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.

Hollie Alvarez

Hollie is the events lead at VentureWell, overseeing the planning and implementation of programs and events, and focusing significantly on the work of the Investor Catalyst Hub. Since 2014, Hollie has worked closely with VentureWell to execute flawless settings for early-stage innovators to network and learn, including work with the National Institutes of Health’s RADx^® Tech initiative, where she was named a RADx^® Distinguished Fellow. She holds dual Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Marketing and in Management, and a Master of Business Administration in Business Management.

Emma Angus

Emma works in accounts payable and receivable functions, handles VentureWell’s expense reports and credit card expenses, and assists in month-end and year-end close tasks. She has worked in the accounting field for eight years, predominantly in accounts payable, where prior accomplishments include process improvement and the development of different accounting systems. She holds a B.A. in Accounting from Colorado State University.

Emi Aprekuma

Emi will be guiding VentureWell in developing and implementing compliance policy. She brings her considerable experience collaborating with cross-departmental teams and governing boards to create user-friendly compliance programs at organizations, including association management firms, colleges, and medical schools, as well as government and healthcare institutions. Emi has a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a B.A. in Communication from Loyola University Chicago.

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.

Collis Arrick

Collis is responsible for leading subject matter experts teams at VentureWell, with a focus on driving efficiency, effectiveness, and operational excellence within VentureWell. He comes to VentureWell with over 20 years of experience achieving strategic objectives while providing strategic leadership, process improvement, and resource optimization within diverse industries. Collis Arrick has a B.S. in Finance and Business Management from Barton College and an M.B.A. from The University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, with a focus on Entrepreneurship.

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.

Baindu Bayon Paicely

Baindu cultivates federal funding relationships to enable the growth of VentureWell. Prior to joining VentureWell, Baindu was a Principal Consultant for BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting, where she specialized in the NIH and NSF Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Previously, she was an AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the NIH Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development Office. Baindu earned her Ph.D. in Medical & Molecular Genetics from the Indiana University School of Medicine.

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.

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.

Pamela Berry

Pamela develops and implements innovative communication strategies to effectively convey VentureWell’s mission and initiatives, leveraging her extensive experience in journalism, public relations, and marketing to engage and inspire diverse audiences. She has a rich background in newspaper journalism, strategic communication for higher education institutions, and nonprofit marketing communications. She holds a B.A. in English with a focus on Journalism from Jackson State University, and has completed coursework towards an M.S. in Mass Communications at the same institution.

Adam Blandford

Adam analyzes the impacts of VentureWell’s programs and assesses their outcomes using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. His prior experience includes applied economics research on behalf of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations, with specific emphasis on the energy industry and economic impact analyses. Adam holds an M.A. in International Commerce with a concentration in Development Economics from the Patterson School at the University of Kentucky.

Randy Block

Randy leads the Biomedical Engineering programs in VentureWell’s commercialization vertical, including work with the NIH RADx^® and Blueprint Neuro MedTech programs, as well as providing support across all of VentureWell’s biomedical engineering and health commercialization programs. He has decades of experience in medtech design, development, commercialization, and strategy, including directing innovation and commercialization programs for Intermountain Health, and founding four different medical device and technology startups. Randy holds an M.E. in Bioengineering from the University of Utah and dual B.S. degrees in Biology and Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

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.

Julianne Boulware

Julianne works with team leaders to ensure that VentureWell’s culture supports growth, learning, and development across the employee lifecycle. Prior to joining VentureWell, Julianne partnered with executive leaders in the nonprofit, municipal government, and private sectors to align their organizational goals to their programs and talent processes. She has a background in education entrepreneurship, program development, talent acquisition, and organizational effectiveness. Julianne has a B.A. in Psychology from Purdue University and a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Special Education from George Mason University.

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.

Quasi Brereton

Quasi Brereton works with staff across VentureWell to build and maintain our security posture and help elevate security awareness. He has worked with companies such as Coke, Twitter, and ICE (New York Stock Exchange), as well as smaller companies, to maintain cybersecurity and compliance. He holds Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in IT, is CompTIA Security+ certified, and is a member of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Open Web Application Security Project.

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.

