2024-2025 Executive Board
Name: Blakely Lockhart
Position: Executive Chair
Pronouns: She/her
About: In my free time, I like to bake and play with my 3 cats.
Lab: Maternal Influence on Neurodevelopment Lab (MIND Lab) PI: Dr. Brittany Howell
Research: I study how nutrition provided during infancy and types of feeding practices can support neurodevelopment and growth trajectories.
Program: Translational Biology, Medicine, & Health (TBMH), 2nd year
Name: Nicole DeFoor
Position: Financial Chair
Pronouns: she/her
About: I like to do fibercrafts and play videogames in my free time while my cat tries to bite my feet.
Lab: Munson Lab for Oncoengineering PI: Dr. Jennifer Munson
Research: I’m studying the molecular pathway of interstitial fluid flow-mediated invasion in glioblastoma.
Program: Translational Biology Medicine & Health, 2nd Year
Name: Madi Wypyski
Position: GPSS Chair
Pronouns:
About:
Research:
Program: Translational Biology, Medicine, & Health PhD program, 2nd year
Name: Laura Bruckner
Position: Wellness chair
Pronouns: she/her
About: I love to read and play with my dog during my free time.
Lab: Addiction Recovery research Center; PI: Dr. Bickel
Research: I am studying how decision making influences engagement in health behavior, specificallly in substance use disorders.
Program: Translational Biology Medicine & Health, 2nd Year
Name: Jenna Bakir
Position: Social Chair
Pronouns: she/her
About: In my free time I like to read and take care of my plants.
Lab: Traumatic Nerve Technologies (TNT) Lab PI: Dr. Pamela VandeVord
Research: I'm studying the impact of previous viral encephalitis and traumatic brain injury on long term neuroinflammation.
Program: Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (TBMH); 2nd year
Name: Roxanna Farzad
Position: Social Chair
Pronouns: She/her
About: In my free time, I love hanging out with my friends and families, watching good movies/series and fishing!!
Lab: Dr. Nick Rider
Research: I am looking at ways to improve outcomes for patients with primary immune deficiency disorder using computational and statistical approaches across healthcare systems.
Program: Translational Biology Medicine & Health, 2nd Year
Name: Salihaat Okunlola
Position: Social Chair
Pronouns: she/her
About: I enjoy spending time with my family back home and I love travelling to new places.
Lab: Sassi Lab, PI-Dr Yassine Sassi
Research: I am studying the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Program: Translational Biology Medicine & Health, 2nd Year
Name: Rebekah Thomas
Position: Social Chair
Pronouns: she/her
About: In my freetime, I love running and all things outdoors and reading.
Lab: Cardiovascular science and metabolism, PI: Dr. Junco Warren
Research: I am looking at the role of a muscle-specific regulator of energy metabolism, called Perm1, and its use as a novel therapeutic strategy to alleviate both cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction during the early stages of heart failure.
Program: Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, 2nd year
2019-2020 Executive Board
Rachel Padget, Executive Chair
I grew up just outside of Kansas City, Missouri wherein I completed my B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Central Missouri in 2015 and my M.S. in Biology from Missouri State University in 2017. Here at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, I study viral infection in the heart in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health PhD program. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, baking, and running in the Blue Ridge.
Devin Tomlinson, Administrative Chair
I'm from Michigan, wherein I completed my B.S. in Psychology and am currently in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health PhD program here at Virginia Tech. In the Bickle lab, I study addiction decision making. I've played soccer for most of my life and also enjoy hanging out with my cat, Simba.
Alyssa Brunal-Brown, Special Delegate to the GSA
I am originally from New York (Long Island) but spent most of my life in Charlottesville VA. I am a double Hokie and I completed my B.S. is Psychology from Virginia Tech in 2016 and I am now a Ph.D. student in Translational Biology Medicine and Health Graduate program. I study electrical synapses and their influence on hyperactivity in epilepsy. Outside of work I enjoy Latin dance (Salsa/Bachata), aerial arts (silks) and playing with my puppy, Theo.
Mark Orloff, Social Chair
I’m from Northern Virginia (Herndon) and have been a Hokie for about 33% of my life. At VT, I got a BS in Psychology and am currently in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health PhD Program. At Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, I use functional MRI, computational modeling, and behavioral economics tasks to study the role of social influence in risky decision-making in Pearl Chiu’s lab. My hobbies include rock climbing, disc golfing, and playing board and video games.
Franklin Edwards, Health and Student Services Chair
I grew up in Radford, Virginia and obtained a B.S. in Neuroscience and Psychology at Virginia Tech in 2018. I am now a Ph.D. student in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health graduate program. I conduct my research at the Center for Simulation, Research and Patient Safety under the mentorship of Dr. Sarah Parker. My current project involves developing simulation scenarios relevant to opioid overdose emergencies and creating a measurement tool for the assessment of healthcare professionals and laypersons in opioid overdose resuscitations. When I am not working I enjoy hiking, traveling, playing tennis, running, and creative writing!