Board of Directors

SfS Board Members at the 2019 STEM for All Gala.
Photo of Erika Angle.

Erika Ebbel Angle – Founder & Executive Director

BEDFORD, MA

Erika Ebbel Angle received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2012 from Boston University School of Medicine. She holds a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Erika is the CEO and co-founder of Ixcela: The Internal Fitness Company, a Biotechnology company aimed at developing tests and interventions to improve gut microbiome efficacy and health. She is also the co-founder and Director of Education for Robots in Service of the Environment, a non-profit whose mission is to apply robotic solutions to help solve environmental challenges.

In 2002 Erika founded Science from Scientists. She is a member of the MIT visiting committee for the Dean of Undergraduate Education and is a STEM speaker for the U.S. Speaker Program at the U.S. Department of State.

In 2018 she was awarded the “Young Alumni” award by Boston University. In 2017 she was the recipient of the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from Boston University School of Medicine Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. In 2014 the Boston Business Journal selected her as one of the “40 Under 40″ business and civic leaders who are making a major impact in their respective fields in the Boston area. Her accomplishments have also been recognized by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pinnacle Awards for Emerging Executive.  In 2013 the Boston Chamber of Commerce selected her as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Leaders” in Boston. Selected by L’Oreal Paris as a 2007 Woman of Worth for her work with Science from Scientists, Erika has been featured on Lifetime TV and Nova Science Now on “The Secret Lives of Scientists and Engineers.” She is the host of “The Dr. Erika Show,” an educational science TV show for children.

Erika served as a Commissioner for the MA Commission on the Status of Women. Erika was Miss Massachusetts 2004 in the Miss America Scholarship program. At age 11, she became interested in isolating natural antiviral products from an herb. She continued to pursue this interest for the next 7 years, winning multiple state, national, and international science fair competitions.

Outside of work, Erika enjoys SCUBA diving, skiing and, a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, continues her lifelong passion for classical piano. She is married to Colin Angle, CEO of iRobot.

Photo of Colin Angle.

Colin Angle – Chairman

BEDFORD, MA

Colin Angle is chairman of the board, chief executive officer and founder of iRobot (Nasdaq: IRBT). Angle’s leadership has transformed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology spin-off into a global leader in consumer robots. One of the world’s leading authorities on robotics, Angle is an industry pioneer with more than 25 years of experience. Under his guidance, iRobot is at the forefront of the growing robot industry, delivering home robots that empower people to do more.

Today, iRobot has sold more than 18 million robots worldwide, revolutionizing the way people clean. Angle’s vision for the future of robots and his keen sense of business strategy are driving forces behind iRobot’s successful identification and execution of expansion opportunities. Under Angle’s leadership, the company is at the forefront of developing new robotic technologies, and as a major player in the Internet of Things, iRobot is building an ecosystem of robots and data to enable the smart home.

Photo of JD Chesloff

JD Chesloff

BOSTON, MA

JD is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, an organization of CEOs and executives from large employers with the mission of making Massachusetts a better place to do business.

JD has more than 25 years of public policy experience, working as staff to legislative committees and the State Treasurer.  He also was Policy Director for the O’Brien-Gabrieli gubernatorial campaign in 2002.  He joined MBR in 2004 after serving as Legislative/Issues Director for the Early Education for All (EEA) Campaign.  His work has helped establish the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, where he currently serves on the Board, and the STEM Advisory Council, on which MBR has a seat.

In addition, he is a Trustee at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and serves on the Boards of Science from Scientists, The Discovery Museums, the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, and the Advisory Board of ReadyNation.

Headshot of Jim Ellard.

James Ellard

IPSWITCH, MA

Jim Ellard is Chief Executive Officer of New England Biolabs, Inc. (NEB), a world leader in the development and production of reagents that enable biotechnology research. He started his career at NEB as a bench scientist working to overexpress and purify enzymes essential for the manipulation of DNA. In 1990, he created NEB’s Marketing Communications department and has more than two decades of experience in marketing, business development, brand management and strategic planning in the Life Science industry. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Active in business and community affairs, he serves on the Board of Ocean Genome Legacy, the Institution for Savings, Science from Scientists and is also a member of the Advisory Council for The Trustees of Reservations.

Yukiko Ueno Egozy

BOSTON, MA

Yukiko Ueno Egozy is a Boston-based pianist and teacher. Yukiko has served as a Visiting Artist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and as a pianist with the Handel & Haydn Society Vocal Quartet, which presents interactive lecture-concerts to secondary schools in Greater Boston. As a collaborative pianist, Yukiko performs in instrumental and vocal recitals at schools and universities in the Boston area. Yukiko holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Columbia University, M.S. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and M.M. in Collaborative Piano from New England Conservatory.

