Franklin University Celebrated its Annual Alumni Award for Professional Excellence

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: [email protected]

Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults in central Ohio, celebrated its 183rd Commencement on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Along with honoring the graduates, the University recognized Tatjana Brown with the Alumni Award for Professional Excellence.

Tatjana Brown began her career at the Lane Bryant corporate office in visual merchandising and marketing. Over the past 25 years, she has worked with nationally recognized brands including Express, The Limited, and Saks Fifth Avenue, gaining extensive experience in retail operations, marketing and customer service.

In 2008, Tatjana and her husband opened Meza Wine Shop in the heart of Uptown Westerville, Ohio. As one of the first businesses of its kind in the historically dry district, they credit their early commitment to the area as part of the broader growth and revitalization that followed. Her passion for community engagement found a natural home through the business.

Recognizing the need for more consistent and sustainable fundraising opportunities - particularly for local PTO/PTA organizations and extracurricular groups - Tatjana developed an infrastructure to support large-scale fundraising efforts. Through this work, she has helped raise more than $30,000 annually for local schools and community organizations.

As a local business owner, Tatjana understands the importance of thoughtful decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning; and when she saw a need in her school community, she decided to run for a seat on the Westerville City Schools Board of Education.

Tatjana earned her bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University and a master's degree in marketing and communications from Franklin University.

Congratulations, Tatjana!

About the Franklin University Alumni Awards
The Franklin University Alumni Awards were created to recognize the many achievements of Franklin University alumni, both professionally and personally. The awards, open to all alumni, distinguish accomplishments in three categories: professional excellence, social impact, and alumnus of the year.

One of the three awards is announced at each of the University's Commencement ceremonies on a rotating basis. The Franklin University Alumni Advisory Council considers nominations and makes its recommendations to the University's president for approval.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

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