Townsend Benard
Chair

Townsend is a PhD Candidate in the Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition program at Tufts University where he is working to understand how microRNA mediate age-associated anabolic resistance within skeletal muscle. He is the Vice-President of Consulting within the Tufts Biomedical Business Club (TBBC), leading the case study group and acting as an engagement manager for Tufts Advisory Partner (TAP), a volunteer life science consulting group. Prior to TBBC, Townsend volunteered as a consultant within the MIT Consulting Club’s Volunteer Consulting Group and lead a collaborative Harvard-MIT-Tufts team to a 3rd place finish at the 2018 Princeton University Graduate Consulting Club Case Competition. Prior to Tufts, Townsend earned a B.Kinesiology from the University of Toronto.

Micah Belew
Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Micah is a PhD candidate in the Neurobiology department at University of Massachusetts Medical School. He studies genetic mechanisms that regulate axon and synaptic regeneration after nervous system injury. In addition to TUNECC, Micah participates in consulting team for case competition and is a member of UMass Medical School Business Development and Innovation office serving as intern partaking in multiple projects. Prior to UMass, Micah received his Masters degree in Skeletal Muscle Exercise Physiology from UC Davis. In his free time, he enjoys producing music as a composer and guitarist. 

Yuzo Kevorkian
Vice President of Finance

Yuzo is a PhD Candidate in the Molecular Biology and Microbiology program at Tufts University. His work focuses on understanding the relationships between local ionic microenvironments and Mycobacterium tuberculosis heterogeneity. Yuzo serves as a representative on the Graduate Student Council and is a member of the Tufts Biomedical Business Club where he directs the Tufts Investment Group. Before coming to Tufts, he earned his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Vermont. Yuzo enjoys cooking, cycling and reading in his spare time.

Nick Frame 
Vice President of Operations

Nick is a PhD candidate in the Biophysics program at Boston University where his research focuses on the folding of amyloid proteins. He was previously a consultant for Tufts Advisory Partners and a local patent law firm. Nick received his BA in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University where he also minored in entrepreneurship & management. Nick is an avid Boston sports fan and enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Ashlee Junier
Vice President of Internal Affairs

Ashlee is a Ph.D. candidate in the Genetics program at Tufts University. Her research focuses on gene expression in Candida albicans tissue invasion. She is President of Tufts Biomedical Business Club, helps run Tufts Case Study Group, and serves as Treasurer of the Graduate Student Council. Prior to graduate school, Ashlee received her B.S. degrees in Forensic Science, Biology, and Biotechnology from the University of New Haven. In her free time, Ashlee enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Alex Stankiewicz
Vice President of Case Development

Alex is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Connecticut where he studies the kinetics of neurogenesis and the types of cells effected in neurodegenerative models in order to develop appropriate treatment or prophylaxis. He earned his PhD in Neurobiology and Anatomy from Boston University School of Medicine and co-founded a digital health company, ClockCoach Inc., utilizing proprietary research accumulated during his dissertation, and applying sleep and circadian principals for public consumption. Alex participates in the Case Study Group at Tuft Medical School and currently serves as the VP of Case Development for TUNECC 2019.

Previous TUNECC Leadership 

2018 TUNECC Executive Team

  • Jori Chambers, Chair
  • Jaclyn Mallard, Ph.D., Vice President of Marketing and Communications
  • Maggie Baker, Vice President of Finance
  • Shuo Huang, Vice President of Operations
  • Ashlee Junier, Co-Vice President of Internal Affairs
  • James Italia, Co-Vice President of Internal Affairs
  • Andrew Coleman, Vice President of Case Development

2017 TUNECC Executive Team

  • Andrew Coleman, Chair
  • Christina McGuire, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
  • Michaela Tolman, Vice President of Finance
  • Heramb Chadchankar, Ph.D., Vice President of Operations – Alkermes
  • Cho Shing Low, Vice President of Internal Affairs – ClearView Healthcare Partners
  • Michael Pereira, Vice President of Case Development

2016 TUNECC Executive Team

  • Alexandra Taracanova, Chair – L.E.K. Consulting
  • Andrew Coleman, Vice President of Finance
  • Christina McGuire, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
  • Geoffrey Gonzalez, Vice President of Case Development – WuXi NextCODE
  • Carrie Hui Mingalone, Vice President of Operations
  • Farrah Roy, Co-Vice President of Internal Affairs – Dana Farber
  • Meagan Montesion, Vice President of Internal Affairs – Foundation Medicine
  • Heidi Burke, Event Coordinator – Sanofi Genzyme

2015 TUNECC Executive Team

  • Jennifer Nwankwo, President – Bain & Company
  • Hailing Yang, Vice President of Finance – Decision Resources Group
  • Alexandra Taracanova, Vice President of Marketing and Communications – L.E.K. Consulting
  • Max Peng Wang, Ph.D., Vice President of Strategic Alliances – WuXi Biologics
  • Vinay Ramabhadran,  Ph.D., Vice President of Internal and External Affairs – Putnam Associates
  • Julie Coleman, Vice President of Operations – Putnam Associates
  • Mojisola Sonde, External Board Advisor

2014 Inaugural TUNECC Executive Team

  • Jennifer Nwankwo, Founding Chair and President – Bain & Company
  • Kristina Cotter, Vice President of Marketing & Communications – Trinity Partners
  • Julia Murphy, Co-Chair – RA Capital Management
  • Vinay Ramabhadran, Vice President of Finance – Putnam Associates
  • Chieze Ibeneche-Nnewihe, Vice President of Operations – RA Capital Management
  • E. Shirley Sanchez, Vice President of Strategy – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
  • Adam Wieschhaus, Ph.D., External Board Adviser – Cowen & Company
  • Benjamin Dake, Technical Consultant – RA Capital Management