Phil Weilerstein

Phil has led VentureWell since its founding in 1996 and today serves as president and CEO. By developing and expanding VentureWell’s programs on a national and global scale, Phil has helped advance VentureWell’s mission to solve global challenges through science- and technology-driven innovation and entrepreneurship. He’s accomplished this goal by designing and overseeing a suite of programs that encourage and support the deeper engagement of higher education and research institutions in curricular innovation, and developing and strengthening innovation communities. Phil is committed to sharing VentureWell’s learnings and resources to support the creation of inclusive and more equitable pathways for student innovators to succeed in venture creation. Under Phil’s leadership, VentureWell has collaborated with key science funding agencies, major philanthropies, and hundreds of universities to train and support thousands of emerging students, researchers, and faculty innovators. After celebrating VentureWell’s milestone 25-year anniversary in 2021, Phil remains driven to fortify the broader innovation ecosystem and continue guiding the launch of groundbreaking innovations. Phil attended the University of Massachusetts, where he was a co-founder of a biotechnology company developing naturally occurring pest control products. He is a founder and past chair of the ASEE Entrepreneurship Division, and a recipient of the 2008 Price Foundation Innovative Entrepreneurship Educators Award, the 2014 Engineering Entrepreneurship Pioneers Award from ASEE, and the 2016 Deshpande Symposium Award for Outstanding Contributions to Advancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.

Megan Aanstoos

Megan supports the VentureWell and National Institutes of Health RADx^® partnership program. Previously, she provided technology transfer assistance and education to academic early-stage innovators in Kentucky and Ohio as a licensing and new ventures manager. Megan is a co-founder of GEDITT and serves on the board of the Association of University Technology Managers. She received her doctorate and completed postdoctoral training from Colorado State University in Biomedical Engineering, after earning an M.S.E. from the University of Utah and a B.S.E. from Case Western Reserve University.

Chithra Adams

Chithra Adams brings to her role 15 years of experience in program evaluation, including successfully leading an evaluation team for the last nine years. She has worked across multiple disciplines evaluating programs of varying scale in: special education, employment, mental health and substance use, community integration, health and wellness, translation science, and assistive technology. Chithra has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Kentucky.

Jameelah Adas

Jameelah provides support for federally-funded programs at VentureWell including NSF I-Corps™, I-Corps™ at NIH, and Industry-University Cooperative Research Center Assessment Management Program. She brings experience from the Chicago nonprofit and philanthropy space in the financial development and programmatic support of emerging organizations and social entrepreneurs. Jameelah holds a B.A. in Psychology and Communication and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management, both from DePaul University.

Gila Aispuro

Gila is responsible for the day-to-day configuration, maintenance, and improvement of the Salesforce database in addition to serving as a partner in community engagement tools. Her work at VentureWell began as a program officer for the I-Corps and Frontier Set programs. Through that role, she had the opportunity to help redesign a Salesforce site and later became a system administrator after discovering that she really enjoyed it. Gila has a B.A. from the University of Arizona and an M.Sc. in Practicing Sustainable Development from Royal Holloway University of London. 

OKina Alford

OKina is responsible for managing vendor relationships and overseeing procurement processes at VentureWell. She has 10 years of federal procurement experience in the public sector, specifically school district procurement. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, an MBO in Operations Management, and a Bachelor’s in Journalism; she is also a certified Registered Texas School Business Administrator through the Texas Association of School Business Officials.

Camillo Archuleta

Camillo coordinates activities that are key for the implementation of the VentureWell Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) Assessment Management Program. He supports the development of a range of industry partners to support the VentureWell early stage innovators and a vibrant i&e ecosystem. Previously he worked as a commercial lines underwriter, consultant, and startup co-founder. His education background includes a B.B.A. in Finance and Operations and an M.B.A. with a focus on data analytics from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.

Olivia Arstein-Kerslake

Olivia leads the data management for Higher Education and Global Programs, including developing data infrastructure and creating data products. Previously, Olivia worked in nonprofit data roles where she streamlined data systems, conducted a quantitative analysis to drive program decision-making, and created compelling data visualizations. Olivia holds a B.S. in Cognitive Sciences and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a M.Ed. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Cat Ashe

Cat provides programmatic and administrative support to VentureWell’s partners within the Blueprint MedTech Incubator Hubs initiative. Cat brings eight years of program coordination experience, including roles as assistant director of Disability Services at the University of Georgia and senior program coordinator for the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award. Cat holds an M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Human Services and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Jordan Ashwood

Jordan supports the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub, a network of partners committed to making healthcare more accessible and inclusive for all Americans. She brings a decade of experience in strategic partnership development, in which her work has focused on mentorship, training, and funding to support emerging innovators and entrepreneurs in education, healthcare, sustainability, and technology fields. Jordan holds a B.A. in Sociology and African American Studies from Harvard College and a M.Sc. in International Social Policy from The London School of Economics.

