Chapter Officers 2024-2025
President – Kristy Ortega Johnson
Dr. Kristy Ortega Johnson received her Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from The George Washington University. She currently works as a project manager at FNL managing projects in cancer biology. Kristy is very passionate about science, networking, and empowering women of color to pursue a career in STEM. Kristy enjoys volunteering for organizations that empowers and mentors girls and underrepresented youth in STEM such as TechBridge Girls and Color in STEM. When Kristy is not working, you can find her on the ice learning to figure skate, hanging out with her doggies, playing tennis with friends, or discovering new restaurants.
President-Elect – Ambericent Cornett
First Sergeant (1SG) Ambericent Cornett is a respected Army Intelligence and Information Operations expert, multidisciplinary scientist, and STEM advocate. She represents the Association for Women in Science and is a second-term Governing Councilor for the Epidemiology Section of the American Public Health Association. Currently, Ambericent works in Program Management and Systems Security in the Intelligence industry, having founded a consulting firm to support local and federal governments. Her prior roles include Epidemiologist for NASA and the CDC, and a professor in Biology, Business, and Healthcare Administration in Texas. Ambericent’s academic credentials include a B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Houston – Clear Lake, a Master of Public Health from A.T. Still University, and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University. Her military deployments showcased her integration of epidemiology, biology, physiology, and cybersecurity, contributing significantly to mission success. Ambericent’s career, spanning over two decades, highlights her leadership in STEM.
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Barbara J. Natalizio, Ph.D. serves as an advocate for Ph.D. career and professional development and has actively contributed to advancing these goals through numerous national roles. Currently, she serves as the Program Manager for Professional Development Hub (pd|hub), hosted by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, a national, multi-stakeholder initiative dedicated to advancing the professional development of graduate and postdoctoral scientists by building capacity for the spread of evidenced-based educational practices. Previously, Dr. Natalizio was a Science Program Administrator at the Rita Allen Foundation, Chair of the Board of Directors and Interim Executive Director for the National Postdoctoral Association, and a Program Officer with the Board on Higher Education and Workforce at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Prior to that, she worked in the Division of Graduate Education at the National Science Foundation as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow. Dr. Natalizio earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and history from Montclair State University and her Ph.D. in molecular genetics and microbiology from Duke University.
Vice President for Programs – Teresa Murphy
Teresa Murphy is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at George Washington University in the laboratory of Dr. Rebecca Lynch. Her work focuses on utilizing broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV cure strategies by determining fitness costs associated with viral escape from bNAbs to design combination treatments. While at GW, she has also volunteered as a representative on the Society of Biomedical Students organization e-board and as a graduate student senator on the GW Student Association. She graduated in 2019 from Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s in biology, while specializing in immunology. Her career interests lie in health policy and infectious disease outbreak prevention and management. In her free time, she can be found hiking with her dog Baloo, horseback riding or watching Penn State football!
Volunteer – Elizabeth Hoffman
Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman works in health research policy for the federal government. She was previously a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow hosted by the Program Coordination Office at the National Institute of Standards & Technology. Before starting at NIST, Elizabeth was at the University of Virginia where she studied the dynamics of proteins involved in transcription and how they regulate gene expression in the model organism yeast. She was active in several local STEM outreach groups that hosted community events to make science more accessible, promoted science literacy, and worked to get politicians engaged with science. Elizabeth received her PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics from the University of Virginia and a bachelor of science in Biochemistry from The State University of New York at Geneseo. She is particularly interested in making the science ecosystem more inclusive and accessible, and in the convergence of science and art. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys going on long walks, making yeast art, and watching movies.
Volunteer – Michele Wheatly
Michele Wheatly is Professor of Biology at Syracuse University. She currently serves on the External Advisory Committee of the ADVANCE Resource and Coordination Network and serves on the planning committee for the Community Convening 2022 in DC. She has experience as PI of two successive NSF-funded ADVANCE IT awards: In the footsteps of Katharine Wright: Promoting STEM women through Launching Equity Across the Dayton Entrepreneurial Region (2008-2016) and West Virginia University Program for retaining institutional diversity and equity (2010-2017). In her role as Provost at Syracuse University (2016-2020) she permanentized ADVANCE in Academic Affairs. An integrative biologist by training, her lab performed research on cellular and molecular biology of epithelial ion motive proteins. Her educational interests have included access of underrepresented groups to STEM careers and women in higher education leadership. Her higher education administrative roles have included Provost at two successive R1 Carnegie institutions (Syracuse University 2016-2020; West Virginia University 2010-2014), Dean of Science and Mathematics (Wright State University, 2002-2010) and Chair of Biological Sciences (Wright State University 1994-2002). She ascended the academic ranks at the University of Florida (1984-1994). Dr. Wheatly has 111 refereed journal articles and $29.4M in career federal funding.
