Meet the VentureWell staff—a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Department
Meet the VentureWell staff—a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Department
Megan Aanstoos
Senior Program Officer
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.
Jameelah Adas
Program Officer and Learning Management Systems Administrator
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.
Camillo Archuleta
Senior Program Officer
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.
Cat Ashe
Senior Program Coordinator
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
Senior Program Officer, Strategic Partnerships
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.
Cara Barnes
Senior Program Officer
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
Baindu Bayon Paicely
Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships
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
Senior Program Officer
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
Program Officer
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.
Brenna Beluk
Senior Program Officer, Health Commercialization
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.
Randy Block
Director, Programs, Biomedical Engineering
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.
Mike Brizek
Director, Programs, Higher Education Ecosystems
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.
Tricia Compas-Markman
Director, National Venture Programs
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
Senior Program Officer
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.
Ernie Davis
Senior Program Officer
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.
Elana Diaz
Program Officer
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.
Katie Dzugan
Senior Program Officer
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.
Jesse Flanagan
Director, Global Venture Programs
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
Vice President, Higher Education Innovation Ecosystems
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.
Alex Guardo
Program Officer
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.
Cassandra Healey
Program Administrator, Health Commercialization
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
Event Manager
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.
M Jackson
Senior Program Officer
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.
Jordie Kamuene
Program Associate
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.
Margo Kinney-Petrucha
Program Officer and Airtable Administrator
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.
Jianming Li
Senior Program Officer
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.
Tara Loomis
Director, Program, Federal Innovation
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.
Jenny Marsh
Program Officer
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.
Claire McDonald
Senior Program Officer, Health Commercialization
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
Program Officer
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 Neal
Vice President, Commercialization
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.
Shefali Parikh
Program Officer, Health Commercialization
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.
Lalitha Ramaswamy
Program Officer, Strategic Partnerships
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.
Menret Rezkalla
Program Officer
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.
Chelsea Schiller
Director, Programs, Health Commercialization
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.
Jessica Sheeran
Program Administrator
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
Program Operations Manager
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
Senior Program Officer
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
Vice President, Ventures
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
Program Associate
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.
Sarah Wharmby
Program Officer
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.
Jaime Wood-Riley
Senior Program Officer
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.
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