Wen Yi Aw

Wen Yi will support the Data Systems team with the management, documentation, cleaning, and quality assurance of data related to NSF I-Corps™ regional hubs. She previously worked as part of an academic research team collecting data on small chocolate makers; most recently, she cleaned and managed data for a math tutoring center and for a vote tracking software. Wen Yi holds a B.S. in Applied Math and an M.S. in Information Management from the University of Washington.

Kendra Balukonis

Kendra is involved in all aspects of the accounts payable process at VentureWell. Kendra has experience in a number of complex aspects of accounting, including managing a company’s credit card system, reconciling accounts, and applying proper practices and procedures to finance work. She is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University, pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Accounting.

Cara Barnes

Cara leads VentureWell’s early-stage innovator programs both domestically and globally and has deep experience in medtech venture development. With a background in technology development and public health, she helps innovators address the challenges of developing and implementing innovative solutions in complex global health systems. Prior to joining VentureWell, Cara was a scientist at Diagnostics For All, where she developed point-of-care diagnostics for low-resources settings and led field trials in Zambia. Cara has an M.S. in chemistry from the University of Utah and an M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins University

Lauren Baur

Lauren supports data management, including data cleaning, quality control, research, and documentation of program outcomes, specifically focused on NSF I-Corps™. She has over 10 years of experience working with data in the context of ecology research. She holds a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in ecology.

Patrick Beattie

Patrick focuses on the Ventures programs Ascend and Aspire. He has a rich and exciting background in healthtech and entrepreneurship, including serving as the first employee at Diagnostics For All, a nonprofit point-of-care diagnostics company, and co-founding Redbird, a digital healthtech startup enabling pharmacies to offer rapid diagnostic test services in West Africa. Patrick holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from the University of Oxford and is a Skoll Scholar for Social Entrepreneurship.

Mila Beck

Mila manages accounts payable and vendor invoices while assisting with reconciliations and reporting. Mila has experience in accounting, specializing in accounts payable, payroll, and vendor management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Cibertec in Peru. As a bilingual professional (English and Spanish), Mila values continuous learning and brings an international perspective to her work.

Kelly Bedeian

Kelly supports new and existing programs on the ESI/global programs team. She brings over 25 years of experience managing international development programs, focusing on professional development, arts diplomacy, citizen exchange, and entrepreneurship. Her professional background includes employment with the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program and the Institute for International Business. Kelly has an undergraduate degree in Linguistics and an M.B.A. with graduate certificates in Innovation and Leadership from the University of Iowa.

Andrew Bogacz

Andrew (he/him/his) brings 13 years of experience to the IS team. Most recently, he was a Creative/Teacher with Apple. Andrew also worked with advanced robots at Springfield Technical Community College’s School of Health to facilitate experiences for students earning their degrees in the health sciences field. Andrew has degrees in Theater and Mortuary Science.

Laini Boyd

Laini works with the Brand and Content Strategy team to develop content for various media, including social media, print, and web-based materials. In a previous role, she led a multi-region partnership to build systems to capture regional stories and amplify network impact through email marketing; at another nonprofit, she stewarded the development of a statewide public awareness campaign. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mike Brizek

Mike leads and collaborates with his team to advance partnerships at the university, industry, and government levels. He was previously the program director of UIDP, where he led partnership engagement of top universities, industries, and federal agencies. He served in leadership roles in academia for 25 years, and has historically held close partnerships with federal programs through the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the DOE, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. He holds a Ph.D. from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, as well as Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees from the University of South Carolina.

Sarah Bucko

Sarah assists with financial reporting and accounting functions at VentureWell, including federal award compliance, budget management, and account reconciliations. She is also responsible for overseeing accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Sarah is a C.P.A. with a background in Audit and received her B.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dani Cattan

Dani manages the development team’s data systems and provides support for a wide breadth of grant proposals, concept notes, and funder reports. Prior to VentureWell, Dani worked in the arts nonprofit sector, where she developed, coordinated, and managed a portfolio of programs and funding opportunities centered in social justice and accessibility. Dani received a B.A. in Latinx Studies, Art Activism, and Photography from Hampshire College, and an M.P.A. in Nonprofit Management and Social Welfare Policies from the City University of New York – Baruch College.

