STEM Leaders Nominated as Women in Innovation Finalists

The Connecticut Technology Council will recognize 46 women for their achievements in STEM fields at the organization’s 20th annual Women of Innovation Awards in October.

Nominees include scientists, researchers, academics, manufacturers, student leaders, entrepreneurs, and technicians who are driving scientific advancement and business growth. 

Representatives from numerous CBIA member companies are among the honorees, including board member Brittany Isherwood, the president and CEO of Farmington-based Burke Aerospace.

The Women of Innovation honorees are:

Corporate Innovation and Leadership: Large Business 

• Lisa Brown, Market Segment Director, Launch Vehicles, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company 
• Julie DiGiacomo, Mechanical Systems & Externals Integrated Team Leader, Pratt & Whitney, An RTX Business 
• Dawn Maskell, IT Business Relationship Manager, Eversource Energy 
• Kathleen Moore, Senior Manager, Global Innovation Portfolio, Engineering, Otis Elevator Company 
• Kristina Pacheco, Machinist V, Kamatics Corporation, a division of Kaman 
• Hope Utterbeck, EVP & CIO, Liberty Bank 

Corporate Innovation and Leadership: Small/Medium Business 

• Katie Digianantonio, Senior Research Investigator, Arvinas, Inc.
• Brittany Isherwood, President & CEO, Burke Aerospace 
• Rajeswari Kompalli, Vice President, Research & Development, Laticrete International, Inc. 
• Amy Thompson, Chief Talent & Training Officer, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology

Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership 

• Amber Childs, Founder, M-Select 
• Barbara DeLoureiro, Founder and CEO, Vizionara, LLC 
• Roberta Nole, Founder & CEO, Nolaro24 LLC; Stride Physical Therapy & Pedorthic Center 
• Vanessa Sena, Founder & CEO, My Local Chefs Nutrition 

Research Innovation and Leadership 

• Veronica Maria Pimental, OBGYN Residency Research Director, Trinity Health of New England; Associate Professor OBGYN, QU Netter School of Medicine; Assistant Professor, OB/GYN, UConn School of Medicine
• Ruzica Piskac, Donna L. Dubinsky Associate Professor of Computer Science, Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science 
• Anna Tarakanova, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut 
• Tamilla Triantoro, Associate Professor, Business Analytics & Information Systems, Quinnipiac University School of Business 
• Lea Winter, Assistant Professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Yale University 

Community Innovation and Leadership 

• Nagasree Garapati, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Program, University of New Haven 
• Jodie Gillon, President & CEO, BioCT 
• Tanya Henneghan, Director, IT Administration, Southern Connecticut State University 
• Emily Jacobs, Senior Principal Biomedical Engineer, Technical Fellow, Medtronic 
• Jennifer Pascal, Associate Professor in Residence & Associate Department Head, University of Connecticut 

Academic Innovation and Leadership: Post-Secondary 

• Colleen Bielitz, Associate VP for Strategic Initiatives & Outreach, Southern Connecticut State University
• Malgorzata Cartiera, Innovation Director, Yale University 
• Clara Fang, Professor & Chair, Department of Civil, Environmental, & Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Technology & Architecture, University of Hartford 
• Susan Freudzon, Director of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Fairfield University 
• Kristine Horvat, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of New Haven 
• Jasna Jankovic, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut 
• Kiku Jones, Professor & Chair of Department of Business Analytics and Information, Quinnipiac University School of Business 

Academic Innovation and Leadership: Secondary 

• Alissa DeJonge, President, Mercy High School, Middletown 
• Lindsay McCarthy, science teacher, Amity Regional High School, Woodbridge 
• Julie McTague, STEM Department Chair, Joel Barlow High School, Redding 
• Sarah Reeves, science teacher, Amity Regional High School, Woodbridge 
• Chinma Uche, computer science & mathematics teacher, CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering, Windsor 

Collegian Innovation and Leadership 

• Amna Al-Azdee, chemical engineering undergraduate student, University of New Haven 
• Mariaceleste Florian, undergraduate student, Southern Connecticut State University 
• Rachel Godek, undergraduate student, Biomedical Engineering, UConn Health 
• Sophia Hatzis, undergraduate student, Student Lab Manager, University of Connecticut Innovate Labs, School of Business, College of Engineering 
• Anjal Jain, undergraduate student, Yale University; founder, AdheRx 

Youth Innovation and Leadership 

• Valeria Pegkou Christofi, student, Farmington High School 
• Rhea Doshi, student, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford 
• Caeli Edmed, student, Lyme-Old Lyme High School 
• Namyanzi Edwards, student, CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering, Windsor 
• Arianna Pereira, student, Joel Barlow High School, Redding 

Winners in each of the nine categories will be announced at an Oct. 28 ceremony, with all honorees also recognized. 

The awards event is sponsored by Medtronic, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, Arvinas, Inc., Day Pitney LLP, McCarter & English, LLP, and Carillon Technologies with additional support provided by Bento Engine, Income Conductor, NBT Bank, and WTNH News 8.