Collin Bunch

Collin Bunch will be expanding the impact for the E-Team and ASPIRE programs in his role as Marketing and Communications Officer. He has a proven track record for reaching and engaging with diverse student and faculty teams, including meeting them through channels and groups they already trust. Collin holds an M.B.A. in Ethical & Strategic Leadership and an undergraduate degree in Marketing.

Safiya Cathey

Safiya manages a portfolio of awards including billings, budgeting, and financials, and is also responsible for performing functions around the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes. Safiyah brings a masterful balance of grant accounting and general accounting skills, including extensive experience in compliance for awards audits, conducting annual reconciliation of grant activities, and collaborating with IT partners to develop, test, and monitor internal systems for improved grant tracking and time allocation. She holds a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from Baruch College and an M.B.A. from Georgia Tech.

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.

Trey Cepeda

Trey drives the creative execution for the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub through multimedia design and brand strategy. Trey enjoys working on new concepts that push the envelope of visual storytelling through thoughtful design. His previous experience in marketing design, leading branding projects, scaling in-house creative production, and visual storytelling all align well with VentureWell’s goals and vision. Trey studied Graphic Arts & Multimedia at South East Career & Technical Academy.

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.

Nadine Coleman

Nadine brings over 20 years of experience in national recruiting and executive search experience to VentureWell. She has led full-cycle talent searches, and successfully recruited diverse leaders across sectors for organizations including City Year, Teach for America, the Boston Consulting Group. In her work as a Vice President of Executive Search with Koya Leadership Partners, Nadine evaluated and placed executives at multiple non-profits and institutions of higher education. Nadine holds a B.A. in Business from Northeastern University.

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.

Ernie Davis

Ernie Davis supports VentureWell’s growth in capacity-building and services for higher education innovation ecosystems. He most recently served as the innovation director and industrial liaison officer for an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center at Rice University, where he led innovation ecosystem development, industrial partner engagement, technology commercialization education, and advising for early-stage technology commercialization. Previously, he held the position of senior technology manager at Cornell University, and was the chief operating officer at Widetronix. Ernie holds two degrees from North Carolina State University: a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Management.

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.

Demetria Gallagher

Demetria leads programmatic work in higher education innovation ecosystems at VentureWell, advancing the impact of science and technology innovation stemming from higher ed ecosystems when academia, industry, and government sectors are brought together. She has led across multiple sectors including government, STEM, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Notably, she co-founded the Jamii Group, leading cross-sector business development, innovation, and social impact; she also served as a policy analyst and White House political appointee in the administration of former President Barack Obama. Demetria holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Planning from George Washington 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.

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.

Elizabeth Heald

Cassandra Healey

Cassandra supports VentureWell’s work with the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub. She has a rich background in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, where she has worked primarily as an analytical biochemist in drug discovery and environmental science. Cassandra holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and is a certified medical writer through the American Medical Writers Association.

Sharon Ho

Sharon plans and manages events for the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub, including meetings, in-person gatherings, and webinars. With over five years of experience in conference support, event planning, and program management, she handles customer service, budget creation, travel arrangements, and contract negotiations. Sharon holds a B.A. in Anthropology and East Asian Cultures from the University of California, Irvine, an international M.B.A. from the University of Iowa’s CIMBA Italy program, and an M.S. in Business Analytics from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.

Jason Huey

Jason serves in a leadership role for the IT Operations’ End User Support team, with a focus on optimizing key IT processes to improve efficiency and automation. Jason comes to VentureWell with a strong practical background in managing IT systems and applications. He is an Okta Certified Professional and a Jamf Certified professional, and holds an ITIL v4 certification. Beyond his technical IT background, Jason also mentored over 20 students in the Bay Area Year Up program, which helps underserved youth gain experience interning in a corporate environment.

M Jackson

M Jackson works on the federal innovation team focusing on the I-Corps™ national courses at the NSF and NIH. M is a National Geographic Society Explorer, TED Fellow, and three-time U.S. Fulbright Scholar including two U.S. Fulbright-National Science Foundation Arctic Research grants. M holds a post-doctorate and Ph.D. in climate change and glaciology from the University of Oregon, a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Montana, and a Bachelors of Arts from Western Washington University; serves as a Fulbright Ambassador, a climate change expert for the National Geographic Society; and was a Peace Corps Volunteer to Zambia.

