10 Under 10 Awards

2025 Recipients

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  Isabella Silverman ’20, M.S.

  Provost’s Award for Ethical Leadership and Community Engagement

  

  Isabella Silverman ’20, M.S.

  Provost’s Award for Ethical Leadership and Community Engagement

  Isabella Silverman ’20 is a graduate of the College of Engineering with a passion for improving the quality of the environment and enhancing community well-being in Rhode Island and beyond. As a toxicologist for the Rhode Island Department of Health, her background includes analyzing climate change mitigation scenarios for water treatment plants around the country, investigating emerging contaminants, and recommending nature-based solutions. She also went on to obtain her Master of Science in environmental engineering from the University of South Florida. Silverman began serving her community as a student, often using her URI school breaks to volunteer and expand her own education on water resource management. Her work in URI’s Water for the World lab helped develop and receive funding for a portable water treatment system in the Dominican Republic. She put her URI education to use globally serving in the Peace Corps in Peru, where she conducted workshops on environmental risks and health hazards while developing health communication plans for underserved schools and health posts.

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  Carlie Minghella ’23

  College of Arts and Sciences

  

  Carlie Minghella ’23

  College of Arts and Sciences

  Carlie Minghella ’23 began her community advocacy work when she volunteered as a victim advocate in the Rhode Island court system. Meanwhile she used her time at URI to develop skills in speaking Spanish, criminology and criminal justice, and psychology with hopes to help a broader spectrum of people in her community. She currently serves as the law enforcement advocate for The Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, working in local police departments to provide support, legal advocacy, and resources to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Minghella is a proud member and instructor of the Violence Against Women Act Committee, providing training to local police on domestic violence and sexual assault topics.

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  Amy Page DeBlasio ’15

  College of Business

  

  Amy Page DeBlasio ’15

  College of Business

  Amy Page DeBlasio ’15 is a proud Rhode Island native and the founder and creative director of her namesake brand—Amy Page DeBlasio (APD), a contemporary and ethical fashion label. Since graduating from URI with a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language and Literature and Bachelor of Science in business and textiles, fashion merchandising, and design—her fashion forward career has taken off! DeBlasio has been a featured designer in national runway shows and global publications and has been named Rhode Island Monthly’s Best Fashion Designer for the past six years. Her exuberant personality and original artistic perspective inspire her unique and authentic designs as well as her love of the local community. Within her busy schedule she commits time to several philanthropic volunteer positions related to her personal passions—including URI’s College of Business.

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  Michael Molinski ’19, M.B.A ’23

  College of Engineering

  

  Michael Molinski ’19, M.B.A ’23

  College of Engineering

  Michael Molinski ’19, M.B.A. ’23 is currently the head of research and development at AUDIANCE, a startup battery company focused on powering mission critical devices. Directly after graduating from the College of Engineering, he was hired as AUDIANCE’s first employee where he has led initiatives to obtain funding from the NIH, NASA, and the DOE while developing power sources for various applications, from implantable medical devices to lunar environments. Molinski returned to URI to obtain his M.B.A. in 2023. Outside of work, he has participated in the URI Senior Support Network where he has acted as a mentor to current students.

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  Shade Olowookere ’17

  College of Health Sciences

  

  Shade Olowookere ’17

  College of Health Sciences

  Shade Olowookere ’17 is dedicated to identifying and supporting innovations that strengthen public health systems and expand access to quality care. Beginning her extensive education as a Talent Development scholar at URI, Olowookere gained a passion for helping those in her community and across the globe. Her work has spanned local, state, national, and global sectors. Today, in her role as a public health advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Olowookere’s focuses on providing technical support to international emergency response, preparedness, and recovery efforts through research, workforce training and development, and strategic partner engagements.

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  Colin Burns ’14, DNP ’19

  College of Nursing

  

  Colin Burns ’14, DNP ’19

  College of Nursing

  Colin Burns ’14, DNP ’19 graduated from the College of Nursing in 2014 and returned to URI to obtain his Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019. Upon graduating, he became the founding nurse practitioner for the Geriatric Psychiatric Unit at the Westerly Hospital and now works in primary care for Yale New Haven Health. His close connection to URI began during his time as a student where he became involved in the Academic Enhancement Center and Ballroom Dance Club—the perfect place to meet his wife! Today, Burns continues to keep close ties with URI as an advanced pathophysiology instructor for the College of Nursing in addition to his work in primary care.

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  Ethan Melillo, Pharm.D. ’17

  College of Pharmacy

  

  Ethan Melillo, Pharm.D. ’17

  College of Pharmacy

  Dr. Ethan Melillo ’17 is a dynamic pharmacist and digital influencer with over 12 years of diverse experience in community pharmacy, pharmacy benefits management, and primary care. He currently serves as the senior manager of integrated health at L’Oréal, spearheading initiatives to educate pharmacists on the therapeutic benefits of popular skincare brands. A prominent voice in healthcare education, Melillo has a social media following of over 600,000 across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he engages audiences on skincare and health topics. His passion for creating informative and entertaining conversations around pharmaceutical care has led to partnerships with leading brands including The Weather Channel, CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, AstraZeneca, and Moderna.

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  Sarah Dudinski ’21

  Athletics

  

  Sarah Dudinski ’21

  Athletics

  Sarah Dudinski ’21 was a seasoned division 1 athlete on the URI women’s rowing team. Throughout her time at URI, she was a three-year team captain and a three-year full scholarship athlete. Since graduating from the College of Nursing, Dudinski has fulfilled her love for helping others by working as an oncology nurse at Rhode Island Hospital. Her athletic spirit has never left her—not only does she work tirelessly on her unit caring for patients, but she has raised close to $5,000 for cancer research by participating in the Tour de Rhody, using her passion as an avid cyclist to support the Brown University Health Office of Cancer Research and the clinical trials designed by the Brown University Oncology Research Group.

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  Abigail Hasenfus ’20, M.S.’21

  College of the Environment and Life Sciences

  

  Abigail Hasenfus ’20, M.S.’21

  College of the Environment and Life Sciences

  Abigail Hasenfus ’20, M.S. ’21 graduated from URI with a Bachelor of Science in environmental and natural resource economics and marine affairs, and certification in energy economics and policy. She is an alumna of the URI Energy Fellows Program where she joined a cohort that was passionate and eager to learn about real-world careers in sustainable energy. Hasenfus returned to URI to earn her Master of Science in environmental economics and now works as the chief of renewable energy program development for the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. Throughout her career, she has become an active participant in responding to Rhode Island’s energy needs and has written and secured over $57 million in grant funding for the state’s solar programs, putting her passion for energy and environmental justice toward helping disadvantaged communities.

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  Mahlik Handley ’18

  Feinstein College of Education

  

  Mahlik Handley ’18

  Feinstein College of Education

  During his time at URI, Mahlik Handley ’17 showed a passion for health and physical fitness inside and outside of the classroom. He was captain of the track and field team, a four-time Atlantic 10 champion, and was named the 2017 SHAPE America Outstanding Future Professional. Handley began his career as a physical education and health teacher in Rhode Island, cultivating a love of teamwork and sportsmanship in his students. Today, he is the dean of students at his high school alma mater where he passionately works to set up the next generation for future success, just as his own teachers did for him.