The Flinn Scholar Alumni Council supports the Flinn Scholars Program by providing feedback and advice to Flinn Foundation staff, undertaking initiatives to enhance the experience of current Flinn Scholars, and cultivating a meaningful network of Flinn Scholar alumni.
Meet the Flinn Scholar Alumni Council:
Lindsey Chew (Chair)
MD/PhD Candidate
Duke University School of Medicine
Flinn Scholar Class of 2014
University of Arizona
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Lindsey A. Chew graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Arizona Honors College in 2018, with a degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (Neurobiology emphasis) alongside minors in Spanish and Business Economics. She is currently completing her MD/PhD at Duke University School of Medicine through the Medical Scientist Training Program, and she is a Ph.D. candidate in Catherine Bowes Rickman’s lab in the Department of Ophthalmology. Her project focuses on validating gene therapy targets for age-related macular degeneration, as well as understanding the role of specific fat and cholesterol components in the development of this visually-impairing disease. Lindsey aspires to see patients as an ophthalmologist and conduct research to find cures for blindness. She was inspired by her time as a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs for the Blind during her college years in Tucson. After graduating from the University of Arizona, Lindsey spent several months traveling to guide dog training schools around the world (Czechia, Ireland, Hungary, New Zealand, Canada), meeting with mobility and orientation training experts as well as innumerable guide dog handlers. The Flinn Foundation played a key role in enabling her exploration, and Lindsey looks forward to continuing the adventure on the Flinn Alumni Council.
Gayatri Sadachar (Incoming Chair)
Flinn Scholar Class of 2015
University of Arizona
Gayatri Sadachar earned her honors degree from the University of Arizona in neuroscience and cognitive science with a minor in women’s studies. Her lasting interest in healthy aging and rural health care was first sparked by a study abroad trip to Greece, a dream made possible by the Flinn Foundation. As a College of Science ambassador, she led STEM outreach initiatives for youth at Diamond Children’s Medical Center and Tucson Science City. In 2019, she was named Outstanding Senior. During the pandemic, Gayatri began working as a health educator for the Phoenix Mobile Health Unit, where she and her colleagues provided over 10,000 COVID-19 vaccines and preventative health screenings for underserved communities across Arizona. The Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health recognized their efforts with a Staff Team Award for Excellence in 2021. To continue improving the health of Arizonans, she will pursue an advanced degree. Gayatri is deeply grateful for the chance to give back to the Foundation that has given life-changing opportunities to both her and her brother, Shivam, a 2017 Flinn Scholar.
Breanne Bushu (Past Chair)
Education and Public Policy Consultant
Flinn Scholar Class of 2002
University of Arizona
Breanne Bushu is an independent consultant. She brings to the Flinn Scholar Alumni Council expertise in education and public policy research, strategic planning, and systems design, from experiences supporting students through work in schools, higher education, nonprofits, and the Arizona Legislature. She is a Teach for America alum who began her career in education as a middle school mathematics teacher. Breanne earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Arizona, where she also earned a BFA in Studio Art and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Breanne is particularly excited to serve on the Alumni Council because of her lifelong commitments to Arizona students and to give back to the Flinn Foundation for its ongoing support of her. She is also a 2016 Flinn-Brown Fellow.
Nikhil Dave
Health and Life Sciences Analyst @ Gates Ventures
2018 Flinn Scholar
Arizona State University
Nikhil Dave is currently on a one-year secondment from McKinsey & Company to Gates Ventures, Bill Gates’s executive office. He leads on venture-philanthropy investments in biotechnology companies working on Alzheimer’s disease. Before this, he spent two years in McKinsey’s Life Sciences practice.
His journey at Arizona State University began when he was 14, where he studied Alzheimer’s disease for seven years. In 2022, he completed a master’s in Biology and bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience and Innovation in Society. At ASU’s Luminosity Lab, he worked on interdisciplinary R&D efforts, including creating patented sterilization technologies, leading a COVID-19 response initiative that provided over 15,000 PPE units to Arizona hospitals, and winning a $1M XPRIZE.
In 2020, Nikhil was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents, where he served a two-year term working on initiatives to strengthen Arizona’s life sciences ecosystem and support students facing food and housing insecurity.