Ayo Jide-Omole

Ayo ensures continuity in the daily operations of VentureWell’s risk mitigation and compliance programs in alignment with legal standards, industry regulations, and internal policies. She has extensive experience helping companies comply with national and international healthcare regulations, fundraising, grant management, privacy, and other compliance regulations, including 2 CFR 200 and FAR. Ayo holds an LL.B. from Babcock University in Nigeria and an LL.M. from Loyola University Chicago, and is currently licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Julia Johnson

Julia provides event management for VentureWell meetings, events, and programs. She brings more than 20 years of professional experience in conference support, event planning management, and event content/programming planning. She has handled everything from providing customer service to creating budgets, from creating travel arrangement packages to negotiating contracts and requests for proposals. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Meeting and Event Management. She currently holds four hospitality industry certifications, and she is a member of multiple professional meeting and events associations.

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.

Cassidy Joy

Cassidy supports communications strategy and implementation for the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub, as well as other projects and programs within the Health Commercialization vertical. She brings experience in providing communications, outreach, and research support for a variety of projects across global health security, vaccine science and technology, and social and behavioral science, and has worked on communications initiatives spanning the innovation pipeline. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s in International Studies from the University of Florida.

Jordie Kamuene

Jordie supports Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx^®) and Blueprint MedTech programs through consultant resource management, program administration, vendor and contract support, process development and maintenance for multiple IFCC programs, and assisting teams awarded development funds. As a biomedical scientist, Jordie brings not only a strong research background but also leadership experience to the role—she is adept at leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects in academic and industry settings. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from Northeastern University, and dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology from UMass Amherst.

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.

Shari Kouame

Shari deploys a myriad of financial reporting and accounting functions at VentureWell, including grants accounting, budget management, proposal development, and contract compliance. Her previous experience includes performing reconciliations, closing processes, tasks involved in the full grant/contract life cycle, proposal development, budget development, project management, contract compliance, and coordination of technical and financial deliverables. Shari holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting, an M.A. in Public Administration, and an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska.

Jessie Kuse

Jessie plays a key role in data collection and outcomes tracking for the Ventures and Commercialization programs. Throughout their career, Jessie has created processes that increased efficiency and accuracy for data collection and management. Additionally, Jessie reviewed, screened, and organized nominations and applicants for the Future Class, a program to honor individuals around the world who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future for video games. Jessie holds a degree in Technical Writing with a Minor in Psychology.

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.

Stefanie Leite

Stefanie provides support for learning and evaluation within VentureWell’s early-stage entrepreneurship programs. Stefanie has served as an evaluation analyst for 13 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.

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.

Leah Loch

Leah supports VentureWell’s mission via strategic, well organized, and creative marketing and communications. She has over a decade of experience promoting entrepreneurship education in grades K-14+. She has collaborated with executives at the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship on a communications strategy including email, website, webinars, print materials, social media, events, and press, and more. She graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a B.A. in Communications and Spanish and a Minor in Child Studies.

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.

Derek Lucas

As Systems Engineer in the IT Operations department, Derek Lucas manages the macOS, Linux, and SaaS infrastructure backbone of VentureWell. He is an accomplished professional in systems and security, with a proven track record in redesigning and enhancing JAMF instances, developing efficient automations, and creating zero-touch setup processes to improve user experience and productivity. He is a JAMF Certified Professional.

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.

Steffi Madorf

Steffi works collaboratively to steward and expand funding from an array of sources, specifically focusing on Commercialization Programs and Learning and Evaluation initiatives. In her career, Steffi has managed diverse portfolios of grants from various funders—including government agencies, industry partners, and foundations—and secured significant funding for impactful programs, including proposal development efforts resulting in the establishment of the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Research and Development department. She holds a B.A. in International Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas, and a Master’s in Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Elisa Mai

Patrick Maloney

Patrick works to extract insights from data and to supply program teams with the information and tools they need to succeed. He was previously an analyst for Northwestern University in the international security department, where he developed predictive models for assessing risks on international programs; he has also worked as a data science consultant for insurance companies, NGOs, and political campaigns. Patrick holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, and a Master’s degree in Data Science from the City University of New York.

