Fall 2025 Innovation Fellows
Yahia Abdelkarim
Economics
Originally from Egypt and raised in Johns Creek, GA, Yahia Abdelkarim is an Economics student with a passion for business, community building, and consulting. He has worked at Assurant on the Global Data Analytics team, focusing on business integration and strategic insights, and served as a Growth Equity Associate at University Growth Fund, leading investment research and supporting M&A initiatives. Yahia is the Founding Executive Director of BuildATL, a statewide student startup incubator, and currently serves as President of the Tech Collaborative. He also brings experience in commercial real estate and business development. Yahia is driven by impact, creativity, and innovation, with a focus on creating positive change through business and technology. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, running, and boxing.
Andre Akinyemi
Management Information Systems and Finance
Andre Akinyemi is a third year double major in Management Information Systems (Business Analytics emphasis) and Finance (Pricing & Valuation emphasis) with certificates in leadership, entrepreneurship, and legal studies. He serves as President of the Black Business Student Association, founder of The Keystone Fellowship, and head of recruitment for The Corsair Society, among other roles. Andre has interned at JPMorgan this past summer and will join William Blair next summer. In his free time, he enjoys running, basketball, pickleball, graphic design, exploring new cuisines, and spending time with family and friends.
Price Andersen
Public Relations
Price Andersen is a Public Relations major with an emphasis in New Media studies. As a journalist for the largest student-led, non-profit news organization in Georgia, The Red&Black, she has developed skills in communication, resonating with diverse audiences through the power of storytelling. She is also on the Member Relations Committee for PRSSA at UGA, where she focuses on enhancing member engagement and fostering a strong sense of community. She is interested in marketing and finding innovative ways to create deeper connections with people.
Akriti Banerjea
Economics, Accounting, and International Business
Akriti Banerjea, from Marietta, GA, is pursuing an Economics, Accounting, and International Business major with an emphasis in Consulting along with certificates in Legal Studies and Workforce Management. She is involved on campus with Alpha Kappa Psi, Honors Student Council, and International Business Society. Outside of academics and professional pursuits, she enjoys the arts, yoga, traveling, and aviation.
Grant Baumann
Mechanical Engineering
Grant is a highly motivated interdisciplinary student at the University of Georgia. Grant has extensive experience working on aerospace and consulting projects with an emphasis on entrepreneurial ventures and small satellite design and development. He is always open to new opportunities and is always curious about other fields. Grant is a Foundation Fellow, Stamps Scholar, National Merit Scholar, Engineering Ambassador, and member of the Small Satellite Research Lab at UGA.
Sophia Beasley
Marketing
Sophia Beasley, from Athens, GA, is pursuing a Marketing major with certificates in Entrepreneurship, Informatics, and Legal Studies. A CURO Scholar, she researches real estate pricing algorithms and antitrust law, presenting at Harvard and the Academy of Legal Studies in Business. She leads UGA’s Professional Clothing Closet, supporting 1,000+ students with career attire, and serves as Director of Business Development at Talking Dog Agency, managing client acquisition. Sophia previously interned in Marketing at UPS Capital and will join EY in Summer 2025. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, carpool karaoke, and spending time with loved ones.
Hailey Brakke
Management Information Systems
Hailey Brakke, from Cumming, Georgia, is pursuing a BBA in Management Information Systems along with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. She holds leadership roles in Women in Technology and the Society for Management Information Systems. She is also involved in the Apollo Society, Atlas Business Society, and is a member of the Morehead Honors College. Hailey is passionate about developing innovative solutions driven by data and creativity. In her free time, she enjoys watching Formula 1 races, trying new coffee recipes, and spending time with friends and family.
Sara Jane Clark
Advertising
From Dunwoody, Georgia, Sara Jane is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Advertising with a minor in Studio Art and has completed her entrepreneurship certificate. She holds leadership roles in Alpha Chi Omega, serves as the head of social media for EXTRA Creative Agency, is a marketing intern for YourVibe Marketing, and a server at Trappeze Pub. Beyond her professional pursuits, Sara Jane loves to go to concerts, discover new coffee spots, and rewatch her favorite TV shows. In the future, she hopes to use her creativity and leadership abilities to collaborate on projects to generate new, innovative ideas that leave a lasting impact.
Alaina Crisostomo
Environmental Engineering
Alaina Crisostomo is a third-year student studying Environmental Engineering with a minor in business and a certificate in sustainability. She is passionate about balancing industry progress with environmental responsibility and sustainability. She aims to help companies adopt solutions that create both environmental and economic value. Alaina is an ambassador for the College of Engineering, a part of Terry Student Consulting, the National Society of Black Engineers as the Academic Excellence Chair, Black Business Student Association, and Keystone Fellowship as the Interdisciplinary Chair. Alaina’s hobbies include reading, journaling/scrapbooking, thrifting, and DIY nail art. Fun fact: In 2024 she read 43 books and is on track to complete 44 in 2025.
Joe Eustace
Computer Science
Joe is a highly motivated computer science student interested in cyber security. He has extensive experience working in local government, the federal government, and nonprofit organizations. At UGA, Joe serves as President Pro-Tempore of the Student Government Association Senate, where he leads fellow students in campus improvement initiatives. He is open to new opportunities and values learning about other disciplines. Outside of school, Joe enjoys watching Major League Baseball and rooting for the New York Yankees.
Katie Field
Management Informational Systems and Business Analytics
Katie Field is a fourth-year student pursuing a BBA in Management Information Systems and a Master’s in Business Analytics. She is involved on campus with Corsair Consulting, Terry Women’s Initiative, UGA Panhellenic, and the Office of Public Service and Outreach. She has worked on projects through SIFP for Schréder, Southwire, Augusta National Golf Club, and Google. Outside of the classroom, Katie enjoys traveling and cooking, and plans to build a career that combines her interests in data science and aviation.
David Gad
Finance
David Gad is a fourth-year student from Alpharetta, Georgia, majoring in Finance (Pricing & Valuation emphasis). He serves as President of the Multicultural Business Student Association and has previously been involved in SMIF, the Corsair Society, and the Keystone Fellowship. David is the co-founder of P.O.W.E.R. Outreach, a nonprofit supporting orphans and widows in Nigeria, and he will join Citi’s Investment Banking division in New York upon graduation. Outside of academics and professional pursuits, he enjoys cooking, weightlifting, and traveling, especially returning to Argentina where he was born.
Lauren Garrity
International Business and Marketing
Lauren Garrity is a second-year student from Richmond, Virginia, pursuing a BBA in International Business and Marketing with a minor in Spanish. Ambitious and highly engaged, she serves as the Alumni Relations Director of Kappa Alpha Theta, a team captain for UGA Miracle, and a student consultant with the American Marketing Association. Lauren is passionate about global business, collaborative work, and creative strategy, and hopes to integrate these interests into her future career. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, running, and trying new restaurants around Athens!
Katie Gentilotti
Accounting
Katie Gentilotti is a third-year student from Collegeville, Pennsylvania studying Accounting with a minor in Sports Management. Passionate about applying classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, Katie looks forward to collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic and innovative solutions to pressing problems. Outside of academics, Katie is actively involved in campus life through her leadership role in her Panhellenic sorority and the Terry Edge Network. Katie spends her free time following Philadelphia sports, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, and trying different restaurants throughout Athens.
Brooke Gillett
Finance with a Sociology Minor
Brooke is an active member at UGA’s Relay for Life, Delta Zeta, Dawgs for Paws, and several non-profit organizations. She is interested in consulting, business design and implementing innovative problem-solving strategies in the workplace. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, the arts and spending time with friends and family.
Abigail Harris
Political Science and Sociology
Abigail Harris is a sophomore from Forsyth County, GA pursuing a BA in Political Science and Sociology with minors in Public Administration and Management. She has worked in the GA State House for two years and is excited to return this Spring under the Chief Minority Whip after working as the Director of Communications for a U.S. House of Representatives candidate. She serves as an Associate Justice on the Judicial Council of the Phi Kappa Literary Society and has published award winning research on capital punishment. Outside the classroom she enjoys ballroom dance, baking like she’s feeding a small army, and leading to serve the people in her life with that same vigor.
Kira Haviland
Social Entrepreneurship
Kira is a fourth-year student from Nashua, New Hampshire, majoring in Social Entrepreneurship with certificates in Sustainability and Environmental Ethics. She strives to be involved with sustainable initiatives on and off campus; she was involved with Terry’s Sustainable Business Society for three years, and served as the President of External Affairs. This past summer, she studied Viticulture and Enology at UGA Cortona, learning about Italy’s sustainable grape cultivation and wine production. Kira currently works as a Student Assistant Manager and Bartender for the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. When she graduates, she hopes to move abroad and pursue a career in innovation and Human-Centered Design. In her free time, Kira enjoys going to farmers’ markets, cooking with friends, and spending time outdoors!
Richard Hill
Finance and Management Information Systems
Trey Hill, from Atlanta, Georgia, is a third-year student in the University of Georgia Morehead Honors College, pursuing a BBA in Finance and Management Information Systems and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. He serves as a Venture Capital Analyst at Circadian Ventures and will be a Summer Associate with Boston Consulting Group this upcoming summer. Trey is also involved with the Kickstart Fund, UGA’s student-managed venture capital fund, and the Knox Martin Foundation here on campus. In his free time, Trey enjoys football, skiing, cooking, and watching movies with friends.
Harshil Joshi
Regenerative Bioscience
Harshil is from Leesburg, GA and is majoring in Regenerative Bioscience. He is passionate about innovating the medical field through strategic health initiatives and the development of novel therapeutics. On campus, he is actively involved with several organizations, including the Thomas Lay After School Program, the UGA Kickstart Fund, and Stethoscope Magazine. Outside of academics, Harshil enjoys working out, reading, listening to music, gardening, and hiking.
Niklas Kamp
Business Administration and Management
Originally from the University of Paderborn, Germany, Niklas is a highly passionate Business Administration and Management major who is spending his semester abroad at UGA. Fascinated by Entrepreneurship, Consulting, AI, and Sustainability, he has been active in shaping student initiatives across Germany and at UPB through MTP e.V., Germany’s largest marketing student organization, and entrepreneurship organizations. At UGA, he is continuing this engagement through the Society of Entrepreneurs and the International Business Society. Beyond academics, Niklas enjoys capturing moments through photography, mixing music as a DJ, and exploring new cultures while traveling.
Hannah Kniker
Finance
Hannah Kniker is a fourth-year student pursuing a BBA in Finance with a certificate in Legal Studies. She is involved on campus with Terry Women’s Initiative, UGA Panhellenic, and Women in Finance. She has worked on projects through SIFP for QuadSis, Cox, Coke, and AMG Detection. In her free time, Hannah enjoys trying new recipes, digital photography and design, and traveling.
Jacob Kriete
Finance
Born and raised in Lawrenceville Georgia, Jacob is a fourth-year studying Business at UGA. With life-long interests in the Entrepreneurship field, Jacob has enjoyed UGA programs such as iCorps, and plans to take the ENTR certificate as he learns and grows in the field. Outside the classroom, Jacob enjoys interests in IM sports, the gym, and spending time with friends and family.
Sarah Lewallyn
Biology, International Business, and Finance
Studying Biology, International Business (Spanish), and Finance Sarah Lewallyn brings a unique educational background to the team. At the core of her studies is a passion for interdisciplinary work, strategy, servant leadership, and creativity. The Atlanta native holds a diverse background of experiences including work in policy, mass media, STEM nonprofits, and education. Sarah currently works for the Georgia House of Representatives, runs her own media company, works in the modeling industry, and produces creative video for UGA athletic teams and sponsors. In her free time she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and scuba diving!
Deborah Madden
Environmental Engineering
Deborah Madden is a fourth-year Foundation Fellow, majoring in environmental engineering. She is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. Deborah has interests in sustainability and circularity that led her to do research related to plastics at MIT and UGA. Deborah has previous internship experience as a Business Analyst with McKinsey & Company and as an Engineering Project Management Intern at 2KB Energy Services. She actively contributes to campus life as the president of the National Society of Black Engineers and through membership in the Tate Honor Society, Caribbean Association, Pamoja Dance Company, and Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity.
Wyatt McAvoy
Finance
Wyatt McAvoy is a finance student at the University of Georgia with a strong interest in entrepreneurship, strategic problem-solving, and business development. He is the co-founder of Niche Supplements, a performance nutrition startup focused on cleaner, more effective pre-workout products. Wyatt is actively involved in UGA Hockey and several business and finance organizations on campus, where he enjoys collaborating with motivated, interdisciplinary teams. He is passionate about building ventures, learning from industry leaders, and pursuing opportunities in finance, private equity, venture capital, and early-stage startups. In his free time, he enjoys training and traveling.
Ciara Mitchell
Biological Engineering
Originally from Snellville, Georgia, Ciara Mitchell is a fourth-year Foundation Fellow, majoring in biological engineering. Ciara has interests in biotechnology, organizational development, and venture capital. She actively contributes to campus life through her involvement with the Student Alumni Council, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Black Business Student Association, and the Corsair Society. Ciara has previous internship experience as a Business Analyst with McKinsey & Company and as a Strategy and Management Analyst at Bank of America. Ciara is committed to driving meaningful change and fostering a culture of innovation in her community.
Charlotte Moore
Management Information Systems
Charlotte is a Classic Scholar from Lake Wylie, South Carolina majoring in Management Information Systems with an area of emphasis in Business Analytics. On campus, Charlotte is the head Teaching Assistant for the introductory Excel course, MIST 2090. Last summer, she studied abroad at the London School of Economics and learned about the leadership structure of business organizations and econometrics in public policy. She also consulted with a small company specializing in providing affordable housing and restructured their internal pricing workbooks to create a dynamic valuation system. Outside of school, she is actively involved in intramural flag football and basketball.
Sarvesh Prabhu
Finance and Data Science
Sarvesh is a rising sophomore majoring in Finance & Data Science, passionate about the intersection of financial engineering and entrepreneurship for the benefit of the sustainability investments market. Outside of running his two startups, AstraCell and Melodi AI, Sarvesh is currently a member of Terry’s Kennedy Program, and has joined LexisNexis Risk Solutions as a Technology M&A Analyst Intern. Outside of his professional and UGA involvement, you’ll find him listening to his vinyl record collection and spending time outside with friends.
Aashna Raj
Finance
Aashna, a student born and raised in Johns Creek, Georgia, is passionate about management, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector. Driven by a commitment to empathy and servant leadership, she aspires to create meaningful impact in everything she does. On campus, she currently serves as the Director of Finance for UGA HEROs, supporting children impacted by HIV/AIDS, and as an associate on Kickstart, UGA’s student-managed venture capital fund. She also enjoys puzzles, discovering new music, and exploring different cultures in her free time.
Kaleigh Reaves
Mechanical Engineering
Kaleigh Reaves is a rising senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering. She serves as co-president of the Engineering Ambassador Program, where she helps promote engineering to prospective students. Kaleigh is a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society and the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She also participates in the CURO research program, where she has conducted research on brain diffusion models to better understand Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of academics, Kaleigh is passionate about music and performs with a local Athens band!
Brooke Richards
Mechanical Engineering
Brooke is from Woodstock, Georgia and is studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Design & Media. She is passionate about the intersection of innovative technology and immersive experiences, driven by curiosity and a desire to inspire others. Brooke combines technical problem-solving with creativity and is an avid learner, always in pursuit of knowledge. Outside of school, she is a photographer for The Red & Black, an equestrian competitor on the UGA Eventing Team, and works as a freelance graphic designer. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and playing instruments.
Ryan Salinger
Management Information Systems
Originally from San Diego, CA, Ryan Salinger is a Management Information Systems student at the University of Georgia with experience in marketing, digital strategy, and consulting across different cultural contexts. He has worked with small businesses in Belize on projects involving market research, user experience, and practical growth strategies, and he has studied innovation and business culture in Scandinavia. At UGA, Ryan serves as the Chief Program Preparation Officer for Empowered Consulting and has additional experience in SEO, UX design, and sales development. Outside of school and the workplace, he enjoys golfing, surfing, and weightlifting.
Anish Sambrani
Finance
Anish Sambrani is a second-year student from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing Finance at the University of Georgia. With an interest in financial markets and banking, Anish has previously worked at a buy-side firm focused on the software and business services sectors and most recently in State Farm’s Corporate Finance group this past summer. On campus, he is a member of the Morehead Honors Program, Atlas Society, and Apollo Society, where he continues to strengthen his knowledge of business and investing. Beyond academics, Anish is a cinematographer and editor for music and media productions and enjoys following the English Premier League and PC building.
Bradley Smith
Real Estate and Supply Chain Management
Bradley is a third-year student from Newnan, GA. Passionate about bringing people together and staying organized, she is pursuing degrees in Real Estate and Supply Chain Management. Her enthusiasm for new challenges led her to also earn a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. On campus, she is involved with the Society of Entrepreneurs and Women in Business. Outside the classroom, you can find her traveling, trying new foods, and attending Georgia Football games. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, exercising, spending time outdoors, attending her church, and sharing quality time with friends and family.
Olivia Willett
Marketing and International Business
Olivia is a people person at heart, and she takes that mentality into everything she does. Currently a resident assistant at Brumby Hall, Olivia is also a part of Morehead Honors College and plans to continue her involvement at UGA. Outside the classroom, her interests lie in nature, communication, culture, and cooking. She dreams of working internationally and aims to be fluent in 5 extra languages. A life-long learner and constantly curious, Olivia’s goal is to fuse creativity with excellence in business, school, and life.