Allyson Chabot

Allyson leads the financial reporting and accounting functions at VentureWell including grants accounting, funder/federal compliance, tax matters, and budget management. She also oversees the payroll, accounts payable/purchasing, and accounts receivable functions of the organization with a focus on internal controls and process efficiency. She holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as an M.S. in Accounting from Western New England University.

Trice Clark

Trice works to optimize purchasing and procurement strategies, with an eye toward enhancing efficiency and sustainability. She has worked in procurement for school districts for over a decade, where she completed high-priority projects including launching a new credit card program for a travel/procurement department and facilitating supplier refunds for overpayment of goods and services. Trice holds an M.B.A. in Management Information Systems from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas.

Claire Coletti

Claire Coletti coordinates ongoing communications on behalf of the GIST Program at VentureWell. She has a rich and varied background, including design work for various community organizations and nonprofits, often with a strong emphasis on social justice and advocacy; she is also the founder of a tech-finance startup dedicated to developing cooperative housing. Claire holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture and a minor in Tech Entrepreneurship.

Tricia Compas-Markman

Tricia implements and supports VentureWell’s early-stage entrepreneur programs, providing training for innovators on topics ranging from customer discovery to investment-readiness. Previously, Tricia founded and led DayOne Response, a science and technology startup providing clean drinking water solutions to vulnerable communities. During her tenure, she built a company with international reach, developed key partnerships, invented and scaled water technologies, and secured financing, which resulted in reaching 35+ countries and saving lives. Tricia received her B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Civil/Environmental Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Taylor Conger

Taylor leads global programming for entrepreneurs participating in the Ventures programs. She has more than 15 years of experience coaching and supporting global changemakers through her work with the Duke-UNICEF Innovation Accelerator, Echoing Green, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, and the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University. Taylor holds a Master’s in Public Health, a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Marist College.

Nick D'Amico

Nick builds and enhances software tools that help VentureWell realize its mission of change. He strives to engineer simple solutions to complex problems. He holds a B.S. from Boston University.

Chris Desrosiers

Chris Desrosiers leads the accounting, financial planning and analysis, contracts, and compliance functions of the organization. Chris has over 15 years of experience managing federal awards with various government agencies. Prior to joining VentureWell, Chris was an entrepreneur in the mortgage and real estate industries. Chris earned his B.A. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts and his M.B.A. from American International College.

Rokia Diakite

Rokia works in accounting with the finance team at VentureWell. She began her career in accounting several years ago, when she started her own business providing tax and bookkeeping services to local small businesses. Since then, she has held a range of roles in the field, including Staff Accountant, Senior Accountant, Accounting Office Manager, and Human Resource Administrator. She holds both an Associate’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Elana Diaz

Elana Diaz focuses on NIH I-Corps™ and NIH Bootcamp programming. Previously, Elana served as a coordinator with the City University of New York (CUNY) Blackstone LaunchPad Program, where she engaged in innovation & entrepreneurship programming, internal and external relationship-building, developing and managing the Student Ambassador program, student coaching and mentorship, reporting to stakeholders, and more. Elana holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Teaching from Butler University.

Ian Dinnie

Ian supports VentureWell’s data systems team in management, reporting, and product creation for the NSF I-Corps™, SBIR Bootcamp, I-Corps™ at the NIH, and more. He previously worked at a nonprofit economic consulting company, where he used data to study a variety of topics related to labor markets, economic development, and demographics. He holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Data Analytics and Computational Social Science.

Patricia Dorsher

Patricia works collaboratively to steward and expand funding from an array of sources, specifically focusing on Higher Education Innovation Ecosystems programs. Patricia has been working in business development for eight years, and in 2022, her acquisition rate was over 90% for bids she led, wrote, or substantially contributed to. She holds a B.A. in Japanese Studies from DePaul University and an M.P.P. from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, focusing on nonprofit leadership and management.

Courtney Drauschke

Courtney oversees brand- and development-related marketing across the organization through the design of full-scale integrated marketing and communications campaigns. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, Courtney has worked for companies of all sizes in fields including advertising, publishing, higher education, and healthcare. Courtney holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Colby College and a Master’s in Corporate and Organizational Communication from Northeastern University.

