Academy of Distinguished Alumni
The Academy of Distinguished Alumni was created in 2011 by Bowling Green State University and its Alumni Association. The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the University and was established to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of alumni who have made significant contributions to their chosen professional field and through their community involvement. The University is proud to honor those alumni who have inspired their country, state, community and BGSU.
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
6 p.m. Reception | 6:30 p.m. Dinner and Program
Bowen-Thompson Student Union | Lenhart Grand Ballroom
$75 per person | $500 per table (party of 8)
Dress is black tie optional.
The 2024 Class of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni:
Dr. Laurence "Larry" Benz ’84
Jeff B. Witjas ’68
Jeff Witjas worked his way up from the mailroom at a Hollywood agency nearly 50 years ago to become one of the leading talent agents and leaders in the entertainment industry. In his current role at Independent Artist Group (IAG), Witjas continues to agent and represent various artists in Hollywood.
Witjas is widely recognized for his role as the longtime agent of the late Betty White, with whom he had a close personal and professional relationship. Other past and present clients include Jason Momoa, Smokey Robinson, Mary Tyler Moore, Buzz Aldrin, Bill Maher, Jerry Lewis, Ernie Hudson and Garry Shandling.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Witjas played in professional tennis tournaments and ran an indoor tennis club in Englewood, New Jersey, from 1971-75.
While attending his first year of law school in 1977 at Western State University College of Law in Irvine, California, a chance encounter on the tennis court led to a full-time job in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency. When he finished law school, Witjas became a talent agent and worked his way up through the ranks to become a vice president. He worked in all aspects of show business for the agency, helping to create the agency’s sports division. His first client was a young Kobe Bryant.
In 2001, after 25 years at William Morris, Witjas started as a senior vice president in the Talent Department at the Agency for The Performing Arts (APA) and later became a partner in the company. APA became IAG (Independent Artist Group) in 2023 and has grown into a powerhouse talent agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville.
Witjas was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in New Rochelle, New York. He attended Bowling Green State University, majoring in political science with a minor in philosophy. At BGSU, Witjas joined a fraternity, was voted Key King for the class of 1968, played on the tennis team, and served as vice president of the student body and the first president of the Undergraduate Alumni Association.
In 2024, Witjas was appointed to the board of directors of the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue in Malibu, California.
Seshadri S. Tangutur ’87
Updated: 09/27/2024 12:14PM