2015-2016 Fellows - The Academies

Western
New York
Prosperity
Fellows
2015-2016
Directory
Page 1 of 19
Nathan Aldrich
Nathan Aldrich is a candidate for a master’s degree in urban
planning at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and
Planning, specializing in economic and international
development as well as neighborhood planning and community
development. Nate received his bachelor's degree in
environmental design from UB in 2014 where he was awarded
the Department of Urban and Regional Planning’s Public Service
Award and the R. Buckminster Fuller Award for creativity in
design. Since 2011, Nate has been an assistant at the UB Center
for Urban Studies, serving in various support roles on projects
related to neighborhood planning. Nate currently serves as
graduate assistant/project manager. In this capacity, Nate
conducts research, coordinates student interns, manages the
assembly and design of project plans and grant proposals, and
organizes resident and community engagement activities. Nate is also a technical assistance
provider for the One Region Forward Initiative through the UB Regional Institute. In the
future, Nate is committed to dedicating his career to the improvement of Buffalo and the
Western New York region by working in the planning and economic development field.
Brian Bowman
Brian Bowman is pursuing a PharmD/MBA dual degree at the
University at Buffalo. He is focusing on consulting and
healthcare administration in his School of Management studies.
His research interests include mental health, clinical pharmacy,
global medical missions, and leadership development. Brian is
affiliated with the following professional chapters through the
University at Buffalo: National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA), Christian Medical and Dental Association
(CMDA), Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI),
and Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity. He has
been inducted into Phi Lambda Sigma, the pharmacy leadership
honor society, was selected to UB’s 2014 and 2015 NCPA PruittSchutte Good Neighbor Pharmacy business plan teams, and is a
recipient of a University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy academic
scholarship. Brian is also a member of Buffalo MBA Consulting Group, where he does pro
bono consulting for local businesses in WNY. In the future, Brian would like to pursue
independent pharmacy ownership and be a legislative advocate for patients and the
pharmacy profession.
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Madelaine Britt
Madelaine Britt, a Rochester, NY native, is pursuing a bachelor
of arts degree in political science, concentrating in public law, at
the University at Buffalo. She has a strong passion for
community development and advocacy law. Upon graduation,
she intends to earn her JD along with a master's degree in urban
public policy. She is a former intern for Congresswoman Louise
Slaughter of the 25th District, as well as for the City of
Rochester, where she helped lead economic development efforts
through the city's Focused Investment Strategy initiative.
Currently, she serves as an active volunteer for the University
Heights Tool Library and as a team leader for "Re Tree the
District." She also is one of the founders of the University
Heights Co-Lab, an organization aimed at providing low-cost
classes in the Heights community. Inspired by the good work of
local grassroots organizations, she is eager and honored to be given the opportunity to
work so closely with Buffalo change makers as a Fellow.
Emily Brooks
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A Buffalo, NY native, Emily Brooks is a PhD candidate in the UB
Department of Biomedical Engineering. She is a member of the
Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the
Biosciences (CLIMB) program, a professional development
program for doctoral students in the sciences at UB. Previously,
she was also awarded a fellowship through the Institute for
Strategic Enhancement of Educational Diversity (iSEED). As an
undergraduate, Emily served as president and co-captain of the
UB Women’s Rugby Club. She continues involvement in student
organizations as co-founder and treasurer of the Graduate
Student Biomedical Engineering Organization. Currently, Emily
is completing research in the UB Orthopaedic Research
Laboratory. Her work involves the electrochemical and
biological characterization of magnesium alloys for use in
orthopaedics and sports medicine applications. She is a member of both the National
Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), and the Society for Biomaterials. Outside of
academia, Emily enjoys coaching for the Girls on the Run Program, running, and cycling.
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Mary Canty
Mary Canty, a Buffalo, NY native, graduated with a BS in
biomedical engineering from the University at Buffalo in May
2014. As the 2014 Presidential Fellow for her department, Mary
is currently pursuing her PhD in biomedical engineering. Her
research focuses on voltage-controlled electrical stimulation of
titanium implants for the prevention of biofilm infections. In
addition to her research, Mary spends time as a math tutor for
local high school students. She worked as a student leader for
the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as an
undergraduate, and enjoyed maintaining an active role in the
engineering community at UB. Mary and two of her peers won
the 2014 ASAIO 2nd Annual Student Design Competition with
their 3-D printed, MRI compatible, myocardial perfusion
phantom. Building on her undergraduate experiences in
pursuing engineering innovation, Mary looks forward to continuing this work in her
graduate career.
