Meet The Team


The Blackstone LaunchPad program at Syracuse University is supported by professional staff, as well as a talented team of student entrepreneurs who serve as mentors and subject matter experts. Student roles are supported through generous donors to SU Libraries. 

Together, the LaunchPad team provides multi-disciplinary skill sets and mentoring services to help the Syracuse University community explore innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and build professional and personal skill sets to succeed.

Executive Staff

David Seaman
David SeamanDean of SU Librariesdseaman@syr.edu
Linda Dickerson Hartsock
Linda Dickerson HartsockFounder and Advisor, Strategic Initiativesldhart01@syr.edu
Traci Geisler
Traci GeislerDirectortlgeisle@syr.edu
Indaria Jones
Indaria JonesProgram Managerijones@syr.edu

The Rubin Family Innovation Mentors

Rubin Family Innovation Mentors serve as peer advisors to a portfolio of student startups, coaching them on strategy and venture development.

Selim Dangoor
Selim Dangoor‘23 Newhouse/Whitman, Advertising and EEE
Ben Ford
Ben Ford‘23 Whitman, iSchool
Jack Ramza
Jack Ramza'22, G'23 Whitman
Noah Mechnig-Giordano
Noah Mechnig-Giordano'22, G‘23 Engineering and Computer Science, Whitman MBA
Aidan Mickleburgh
Aidan Mickleburgh'22 'G23 ECS
Rob Goldblatt
Rob Goldblatt'23 Whitman

Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Innovation Scholars

Todd B. Rubin Innovation and Diversity Scholars, funded through a generous gift from Todd B. Rubin ’04 School of Architecture, Minister of Evolution and President of the Republic of Tea, work to broaden diversity and inclusion outreach and programming, expand participation in entrepreneurship by underrepresented groups and support the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim‘24, Whitman, Marketing Management and Finance
Ethan Tyo
Ethan Tyo'17 iSchool, G'22 Falk
UD Joseph
UD Joseph‘25, iSchool, Information Management & Technology

Global Fellows

LaunchPad Global Fellows are subject matter experts in various disciplines such as engineering, software and data management, industrial and interaction design and product development, graphic design, web design, UX-UI, all forms of digital media and content development, as well as marketing, sales and finance.

Jack Rose
Jack Rose‘23 Whitman
Sydney Groso
Sydney Groso'23 Falk/Maxwell
Zach Goldstein
Zach Goldstein’22, Newhouse/Whitman
Claire Howard
Claire Howard‘23, Maxwell
Sasha Temerte
Sasha Temerte‘23 Arts & Sciences / Maxwell, Economics, Writing & Rhetoric
Natasha Brao
Natasha BraoG'23 Whitman

Blackstone LaunchPad Special Projects

Kelly Davis
Kelly Davis’23 Whitman/Newhouse
Justin Gluska
Justin Gluska‘23 Engineering and Computer Science
Coral Hunter Coad
Coral Hunter Coad'23 VPA

Peer Mentors

Jack Adler
Jack Adler'23 Whitman
Sam Holland
Sam Holland'23 Newhouse/Whitman

Hult Prize Syracuse University Campus Ambassador

The Syracuse University Hult Prize Campus Ambassador helps organize the campus Hult Prize competition at Syracuse University.  It is part of a global competition that is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize” of student impact entrepreneurship.

Andrew Kim
Andrew Kim’24 Whitman/Newhouse
Sasha Temerte
Sasha Temerte’23 Arts & Sciences

Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar

Hunter Brooks Watson Scholars are supported through a generous gift from the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund.  It is Inspired by Syracuse University’s Remembrance Scholar program, and was established as a way to honor the life and entrepreneurial spirit of Hunter Brooks Watson, a Syracuse University student who passed away after injuries suffered in a tragic 2016 distracted driving car accident. The Syracuse University Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar peer mentors students and builds the pipeline of innovative students who exemplify the "spirit of entrepreneurship."

