Icolyn Amarakoon
Lecturer, University of the West Indies - Mona
Icolyn Amarakoon, Ph.D., is a researcher and faculty member in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies. Her educational background is in biochemistry, biotechnology and viral infections. Icolyn brings to SOSA expertise in student outreach and STEM education development in the Caribbean. Icolyn has served on the SOSA Board since December 2018.
Reginald Archer
Associate Professor - Applied GIS & Remote Sensing, Department of Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University
Reginald Archer, Ph.D., GISP. has an educational background in geographic information systems and sciences, and civil engineering. Reginald provides SOSA with community and student outreach support, and he brings to SOSA expertise in geospatial mapping, grant writing, public health, environmental justice, and sustainability. Reginald has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Brooke Eben
Project & Program Management Leader, British Petroleum
Brooke Eben, Ph.D., has an educational background in business administration and electrical engineering. With industry experience in energy and technology, Brooke supports SOSA’s efforts to strengthen STEM workforce development and she brings to SOSA expertise in leveraging data-driven solutions, fostering stakeholder relationships, and motivating diverse teams. Brooke has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Craig Fletcher (Board Chair)
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Director, Comparative Medicine Division
Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Craig Fletcher, DVM, Ph.D., has an educational background in Veterinary Medicine and Viral Pathogenesis. Craig brings to SOSA expertise in biomedical research workforce preparedness, DEI best practices, strategic planning, coalition building, development, STEM education outreach and nonprofit Board leadership. Craig has served on the SOSA Board since September 2017.
Natwaine Gardner
Biotechnologist; Lonacas Consultants, University of the West Indies - Mona
Natwaine Gardner, Ph.D., has an educational background in biochemistry, biotechnology, governance and public accommodation. With experience in driving science policy, Natwaine has dedicated much of her career to creating successful and dynamic scientific diversity in Jamaica. She also brings to SOSA expertise in research and product development and expertise in treating substance use disorders and addiction. Natwaine has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Ricardo Harripaul
Computational Research Fellow; Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Ricardo Harripaul, Ph.D., has an educational background in computational biology and neurodevelopmental disorders. His career experience in neuroscience brings valuable insight to SOSA. Ricardo also brings to SOSA expertise in healthcare, computational research and neurological disorders. Ricardo has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Shelly Heaven (Vice Chair)
CEO & Founder, FarmLinkr
Shelly Heaven, MBA, has an educational background in business administration. As a business owner, Shelly has valuable career experience in planning, budgeting, forecasting and business strategy. She also brings to SOSA expertise in finance, governance and strategic planning. Shelly has served on the SOSA Board since September 2021.
Oswaldo Lozoya
Scientific Computing Principal Investigator, RTI International
Oswaldo “Ozzy” Lozoya, Ph.D., has an educational background in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering. Oswaldo brings to SOSA his experience collaborating with government agencies and navigating the public health sector. He also brings expertise in data science, data modernization and environmental science. Oswaldo has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Neley Morales (Treasurer)
Urology Oncology Surgical PA-C, Advent Health
Neley Morales, MS, is a surgical certified Physician Assistant specializing in urologic oncology in Central Florida. Neley has an educational background in health sciences and physician assistant studies and brings to SOSA expertise in volunteer coordination, international development and healthcare. Neley has served on the SOSA Board since April 2020.
Paola Giusti Rodriguez
Assistant Professor, University of Florida
Paola Giusti Rodriguez, Ph.D., has an educational background in genetics and neuroscience. She collaborates with other investigators to diversify psychiatric genomics studies, particularly across Latin America and her native Puerto Rico. Paola’s expertise in international outreach brings a valuable perspective to SOSA. She also brings to SOSA her knowledge of data analysis, science policy and science communication. Paola has served on the SOSA Board since September 2021.
Venneshia Sinanan
Head, Strategy & Planning, CB Group
Venneshia Sinanan has an educational background in science, accounting and economics. She is a multifaceted professional who brings solid strategy, accounting and taxation knowledge to SOSA. Venneshia also brings to SOSA experience with private sector collaboration in Jamaica. She has served on the SOSA Board since March 2024.