Christopher Courtney
A native Buffalonian, Christopher Courtney completed his MBA
and is pursuing his PhD at the University at Buffalo, with an
interest in entrepreneurship and operations management and
strategy. Chris was the recipient of the Arun Jain Fellowship
while working on his MBA, and his team won third place in the
2012 NYS Business Plan Competition. Before returning to school
he ran his own business for more than eight years, providing
reverse logistic and remanufacturing solutions to larger
retailers. He is currently an adjunct instructor in the Computer
Science Department at Niagara County Community College and
teaches entrepreneurship at UB. He previously served on the
Board of Directors for the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of
Commerce. Chris and his family served as the Ambassador
Family for the March of Dimes and on the Family Advisory
Council at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Chris has also worked at the Erie
County Industrial Development Agency’s International Program, helping small businesses
expand internationally. He successfully completed a two-year professional development
program, and is now LeaderCORETM certified at the Role Model level. He plans to pursue
opportunities to start a business venture while conducting research in crowdfunding and
teaching entrepreneurship.
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Max Crinnin
Max Crinnin is a senior English major returning to UB next year
to complete his pre-medical undergraduate course work. On
campus, he has been involved with a number of sustainability
groups and projects through his work as sustainability
coordinator for UB Campus Dining & Shops, including
composting and food waste initiatives at residential dining
centers and the design, completion, and expansion of the UB
Campus Garden. He was fortunate to work last summer as a
research assistant in the Department of Behavioral Medicine at
the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where he
worked closely with families in a study that examined executive
function in children. Max previously worked as the senior arts
editor for The Spectrum after three semesters as a staff writer
and assistant editor. He is a Provost Scholar and member of Phi
Beta Kappa. Max currently volunteers at Jericho Road Ministries’ Focused Learning for
Youth after school program on Buffalo’s West Side. He is the winner of the 2014 John Logan
Prize for poetry from the UB English Department and the 2015 recipient of The Academy of
American Poets Prize. Currently, he is writing an honors thesis on Anton Chekhov’s short
fiction and life as a physician. He hopes to continue his eclectic approach to education as he
moves forward with medicine in hopes of serving the underserved with innovative,
meaningful health care services, while establishing a leadership role in the expansion of the
medical industry at large in Western New York.
Kevin Cullen
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Kevin graduated from the University of Rochester in 2007 with
a dual degree in comparative religious studies and history. He
spent five years working for the Bureau of Land Management in
California and Colorado before returning back home to Buffalo
in 2012 to pursue a master’s degree in urban and regional
planning at the University at Buffalo. Kevin's research looks at
the inter-relationships between people, recreation, economy,
quality of life, and place. Kevin applied his studies to the real
world by opening SUP Erie Adventures, a stand-up paddling
lesson, rental, and guide service with his fiancé Christian; and
by competing professionally in stand-up paddle board racing.
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Juweria Dahir
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Originally from Birmingham UK, Juweria is currently a first year
graduate student in the Department of Sociology at the
University at Buffalo. She hopes to attain a dual degree with the
juris doctorate to integrate different disciplinary perspectives
and specialize in policies that mitigate economic, gender, and
racial inequalities. Juweria completed extensive work in the
public and private sectors, served as an intern at the Legal
Democratic Services in Birmingham UK, and interned at the
Grand Jury Bureau, Erie County District Attorney’s Office in
Buffalo. She currently serves as an intern at the Division of
Citizen Services at Buffalo City Hall to co-manage city programs
and help build analytic models using the DSSG program to
deliver services more proactively.
During her tenure in the program, she became more passionate
about utilizing results-oriented approaches and co-authored the “Millennial Citizens
Council: Effectively bridging and diminishing the gap between young professionals and
local government.” At the not-for-profit organization H.E.A.L International, Juweria built
the relationships necessary to navigate a complex culture. In March 2013 she established a
new not-for-profit program, Women Empowerment of Buffalo (WEOB), in the hope of
inspiring every refugee woman with the courage to break free from the chains of limiting
belief patterns and societal or religious conditioning that have traditionally kept them
suppressed and unable to see their true capability. Juweria was recognized as a young
dynamic professional and received a prestigious award from the National Urban League’s
“Young Professionals 30 Under 30” program. Juweria also presented her research at the
16th University of Maryland National Conference for McNair Scholars. From her leadership
background to the context of theoretical and practical framework, Juweria has sharpened
her sense of the international communal sector and established her place as a future leader
in the community. Ultimately, Juweria hopes to complete her JD and PhD and work as a
public interest attorney after graduation.