Maurice Dunn

Maurice focuses on identifying foundations and corporations that align with VentureWell’s mission, as well as supporting the cultivation of stewardship of these partners. During his time at Johns Hopkins University, he identified more than 300 new research funding opportunities and standardized corporate and foundation prospect strategy. He holds a B.A. in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Katie Dzugan

Katie works on the federal innovation team focusing on NSF I-Corps™ national courses and supports Global Innovation through Science and Technology’s Innovation Hub community. She brings more than 12 years of experience in entrepreneurship education and learning experience design. Prior to returning to VentureWell, she scaled a global leadership program across 15 countries through community development, efficient operations, and program management. Katie holds an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Nonprofits & Communications and a B.A. in Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Cindy Eisenberg

Jesse Flanagan

Jesse supports GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) programming for entrepreneurs around the globe. He has experience leading innovation teams and scaling up operations for a social enterprise that provides agricultural support services in East Africa, and has been supporting idea-stage entrepreneurs since 2014. He started his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador. Jesse holds a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in Social Sciences from Trinity International University.

Eliza Gallo

Eliza oversees digital content as part of VentureWell’s marketing and communications strategy, with a focus on websites, social media, and email marketing. Prior to joining the company, she worked in university communications, launching and developing a variety of websites, blogs, and social media channels, with the goal of presenting institutional content in an engaging, appealing way. Eliza also draws on her experience as a magazine journalist, at publications ranging from Architectural Digest to Archaeology Magazine. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University.

Max Germer

Max is the designer for marketing and communications for VentureWell and partner programs. He oversees the visual brand voice throughout the organization and strives to create engaging, impactful design in print and web. Max has 25 years of leading creative teams, including as senior designer for E-commerce at Yankee Candle and art director for Darby O’Brien Advertising. Max holds a B.S. in Graphic Design from Keene State College. 

Kelly Gorman

Kelly supports the intake and processing of accounts payable, and assists with consultant contracting. Drawing on her strong background in administration and customer service, she cheerfully balances the routine of regular implementation against the ever changing tide of as-needed items. Her prior work experience is predominantly administrative, but also includes several years of organic farming. She is deeply invested in sustainability, as well as supporting innovators and entrepreneurs working to change the world.

Alex Guardo

Alex supports the RADx^® innovation funnel program teams via administrative oversight, collaborative engagement, and record-keeping. She joined VentureWell after working as a process improvement engineer at OraSure Technologies, specializing in continuous improvement of Type II medical devices—specifically in the lateral flow/diagnostics assay industry—and has managed projects and provided engineering perspective within multiple startup companies. She holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Medical Devices, and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering.

Lauren Gunterman

Lauren Gunterman supports data stewardship and management efforts to aid VentureWell in using data for decision-making. In a previous position at Eastern Kentucky University, she helped to pioneer the Data Initiatives Team by training new members, supporting university projects, and streamlining processes. She holds a B.A. in Psychology, a B.A. in Spanish, and a M.S. in Psychology.

Emalee Hall

Emalee supports VentureWell’s climatetech and investment-readiness accelerator programs, including the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator. She has deep experience in developing startup accelerators and building curricula, as well as expertise in intellectual property strategy and technology transfer. Emalee holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics, with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Maine.

Stefanie Hallberg

Stefanie leads data and evaluation of ventures and commercialization programs. She has served as a program evaluator for over 16 years in nonprofit, higher education, and philanthropic organizations for programs in social services, workforce development, education, and public health. She holds a B.S. in psychology from Worcester State University and an M.A. in psychology with a co-concentration in organizational behavior and program evaluation from Claremont Graduate University.

Annie Harris

Annie oversees communications strategy for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Investor Catalyst Hub, recruiting and engaging new hub members, and promoting the work of the hub and opportunities for member contribution. She has worked in healthcare communications for leading medical organizations for more than eight years, with extensive experience developing and executing communications strategies, integrating public relations, internal communications, and marketing to promote brand awareness and develop an organization’s reputation. Annie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Virginia.

Loyd Jones

Loyd supports the IT Operations team in optimizing infrastructure, systems, and security to align with the organization’s strategic goals, ensuring reliable and secure operations, and empowering the IT Operations team to achieve their objectives. His career accomplishments include fostering high-performing teams through mentorship and engagement, implementing scalable technical support solutions with an emphasis on customer satisfaction, and leading a major IT infrastructure overhaul at OceanX, which resulted in an improvement in system reliability and a $6M annualized reduction in operational costs. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from CSU Fullerton, as well as an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from Kaplan University.