Linda Hammett Ory

LINCOLN, MA

Linda Hammett Ory is a long-time supporter of Science from Scientists and a member of the Secret Science Club. She recently completed her term as President of the Board for deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, having shepherded the institution to financial stability with The Trustees of Reservations where she now serves on the Board of Directors. Linda’s first career was as a choreographer working for stage, screen and music video. After a stint teaching dance and theater to grade school students, Linda earned her master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education followed by a career producing children’s educational media. Her volunteer efforts include 13 years as a Girl Scout leader, and launching a foundation to support early-stage organizations offering innovative solutions in education. She and her husband, Andy Ory, have three children, and they enjoy playing music or embarking on outdoor adventures together.

Mirza Cifric

MANCHESTER, MA

Mirza is a biotech entrepreneur. He is currently CEO of Veritas Genetics a pioneer in human genetics and first company to sequence and interpret a whole human genome for under a $1,000. He co-founded Veritas with colleagues from Harvard Medical School including Dr.George Church.

Prior to Veritas he co-founded and/or led multiple startups in biotech including AbVitro with George Church (sold), Solmap Pharma (sold), ImThera Medical (sold) and held executive positions with Forma Therapeutics (Nasdaq:FMTX) and Mercury Computer (Nasdaq:MRCY).

Mirza is an active angel investor in biotechnology and also serves on the philanthropic boards including The River Fund (Bethel, Maine) and previously served on the Board of Trustees of Endicott College (Beverly, MA) and others.

Mirza lives with his wife and four children in Manchester, MA who are all avid skiers.

Board of Advisors

Joanne Curley

Joanne Curley is the Chief Development Officer of Vera Therapeutics and was formerly the V.P of Project and Portfolio Management at Gilead Sciences, Foster City where she oversees the development pipeline across five therapeutic areas. She was with the Gilead since 2005 and in that timeframe, the HIV portfolio, which she managed, expanded from 4 to 11 approved products. Today Gilead is the recognized world leader in HIV therapeutics. Prior to Gilead Joanne worked as a Formulation Scientist and subsequently as a Project Leader at Nektar Therapeutics, San Carlos, CA from 1996 to 2005. While at Nektar she worked on both respiratory formulations and long acting injectable formulations.

She received a BSc in Physics/Chemistry from Trinity College, Ireland, a PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from U. Mass, Amherst and did a post doctorate at MIT and Harvard Medical School focused on long acting biodegradable formulations.

In addition to instilling a passion for science in kids, her other interests include raising 2 middle school aged kids, skiing, camping and traveling.

Kerry Healey

Dr. Kerry Healey is internationally recognized for her nearly three decades of service in academia, government and humanitarian work. She took office as Babson College president in July 2013. Under Healey’s leadership, Babson has further strengthened its reputation and position as the recognized global leader in entrepreneurship education. In September 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Babson College the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship in the United States for the 20th consecutive time.

Healey served as the 70th lieutenant governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. In 2008, Healey was appointed as a founding member of the Executive Committee of the U.S. State Department’s Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan (PJRA), and has led numerous philanthropic initiatives both in the United States and abroad.

Healey earned her AB in government from Harvard College and her PhD in political science and law from Trinity College, Dublin.

Judd Rottenberg

Judd Rottenberg is a principal at Long’s Jewelers. A third generation jeweler, Judd has been with Long’s Jewelers for nearly 20 years. After receiving his degree in Marketing and Retailing from Syracuse University, he continued his education by receiving his graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America. Since the science of diamonds and gemology is ever changing, Judd continued his education by receiving a Certified Gemologist degree from the prestigious American Gem Society. He served on the board of directors of the American Gem Society in 2007.

Isa Kaftal Zimmerman

Isa Kaftal Zimmerman has been a Superintendent of Schools, a High School Principal and Assistant Principal, a junior high school teacher and Division Director of the Technology in Education Program and Associate Professor at Lesley University. As principal and superintendent she was a pioneer in bringing technology to schools for instruction and productivity in MA and she started the MASS (Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents) Technology Task Force. She was also chair of Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Educational Technology Advisory Council (ETAC) for two three-year terms.

She was Senior Fellow at the UMass Donahue Institute and the UMass President’s Office. In that capacity she oversaw the mounting of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) annual Summit from 2006 to 2008 (although she participated in the first five and attended all since), created and oversaw the website, led the development of a state STEM plan outline and networked stakeholders. She also oversaw the CITI (Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative) K–12 program.