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Peter Fendt
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Peter Fendt is pursuing dual PharmD/MBA degrees at the
University at Buffalo, focusing on consulting and healthcare
administration. Born and raised in Manhasset NY, Peter was
attracted to the high caliber and reputation of UB’s MBA and
PharmD programs, which drew him from Chicago to Buffalo in
2011. Peter has worked as a local Rite Aid Pharmacy intern and
completed an international business and market analyst
internship for Tipton Mills, working with UB and the Erie
County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) to develop
contacts for expansion of sales and business internationally.
Most recently he worked in product development and
marketing at Clinical Support Services (CSS) supporting
pharmacy service delivery systems. Peter is a senior consultant
with the Buffalo MBA Consulting Group, WNY’s pro bono MBA
student-run consulting firm dedicated to assisting local businesses. He is also active in
professional organizations through which he has had the honor of engaging the community,
including Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, Phi Delta Chi Professional
Pharmacy Fraternity, and Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society. Peter is a
graduate of the two-year LeaderCORETM certification program at the Role Model level.
Upon graduation, Peter will pursue work in the local pharmaceutical industry and in
healthcare administration, ultimately opening his own consulting firm.
Ryan Fogle
Ryan Fogle is a 2016 master of business administration
candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Management,
concentrating in marketing, consulting and international
business. Ryan is a native of Toledo, OH and moved to Buffalo,
NY in 2002 for his undergraduate degree. Since that time he
received an AOS in Culinary Arts and also graduated summa
cum laude from Buffalo State College with a BS in food and
nutrition science. Ryan has been elected to be the president of
the Graduate Management Association for the 2015-2016
academic year, representing the MBA student body for the
school. In addition to being a UB School of Management Dean’s
Scholarship winner, he is also a member of the Buffalo MBA
Consulting Group, WNY's pro bono MBA student-run consulting
firm dedicated to assisting local businesses. Recently, Ryan was
a member of the team that placed first out of 30 teams in Syracuse University’s Whitman
School of Management Case Competition. Ryan has a keen interest in continuing consulting
Page 7 of 19
work after graduation by assisting local food and beverage start-ups with writing business
plans, securing funding and creating marketing strategy. Upon graduation, Ryan intends to
stay in WNY with his wife and pursue a career in marketing.
John D. Fraczek
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John Fraczek, of Watertown, NY, is currently pursuing a master
of business administration from the University at Buffalo School
of Management and a juris doctor from SUNY Buffalo Law
School. Upon graduation, John plans to work in the fields of
commercial and intellectual property law to advance economic
development efforts in the Western New York region. Since
arriving in Western New York, John has been greatly involved in
both professional schools, as well as the entrepreneurial
community. As editor-in-chief of the Buffalo Intellectual Property
Law Journal, John is leading the completion of the Journal's most
ambitious publication to date. John was a member of the 2014
Panasci Technology Entrepreneurship Competition’s winning
team and has supported technology transfer efforts through his
work as an innovation assistant at the UB Office of Science,
Technology Transfer, and Economic Outreach. John has also worked as an in-house intern
for the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Buffalo and a graduate teaching assistant in the UB
School of Management. John is currently a consultant with the Buffalo MBA Consulting
Group.
Andrea Gonzalez
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Andrea Gonzalez is a proud Buffalonian who came back to her
native city after living in Mexico for 21 years. Previously, Andrea
studied design and visual communication at the National
Autonomous University of Mexico; however, upon acceptance at
the University at Buffalo, she decided to shift her career path and
enter the field of architecture. Andrea currently pursues a double
degree in architecture and studio art and is interested in
developing affordable and sustainable housing throughout
Western New York. She serves as public relations manager of the
National Organization of Minority Architects Chapter at UB and is
a member of the Hispanic Women’s League of Western New York.
As a WNY Prosperity Fellow, Andrea hopes to start an
organization to foster efficient, sustainable home ownership
among minority groups in the Western New York region.