Keri Smith (Founder)
Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, School of Data Science and Society, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Keriayn Smith, Ph.D., SOSA’s founder, is a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she specializes in molecular and cellular biology. Keri’s educational background is in biochemistry and molecular biology, and she brings to SOSA expertise in international collaboration, science communication and bioentrepreneurship, especially as it pertains to social and economic development. Keri has served on the SOSA Board since 2011.
Danielle Webster (Co-Founder)
Associate Lecturer, Department of Health Sciences; University of Central Florida
Danielle Webster, Ph.D., is a SOSA co-founder with an educational background in microbiology and cell science. She brings to SOSA expertise in program development and coordination, community outreach and science education. Danielle also brings experience in prioritizing scientific literacy and diversity in STEM education. Danielle has served on the SOSA Board since 2011.
Suzanne Wilkison
President, North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR)
Suzanne Wilkison has an educational background and early career experience in journalism and mass communication and brings to SOSA expertise in science communications, nonprofit management, partnership development, strategic planning, fundraising, and program management for K-16 STEM educators and the biomedical research community. She also brings insights from managing or serving on boards for local, state and national nonprofits. Suzanne has served on the SOSA Board since June 2022.
Past Board Members
Bukola Orekha
Managing Director, Ace United
Bukola Fagbemi Orekha has an educational background in petroleum engineering and career experience working in the energy industry. With government and private sector clients, Bukola is well suited to help SOSA forge and facilitate industry connections. She brings to SOSA expertise in program development and student outreach at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship. Bukola has served on the SOSA Board since January 2018.
Alexis Thompson MMS, MPH
Alexis Thompson is a public health scientist at the Department of Health - Sarasota County. Alexis received her Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida. Feeding her love of science and community health, Alexis went on to pursue a Masters in Medical Science from the University of South Florida and Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University.
Throughout her professional public health career, Alexis continues to serve her passion of helping her community. She has worked with multiple nonprofit organizations globally, promoting healthcare access and literacy; specializing in reproductive health. Currently, Alexis works as a health educator focusing on sexual health and communicable diseases. Alexis continues to nurture her unwavering passion for eliminating health disparities by dedicating her efforts to several community initiatives.
Alen Amini, MBA
Alen Amini is currently a management consultant at the Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit firm that provides advisory services to philanthropies and nonprofit organizations. A former Fulbright scholar, he previously served as a high school math teacher and vice-principal in Southeast Arkansas through Teach For America.
Alen is a Zuckerman Fellow and MEd candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper and served as the interim student body president and the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business where he received his MBA.
Joshua Starmer, PhD
Dr. Joshua Starmer is founder and CEO of StatQuest, a youtube channel that teaches Data Science topics like Statistics and Machine Learning. Prior to StatQuest, Dr. Starmer was an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, where he researched high-throughput sequencing analysis techniques.
Josh received a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Oberlin College and Bachelor of Music in Composition from Oberlin Conservatory before working in the IT-Lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. From there he went to North Carolina State University and received a Ph. D. in Bioinformatics with advisors Donald Bitzer, Mladen Vouk and Anne-Marie Stomp. After graduating, Josh worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Terry Magnuson’s lab at UNC-Chapel Hill before being promoted to Assistant Professor. During his time at UNC-Chapel Hill, Josh created his youtube channel, StatQuest with Josh Starmer, as a way to teach statistics to friends and loved ones.
At StatQuest, Josh tries to make Data Science topics clearly explained. Bam.
JeAnn Watson, MPhil, PMP (Secretary)
JeAnn Watson is a PMP holder, currently pursuing the Project Management continuing education certificate at Ryerson University. Previously, she worked at the Natural Products Institute as a Senior Scientific Officer where she was involved in several research projects focused on medicinal plant extracts, and natural and synthetic compounds with anti-cancer and chemo-preventive potential. She sought to add value to Jamaica’s biodiversity by identifying potential leads to be further investigated for drug development. She also assessed medicinal plants for potential drug-herb interactions.
This work supported the safe use of medicinal plants, particularly in combination with prescription drugs, which is common practice in developing countries where primary healthcare accessibility is an issue.
She received a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology and Chemistry, and her MPhil in Biochemistry from the University of the West Indies. During her MPhil, she was the recipient of the Connecticut Jamaica 50 Independence Anniversary Celebration Scholarship. She has authored and co-authored 6 peer reviewed journal publications and 2 book chapters.