Kayla Kemp

Kayla works within the accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll functions at VentureWell, to ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and organization policies. She brings seven years of accounting experience, including five years in public accounting auditing nonprofit entities. Kayla holds a B.S. Business Administration degree in Accounting from Arkansas Tech University.

Margo Kinney-Petrucha

Margo assists with information management and communication for NSF I-Corps™, I-Corps™ at NIH, and the Industry-University Cooperative Research Center Assessment Management Program. Prior to joining the Programs team, she supported the Finance department by processing accounts payable, tracking consultant information, and facilitating panel discussions, with a primary focus on the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics initiative. She joined VentureWell as a Webinar Facilitator for NSF I-Corps™ and I-Corps™ at NIH. She is a 2020 Hampshire College graduate with a B.A. in Mixed Media and Creative Writing.

Joey Kleiner

Joey Kleiner designs and builds data infrastructure, including maintaining and improving data processes at VentureWell. He previously worked for nearly 10 years at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of Water Supply, where he helped lead data engineering and modeling efforts, with a focus on environmental sustainability in water resources. Joey holds a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, and has continued his professional development over the years by completing several technical courses ranging from SQL to tools in Python.

Amy LaDue

Amy processes accounts payable and focuses on supporting the biomedical programs at VentureWell. Amy’s professional experience includes working with public, private, and nonprofit companies in various accounting roles. Amy holds an associate’s degree from Monroe Community College.

Calvin Lamb

Calvin supports the administration of contracts and works to help lead and develop Contracts staff. Calvin has over 14 years of experience in the federal contracting space, supporting various agencies and contracting vehicles, and he has spent the last eight years in the managed healthcare industry. Calvin is a lifelong learner and has his sights set on a National Contract Management Association certification for Federal Contract Managers.

Samantha Langan

Sam provides evaluation support for VentureWell’s Higher Ed Catalyst Team. She has worked both internally and independently as an evaluator, collaborating closely with stakeholders to design and conduct formative and developmental evaluations, facilitating logic modeling with staff working within complex systems, and helping lead strategic development and planning work. She holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s in Applied Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Melissa Lawrence

Melissa works with internal program teams to provide contracting support, including drafting, reviewing, and administering contracts and modifications. Throughout her career, Melissa has leveraged her collaboration skills to drive change management initiatives, including playing a key role in launching Merative as an independent startup following the sale of Watson Health by IBM in 2022. She was recognized multiple times with significant awards for providing customer service excellence throughout her IBM career. Melissa holds a B.A. in Sociology from Wake Forest University.

Jianming Li

Ming manages and delivers resources to support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) RADx and Blueprint Neuro MedTech programs at VentureWell. Previously, Ming served as research faculty at Purdue University, where he led a neuroengineering research group and co-founded a biotech company commercializing antimicrobial products. Ming was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship and NSF GK-12 fellow and received his postdoctoral training and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He also holds a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Westley Lighthall

Westley provides programmatic support within the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. Throughout her career, Westley has focused on improving equitable access to healthcare services, building strategic partnerships, and implementing evidence-based interventions and projects around pediatric health and cancer prevention. She has experience working in hospital, government, and academic environments, including on large-scale national research networks. Westley holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Colgate University and an M.P.H. from the Colorado School of Public Health.

Tara Loomis

Tara manages the I-Corps™ national courses, including faculty development and curriculum improvements. In addition, she leads the development of new I-Corps™ initiatives such as I-Corps™ at NIH. Tara also manages the Lean LaunchPad for Educators workshop, which takes place twice a year. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola University New Orleans, an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the Ohio State University, and an M.B.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mandy MacLeod

Mandy leads the implementation of VentureWell’s internal Knowledge Management strategy helping to create a culture of learning and sharing. She serves as a liaison across departments and roles within the organization, building awareness of existing tools and identifying ways these tools can be improved to better meet the needs of staff. She previously worked in libraries focusing on metadata creation and management in addition to reference services. Mandy holds an M.L.S. from Simmons University and a B.A. in Marketing from Baylor University.