Tina Kwasnica
Interim chair, Department of Physical Medicine and NeuroRehabilitation
Barrow Neurological Institute
Flinn Scholar Class of 1987
University of Arizona
Tina Kwasnica is a member of the second Flinn Scholar class. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she went to Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. She was fortunate to find the field of rehabilitation medicine and stayed to train at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan Ability Lab), the preeminent program in the field of rehabilitation. Her path led back home to Phoenix and Barrow Neurological Institute in 2000. Her interests include pediatric rehabilitation, spasticity management, brain injury and sports concussion. She is married to Kevin Theodorou and has two children—Brandon, who is pursuing a doctorate in computer science/artificial intelligence at University of Illinois and Alex, who is a junior at Arizona State University and a collegiate gymnast dreaming of medical school. Tina is excited to continue her relationship with the Flinn Foundation which changed the pathway of her future.
Aidan McGirr
J.D. Candidate
NYU School of Law
Flinn Scholar Class of 2016
Arizona State University
Aidan McGirr is an Institute for International Law and Justice Scholar at New York University School of Law, where he focuses on public and private international law. Relatedly, Aidan has served as a legal advisor at the United Nations, has published in various international journals and papers, has received awards in international legal competitions, and has worked in both public and private-oriented law firms. Though Arizona was once his home, Aidan now resides in New York City. Prior to New York, Aidan studied a Master’s in Sweden and worked for their United Nations Association in the domain of atrocity crimes. At Arizona State University, Aidan studied astrophysics and global health, where he was the founding member of a refugee medical clinic, REACT, which continues to serve the Phoenix area. Aidan is delighted to be benefiting the community which has done so much for him, and looks forward to his time on the board spent in the service of connecting Flinns even further.
Sara Zervos
COO / CFO, Pao App Inc
Flinn Scholar Class of 1987
Arizona State University
Sara Zervos is a veteran global fixed income investor and financial economist. She currently consults for the International Monetary Fund and serves as COO / CFO of Pao App Inc (a digital media company she co-founded with her daughter). Prior to these endeavors and her move to Colorado, she served as an Institutional Investor for nearly 15 years, specializing in emerging market debt. As Head of Global Debt at OppenheimerFunds she was entrusted with over $20 billion in investor assets. Sara worked as a Senior Financial Economist at the World Bank, portfolio manager at three hedge funds, an emerging market analyst in two global investment banks, and taught finance at the university level. She has published in several academic journals. Since her move from NYC, she has launched several companies in real estate, financial literacy, and travel.
Sara holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester, and a B.A. in Economics from Arizona State University. She has held seats on the Federal Reserve’s sub-committee on Foreign Exchange, the UBS Research Advisory Board, and the Emerging Market Trading Association Board. She is currently a board member for the Gardener Cheese Company.
Sara’s main loves are her partner, her two children, and their five dogs and cats.
Past Alumni Council Members
Ruth Allard – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 1990
Ruben Alonzo
Flinn Scholar Class of 2001
Shantanu Bala
Flinn Scholar Class of 2011
Jennifer Banks – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 1991
Timothy Ellsworth Bowers
Flinn Scholar Class of 1997
Aaron Cain
Flinn Scholar Class of 1997
Michael Chu – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 1992
Darryl Davis-Rosas
Flinn Scholar Class of 2006
Heidi Ernst
Flinn Scholar Class of 1998
Nathan Johnson
Flinn Scholar Class of 1986
Ajay Karpur
Flinn Scholar Class of 2012
Renata Keller
Flinn Scholar Class of 2000
Arielle King
Flinn Scholar Class of 2007
Mark Larsen
Flinn Scholar Class of 1987
Susan Luu (Lai) – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 1987
Samantha Winter McAlpin – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 2004
Michael Mitchell
Flinn Scholar Class of 1986
Margaret Neff
Flinn Scholar Class of 2003
Jennifer (Manuszak) Nelson
Flinn Scholar Class of 1989
Am Norgren
Flinn Scholar Class of 2006
Matt Rolland
Flinn Scholar Class of 2005
Benjamin Sanchez
Flinn Scholar Class of 2009
Amy Shahar (Stabler) – Past Chair
Flinn Scholar Class of 2007
