Meet the Team

Dr. Lina Begdache, PhD, RDN, CDN, CNS-S, FAND

Dr. Lina Begdache, PhD, RDN, CDN, CNS-S, FAND, is an Associate Professor of Health and Wellness Studies at Binghamton University and the faculty mentor and advisor for BMINDS. She provides scientific oversight and strategic direction, guiding undergraduate and graduate researchers through study design, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and dissemination.

A researcher in nutritional neuroscience, Dr. Begdache examines how diet and lifestyle relate to brain health, mental well-being, stress, resilience, and cognition. Her interdisciplinary work connects nutritional, psychological, and behavioral perspectives to better understand individual differences in health and well-being.

Dr. Begdache is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Nutrition Specialist–Scholar, Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and elected a full member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.

Her mentorship helps students develop research skills, critical thinking, scientific judgment, and increasing independence. Through collaborative projects and opportunities to contribute to publications and presentations, BMINDS supports students’ scholarly growth and prepares them for graduate study and careers in research, healthcare, and related fields.

Sarah Al-Aubaidy is a Research Assistant and the current Director of Research. She guides her fellow research assistants and monitors all research, projects, and events to ensure they are carried out with accuracy and excellence. She was previously the 2025-2026 Financial Chair for the team. 

Marissa Pagnutti is a Research Assistant and the current Director of Outreach, Engagement, and Alumni Relations. She oversees BMINDS’ outreach and external communications by coordinating partnerships with campus groups, community organizations, and alumni, while also guiding team members and supporting events. She was previously was the 2025-2026 Public Relations Chair for the team. 

Amalia Ireland is a Research Assistant and the current Digital Engagement & Social Media Chair. She creates digital resources in partnership with the outreach chair to have a widespread translational impact on the Binghamton University community as well as the greater Binghamton community. She also updates the BMINDS social medias with events, informational posts, and more.

Katarina Sirianni is a Research Assistant and the current Community and Public Health Outreach & Social Media Chair. She connects BMINDS with other organizations within the University Community and the greater Binghamton Community to make meaningful connections and translate our research into impact. She also updates the BMINDS social medias with events, informational posts, and more.

Max Susskind is a Research Assistant and the current Education and Presentation Chair. He continually applies relevant research to community impact events through presentations and works to educate the greater Binghamton community on the importance of our findings. He also works alongside the Outreach chair to organize events.

Joaquim Ross is a Research Assistant and the current Fundraising and Outreach chair. He creates fundraisers, keeps track of BMINDS finances, and works to find grants for our research.

Katelyn Wasilenko was the Lead Researcher on the team in the 2025-2026 year. She guided her fellow research assistants and monitors all research, projects, and events to ensure they were carried out with accuracy and excellence. Katelyn also served as the Outreach and Education chair for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Danielle Crivelli was the Assistant Research Lead for the team in 2025-2026 year. She provided support and mentorship to fellow research assistants and worked closely with the Lead Researcher to help coordinate ongoing projects. Danielle also served as the Public Relations Chair for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Danielle is now attending SUNY Upstate PA School!

Rania Khan was a Research Assistant and the Lead Outreach Strategist for the team in the 2025-2026 year. Her contributions included overseeing all outreach events and implementing strategies to promote awareness of the team's mission and findings. She led the planning of the annual Walk for Wellness. Rania also served as the Finance Chair for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Maha Naeem was a Research Assistant and the Internal Outreach & Education Chair for the team in the 2025-2026 year. She coordinated with campus resources to create events that grow the public's knowledge, involvement, and awareness of nutrition research. One of Maha's key initiatives was the semesterly BMINDS Healthy Eating Cooking Workshops.

Maha plans to attend Medical School.

Joseph Darrell was a Research Assistant and the External Outreach & Education Chair for the team in the 2025-2026 year. His duties included building relationships with external organizations and community groups to engage diverse audiences and raise awareness about the team's mission. Joe helped to create meaningful, positive change outside of Binghamton University. 

Joe plans to attend Medical School.