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Adrian Y. Guadalupe
Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and raised in Buffalo, New York,
Adrián Y. Guadalupe studied business administration with a
concentration in marketing at the University at Buffalo. A
member of both the Daniel Acker Scholars Program and the
inaugural class of the Buffalo Public Schools Partnership
Scholars Program, Adrián graduated cum laude in 2012 from
the UB School of Management. In the years since graduating, he
has been working as a contributor and marketing coordinator
for a developing, independent graphic novel entitled Dusk.
Adrián has returned to UB’s School of Management to pursue an
MBA and plans to continue his concentration in marketing. He
hopes to use his professional education to highlight the rich and
vibrant culture of the arts found throughout Western New York
through several entrepreneurial endeavors that will provide
local artists with resources to express their art and collaborate with others.
Wendy Jansson
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Wendy is pursuing a BS in computer engineering. She has a
previous BA in foreign languages (Chinese and Spanish) and
history from the University of Delaware and spent time in China
as a Confucius Institute Scholar. She has also lived and studied
in Taiwan, Mexico, and Spain. Now she is really happy to be
back in Buffalo, enjoying her coursework in computer languages
and embedded systems at UB. She works at Moog, Inc.’s Space
and Defense Group in the summers. She also volunteers by
running social events for women in computing and teaching
Python with a local group, Girl Develop It Buffalo. In the future,
she hopes to work in the Buffalo area with embedded systems,
continue practicing foreign languages for fun, and further her
involvement with the local programming community.
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Kyle Jemmott
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Buffalo native Kyle Jemmott is pursuing a bachelor of science
degree in computer science with a certificate in data intensive
computing at the University at Buffalo. He works as an
undergraduate teaching assistant in the UB Department of
Computer Science and Engineering. On campus, he represents
the Daniel Acker Scholars Program and Advanced Honors
Scholars Program though active participation in the Association
for Computing Machinery, and serves as treasurer for the
National Society of Black Engineers. During the summer of 2014,
he worked as a summer analyst in Goldman Sachs’ technology
division and will return to the organization as a summer 2015
analyst. During Spring 2015, Kyle completed an internship with
local startup company Employii, a payroll and HR tool for
organizations. Kyle enjoys good company, hiking, reading, and
film, and plans to pursue an MS and MBA in the future.
Sean Kaczmarek
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Sean, a Buffalo native, is a double major in economics and
political science with a minor in Chinese. Throughout his time at
UB, Sean has been extremely involved on and off campus. He
was recently elected as the Student Association’s vice president,
currently serves as the political director for College Democrats
of New York, and was a 2015 finalist for the Harry S. Truman
Scholarship. As a 2014-15 Presidential Fellow at the Center for
the Study of the Presidency and Congress, he conducted
research focused on federal education policy under Title I. Off
campus, Sean has always been involved in the community. At
age 19, he was successfully elected to the Cheektowaga-Sloan
Board of Education in Cheektowaga, NY. Additionally, he is a
volunteer in the Buffalo Public Schools as a member of the
Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership (ISEP) at
the University at Buffalo. The Partnership seeks to improve STEM education in the Buffalo
Public Schools. Being a witness to the state of education in Buffalo, Sean aspires to create
effective education policy and develop a more equitable system in which all students have
an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. After his
undergraduate studies he plans to earn a juris doctor degree.
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Celine Keefe
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Celine Keefe, a native of Buffalo, NY, is pursuing a master of
business administration in the fall of 2015. Previously, Celine
graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University, where
she studied political science and theatre. Celine has accepted a
position in the UB School of Management’s Career Resource
Center as a student assistant. She is passionate about Buffalo
and spent last year doing a year of service for AmeriCorps
Builds Lives through Education. Celine looks forward to joining
the University at Buffalo community and expanding her
involvement in the Western New York area.
Minahil Khan
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Minahil Khan, a Buffalo native, is pursuing a bachelor of arts
degree in political science/communication at the University at
Buffalo. During her freshman year, she became involved with
the UB Academies, working as a student assistant. She has also
served as teaching assistant to the Global Perspective Academy
and as a floor leader in Greiner Hall. In addition to her
involvement in the Academies, Minahil has served as the
Student Association (SA) Special Interests, Services, and
Hobbies Council coordinator; as an SA senator; and as an
executive board member of the American Association of
University Women. In May of 2014, Minahil was elected to serve
as the University Council student representative for the 20142015 academic year, and will be working as the SA Student
Affairs director. Minahil has been very involved with local
refugee resettlement organizations. As a WNY Prosperity Scholar, she plans to help
encourage the growth of refugee-owned local businesses. After graduation, Minahil plans to
pursue a JD.
