The University of New Orleans is well represented on Gambit’s annual “40 Under Forty” list released this week. The list is composed of 40 people under the age of 40 who are “making a difference in the New Orleans area.”

The public was invited to nominate their favorite “overachiever, do-gooder or mover and shaker” for the award.

Of the 40 people selected, eight of them, or 20% of the entire list, are UNO graduates. They are:

Renard Bridgewater – 2010, B.A. Studio Art. Bridgewater is the musician and community engagement coordinator for the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans. He develops partnerships for the organization.

Erica Chomsky-Adelson – 2017, B.S. Urban Studies & Planning. Founder and executive director of Culture Aid NOLA. The nonprofit distributes meals and groceries twice a week, delivers food to homes and helps connect people with other needed services.

Michael Gulotta – 1999, B.A. Studio Art. Executive chef and co-owner, Mopho and Maypop restaurants in New Orleans.

Kristin Malone Johnson – 2009, B.S. Management. Owner and creative director, Home Malone. The Mid-City retail shop specializes in selling work from local artists, including artwork, clothing and home décor.

Kyley Pulphus – 2003, B.A. Communications. Director of 826 New Orleans, a national writing program. Pulphus works with young children writers to publish books.    

Vivek Shah – 2012. M.S. Urban & Regional Planning. Shah is the director of transit planning for the RTA. He is currently working on a network redesign of the New Orleans transit system.

Paul Thibodeaux – 2010, B.A. Music. Coordinator, Feed the Second Line. Thibodeaux, a musician, helps support elderly “cultural bearers,” with food deliveries and other services during the pandemic.

Todd Wackerman – 2014, Master’s in secondary education general science. Director and co-founder, STEM Library Lab. The lab provides school access to special equipment, lesson plans and training via annual memberships.