JeAnn Watson has been a volunteer and supporter of SOSA for 7 years, particularly the STEPS program which promotes the STEM field to youths in underserved populations.
Natalie Stephens, Ph.D.
Dr. Natalie Stephens is the Scientific Director of an independent contract research laboratory in Cambridge, MA, which provides scientific services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for product development and clinical trial support, primarily in the rapidly growing field of Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine.
Previously, Dr. Stephens worked in clinical studies aimed at investigating the phenomenon of Exercise Resistance and the variability of the exercise response seen in Type 2 Diabetics. Her research identified a novel transcriptional signature seen only in patients classified as Non-Responders to exercise. During her graduate research in infectious diseases, Dr. Stephens resolved the trafficking pathway of a resistance factor of African trypanosomes that leads to acute infections in humans and primarily game animals and livestock in southern and eastern Africa and was awarded the Harry Peck Award for presentation of this work.
Dr. Stephens earned her doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia, and graduated with a B.A. with honors in Biology from Williams College.
As a student, Dr. Stephens gave back to the graduate student community by maintaining an active role in organizations that help to create positive student experiences. In pursuit of this, she was a founding member of the organization, Graduate Students and Postdocs in Science at the University of Georgia. She understands the importance of young researchers to the future of science and discovery and has been dedicated to mentoring undergraduates.
Kameka Johnson, Ph.D.
Dr. Johnson research interest is host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on plant pathology. She carried out her postdoctoral research at Cornell University, where she investigated host pathogen interactions between Grape and a bacterial pathogen. Dr. Johnson received a B.Sc in Botany and Biochemistry from the University of the West Indies and a PhD in Plant Pathology at The University of Georgia. Her PhD research involved identifying virulence systems important for the transmission of seed-borne pathogens.
Over the years, Dr. Johnson has taken active roles in both student and professional scientific organizations. She has been granted multiple awards with regards to her research including the Sigma Xi Grant in Aid-of-Research and travel awards to present her research at conferences. Dr. Johnson’s community service work involves outreach that helps promote science education. These include serving as a mentor to undergraduates and encouraging middle school students to develop an interest in science, specifically plant pathology.
Aneisha Collins-Fairclough, Ph.D.
Dr. Collins-Fairclough is a molecular virologist who received her PhD in 2009 for her work in discovering three geminiviruses that circulate in Jamaica and describing their genetic and biological properties. This work provided substantial insights of the role of weeds in geminivirus infection of Jamaican crops and showed that wild plants threaten the viability of local agriculture as they may contribute to a resurgence of geminivirus epidemics of in Jamaican crops.
In 2010, Dr. Collins-Fairclough obtained a Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Programme (AITRP) postdoctoral fellowship, which allowed her to gain training in HIV molecular epidemiology. In her postdoctoral research, Dr. Collins-Fairclough identified characteristic genetic features of HIV strains from Trinidad, that may account for HIV infected Trinidadians developing AIDS faster than other HIV infected cohorts globally. Dr. Collins-Fairclough currently lectures at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Dr. Collins-Fairclough’s research interests include geminivirus molecular genetics and HIV molecular epidemiology and genetics. She has taught undergraduate courses in Biotechnology, General Biology, Human Biology, Introduction to Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, is the primary author on 5 peer-reviewed journal publications and has coauthored additional scientific publications.
In the service arena, Dr. Collins-Fairclough is the Chairperson of the Projects Committee for the Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement and reviewer and Editorial Team Member for the Journal of Aids and HIV Research (JAHR). She is also a guest lecturer for the annual “Concepts in Genetic Engineering Workshop” for Jamaican high school students and teachers.
Cheryl Stewart, Ph.D.
Dr. Cheryl Stewart is a recent graduate of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies where used molecular biology techniques to conduct the molecular characterisation of begomoviruses infecting Sida spp. in Jamaica under the supervision of the UNESCO/L’Oréal Special Fellow, Dr. Marcia Roye. She has had various research, teaching and administrative responsibilities during her term as a postgraduate student and while employed at the UWI. She has received some training in the characterisation of begomoviruses in Prof. Robert Gilbertson’s lab at the University of California Davis. She has presented the results of her research at various local and international conferences and has three published articles in peer-reviewed journals.