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Laura Mannara
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Laura Mannara is currently pursuing a dual bachelor of arts
degree in economics and political science at the University at
Buffalo. She currently works as an economics tutor in the
Academic Resource Center helping students with introductory
economics coursework. Laura is involved with clubs in the
Undergraduate Student Association, serving as president of
College Democrats and secretary of United Nations Student
Association. In addition, Laura is a Ronald E. McNair Scholar.
Her current research through the McNair program under the
mentorship of Professor Michelle Benson examines female
brain drain in developing nations. Upon graduation Laura plans
to pursue a PhD in political science with a concentration in
comparative political economy, focusing specifically on global
development.
Andrea Martinez
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Andrea Marie Martinez, a 2014 graduate of the University at
Buffalo, is currently pursuing her PhD in electrical engineering.
In the Energy Systems Integration Lab, she is working to
characterize the extent of aging of dielectric elastic actuators
before failure due to partial discharge activity. Her work has
potential impact in energy harvesting, robotics, and medicine
due to the potential of biomeimetic actuators. She has had
multiple publications and awards, most notably the University
at Buffalo’s Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research,
Scholarship and Creativity and the UB STEM's Trailblazer award
for her impact on the world around her.
Andrea is passionate about STEMinism, which focuses on
increasing the number of young women in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics; and in reaching out to elementary and high school students
to stress the importance of higher education. She also participates in the Science is
Elementary program, a collaboration between National Grid and UB to expose young
children to science from as early as kindergarten by conducting experiments with them.
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Marna Metcalf
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Marna Metcalf is pursuing a dual master’s degree in social
work and business administration with a concentration in
health care administration. She has a BA from Nazareth
College and an MA in counseling from Marymount
University. After working as a grief counselor at Hospice
of Central New York, she found her passion for work in the
healthcare field. Her career goal is to collaborate with
health care professionals to improve quality and access to
healthcare, particularly for older adults. She has engaged
in projects such as the Town Square for Aging, a
collaboration of service providers creating a new model of
care for frail elderly. Marna believes these types of
healthcare innovations are a vital part keeping healthcare
costs low and encouraging economic growth in Western
New York. She is a member of the Phi Alpha National
Social Work Honor Society and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Additionally, she volunteers with the UB School of Social Work’s DREAM Program and Ten
Thousand Villages of Williamsville.
Margaret Murray
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Margaret Murray, a native of Colden, NY, is pursuing a bachelor
of science in business administration with a concentration in
marketing at the University at Buffalo. Because of her
involvement with the UB Academies and UB Office of Student
Engagement, Margaret was the 2012 recipient of the Emerging
Leader Award given by the University at Buffalo’s Office of
Student Engagement. On campus, Margaret continued her
involvement as an orientation leader, resident advisor, and
diversity advocate. Margaret discovered her passion for event
management through her experiences working as event staff for
UB Athletics and as the marketing assistant Intern at the New
York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life
Sciences. Through her involvement with the UB Academies’
civic engagement seminar, Margaret had the chance to learn
about the City of Buffalo and the volunteer opportunities available to students. Margaret’s
future plans are to work for an event management company that provides a platform for
local not-for-profit organizations and small businesses through a mix of cultural and
entertainment-themed events.
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Christopher O’Neill
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Christopher O’Neill, a Buffalo, NY native, graduated with a
bachelor of science in business administration from the
University at Buffalo in 2014. He is currently an MBA candidate
for 2016 with a concentration in marketing. He is a former small
business owner, and recognizes the need to bring new jobs to
the Western New York region. Chris currently volunteers
through the Buffalo MBA Consulting Group to provide pro bono
consulting services to Western New York businesses, and has
accepted a position in the School of Management's Career
Resource Center as a graduate assistant. Outside of school,
Chris enjoys a number of extracurricular activities, including
volunteering for Roswell Park Cancer Institute, golfing, and
skiing.
Michael Pantzer
Michael Pantzer is currently pursuing a master of business
administration from the University at Buffalo School of
Management and a juris doctor from SUNY Buffalo Law School.
He plans to use his legal and business background to further
commercial transactions between businesses, and to help
create a fertile business community in Western New York that
supports innovation and change. As the original Product
Advocate for Bloomberg Law at SUNY Buffalo Law School, he
helped more than 100 students access Bloomberg’s software.
