UB RISE 2026 Committee
Kevin Kelliher, Ph.D., Co-Chair
Professor of Basic Sciences, School of Chiropractic
Elizabeth Fles, Ph.D., Co-Chair
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Julie Demers, MA, CRA, Co-Coordinator
Director of Instruction Based and Sponsored Research
Rebecca Bruckenstein (’16), MA, Co-Coordinator
Academic Advisor
Student Poster and Judging Subcommittee
Kristy Huntley, Ph.D., Chair
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Special Assistant to the Provost
Thomas Auerbach (’20), DC
Assistant Professor of Clinical Services, School of Chiropractic
Fred Ferraro, MS
Biological Safety Officer and Laboratory Manager for Biology and Biomedical Research
Megan Homer, LPC, CAADC, CCTP
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Supported by:
Trinadh Venna (’16)
Enterprise Solutions Architect
Prathyusha Jaddu
Web Services Developer
Stephanie Staffey, MA
Executive Director of the Learning Commons
Ashley Guest, Ed.D.
Instructional Designer
Caitlin McGuire
Executive Director to the Provost
Faculty Poster and Judging Subcommittee
Justin Caithaml, Ph.D., Chair
Assistant Professor and Chair of Music
Ibtihal Al-Makhzoomy, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CNE
Associate Professor and BSN Program Director
Vinod Dhar, Ph.D.
Professor and Curriculum Director of Chemistry, School of Nursing and Health Professions, Goodwin University
Maria Gherasimova, Ph.D.
Division Director, Natural Science and Mathematics, Chair of Physics, Professor of Physics
Oral Presentations and Entrepreneurial Displays Subcommittee
Cassidy Haigh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice and Human Security, Chair of Criminal Justice and Human Security Graduate Program
Sherri Dente, Esq
Director, Bauer Innovation Center
Rosaura Frias, MSDH
Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Fones School of Dental Hygiene
Meredith Gaffney, MPH
Director of Master in Public Health Program
Lorraine Taylor (’76)
UB Alumni Board of Directors
Publicity, Sponsorship, Event Subcommittee
Mohammed Aljamal (’21), MS
Lab Engineer
Elizabeth Alves, MEM
Laboratory Supervisor, Biology and CUE Coordinator
Siobhan Blaze
Administrative Coordinator
Sandybell (Anorga) Callahan, MBS
Laboratory Professor and Chair of General Studies in Natural Sciences
Shannon Hashemi, DBA, CMA
Associate Professor, Ernest C. Trefz School of Business
Trina Henderson
Events Manager
Caitlin McGuire
Executive Assistant to the Provost
Bill Moran (’74)
UB Alumni Board of Directors, President
Myia Powell-Baldwin (’16), MA
Technology Support Specialist
Stephanie Staffey, MA
Executive Director of the Learning Commons
Clifford E. Thermer, Ed.D.
Dean, School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing, Goodwin University
Jennifer Weiss, LAc
Associate Professor, Acupuncture Institute
Khaled Elleithy, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Engineering, Business, and Education
Michael Ciolfi, HBPE, DC, MBA, DBA
Dean, College of Health Sciences
Amy Nawrocki, MFA
Dean, College of Science and Society
Please direct any questions about UB RISE to UBRISE@bridgeport.edu.