The FSU Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold recognizes worthy individuals who, through their service and achievements, personify the university’s tradition of excellence. It is given to those alumni and/or friends of FSU who, through their dedication and loyalty to the University, exemplifies the Alumni Association’s core values of Tradition, Leadership, Family, Spirit and Greatness.
Circle of Gold and Bernard F. Sliger Honorees will be recognized at a ceremony in April 2023.
Nominations and applications for the 2023 Circle of Gold are open! Apply here today.
Please join us in congratulating our 2022 Circle of Gold honorees.
Craig Dewhurst
(B.S. ’91), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
St. Augustine, FL
A lifetime member of the Alumni Association, Craig Dewhurst has excelled in the insurance industry for over 20 years as a State Farm Agent & lobbyist. Dewhurst serves as a business partner for several St. Johns County schools and local youth sports and serves on the St. Johns County Traffic Safety Team. He’s been involved in several boards and committees, including the Seminole Boosters Board, Donna Foundation Board, Gator Bowl Committee, Chairman of Committee of Florida Agents and was selected as a 2020 Seminole 100 honoree. He gives back to students via the Jim King Seminole Heritage Foundation Scholarship, his established Craig Dewhurst Agency FSU Scholarship and various other FSU fundraisers under his purview.
Dave Lane
(B.S. ’91), College of Arts and Sciences
Lake Bluff, IL
A lifetime member of the Alumni Association, Dave Lane currently serves as the executive vice president of Commercial Strategy, Growth and Integration at the Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC). Prior to RNDC, Lane spent 14 years at Terlato Wines International as President and Chief Operating Officer and a previous 14 years of varied sales and marketing roles at the E& J Gallo Winery. Lane formerly served as chair of the FSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees, during which FSU achieved their first ever $1 billion Capital Campaign. Lane has also worked in partnership with the Dedman College of Hospitality to launch a RNDC Certificate in Beverage Management. Lane was a commencement speaker in 2019 and instrumental in organizing a $500,000 gift to the Dedman College. Lane has an endowed scholarship in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. He has served the Lake Forest, Illinois School Board as finance chair, vice president and board president. He also shares insights into the beverage industry while inspiring others to have a growth mindset on his podcast titled “Toast to Growth” which can be found on apple podcasts.
Dazi Lenoir, Esq.
(B.A. ’02, M.S. ’03), College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education
Harmony, FL
Dazi Lenoir is a lifetime member of the FSU Alumni Association and current chair of the Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. Lenoir is a legal and sales professional and founding and managing partner of Lyons Legal, LLC specializing in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Lenoir has been honored as a fellow for Class V of the Florida Bar William Reece Smith Jr. Leadership Academy and completed the Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy. She has served on several boards and committees, including the Florida Bar Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Women in the Profession Subcommittee and the Georgia Young Lawyers Division District Representative Council. She’s also served as secretary and board member for the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando. Before her role as chair, Lenoir served the National Board of Directors as vice chair and the Board Development Committee as chair.
Nancy McKay
(B.S. ’78), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Rhinebeck, NY
A lifetime member of the Alumni Association, Nancy McKay was a successful executive in the beauty industry leading the North American business sector for brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, Tom Ford and NEST New York. As CEO of NEST New York, her operational rigor drove business sustainability, scalability, and fiscal health while transforming the brand into a market leader. She currently serves as the interim CEO of Algenist, a biotech skincare brand and as adjunct professor in the FSU College of Business. She most recently shared her marketing expertise as a lecturer for students at the FSU London Study Center and hopes to join students in Florence in 2024. Nancy has held roles on various boards and committees in New York and Tallahassee, including the Board of Governors for the Fashion Scholarship Fund, the Fragrance Foundation Advisory Board, the Outstanding Mother’s Day Committee for Save the Children and FSU’s College of Human Sciences Board of Governors. McKay has served as a Foundation Board of Trustees member since 2016 and was only the third woman to chair the board. Under her leadership, the FSU Foundation saw more than $93 million in gifts and pledges from alumni and supporters – the second-highest giving year on record. She was a 2016 FSU commencement speaker and has received several awards, including the inaugural Inspire Award and Grad Made Good.
Ahli Moore
(B.S. ’93, M.S. ’95), College of Communication and Information
Lithonia, GA
A lifetime member of the Alumni Association, Ahli Moore is a human performance expert with over 28 years of consulting and organizational development experience. He is the founder of X-Factor Solutions, through which he’s worked with several Fortune 500 companies to develop customized performance improvement programs. Active in the FSU alumni community, Moore is president of the National Black Alumni Network, of which he’s been a member for over 30 years. Moore is also a member of the FSU Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. He has served on several boards and committees, including the Georgia Council for International Visitors, City of Stonecrest’s Transportation Advisory Board, Seminole Boosters, the President’s Club and as chair of the FSU College of Communication and Information’s Leadership Board. Moore gives back in many ways, including mentoring students through his non-profit organization Building Future Leaders, through the FSU ProfessioNole Mentoring Network and as a life member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.