Through his work with the MBA Consulting Group, Michael
provides pro bono consulting services for local small
businesses. Michael served as a clerk to the Program
Administrator of the Alternative Dispute Resolution
Department for the Western District of New York, and helped to
facilitate swift resolution of legal disputes. More recently, Michael helped develop Rich
Product Corporation's global food business while serving as head law clerk in the
company’s legal department. Michael is currently the executive business editor of the
Buffalo Intellectual Property Law Journal. Michael is a teaching assistant for the first year
MBA Strategic Management course at the University at Buffalo School of Management.
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Joseph Peacock
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Joseph Peacock is an upcoming senior in Computer Engineering
at the University at Buffalo. Originally from Buffalo, Joe has
spent his time involved in the local technology startup
community, and received the Student Technology Award from
Infotech Niagara for his involvement. He also founded a
company in Buffalo called GradFly whose product was used at
over 20 universities and raised a successful seed round in 2013.
He hired 3 other UB engineering students in his endeavor, along
with developing the sales side of the company. Joe has since
accepted an internship at Facebook as a technical program
manager for the summer of 2015. Going forward, Joe's plan is to
bring more lucrative software opportunities to Buffalo through
his future enterprises and relationships with UB. His
overarching goal is to keep more software engineering talent in
Buffalo, which will lead to a more successful startup ecosystem.
Matthew Rivera
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Matt Rivera is pursuing a dual degree in musical theatre and
business administration through the University at Buffalo. After
moving back from spending most of his life living in Germany as
a military dependent, Matt moved back to participate in an
internship with a not-for-profit organization before the start of
his college career, where he learned his deep passion for the
not-for-profit organizations, public affairs, and the arts. After
arriving at the University at Buffalo, Matt took on many
leadership positions such as a student leader with the
Academies, an orientation team leader, and a resident advisor.
Matt was chosen to represent the university in its summer 2014
marketing campaign and to speak to accepted students during
their visit to the campus. Matt hopes to raise awareness of the
arts in WNY and beyond by expanding the knowledge and
creative cohesion involved with running a not-for-profit theatre company. Using his
knowledge of musical theatre and business, Matt plans to open an organization dedicated
to the reform and growth in the arts throughout Western New York.
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Victoria Robbins
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Victoria Robbins of Niskayuna, NY, is studying psychology and
pursuing a pre-medical track at the University at Buffalo. As
coder and research analyst at the Research Institute on
Addictions in downtown Buffalo, Victoria is working with Dr.
Rina Eiden on the Growing Up Healthy study to examine the
prenatal and postnatal effects of cigarette exposure on children
in the Western New York region. Through this research, Victoria
is learning about the many difficulties women and their families
face due to socioeconomic factors. Accordingly, she hopes to
become a pediatric psychiatrist, helping children from at-risk
families, and pursuing research that will better serve the area.
Victoria completed her WNY Prosperity internship at Women
and Children’s Hospital in their Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) Center in the summer of 2014, and spent her time
creating programs that assist families of children with ASD. Additionally, she is an
executive board member for UB’s American Association of University Women chapter, and
served as a team leader for the Alternative Break Trips to the Louisiana bayou and the
Dominican Republic.
Liam Saiia
Liam Saiia will graduate in spring 2016 with a bachelor of arts
degree in philosophy and English. Liam spent his teenage years
in Buffalo and is interested in being a part of its blossoming
entrepreneurial and not-for-profit efforts. He wants to identify
how some of the philosophical principles and processes he has
studied at UB can guide community organizations’ decisionmaking and help influence positive moral change.
Liam is a university honors scholar, and has served as an
undergraduate teaching assistant in the philosophy department.
In the realm of philosophy, Liam’s academic interests include
logic, metaphysics and epistemology, and socio-political
philosophy. In the realm of English, he is interested in poetics,
the short story, feminist theory, and post-modernism with
respect to technology. Liam plans to continue his studies either
in philosophy or in law, and intends to contribute carefully and meaningfully to the longterm growth and development of our Buffalo community.
Page 16 of 19
Ameen Salem
Ameen Salem of Buffalo, NY is currently pursuing a bachelor of
science degree in both applied mathematics and computer
science. At the University at Buffalo he has found an interest in
data science and enrolled in the SUNY certificate program in
data-intensive computing. Since the close of his sophomore
year, Ameen has been conducting research at the NYS Center of
Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences. Working with
Dr. Marc Halfon he has explored topics in bioinformatics and
presented his research at the SUNY Undergraduate Research
Conference. On campus he serves as branch publisher of
Scientista, a collegiate female outreach organization. After
graduation Ameen plans to attain a graduate degree in
bioinformatics and contribute to the local research community.
