Chapter Committees and Officers - FY2024-25
Dr. Tracy Criswell
Membership Chair
Dr. Criswell is an Associate Professor at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and is also affiliated with the Wake Forest Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS), the Wake Forest Sticht Center on Aging and the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest Department of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (BMES). Her specific research interests are focused on exploring the interactions between cells and the local micro-environment that mediate cell survival, growth, and differentiation and how these interactions change as we age. In addition to research, Dr. Criswell is actively involved in STEM education, mentoring, professional development, and community outreach. She currently serves as co-chair of the WFIRM Education Committee, Chair of the WIMS Research and Education subcommittee, Co-Chair of the Wake Forest Graduate School Biomedical Sciences Committee on Race and Equity, and Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society.
Camila Vedia, B.S., M.S.
Communications Co-Chair (Social Media/Flyers/Emails)
Camila Vedia is the Clinical Project Manager for the Human Application Laboratory (HAL) at BioCytics, Inc., where she focuses on translational research, biospecimen banking, and cell manufacturing for immuno-oncology. With expertise in clinical research and project management, she has advanced innovative cancer immunotherapy trials and contributed to research in the fields of asthma, allergy, and immunology. Camila holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Microbiology-Immunology from Colorado State University. Passionate about collaboration and diversity in STEM, she aims to bridge the gap between research and its real-world applications through impactful communication.
Madison Edwards Barnett, B.S.
Communications Co-Chair (Website/Newsletters/Emails)
Madison is a Biology PhD student at the Wake Forest University Graduate School studying under the mentorship of Dr. Sarah McDonald Esstman. Madison's research is focused on characterizing replication intermediates involved in early Rotavirus assembly. Before her graduate training, she graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelors in Human Biology, and gained research experience focused on developing DNA origami scaffolds for memory storage. Following graduation, she worked as a research associate for Co-Diagnostics in Salt Lake City, UT, with a focus on developing assays for infectious disease diagnostics. Madison is excited to be a member of the AWIS-North Carolina team and is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive community for women in STEM.
Dr. Gauri Kulkarni
Young STEM-Star Award Chair/Communications/Outreach
Dr. Kulkarni is a Regenerative Medicine Scientist at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston Salem, NC; leading a Drug discovery and development Biology team focused on developing novel Small Molecules based Therapies for fibrotic diseases and In Situ Tissue Regeneration using high throughput assays and body-on-a-chip platform. Her expertise and specialized Research areas include tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, organ-on-a-chip devices and drug discovery to repair damaged or diseased tissues and organs to make patients lives better. She also has an experience in Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization. Dr. Kulkarni has served as a Chair of Women Postdoctoral Scientists' events and is a member of Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Besides research, she is an International Space Station Ambassador, actively engaged in enriching young minds through STEM education, mentoring, professional development and community outreach in the USA as well as rural students in India. She is also a visual artist and has exhibited her Science inspired paintings in the professional art galleries to bring social awareness.
Joan F Schanck, MPA
Outreach Chair
Joan is the Chief Education Program Officer at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Joan’s work is focused on providing high quality educational programming within the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In her role, she also works to increase awareness of the Institute’s leadership role within the field of biomedicine. Joan's professional background includes more than 20 years of specialized experience in administration, education, research, fund raising, collaborative team building, program development and direct care/services delivery within the university, community and non-profit, public health, and education setting. Throughout her career, she has recognized the importance of education and the need to develop collaborative, multidisciplinary education and research training across formal and informal educational environments. Joan received 'the 2023 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS-AM) Educational, Training and Outreach Award'. As an outreach chair, Joan will be focused on developing academic and Industry affiliated mentoring and educational programs for high school and undergraduate female scholars.
Aynsley Szczesniak
Student STEM Program Chair
(HERspectives/Summer STEM Workshop)
Endlessly energetic, Aynsley Szczesniak is a proactive STEMinist and youth trailblazer shattering the stigmas that have suffocated women in STEM. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Speak Out Sisterhood, a global network elevating youth to eradicate barriers to equality for women in STEM; the Founder and State Lead of Million Women Mentors North Carolina, the NC chapter of the global movement of leaders dedicated to empowering girls and women in STEM; the Bob and Janitta Carithers Honors Carolina Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and an aspiring physician eager to explore endocrinology, women’s health, and neonatal intensive care. As the Student STEM Programs Chair of AWIS North Carolina, Aynsley is dedicated to equipping young women with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in STEM through innovative career development programs and events.
Dr. Sabrina Mitchell
Fundraising/Partnership Chair
Dr. Mitchell is a life scientist with a broad range of research experience that includes human genetics, molecular biology, and protein bioprocessing. Her work has mainly centered on discovering molecular mechanisms of human diseases, most recently focusing on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. She currently freelances as a scientific writer and is excited to be part of the AWIS-NC team.
Dr. Rahma Ajja
Women In Stem Education (WISE) Program Chair
Dr. Ajja is a post-doctoral research fellow at Wake Forst School of Medicine. Her primary research mainly focus on studying age-related changes on behavior maintenance, and evaluating evidence-based interventions to enhance long-term maintenance of physical activity levels in older adults. As the mentorship chair, Dr. Ajja is excited to focused on developing the mentorship program with the vison to provide opportunities for young and aspiring women in STEM to connect with leaders in the STEM field.
Former Chapter Committees and Officers - FY2022-24
Amber Foust, M.S.
Communications Co-Chair (Social Media/Flyers/Emails)
Amber Foust is a Technical Specialist at Carolina BioOncology Institute’s Biocytics Human Applications Laboratory, an immuno-oncology research laboratory in Huntersville, North Carolina. She is also a Communications Officer in the United States Army Reserve. She has earned a BS from Campbell University, and an MS from the University of Florida, both in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Amber served as the communications co-chair for AWIS North Carolina and enjoys meeting other women who share her same passion for research and discovery.
Dr. Sabrina Mitchell
Fundraising/Partnership Chair
Dr. Mitchell is a life scientist with a broad range of research experience that includes human genetics, molecular biology, and protein bioprocessing. Her work has mainly centered on discovering molecular mechanisms of human diseases, most recently focusing on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. She currently freelances as a scientific writer and is excited to be part of the AWIS-NC team.
Joan F Schanck, MPA
Outreach Chair
Joan is the Chief Education Program Officer at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Joan’s work is focused on providing high quality educational programming within the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In her role, she also works to increase awareness of the Institute’s leadership role within the field of biomedicine. Joan's professional background includes more than 20 years of specialized experience in administration, education, research, fund raising, collaborative team building, program development and direct care/services delivery within the university, community and non-profit, public health, and education setting. Throughout her career, she has recognized the importance of education and the need to develop collaborative, multidisciplinary education and research training across formal and informal educational environments. Joan received 'the 2023 Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS-AM) Educational, Training and Outreach Award'. As an outreach chair, Joan focused on developing academic and Industry affiliated mentoring and educational programs for high school and undergraduate female scholars.