Elisa Mai

Mark Marino

Mark leads VentureWell’s growth strategy, including new business cultivation and portfolio expansion of individual, foundation, corporate, and government revenue. This is accomplished through integrated partnerships and development work tied closely with VentureWell’s marketing, communications, and events. He also serves as principal investigator and project director for several VentureWell initiatives. Mark has over 20 years of experience in U.S. and global health organizations leading operations, business development, board governance, program development, and administration. He has a background in molecular biology and infectious disease diagnostics and received a B.A. in Zoology and Neuroscience from Miami University, Ohio, and an M.P.H. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Jenny Marsh

Jenny provides programmatic support and manages vendor relations within the Blueprint MedTech Incubator Hubs and Translator initiative. She holds seven years of research experience, has been involved with outreach in various leadership positions, and also worked in teaching and tutoring in STEM fields for five years. She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, a B.S. in Quantitative Science from Emory University, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Iowa State University.

Daniel Matro

Daniel focuses on learning, maintaining, and improving a portfolio of core IS-related systems and tools, and acts as a go-to IS resource for the teams and staff who use them. In past positions, he has overseen the implementation of new tools and processes to improve workflow and communication, and has worked to train others on updated procedures. Daniel holds an associate’s degree in Math and Science, and is working to finish his bachelor’s degree.

Claire McDonald

Claire works collaboratively to support ARPA-H in the development of emerging programmatic opportunities that accelerate health innovation, including the Sprint for Women’s Health. She is driven to combine program management skills, relationship building, and strategic thinking to accelerate innovation in health and medicine. Previous positions include project manager for a biotech accelerator, and scientific fellow for Science Foundation Ireland. She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, and a Certified Diploma in Project Management.

Erika Mijlin

Erika provides project management systems, cohort oversight, and manages staffing needs for several federally-funded programs at VentureWell, including NSF I-Corps and the SBIR Bootcamp. Her work in this role draws on long and varied experience as an educator, at institutions such as Temple University and Bennington College, and as a media producer, including the co-founding of Artifact Pictures, a documentary and animation production company in Philadelphia. Her education includes a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.F.A. in Filmmaking from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rebekah Montañez-Duarte

Rebekah supports the development team by managing the creation of proposals and reports, coordinating development activities, and maintaining and enhancing the team’s use of systems and tools. She has experience managing events and working on donor fundraising efforts. Rebekah holds a Bachelor’s in History and Legal Studies from William Paterson University, and a Master’s in Global Affairs from Rutgers University.

Sara Kay Mooney

Sara Kay brings over a decade of experience working in nonprofit marketing and communications. Most recently, she served as the director of Marketing & Communications for Education Pioneers, where her work included leading an enterprise-level rebranding initiative, a comprehensive website redesign, updating core collateral, and establishing a regularly convening cross-functional communications committee. Sara Kay holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Davidson College and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina–Greensboro.

Liz Muenzen

Liz supports the Finance Department and the RADx Initiative in processing accounts payable and tracking consultant documentation. She has a background in Social Work and has worked in area nonprofits for five years in homelessness and mental health, with a focus on helping youth and young adults. Liz holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Rebekah Neal

Rebekah leads VentureWell’s Commercialization programmatic advancements in the health sector, including VentureWell’s role as the Investor Catalyst Hub for ARPA-H and participation in the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx^®) initiative. She also provides support and expertise across VentureWell’s biomedical engineering– and medical technology–focused programs. Prior to VentureWell, Rebekah managed a portfolio of investments in discovery science, technology, and innovation ecosystem development, focused on early-stage innovation and innovators as a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rebekah holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Diane Nelson

Diane supports the design and delivery of commercialization programs that help ARPA-H performers bring breakthrough health innovations to market. She brings over a decade of experience revitalizing multi-million-dollar federal initiatives, building cross-institution collaborations, and guiding innovators through adoption and regulatory pathways. Diane has advanced equity in biopharma leadership pipelines, authored reproducibility standards adopted internationally, and advised on commercialization strategy across therapeutics, diagnostics, and devices. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and certifications in data science and artificial intelligence / machine learning.

Olivia Noel

Olivia supports VentureWell’s evaluation work across programs, including leading the Evaluation Team’s questionnaire development and methodology efforts. She brings a keen organizational eye from her previous positions with local and international nonprofits, which she uses to ensure consistency and efficiency in program evaluation at VentureWell. Olivia holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Hampshire College, where her research focused on globalization and traditional foodways. 

Megan O'Grady

Megan oversees the payroll and benefits functions at VentureWell. She also assists the finance department with budget management and contract compliance. She holds an M.B.A. and a B.S.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting, both from the University of Hartford.