Outside of school Ameen enjoys outdoor sports, following
international politics, and spending time with family and friends.
Philip Schneider
Philip Schneider, of Amherst NY, graduated cum laude with his
BS in electrical engineering from the University at Buffalo in
2014. He is currently pursuing his MS and PhD in electrical
engineering at UB. As a member of the university’s Sensor and
Micro-actuators Learning Lab, Phil’s current research includes
the development of new healthcare-related wearable
technologies for point of care applications, the use of biometric
technologies in the mobile consumer market, and the general
advancement of biomedical microelectromechanical systems
(bio-MEMs) technologies. Phil also plays an active role in the
local STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
community, volunteering as a FIRST© Robotics mentor at Saint
Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, and being a part of the
Westminster Charter School initiative, where he teaches science
classes to second graders in the city of Buffalo. He serves as an engineering teaching
assistant at UB. Phil’s hobbies consist of playing volleyball, boating, fishing, and traveling.
He hopes to one day follow in his father’s footsteps by starting a company that combines
his degree in electrical engineering with a unique and innovative idea, thereby promoting
economic growth in the Western New York region.
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Rachel Stern
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Born and raised in Buffalo, Rachel Stern is currently pursuing a
JD/MBA. She received her BA in international studies from UB in
2012, including a semester abroad in Ghana, West Africa. Prior
to entering graduate school, Rachel served an AmeriCorps
VISTA volunteer with the College Success Center at Bennett
High School. As the student engagement coordinator at the
Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Rachel is responsible for
helping students turn their ideas and research into businesses.
She is also director of human resources for the Buffalo MBA
Consulting Group and secretary of the Graduate Management
Association. Rachel’s interests include social entrepreneurship,
business consulting, and economic development in the Buffalo
Niagara region. Her ultimate career goal is to run a not-forprofit organization that advises community leaders and citizens
on strategies to improve education, reduce poverty, create jobs, and promote sustainability
within Western New York. Rachel enjoys exploring Buffalo, trying out new restaurants, and
rooting for Buffalo sports teams.
Timothy Van Oss
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Timothy Van Oss graduated cum laude from the University at
Buffalo with a BS in civil engineering, and is currently pursuing
an MS in structural and earthquake engineering. He is an active
teaching assistant, having been honored as Tau Beta Pi’s TA of
the year and accompanying the UB study abroad class to Troyes,
France. After serving a term as president of the Student Chapter
of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he has continued his
involvement in the parent chapter of the society as chair of the
Student Affairs Committee, which advises and mentors civil
engineering students in the Buffalo area. Additionally, he is
active in educational outreach to increase STEM exposure to
grade school children, and is working to make Buffalo a better
place for people of every economic background. Tim has
represented UB Engineering at conferences around the globe
from Istanbul to San Diego, in the hopes of bringing a global perspective to solve local
issues. He plans to contribute to the Buffalo Niagara region by rehabilitating distressed
structures, taking advantage of the area’s built assets, and developing the next generation
of iconic regional structures. Tim rows, runs, and cycles along Buffalo area trails and water
ways in his free time.
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Markel Vega
Markel is currently a junior in the UB School of Management
and is pursuing a degree in marketing. He serves as a board
member for StartUp Grind Buffalo, a global community
sponsored by Google that is dedicated to inspiring, educating
and connecting entrepreneurs. His research interests include
consumer behavior, factors/magnitude in financial market
fluctuations, and game development for marketing purposes.
Markel is currently a New York State certified life and health
insurance intern/agent at Massachusetts Mutual of Buffalo,
where he helps deliver financial services to assist individuals in
protecting their future and loved ones. He has been the recipient
of many prestigious awards, including the Western New York
Prosperity Scholar and Fellowship award (2014-2016) and the
first place award at UB’s first annual elevator pitch competition,
and has been inducted into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. Markel accepts
that the future is as dynamic as he is. He lives life day to day, and the only thing he has
planned for his future is to be in a position to capitalize on any opportunity of interest that
presents itself. This is the way he has always lived life, and he is a firm believer that
"Everything happens for a reason."
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