Volunteer – Paule Joseph
Dr. Paule V. Joseph works as a clinician-scientist for the federal government. Dr. Joseph received an AAS in Nursing at Hostos Community College, a BSN from the College of New Rochelle, and a Master of Science with a specialty as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Pace University. She completed her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and conducted her PhD work at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. She then completed a Clinical and Translational Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Her laboratory aims to understand neurological and molecular mechanisms underlying chemosensation (taste, smell & chemesthesis) and motivational pathways of ingestive behaviors how they might be different in individuals with obesity and alcohol and substance use disorders. She is the director of mentorship for the African Research Academy for Women- an organization dedicated to growing the number of women in STEM fields in Africa. In her free time, Dr. Joseph enjoys spending time with her family, meditating and reading.
Volunteer – Ana-Maria
Bio and pic coming soon!
Volunteer – Maria Qadri
Maria Qadri, Ph.D. is a biomedical engineer who is passionate about biomedical research, STEM education, and science policy. Currently, she is a management consultant at the manager level with ECS Federal, where she serves the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insitute (NHLBI) at the NIH as the Scientific Portfolio Analysis lead. Before joining ECS Federal, Dr. Qadri worked in scientific communication and outreach in the Office of Undergraduate STEM Education at AAC&U, science policy and project management consulting at Ripple Effect, and as editorial staff at the American College of Radiology. Dr. Qadri earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative Biomedicine in 2018 from Rutgers University as well as an M.S. from the University of Connecticut and a B.S. from the University of Hartford, both in biomedical engineering. Additionally, she volunteers as the Director of Operations for the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. When Maria is not working, she can be found creating baked goods, knitting, and connecting with her friends in nature.
Volunteer – Cynthia Hurlbert
Cynthia Hurlbert is a Science Writer with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). There she writes for the Office of the Director. She has previously worked as a Technical Writer for the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and as a Private Tutor in the Greater Washington DC area. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Neuroscience and Microbiology from Furman University and Clemson University, respectively. She continued her educational opportunities at Uniformed Services University, studying Schistosoma spp. Cynthia is involved in Science Communication and Education and has pursued her passion for the subject both formally and informally.
Past Chapter Officers
2023-2024
President – Kristy Ortega Johnson
President-Elect – Cynthia Hulbert
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Vice President for Programs – Teresa Murphy
Volunteer – Elizabeth Hoffman
Volunteer – Michelle Wheatly
Volunteer – Paule Joseph
Volunteer – Maria Qadri
2022-2023
President – Kristy Ortega Johnson
Vice President for Programs – Maria Qadri
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Vice President for Outreach – Cynthia Hurlbert
Mentoring Circles Coordinator – Elizabeth Hoffman
Volunteer – Michelle Wheatly
2021-2022
Vice President for Membership – Anna Sberegaeva
Vice President for Programs – Maria Qadri
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Vice President for Communications – Kristy Ortega Johnson
Mentoring Circles Coordinator – Kristy Ortega Johnson and Elizabeth Hoffman
2020-2021
President – Jennifer Blum
Vice President for Membership – Anna Sberegaeva
Vice President for Communications – Kelsey Sugrue
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Mentoring Circles Coordinator – Heather Bloemhard
Volunteer – Kristy Ortega Johnson
Volunteer – Lila Hoachlander-Hobby
2019-2020
President – Jennifer Blum
Vice President for Membership – Anna Sberegaeva
Vice President for Communications – Kelsey Sugrue
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Mentoring Circles Coordinator – Heather Bloemhard
2018-2019
