Meet the 2020 Finalists

We are pleased to present this year's Finalists in the 16th Annual Women of Innovation® program.

Awarded to a female high school student who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievements in technology or science, or who has displayed inventiveness or creativity in said fields. Juniors and Seniors are eligible for the Youth Innovation and Leadership Award. NOTE: family members of nominees are not allowed to submit nominations.
Click on the photos to see videos and learn more about each finalist.

ANANYA

AGGARWAL

Student, Glastonbury High School

MINA

KIM

Student, Amity Regional High School

LOLA

KOVALSKI

Student, Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy

AUDREY

LARSON

Student, Wallingford Public Schools

MEGHAN

OGRINZ

Student, Joel Barlow High School

SOPHIA

WANG

Winner ★ Student, Amity Regional High School

MELISSA

WOO

Student, Greenwich High School

CCAT and CTC are proud to honor Connecticut’s most innovative, successful, collegiate students. Each finalist is an undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in the technology, science, or engineering areas of study or who has displayed inventiveness or creativity in said fields.
Click on the photos to see videos and learn more about each finalist.

LEILA

DANESHMANDI

PhD Candidate, UConn School of Engineering

WANJIKU

GATHERU

Winner ★ Undergraduate Student, University of Connecticut

MAYA

GERADI

Undergraduate Student, Yale University

Awarded to a woman working in the secondary academic setting who has created and fostered STEM programs in curriculum development, student research, and/or teacher-student collaborations and consistently demonstrates STEM leadership and innovation.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

KAREN

AMAKER

Founding Director, P-TECH Norwalk

SUSAN

DOUGHERTY

Winner ★ STEM and Special Education Teacher, Stamford High School

BETH

FURNARI

Acting Principal, Information Technology & Software Engineering HS

DIANE

PINTAVALLE

Winner ★ Science Teacher, Glastonbury High School

CATHERINE

PISCITELLI

Science Research Program Director, Amity Regional High School

ROSEMARY

RIBER

Transition Coordinator, Joel Barlow High School

Awarded to a woman working in the postsecondary academic setting who has created and fostered STEM programs in curriculum development, student research, and teacher-student collaborations. Each finalist has secured outside funding to support her work and/or received peer recognition for her leadership and innovation.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

REBECCA

ANDREWS

Associate Professor of Medicine, UConn Health Center

MARIA

CHRYSOCHOOU

Winner ★ Department Head, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UConn

FAYE

ROGERS

Associate Professor of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine

Each finalist is a woman employed in technology, science or engineering who has devoted her own time and resources, or marshaled those of her company or organization, to support community organizations or non-profits. Awarded to one outstanding woman who has created or encouraged a culture of giving at her company or who has volunteered her time outside her workplace.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

AUNDRYA

MONTGOMERY

Winner ★ Research Assistant, University of Connecticut

RACHEL

PETRO

Mechanical Design Engineer, Pratt & Whitney

MARANDA

WONG

Commercial Engines Deputy CIPT, MPE, Pratt & Whitney

Awarded to a woman who has founded her own company or helped found a company – a woman who has taken great professional and financial risk to make her idea a reality.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

JESSICA

BAILEY

CEO, Greenworks Lending

VIRGINIA

JULIANO

Founder and CEO, CobbleCord

DONNA

LECKY

Co-Founder and CFO, HealthVenture and HealthHavenHub

COLLEEN

MCGUIRE

Founder and CEO, Silver Fern Healthcare

SHANA

SCHLOSSBERG

Founder and CEO, Upward

ERIKA

SMITH

Winner ★ CEO, ReNetX Bio

Awarded to a woman who has developed new knowledge or products, or improvements to products in a corporate or academic setting. Each finalist has exhibited an original approach to her research as well as achieved peer recognition in the technology, science or engineering disciplines. She has exhibited leadership ability by leading research teams, motivating staff and securing funding or resources to enable her research program.
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ELIZABETH

CONTINI

Principal Biomedical Engineer, Medtronic

DARCY

RONAN

Assistant Professor, Sacred Heart University

BEIYAN

ZHOU

Winner ★ Assoc. Prof. of Immunology, UConn Health Center

Awarded to a woman who has at least three years of managerial or technical experience in technology, science or engineering who has managed a program, project, or business unit in an exemplary way in a small/medium company (fewer than 499 employees).
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

ANGELA

CACACE

Vice President, Neuroscience, Arvinas, Inc.

ANTONIA

CIAVERELLA

Architectural Designer, Tecton Architects

ANN

FLYNN

Founder and CEO, IQ Telecom (IQT)

MICHELLE

JOHNSON

Chief Operating Officer, Metrum Research Group

CARRIE

MCCUSKER

Winner ★ Technical Lead, Sonalysts

MELISSA

PETRUSKA

Senior Research Scientist, Sonata Scientific LLC

Awarded to a woman who has managed a program, project, or business unit in an exemplary way in a large corporation (more than 500 employees) or professional services firm. Each finalist has at least three years of managerial or technical experience in technology, science, or engineering.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

JENNIFER

GAFFNEY

Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Company

JACQUELYNN

GAROFANO

Margaret Ingels Eng. Dev. Program Manager, Raytheon Technologies

AMY

GRACE

Director, Advanced Sustainment, Pratt & Whitney

LESLIE

HAWLEY

Executive Director, Pfizer

CHRISTINE

SEYMOUR

Director Global CMC, Pfizer

SHERI

SHAMBLIN

Director, Pfizer

SARAH

WOJISKI

Winner ★ Director of Education and External Programs, The Jackson Lab.

Equitability, diversity, and inclusivity are not just women’s issues – they are business, economic, and societal issues. Organizations need change agents who will champion equitability and diversity, and encourage others to also become ambassadors of the effort.
Each finalist works to create a climate that is not only diverse but also inclusive of all people in such ways that further the success and promotion of the STEM fields. Awarded to an individual, irrespective of gender expression, 17 years of age or older who has demonstrated a commitment to promoting equitability, diversity, and inclusivity in the STEM arena.
Click on the photos to learn more about each finalist.

KAYLA

CLOUTIER

Winner ★ Principal R&D Engineer, Medtronic

KATHERINE

COYNER

Assoc. Prof. of Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health

ELLEN

LAST

Experience Design Consultant, Slalom Consulting

CARLA

LOPEZ

Global Supply Chain COE Specialist, Pratt & Whitney

SONYA

RICHMOND

Winner ★ Boardmember, Connecticut Invention Convention

NIASIA

WILLIAMS

Mechanical Systems Engineer, Pratt & Whitney