducts research on artificial intelligence ethics and human-centered technology design. A native of Artesia, Mississippi, Cunningham earned his Bachelor of Science in computer science from The University of Alabama in 2019. As a student, he served as the inaugural SGA vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, First-Year Council president of the National Society of Black Engineers, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He received the Cleophus Thomas Diversity Leadership Award from the Black Faculty and Staff Association and was inducted into the Jasons Men’s Honorary.
Cunningham earned both his master’s degree and Ph.D. in human-centered design and engineering from the University of Washington. He has conducted research at Google, Apple and Microsoft, published extensively, and secured more than $2 million in competitive fellowships and grants, including the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and Google Award for Inclusion Research.
“Winning this award is an absolute honor. When you’re busy making impact in your community and championing your career, it’s sometimes rare to get a chance to reflect,” Cunningham said. “This recognition is a reminder that the work I’m doing matters. It’s been 10 years since I entered UA as a computer science freshman, and I never would have imagined my Alabama education would propel me to where I am today.”
Cunningham said that serving as president of the UA chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers inspired him to take on extracurricular roles outside of the classroom, participating in on-campus research, national conferences and internships.
“I got my start in research working with Dr. Chris Crawford in the Human-Technology Interaction Lab,” he said. “As an undergraduate research assistant, I developed a human-centered social robot system to recognize emotions and adapt behavior. That experience planted the seeds for what I now do full-time — examining how AI systems can be designed to serve all communities equitably.”
Chloe Franklin
Chloe Franklin, originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a program manager with LEMOINE Program Services in Mobile, Alabama. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the Styslinger College of Engineering, graduating magna cum laude in 2021 and completing her graduate studies later that year. At the Capstone, she was involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Chi Epsilon and Alpha Delta Pi.
Through the Cooperative Education Program and internships, she gained more than a year of hands-on industry experience prior to graduation. In her current role, Franklin manages construction programs, supports business development and leads internal process improvement initiatives. She is committed to community service, volunteering with the Junior League of Mobile and serving on the board of Distinguished Young Women.
Franklin remains closely connected to The University of Alabama, returning to campus for career fairs, co-op events and mentoring. In 2024, she joined the Mobile County Chapter Board of the National Alumni Association and serves as chapter vice president.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor,” Franklin said. “My time at The University of Alabama played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today, and I am deeply grateful for those experiences. Being recognized in this way — and continuing my connection to the University through the National Alumni Association — means the world to me.”
Franklin said that the skills she learned as a student in the Styslinger College of Engineering prepared her for her future career.
“It strengthened my critical thinking and problem‑solving abilities and gave me countless opportunities as a civil engineering major to collaborate on hands‑on, real‑world projects,” she said. “That experience has been incredibly valuable throughout my career.”
Landon Hughes
Landon Hughes is a distribution engineer at PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, where he helps deliver electricity to rural communities across Alabama and Florida. He plays a key role in keeping power systems dependable for more than 500,000 cooperative members.
One of Hughes’s most significant technical accomplishments was leading the design, implementation and commissioning of modern relay and control systems to preserve renewable resources within PowerSouth’s fleet. He also organizes and moderates PowerSouth’s annual Engineering and Operations Conference and mentors engineers in the cooperative’s Engineer-in-Training program.
Hughes earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The University of Alabama in 2019, where he worked on major campus construction projects. He also holds an MBA in finance from the University of North Alabama and is a licensed professional engineer in Alabama and Florida. Outside of work, Hughes is devoted to his faith, preaching weekly and traveling nationwide. He and his wife, Emma, live in Opp, Alabama, and enjoy exploring national parks.
“Receiving this award means a great deal to me. I am incredibly grateful to have been nominated, and after attending the ceremony and hearing about the accomplishments and impact of the other recipients, it means even more,” he said. “Being surrounded by individuals who are making meaningful contributions in their industries and communities was both humbling and inspiring. I see this award as a reminder to keep striving for excellence and to continue making a positive impact.”
Hughes said that his education in the College allowed him to take on challenges in the workplace with confidence.
“While the curriculum is often more theory-based than the day-to-day requirements of the power industry, it equipped me with the tools to understand and apply complex concepts in real-world settings,” he said. “Beyond the coursework itself, the challenge of managing multiple high-level engineering classes at once helped develop skills I use every day such as multitasking, time management, focus, stress management and collaboration.”
Dr. David Neuberger
Dr. David Neuberger earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from The University of Alabama in 2015. At UA, he was active in research, community service, and student organizations and served as a tutor for the Styslinger College of Engineering. He also trained with the women’s basketball team as a member of the men’s practice squad.
After graduating from UA, Neuberger earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he managed the school’s free clinic and founded the Sports Medicine Interest Group. He completed residency training in family medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, followed by a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Louisville.
Neuberger is now an assistant professor of family and sports medicine at the University of Louisville. He serves as team physician for the Louisville football, swim and dive, and track and field teams and as a team physician for Louisville City FC and medical liaison for the Louisville Bats minor league baseball team. He also provides primary and orthopedic care and helps train the next generation of physicians.
“This award means a lot to me because it feels like a culmination of a lot of hard work that initially started at UA and ended up where I am at in my career today,” Neuberger said. “I was honored to receive the award alongside so many deserving and accomplished individuals and it really just makes me appreciate every step of my journey.”
Further, Neuberger said that his engineering degree taught him transferable skills that prepared him to work as a physician.
“Although I am not currently an engineer, the skills and knowledge I gained from the Styslinger College of Engineering prepared me well for a career in medicine,” he said. “Some of the concepts directly taught in the SCoE — fluid dynamics in the cardiovascular system comes to mind — have great application and relation to human physiology. Most importantly, the problem solving and troubleshooting skills you learn in engineering school are so incredibly crucial for physicians and patients.”
Ryan Pellegrino
Ryan Pellegrino is a partner at TEGFA, where he advises clients on comprehensive financial strategies, including investment management, retirement planning and insurance, with a team overseeing nearly $100 million in client assets. Previously, he served as a manager at Oliver Wyman, supporting clients across fintech and banking, healthcare, engineering, transportation, venture capital, and private equity.
Pellegrino is president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of The University of Alabama National Alumni Association. He also serves as community lead for Build In SE, an organization focused on strengthening startup ecosystems across the Southeast through mentorship, talent development and access to capital.
A 2018 graduate of UA, Pellegrino earned degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics. While at the Capstone, he held numerous leadership roles, including president of the Culverhouse Investment Management Group, vice president of the Management Consulting Academy and vice president of the Honors College Ambassadors. He was also a member of Jasons Men’s Honorary, the Anderson Society and the Elliott Society.
“I’m extremely honored to be recognized by the National Alumni Association with the 18 Under 31 Award,” Pellegrino said. “I care deeply about The University of Alabama and being a positive representative of it, and this award is validation of some of the hard work that I’ve been able to put in since graduating. This award is also very much a result of my time at UA: the things that I learned there, the relationships that I forged there and the platform the school provided me to be successful.”
Though he didn’t pursue a traditional engineering career, Pellegrino said that the skills he learned in the College have benefited him as a young professional.
“The SCoE curriculum and professors taught me to think critically and analytically in problem-solving, how to work well with others and succeed in teams, and how to build on past knowledge and experiences,” he said.
View the full list of this year’s 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Award recipients.