Ushima Chowdhury was the Lead Researcher on the team during the 2024-25 academic year. Her duties involved leading her fellow research assistants alongside overseeing all research work, projects, and events. She also served as the Outreach and Education chair for the 2023-24 academic year and the Public Relations chair for the 2022-23 academic year. Ushima is attending Stony Brook Medical School.

Gabrielle Castillo was the Assistant Research Lead for the team during the 2024-25 academic year. Her responsibilities included supporting and guiding her fellow research assistants and assisting the Lead Researcher. Gabrielle also served as the Public Relations Chair for the 2023-24 academic year. Gabrielle is taking a gap year and plans to attend medical school afterward.

Katerina Nagorny was the Lead Researcher on the team during the 2023-2024 academic year. Her duties included guiding her fellow research assistants and overseeing all research projects. Katerina also served as the Outreach and Education Chair during the 2022-2023 academic year. Katerina will be attending Upstate Medical School in Fall 2025.

Sabrina Bubis was the Assistant Lead Researcher on the team during the 2023-2024 academic year. Her duties included supporting and guiding her fellow research assistants and assisting the Lead Researcher. Sabrina also served as the Financial Chair during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Sabrina has been accepted at New York Institute College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she aims to develop into a compassionate physician and contribute to the healthcare field! 

Sarah Livshits was the Financial Chair of the team during the 2023-2024 academic year. Her duties included creating fundraisers and keeping track of BMINDS finances. She also worked alongside the Outreach and Education Chair to organize events, such as the semesterly BMINDS Healthy Eating Cooking Workshops. 

Alexis Valerius was the Co-Presentation Chair on the team during the 2023-2024 academic year. Her duties included coordinating potential presentations for the team and creating presentations catered to the audience BMINDS is presenting for.

Alexis is currently attending UNC Chapel Hill to pursue her Master’s in Public Health in the Health Behavior Concentration. She hopes to address chronic disease prevention through both research and program implementation in her future career in public health.

Elliott Ifraimov was the Co-Presentation Chair on the team during the 2023-2024 academic year. His duties included coordinating potential presentations for the team and creating presentations catered to the audience BMINDS is presenting for.

Lexi Rosenberg was the Lead Researcher for BMINDS during the 2022-2023 academic year. Her responsibilities included guiding and supporting all research assistants to help the team reach its ongoing goals of continuing its research and disseminating its findings. Lexis also served as the Presentation Chair during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Lexi is currently attending Kansas City University: Osteopathic Medical School 

pursuing her dream of becoming a physician

Megan Welch was the Assistant Lead Researcher for BMINDS during the 2022-2023 academic year. Her responsibilities included supporting and guiding all research assistants, recording meeting minutes, and updating the website. Megan also served as the Financial Chair during the 2021-2022 academic year. 

Lindsey Moser was the Social Media Chair during the 2021-2022 academic year. Her responsibilities included creating different social media accounts and increasing our audience. She worked alongside the Ongoing Education Chair to develop reliable and valid posts. 

Lindsey has completed her masters degree in Nutrition and she became a Registered Dietitian 

Gerard Dempsey was the Lead Researcher for BMINDS and one of the co-founding individuals for this group during the 2021-2022 academic year. His responsibilities included guiding and supporting all research assistants to help the team reach its ongoing goals of continuing its research and disseminating its findings. He is also one of the founders of the team.

Michael Colabelli was the Assistant Lead Researcher for BMINDS during the 2021-2022 academic year. His responsibilities included supporting and guiding all research assistants. He also served as the financial chair during the spring semester of 2020. Michael is currently a registered nurse at Weill Cornel Medical Center

Tharsana Kumarasivam was the Communications Chair during the 2021-2022 academic year. Her responsibilities included reaching out to organizations and conferences to set up presentation opportunities for the group.

Rachel Molzon was the Ongoing Education Chair during the 2020-2021 academic year. Her responsibilities included developing informative social media posts and continuing the team's literature review to keep our posts current and accurate.

Alexandra Pritsker was the presentation chair during the 2020-2021 academic year. Her responsibilities included leading presentation planning and creation for all presentations for the team. 

Casey McKenna was one of the founding individuals of BMINDS and played an integral role in creating and organizing BMINDS into the official team it is today. She served during the 2019-2021 academic years.

Casey is currently attending The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine School