DREXEL MAGAZINE 40 UNDER 40 2026
Letter From the President
Experiential education — anchored by our renowned cooperative education program — is a defining Drexel advantage, and it is on full display among this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees.
In this edition of Drexel Magazine, we see young Dragons with the skills, confidence, adaptability and real-world perspective to fuel meaningful change long after they leave the University.
Among them is Lauren Delaney, who is advancing innovative ultrasound-enabled treatments to combat orthopedic infections, bringing laboratory research closer to improved patient care. Shaikha BuAli expands opportunity for thousands of K–12 students, shaping academic programs that prepare young people for lifelong success. Kelsey Dale is strengthening nonprofits and advancing equity through her growing consulting enterprise, while Tarika Aggarwal supports national security leaders in navigating complex, high-stakes challenges. And Colin Stewart has built a thriving media production company, turning his creative talents and co-op experiences into a business with national reach.
All of our honorees have translated their education into meaningful careers and lasting contributions — propelled, in large part, by unique Drexel experiences.
Since stepping into the role of your 16th president last July, I have found countless opportunities to boast about our exceptional students and alumni. These honorees give me yet another reason to do so.
Please join me in applauding this year’s impressive cohort as we continue to watch them soar.
President Antonio Merlo
MEET THE 2026 40 UNDER 40
MEET THE 2026 40 UNDER 40
Kazembe Abif, 33
BS sport management ’15, MS hospitality management ’16
ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HUB SCHOOLS, YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON
Tarika Aggarwal, 30
BS/MS communications ’18
TASK LEAD, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS, ANSER
Shaikha BuAli, 37
EdD educational leadership and management ’20
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, PA VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL
Lemond Brown, 37
BS architectural engineering ’12
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE SWALIGA FOUNDATION
Alexis Cohen, 39
BS biomedical engineering ’09
PARTNER, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION, SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP
Lauren Delaney, 38
BS/MS biomedical engineering ’11, PhD biomedical engineering ’16
RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY, THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
Viren Doshi, 37
BS biological sciences ’10, JD ’16, MPH health management and policy ’16
CORPORATE COUNSEL AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER, SILVER CROSS HEALTH SYSTEM
Maria Fortese, 32
BA playwriting and screenwriting ’15
VICE PRESIDENT OF FILM, AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT
Patrick Ganzer, 39
PhD biomedical engineering and science ’13
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND THE MIAMI PROJECT TO CURE PARALYSIS, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Garrett Gillin, 37 & Jon Vogel, 37
MBA marketing ’14 & MBA innovation management and entrepreneurship ’14
CO-FOUNDERS/PRINCIPALS, 215 MARKETING AND UNITS MARKETING
Elliot Goldberg, 32
BS computer engineering ’17
PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER, NORTHROP GRUMMAN
Lindsay Roberts Greene, 39
MS arts administration ’16, EdD educational leadership and management ’28
BROADWAY ACTRESS; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARTS IGNITE
Sylvia Herbert, 34
BS/MS mechanical engineering ’14
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
Courtney Houtsma, 34
BS biomedical engineering ’15, MS engineering management ’21
DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION, PENN HEALTH-TECH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Anush Lingamoorthy, 30
BS computer engineering ’18, BS electrical engineering ’18, MS machine learning and AI ’23, PhD electrical engineering ’25
CTO & CO-FOUNDER, ALTRUMED AND LUMINOSITY WEARABLES
Kyle Matthews, 27
PhD materials science and engineering ’24, BS materials science and engineering ’20
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AND CO-FOUNDER, MXENE INC.
Edwin McCulley, 36
BS health sciences ’18, MS epidemiology ’20, PhD epidemiology '25
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, MERCK
Michael Mirmanesh, 39
MD ’14
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE GARDEN PLASTIC SURGERY, THE GARDEN MEDICAL SPA, THE GARDEN WELLNESS AND THE GARDEN MASSAGE
Allyson Pinkhover, 35
MPH ’16
DIRECTOR OF SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, BROCKTON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER
Guillermo Ibarrola Recalde, 37
PhD STEM education ’20
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND EVALUATOR IN EDTECH AND HIGHER ED
Sara Babitt Schneider, 39
BS business administration ’09, MBA ’10
PRINCIPAL, XPLORA SEARCH GROUP
Jessica Schidlow, 38
JD ’17
SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AND LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL FOR THE CHILDREN’S JUSTICE CAMPAIGN, ENOUGH ABUSE
Prabagar Sankar, 32
MS biomedical engineering ’18
SENIOR ENGINEER, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & QUALITY, INTUITIVE SURGICAL
Zikria Saif, 25
BS materials science and engineering ’25
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, VALFARD THERAPEUTICS
Steven Spurgeon, 38
PhD materials science and engineering ’14
SENIOR MATERIALS DATA SCIENTIST, NATIONAL LABORATORY OF THE ROCKIES AND JOINT FACULTY, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
James Thomas, 37
MS nursing leadership in health systems management ’15
DIRECTOR OF NURSING, MAIN LINE HEALTH RIDDLE HOSPITAL
Micah Watanabe, 32
BS education technology (custom-designed major) ’17
RESEARCH AND EVALUATION SPECIALIST, SAFAL PARTNERS
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