President – Jennifer Blum
President-Elect – Rita Isabel Lechuga
Past-President – Megan Stine
Vice President for Programs – Meredith Goodrich
Vice President for Membership – Federica Polato
Vice President for Communications – Kelsey Sugrue
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Mentoring Circles Coordinator – Heather Bloemhard
2017-2018
President – Megan Stine
President-Elect – Jennifer Blum
Past-President – Leslie Jimison Hamilton
Vice President for Programs – Federica Polato
Vice President for Public Relations; Membership – Deborah Bouvier
Vice President for Communications – Kelsey Sugrue
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
Volunteer – Meredith Goodrich
Volunteer – Rita Isabel Lechuga
2016-2017
President – Leslie Jimison Hamilton
President-Elect – Megan Stine
Past-President – Kristina Krasnov Miller
Vice President for Programs – Deborah Bouvier
Vice President for Public Relations; Membership – Jennifer Blum
Vice President for Communications – Kelsey Sugrue
Vice President for Finance – Barbara J. Natalizio
2015-2016
President – Kristina Krasnov Miller
President-Elect – Leslie Jimison Hamilton
Past-President – Jodi Wesemann (replacing Soo Kim Jennings)
Vice President for Programs – Sherry Marts (replacing Allison Mathes)
Vice President for Public Relations; Membership – Ofelia A Olivero
Vice President for Communications – Mayra Montrose
Vice President for Public Relationships; Social Media – Sarah J. R. Staton
Vice President for Finance – Christine Burgess
2014-2015
President – Soo Kim Jennings
President-elect – Kristina Krasnov Miller
Past-president – Melissa McCartney
Vice President for Programs – Xiamin Su
Vice President for Public Relations; Membership – Eada Wallbank
Vice President for Communications – Mayra Montrose
Vice President for Public Relations; Social Media – Bethany Brookshire
Vice President for Finance – Heather Dean
2013-2014
President – Melissa McCartney
President-elect – Soo Kim
Past-president – Jodi Wesemann (replacing Lisa Nichols)
Vice President for Programs – Alka Prasad
Vice President for Public Relations; Membership – Shana Spindler
Vice President for Communications – Lee-Ann Hayek
Vice President for Public Relations; Social Media – Jodi Wittlin
Vice President for Finance – Marcia Holden
2012-2013
President – Lisa Nichols
President Elect –Melissa McCartney
Past President –Anissa Elayadi
VP for Finance – Marcia Holden
VP for Programs – Alka Prasad
VP for Communications – Soo Kim
co-VP for Public Relations – Callie Raulfs-Wang
co-VP for Public Relations – Romina R. Heymann
co-VP for Public Relations – Shana Spindler
2011-2012
President – Anissa Elayadi
President Elect – Lisa Nichols
Past President – Jennifer Hobin
VP for Finance – Marcia Holden
VP for Programming – Jamie Whitacre
VP for Communications – Heather Gorby
VP for Public Relations – Nicole Gibson
2010-2011
President – Jennifer Hobin
President Elect – Anissa Elayadi
Past President – Jodi Wesemann
VP for Finance – Marcia Holden
VP for Programming – Lisa Nichols
VP for Communications – Jodi Wittlin
VP for Public Relations – Nicole Gibson
2009-2010
President – Jodi Wesemann
President Elect – Jennifer Hobin
Past President – Natalia Melcer
VP for Finance – Marcia Holden
VP for Programming – Ana Ferraras and Ester Sztein
VP for Communications – Angela Grant
VP for Public Relations – Christina Fuentes
2008-2009
President – Natalia Melcer
President Elect – Jodi Wesemann
VP for Finance – Lenka Federkova
VP for Programming – Jennifer Hobin
VP for Communications – Angela Grant
VP for Public Relations – Joslyn Kravitz
2007-2008
President – Jodi Wesemann
President Elect – Natalia Melcer
Past President – Nancy Bakowski
VP for Finance – Lenka Federkova
VP for Programming – Ester Sztein
VP for Communications – Anne Fleckenstein
VP for Public Relations – Lisa Frehill
2006-2007
President – Jodi Wesemann
VP for Finance – Lenka Federkova
VP for Programming – Natalia Melcer
VP for Communications – Ester Sztein
VP for Public Relations – Afua Anim
2005-2006
President – Nancy Bakowski/ Jodi Wesemann
VP for Finance – Lenka Federkova
VP for Programming – Jodi Wesemann
VP for Communications – Judy Keen /Ester Sztein
VP for Public Relations – Afua Anim
2004-2005
President – Nancy Bakowski
VP for Finance – Lenka Federkova
VP for Programming – Tsvetanka Zheleva
VP for Communications – Edith Richmond Schartz
VP for Public Relations – Jodi Wesemann