{"687670":{"#nid":"687670","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Sciences Announces 2026 Young Alumni Board Members","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the newest members of its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/young-alumni-board\u0022\u003EYoung Alumni Board\u003C\/a\u003E (CoSYAB). Launched in fall 2024, CoSYAB is a volunteer leadership group that partners with the College\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/advisory-board\u0022\u003EExternal Advisory Board\u003C\/a\u003E and Friends of the Sciences to strengthen connections within\u0026nbsp;its community and support its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/strategic-plan-2021-2030#:~:text=The%20challenge%20and%20opportunity%20for,leaders%20in%20science%20and%20technology.\u0022\u003Estrategic plan\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur Advisory Boards enter 2026 with a refreshed and energized membership, bringing renewed focus, broader perspectives, and strengthened commitment to advancing our strategic priorities,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeslie Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E, director of Alumni Relations for the College of Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe board is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade. In addition to participating in regular meetings, members are expected to contribute annually to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtgives.org\/giving-day\/98387\/department\/98391\u0022\u003EDean\u2019s Excellence Fund\u003C\/a\u003E, which provides direct support to where it is most needed across the College\u0027s six schools.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn 2025, the inaugural CoSYAB members engaged directly with students at numerous College of Sciences events. They shared industry insights and professional guidance during the College\u2019s students-alumni leadership dinner, career education panel discussions, and \u201cMaking Science Accessible\u201d event, which was organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cpies.cos.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Programs to Increase Engagement in the Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. At the latter, board members provided feedback to graduate students testing new ways of presenting their research to general audiences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the new year, CoSYAB will continue to build on these efforts to \u201csupport students, faculty, and programs in meaningful and impactful ways,\u201d adds Roberts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe 2026 board brings together alumni with a broad range of academic backgrounds and professional perspectives, united by a shared commitment to supporting the College of Sciences and strengthening student-alumni connections.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERiana Burney\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biochemistry 2015) is excited to continue in the role of board chair and work alongside members who are equally committed to mentorship, engagement, and service.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCollaborating with passionate College of Sciences alumni to build a foundation that directly supports student engagement and strengthens alumni connections reaffirmed how meaningful it is to stay involved with the College beyond graduation,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EReturning member\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EKristel Topping\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. Applied Physiology 2021) expresses similar enthusiasm for continuing the board\u2019s efforts to build meaningful connections and partnerships across Atlanta and Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI am thrilled to return as a board member because of its impactful initiatives and tremendous potential to benefit the broader community,\u201d she shares.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJalen Borne\u003C\/strong\u003E (Chemistry 2022, M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2024) is among the nine new board members bringing fresh ideas and a commitment to serving the College of Sciences community. As a member, Borne is most looking forward to supporting professional development and mentorship initiatives for both current students and young alumni.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u0027m excited to join CoSYAB because some of my greatest experiences came from the College of Sciences, and I want to use what I\u0027ve learned to benefit as many future scientists as possible,\u201d he says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELikewise,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEdward Freeman\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Biology 2021), who also joins the board this year, views his involvement in student and alumni programming as an opportunity to give back.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe College of Sciences gave me the foundation and skills that made my transition into graduate school and the biotech industry possible,\u201d he explains. \u201cI want to pay that forward by sharing what I\u0027ve learned with the next generation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2026 College of Sciences Young Alumni Board\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESathya \u201cSat\u201d Balachander, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJalen Borne\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Chemistry 2022; M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2024\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKatherine Bridges\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Mathematics 2025\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERiana Burney\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2015\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsheley Chapman, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Biochemistry 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStephen Crooke, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERalph Cullen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2008; M.S. Psychology 2011\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMorgan Foreman, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2017\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEdward Freeman\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlison Graab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2008\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClaire Haskell\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Mathematics 2025\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAustin Hope\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2014\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEvelyn Ligon, Ph.D.*\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHannah Liu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EM.S. Bioinformatics 2017\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnita Mohammad\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2012\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPiper Rackley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2022; M.S. Biology 2023\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnne Marie Sweeney-Jones, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2020\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKristel Topping, Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Applied Physiology 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYusuf Uddin, Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2012; Ph.D. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChiamaka Ukachukwu*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2013\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMegen Wittling\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAshley Zuniga\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2014\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E*\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Enew member\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in fall 2024, the volunteer leadership group is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The volunteer leadership group is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade. "}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-01-26 16:22:58","changed_gmt":"2026-01-27 19:38:28","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679084":{"id":"679084","type":"image","title":"During a 2025 \u201cMaking Science Accessible\u201d event, CoSYAB members provided feedback to graduate students testing new ways of presenting their research to the public.","body":null,"created":"1769445888","gmt_created":"2026-01-26 16:44:48","changed":"1769542743","gmt_changed":"2026-01-27 19:39:03","alt":"Group of 14 students and recent alumni standing in front of a projector screen in a classroom ","file":{"fid":"263201","name":"Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3384739,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg?itok=ClgVhLBj"}}},"media_ids":["679084"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/young-alumni-board","title":"College of Sciences Young Alumni Board"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/college-sciences-announces-new-leadership-group-young-alumni","title":"College of Sciences Announces New Leadership Group for Young Alumni"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}