In her current work, as the principal of IKZ Advisors, she continues to be a resource for people in MA, and around the world, who are interested in STEM education. She was lead consultant to Wheelock College’s Aspire Institute in proposing a new way to prepare Pre-School to grade 3 educators to teach STEM. She served on Governor Patrick’s Readiness Project, the Secretary’s and Commissioner of Education’s 21st Century Task Force and now on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, serving on the Operations Board.

Patricia Haddad

State Representative Patricia A. Haddad represents the Fifth Bristol district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. The Fifth Bristol district includes the towns of Dighton and Somerset and parts of Swansea and Taunton, all in the Country of Bristol.

Ms. Haddad was educated at Mount Saint Mary’s Academy and holds a B.S. from Bridgewater State College. Before becoming a legislator she served as an educator. She currently serves in the SouthCoast Business & Professional Women’s Association, the Drug-free Schools Advisory Council, the Boy Scouts of America, the Moby Dick Council, the Weir Economic and Industrial Revitalization Corporation and the Health Access Collaborative. Ms. Haddad holds public office in the Somerset Playground & Recreation Commission, the Somerset Democratic Town Committee (Vice-Chair), and the Somerset School Committee (Vice-Chair, Chair).

In the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Ms. Haddad serves on the Ways & Means Committee, the Health Care Committee, and the Medicaid Committee. She has previously served as a member of the Human Services & Elder Affairs Committee and the Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee. Ms. Haddad has held special appointments on the Special Committee on Local Aid, the Legislative Commission on Public Housing, the Special Task Force on Local Government, the Special Task Force on the Economy and Workforce Development, the Special Task Force on Medicaid, the Council of State Governments and the Eastern Region-Conference Committee on Energy and the Environment.

Richard Merrill

Richard Merrill received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Minors in Political Science and Math from the University of Michigan. He holds an M.A. in the Teaching of Science and an Ed.D from the Teachers College at Columbia University. Richard Merrill has served as a lecturer at California State University, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair, Inc., and Director of the Northern California Western Nevada Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. He has also served as a Curriculum Specialist for science and various other curriculum areas, Executive Directory of Chemical Education Material Study, and a Chemistry Teacher at various educational institutions in California.

Richard Merrill was a board member of the California Science Teachers Association from 1971-1974. He was the Chairman of the State Conference Planning Committee in 1976 and served in several different positions for the Elementary School Science Association of Northern California from 1974-83 including Secretary from 1976-1981, and President in 1983.

Between 1980 and 1982, Richard Merrill was the Director of the National Science Supervisors Association. He has also been part of the Advisory Committees and Executive Committees for a variety of other organizations including the National Science Teacher’s Association, the Science Framework Committee in the California State Department of Education, the American Chemical Society, and the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley.

Richard Merrill has numerous publications and was the recipient of several awards including the Regional Catalyst Award for Excellence in High School Chemistry Teaching from the Manufacturing Chemists Association in 1976, and the Margaret Nicholson Award for Distinguished Service to Science Education, given by the California Science Teachers Association in 1990.

Joshua Seftel

Joshua Seftel’s love for science started at a young age. He was a Pre-Medical Sciences major in college, and his first job out of school was as a high school physics teacher. Meanwhile, Josh discovered a passion for filmmaking and made his first documentary, the Emmy-nominated “Lost and Found” (1992), about the plight of Romania’s orphaned and abandoned children. He hasn’t stopped making films since, including “Taking on the Kennedys” (1996) and “War, Inc” (2008) starring John Cusack, Marisa Tomei, and Ben Kingsley. Josh also directed the first season of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and helped develop the Emmy-nominated PBS children’s show “Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman.” He has long been committed to public broadcasting and is a frequent contributor to “Nova Science Now.”

California Advisory Council

Dr. Patrice Geraghty

Council Chair

Jennifer Albright

Teacher, Sunshine Gardens, SSF

Anne Campbell

Former Superintendent, San Mateo County Board of Education

Erika Fong

Parent, Donor, Embi Tec

Janie Kass

Nonprofit Strategy Consultant

Debra Matsuhiro

Corporate VP, Applied Materials

Gary Nakagiri

Consultant, Science Education

Vince Stewart

ED, CA STEM Network, Children Now

Dr. Abbey Thompson

Director of Outreach, Stanford University, Genetics

Steven Yuen

Donor, Financial Consultant