Shaheen Mamawala

Shaheen leads internal communications, strategic support, and Board of Directors content development and engagement, and provides oversight for VentureWell’s grants administration and Hadley, Massachusetts, office management. She enthusiastically embraces the role of intrapreneur, and previously applied her passion for creating positive social change through cross-disciplinary collaboration as Health Policy Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services at the New York City Mayor’s Office. Shaheen is the original project director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Leadership Network and earned a B.A. from The College of New Jersey and an M.P.A. from CUNY – Baruch College.

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.

Emily Markese

Emily lends her evaluation expertise to the biomedical engineering programs portfolio, including the Innovation Funnel projects. Emily previously worked at a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives and mental health of foster children and others in the community, and was recognized for her work collecting and analyzing data that helped further the organization’s goals of safety, well-being, and permanency. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Biology.

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

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.

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.

Cristan Oates

Cristan supports data collection and outcomes tracking for the Ventures and Commercialization programs. In a previous data associate position, she managed and cleaned marketing data, and developed and documented standard operating procedures to improve efficiency. Before that, she served as a business analyst, where she was responsible for visualizing and reporting sales data. She holds a B.S. in Mathematical Economics and an M.S. in Data Analytics.

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.

Danika Ogle

Danika supports the finance team by processing accounts payable invoices and payments, and plugging in to work on other accounting projects as needed. She brings three years of accounting experience to VentureWell, and is also a former social worker and has vast experience working with youth and underserved populations. She holds a B.S. in Family and Consumer Science from the University of Georgia.

Brandi Orbin

Brandi secures funding for new and existing programs at VentureWell by collaborating with leadership, program staff, funding partners, and external experts in addition to colleagues on the development team to cultivate funder relationships and solicit mission-aligned gifts and grants. Brandi has spent more than 25 years working in the higher education and non-profit sectors, having served in multiple fundraising, marketing communication and advancement roles over that time for institutions such as Georgia Tech, NC State, Meredith College, Catawba College, and Barton College. She holds a B.A. from NC State University.

Kiera Palma

Kiera oversees the infrastructure, systems, and resources that enable VentureWell to produce a high volume of quality proposals and reports. Her extensive experience in this field has included implementing and managing several grants management systems, using platforms such as Salesforce, AmpliFund, and Fluxx, and maintaining a high renewal rate of annual grant funds due to stellar stewardship and grant compliance efforts. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Norfolk State University.

Autumn Pandolfo

Autumn plans and manages VentureWell events. She became interested in the innovation community while managing an annual conference for prolific academic patent holders, entrepreneurs, and students at the National Academy of Inventors. Autumn earned a Bachelor of Psychology Degree from the University of South Florida and a Master of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Nonprofit Management 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.

Lalitha Ramaswamy

Lalitha assists in managing strategic partnerships and spoke engagement for the Investor Catalyst Hub as part of VentureWell’s work with ARPA-H and its rapid commercialization of innovative healthcare solutions. She leads hub engagement effectively with the help of her years of experience in strategic management and partnership development, both domestically and abroad, working for a myriad of stakeholder types, from impact investment firms and nonprofits to university innovation centers and social impact consulting firms. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies.

Ana Ramos de Almeida

Ana’s work on the finance team includes assisting in reviewing, verifying, and processing consultant and vendor invoices for payment. Ana brings three years of accounts payable experience to VentureWell, including work dealing with hundreds of invoices every week, making sure everything is processed accurately and on time. Ana holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Certificate in Organizational Planning and Management.

Stacey Read

Stacey contributes to the overall success of VentureWell as a key contributor to the candidate experience from initial application and interviews through welcoming and setting new hires up for excellence. She plays a key role in our culture by ensuring that all employees have a sense of belonging here at VentureWell, and works diligently at connecting with staff on a regular basis across the organization to provide support in various ways. She has a passion for community development and is deeply committed to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how VentureWell can have a positive impact now and in the future.