Jack Adler
Jack Adler'23 Whitman

Former Team Members

Nick Barba
Nick BarbaProgram Manager
Sam Hollander
Sam HollanderProgram Manager
Brandon Henry
Brandon Henry‘24 Maxwell, Economics
Diego Luna
Diego LunaLaunchStar Fall '20-Spring '21
Joshua Alter
Joshua Alter‘22, Whitman, Finance
Alexandra Santagelo
Alexandra Santagelo‘23, VPA, Industrial and Interaction Design
Samba Soumare
Samba Soumare‘24, Maxwell, International Relations
Carlos Magdaleno
Carlos Magdaleno‘23, Newhouse, Advertising
Season Chowdhury
Season Chowdhury‘23 College of Engineering and Computer Science
Jackson Ensley
Jackson Ensley’22, Whitman, Marketing
Matt Keenan
Matt Keenan‘22, Whitman, Marketing Management
Bruno Gonzalez Hauger
Bruno Gonzalez Hauger’21 G'22 Whitman, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
James LePage
James LePage‘22 Whitman, Real Estate and EEE
Natalie Lui
Natalie Lui‘22 Visual and Performing Arts, Fashion Design and History
Ze Zing
Ze Zing‘22 Whitman, Finance and Business Analysis
Nick Barba
Nick Barba'20 Whitman
Sam Hollander
Sam Hollander'21 Whitman
Alec Gilinder
Alec GilinderRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '19—Spring '20
Alesandra (Sasha) Temerte
Alesandra (Sasha) TemerteOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21
Amanda Chou
Amanda ChouGlobal Media Fellow Spring '17—Spring '18
Amos Cohen
Amos CohenGlobal Media Fellow Spring '17
Audrey Miller
Audrey MillerHunter Brooks Watson Scholar Spring '20
Avi Singhal
Avi SinghalIntern Summer '17
Bridget McDonough
Bridget McDonoughGlobal Media Fellow Fall '18—Spring '19
Bruno Luiz
Bruno LuizRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '20—Spring '21
Chris Appello
Chris AppelloGlobal Media Fellow Fall '20
Christian Medina
Christian MedinaIntern Fall '16
David Fox
David FoxGlobal Media Fellow Spring '17—Spring '19
Emily Pearson
Emily PearsonGlobal Media Fellow Fall '18—Spring '21
Emma Rothman
Emma RothmanHBW Scholar & Fellow Fall '19—Spring '21
Elizabeth Tarangelo
Elizabeth TarangeloGlobal Media Fellow Summer '18—Fall '18
Emily Dang
Emily DangIntern Spring '17
Gabriela Holliman-Lopez
Gabriela Holliman-LopezDiversity and Innovation Scholar Fall '20—Spring '21
Jackson Siporin
Jackson SiporinGlobal Media Fellow Spring '21
Jake deHahn
Jake deHahnGlobal Media Fellow Spring '18—Spring '19
Jalen Nash
Jalen NashGlobal Media Fellow Spring '19—Spring '20
James Rudman
James RudmanOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21
Justina Hnatowicz
Justina HnatowiczGlobal Media Fellow Fall '17—Spring '18
Justin Diaz
Justin DiazOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21
Justin Lee
Justin LeeGlobal Media Fellow Fall '18
Kaizhao Zero Lin
Kaizhao Zero LinGlobal Media Fellow Spring '21
Kate Beckman
Kate BeckmanGlobal Media Fellow Summer '17
Kayla Simon
Kayla SimonHunter Brooks Watson Scholar Fall '18—Spring '19
Kelsey Davis
Kelsey DavisRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '19—Spring '20
Kennedy Patlan
Kennedy PatlanGlobal Engagement Scholar Fall '17
Krishna Pamidi
Krishna PamidiGlobal Media Fellow Fall '20—Spring '21
Lawrence Lin
Lawrence LinGlobal Fellow Spring '17—Fall '17
Luz Perez
Luz PerezGlobal Engagement Scholar Spring '18
Matt Shumer
Matt ShumerRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '19—Spring '20
Megan Swanson
Megan SwansonIntern Fall '16
Michael McCormack
Michael McCormackGlobal Media Fellow Spring '18
Nick Barba
Nick BarbaGlobal Fellow Fall '19—Spring '20
Patrick Linehan
Patrick LinehanGlobal Media Fellow Fall '20—Spring '21
Patrick Prioletti
Patrick PriolettiRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '19—Spring '21
Quentin Rosso
Quentin RossoGlobal Fellow Fall '17—Spring '18
Quinn King
Quinn KingRubin Family Innovation Mentor Fall '19—Spring '20
Russell Fearon
Russell FearonOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21
Sam Hollander
Sam HollanderGlobal Media Fellow Fall '18—Spring '21
Saniya More
Saniya MoreGlobal Media Fellow Spring '18
Season Chowdhury
Season ChowdhuryOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21
Sukhmeet Singh
Sukhmeet SinghIntern Fall '16—Spring '17
Sloane Sexton
Sloane SextonGlobal Media Fellow Fall '20—Spring '21
Tyra Ambroise Jean
Tyra Ambroise JeanDiversity and Innovation Scholar Fall '20—Spring '21
Victoria Lawson
Victoria LawsonGlobal Media Fellow Spring '18—Spring '20
Will DeVito
Will DeVitoGlobal Media Fellow Spring '19—Spring '20
Zain Edeen Elwakil
Zain Edeen ElwakilOrange Ambassador Fall '20—Spring '21

Learn more about the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars global network at blackstonelaunchpad.org.