Brenna O’Riordan

Brenna supports VentureWell’s growing work with the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. Her extensive experience in the health technology innovation space, particularly in digital health and hardware product development, uniquely positions her for this work. Brenna’s academic journey led her to graduate from St. John’s University with a degree in Psychology.

Rebecca Ogden

Rebecca supports the People Recruitment and Rewards work and owns the scheduling and coordination of interviews across a high volume of talent acquisition searches. She joined VentureWell after 10 successful years as an educator in the public school system, working with students diverse in race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Tampa.

Shefali Parikh

Shefali works primarily to ensure program success within the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. Previously, Shefali was Program Manager, Immunizations, for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she led a team of healthcare professionals to implement targeted interventions addressing vaccination barriers among school-aged children. She also managed $7 million in grant initiatives in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Public Health, increasing pediatric immunization coverage statewide for key vaccines. She holds a degree in Economics & Business Analytics from Indiana University, as well as a Master’s in Nutrition Education & Public Health from American University.

Jacki Purtell

Jacki supports the evaluation of the type I Princeton and University of Georgia’s regional innovation engine. For nearly 10 years, Jacki was the program evaluator and strategic plan coordinator for the DukeEngage program at Duke University, where she developed evaluations for all stakeholders. Throughout her career, Jacki has focused on creating inclusive evaluations. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Latin American Studies from Plattsburgh State University, and a Master of Public Policy from Duke University.

Nyla Ruiz

Nyla provides programmatic support within the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. Nyla has dedicated her career to advancing health equity and racial justice, focusing on local government initiatives and using her expertise in public health, strategic planning, and community engagement to drive equitable outcomes. She has collaborated to design and implement equity-centered initiatives such as the Racial Equity Dividends Index Report for the City of Minneapolis and a vaccine equity outreach campaign that increased vaccination rates among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) populations in Vermont. Nyla holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences with a Human Biology concentration from North Carolina State University and an M.P.H. with a concentration in Health Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Angela Russo

Angela supports the marketing and promotion of VentureWell early-stage venture programs, faculty grants, and events, as well as collateral development and design. Prior to joining VentureWell, she worked in publishing, higher education, and technology development, where she helped both corporations and non-profit organizations find their vision and stay true-to-brand. She has expertise in marketing strategy, collateral design, and project management. Angela received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Lyris Safa

Lyris Safa works closely with members of the Finance team to support in the financial planning of VentureWell. With over a decade of previous accounting experience, she has prepared budgets for multiple programs, overseen process flow for managing budgets, and successfully helped a charter organization spend down restricted state funding before its expiration date. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business, with an emphasis in Accounting, from California State Polytechnic University.

Chelsea Schiller

Chelsea leads VentureWell’s work with the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. Chelsea has a background in health innovation and prior to VentureWell built and led a health accelerator to scale up innovative health solutions for pandemic response. She holds an M.B.A. and an M.P.A. from Presidio Graduate School, a Certificate in Venture Capital from the University of California Berkeley, and a B.A. in Leadership from Seattle University.

Serenity Schultt

Serenity plays a key role in supporting our accounting operations by assisting in the full accounts payable process and month-end tasks. Serenity brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to the team, with over 25+ years of accounting experience from various industries. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Heidelberg College.

Harrison Sharitt

Harrison maintains data integrity across various VentureWell systems and provides insights with his data analytic capabilities. He previously worked at an environmental engineering consulting firm where he produced statistical analyses and data visualizations for high-profile client projects. Harrison holds an M.S. in Statistics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Katie Solley

Katie assists with VentureWell’s early-stage innovator programs. Having gone through the E-Team Program herself as a founder of a medtech company, she is eager to share her entrepreneurial experience with student teams on their own journeys. Katie has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in Bioengineering Innovation and Design from Johns Hopkins University.

Mandy Sutton

Mandy organizes and implements GIST (Global Innovation through Science and Technology) programming for young innovators around the world. She brings to this role nearly a decade of higher education student services experience, having worked in the fields of study abroad and international entrepreneurship at UCLA and University of Texas-Austin. Mandy holds a B.A. in English from UCLA and an M.S. in Information Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.