Menret Rezkalla

Menret contributes her expertise to VentureWell as a technical project manager. With a robust background in medical devices, regulatory compliance, and quality management spanning five years, Menret excels in leading high-performing teams. Her role at GE HealthCare involved managing customer complaints, showcasing her expertise in regulatory affairs and quality management. Menret has bilingual proficiency in English and Arabic, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Physics and a Master’s Degree in Translational Medicine from CUNY City College.

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.

Ursa Scherer

Ursa leads strategic human resources for VentureWell, with a focus on creating and sustaining a culture of belonging for all staff and enabling a values-driven, productive, accessible, and joyful work environment. She brings over 20 years of people-centric experience in nonprofits, including leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion work at these organizations. Ursa has a B.S. in Management of Non-Profits from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is an M.S. candidate in Organizational Management at the School for International Training.

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.

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. 

Jessica Sheeran

Jessica supports commercialization programs through consultant and vendor engagement, as well as documentation and process management. As a Health Insurance Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), she served as the point of contact for outreach and engagement with external stakeholders. Jessica has also worked on planning programs in collaboration with a variety of municipal, state, and federal government entities, fostering relationships with diverse partners. Jessica holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and an M.S.S.W. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Dan Soszynski

Dan supports Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) programs and is the office manager at VentureWell’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, office. Dan comes to VentureWell after seven years at General Assembly, where he was instrumental in moving and expanding the company’s office from a WeWork into a standout single-floor campus community for students, instructors, and administrative staff, while also keeping an observant eye on the campus’ budget. He holds a Bachelor of Science in History with a minor in Business Administration from Northeastern 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.

Pa Thao

Pa provides learning and evaluation support for VentureWell’s federal innovation team. Pa has a decade of experience in higher education, supporting student success and institutional decision-making by designing, conducting, and reporting on key research topics. She completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota: a Master of Public Policy with a concentration in Higher Education Policy; and a Bachelor of Individualized Studies with focus areas in Asian American Studies, Communication Studies, and Family Social Science.

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.

Estiben Ventura

Estiben supports IT operations at the VentureWell Cambridge office, and provides general IT support and onboarding for all staff. He brings over five years of IT and help desk experience, including a previous position at the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, where he assisted in creating the yearly electronic Labor and Compensation survey for major medical centers in Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networking from the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

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.

Beth Ward

Beth produces proposal applications, reports, and other written materials across VentureWell’s entire portfolio of funders to further VentureWell’s mission, and supports the Growth Strategy & Development team at all stages of the development pipeline. Beth served for over 30 years in the nonprofit, higher education, and healthcare sectors, with a focus on grant writing, project management, strategic planning, and systems development. Beth holds an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale University and a B.A. in History from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

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.

Ashleigh Williams

Ashleigh supports program evaluation work for the Ventures and Health Commercialization programs. She joined VentureWell after three years working with the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University, where she conducted evaluations for various government entities. She was a Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) Scholar with the American Evaluation Association, where she worked with the National Science Foundation. Ashleigh holds a B.S. in Experimental Psychology and an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Shaun Williams

Shaun supports contracting processes and procurement across various programs. Shaun has an extensive history of working with prime and subcontractors throughout government, global, and commercial marketplaces with various contracts, including aviation, construction, finance, insurance, marketing, technology, transit, and service organizations and programs. She was the Prudential Davis Productivity Award winner for researching, developing, and negotiating an request for proposal for a client database system that yielded a cost savings of more than $2.4 million to the State of Florida. Shaun is a Florida Certified Contract Manager and holds a Technology Procurement/Contracting certification.

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.

Jaime Wood-Riley

Jaime works as a program officer on the higher education catalyst team supporting faculty through grants, workshops, and conferences. Prior to VentureWell, she was the Program Manager for Educational Initiatives in the Office of Academic Innovations at Portland State University. Jaime has sixteen years experience teaching English composition, literature, creative writing, and business communications in community colleges, universities, and at an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound middle school. Jaime holds an M.A. in education from Colorado State University, an M.F.A. in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, and an M.S. in Sociology from Portland State University.