Christina Tamer

Christina leads VentureWell’s Ventures programming, supporting a community of entrepreneurs, startups, and investors across the country and around the globe. She has over 15 years of experience working with startups as an investor, accelerator program instructor, coach, and program designer and manager. Prior to VentureWell, she worked at a seed-stage impact venture fund, where she built a portfolio of 18 technology companies around the world. Christina holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Management from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Rachelle Thurow

Rachelle supports the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) team and other early-stage innovator programming for inventive entrepreneurs around the world. She is passionate about promoting equitable access to valuable STEM and experiential education opportunities and brings to VentureWell her experience in managing all aspects of impactful, high-quality programming in both the business and education spaces. Rachelle holds a B.S. in Human Services Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

Polly Todd

Polly works collaboratively to support evaluation for a range of projects and programs in the Higher Education Innovation Ecosystems (HEIE) vertical, specifically those supported by the Federal Innovation Team. She is well suited to support the HEIE vertical, with 13 years of prior experience in higher education, eight of which were spent working in program evaluation, assessing outcomes of community-based programs designed to prevent youth crime, violence, and drug use. Polly holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Colorado State University (CSU) and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Data Analytics from CSU Global.

Jahannie Torres-Rodríguez

Jahannie leads the data management for L2M and USVD programs. She facilitates data access and use by creating products such as visualizations, reports, and integrations with third-party data. Before joining VentureWell, Jahannie worked in developing non-profit data strategies, particularly assessing and measuring innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Jahannie holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering with a specialization in Computing Systems and a Minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez. She also completed a Professional Certificate in Data Science.

Colby Tuck

Colby’s accounting work at VentureWell focuses on government contracts and grants, specifically supporting Biomedical Engineering (BME) programs. His professional experiences include accounting work at organizations of various sizes, where he helped achieve greater efficiencies in internal workflows. Colby holds an accounting degree from Albion College.

Marquita Waites

Marquita supports grant administration, procurement, and solicitation processes, helping to enhance operational efficiency and cross-functional collaboration across VentureWell. She is known for her ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and attention to detail while building positive relationships with vendors and colleagues. Marquita enjoys collaborating with others, brings a positive attitude to her work, and is always eager to learn, grow, and contribute wherever needed. She holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from Grambling State University.

Nichole Walsh

Nichole supports the finance team by processing accounts payable invoices and payments, and plugging in to work on other accounting projects as needed. She comes to VentureWell with vast experience working in the diverse field of clerical accounting, from government accounting with the City of Oak Grove, Kentucky, to accounting with a generationally owned corporate newspaper office in New York. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Auburn University Montgomery and is finishing a B.S. in Accounting at Southern New Hampshire University.

Janna Walters-Gidseg

Janna collaborates with Programs staff, Shared Services staff, and external constituents to manage end-to-end grant and competition program timelines and processes. Janna has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years across multiple fields, including innovation and entrepreneurship, social services, education, and performing arts; she has a proven track record of developing and implementing successful programs to uplift and champion underrepresented voices. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Earlham College and a Master’s of Public Ethics from the University of Ottawa.

Grace Wang

Grace ensures and enriches the quality and integrity of VentureWell’s data by implementing data maintenance processes and integrating third-party data. She holds an M.S. in Statistics and Data Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Wendy Westbroek

Wendy focuses on the coordination of federal proposals and reports, expanding VentureWell’s capacity and deepening its expertise with regard to agency-specific pre- and post-award processes and procedures. A biomedical researcher by training, Wendy spent 13 years at the National Institutes of Health as a postdoctoral fellow and staff scientist, before leaving the agency to teach at Salish Kootenai College and Flathead Valley Community College. Wendy holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Ghent University in Belgium.

Sarah Wharmby

Sarah supports VentureWell’s early-stage entrepreneurship programs, providing training for innovators in the Pioneer and Propel stages of the VentureWell Accelerator Program. Sarah has managed educational programs in both the nonprofit and higher education sectors; she has worked closely with social enterprises and social entrepreneurs, as well as student founders. Prior to joining VentureWell, Sarah managed entrepreneurship programming for undergraduate students at The Ohio State University. Sarah has a B.A. in Comparative Religion from Capital University and an M.T.S. in Ethics, also from Capital University.

Gillian Wilson

Gillian supports the development and implementation of communications strategies to raise awareness of the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub’s programs and events. She has eight years of experience overseeing digital communications at several organizations in Washington, D.C., including the United Nations Association, where she supported both external communications and internal outreach, and the U.S. Travel Association, where she was responsible for the development and execution of the organization’s digital communications strategy. She graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and International Studies.