10 Under 10 Awards

2023 Recipients

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  Jude Amoako ’21

  Provost’s Award for Ethical Leadership and Community Engagement

  

  Jude Amoako ’21

  Provost’s Award for Ethical Leadership and Community Engagement

  Jude Amoako received dual bachelor’s degrees from URI in criminology and political science with a minor in business management. He is now an emerging marketing professional who is committed to building better brands, forming stronger community partnerships, and bringing digital visions to life. As director of partnerships for Nuñez, The People’s Agency, he worked with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, political campaigns, and startups. His passion for service, entrepreneurship, and social justice has led him to his new venture as a professional storyteller dedicated to helping people formulate personal brands that align with who they are. Amoako is also on the board of directors for Nowell Academy, Millennial Rhode Island, and P.A.C. (Patient Action Committee).

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  Yulyana Torres ’18

  College of Arts and Sciences

  

  Yulyana Torres ’18

  College of Arts and Sciences

  A passionate scholar and activist, Yulyana Torres graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and gender and women’s studies before moving on to Roger Williams University School of Law, where she is in her third year. At URI she was a teaching assistant, cofounded the student group Feminists at URI, and was one of few undergraduates to have a scholarly essay published in an academic journal. Following graduation, she was a campaign intern for Nellie Gorbea’s Secretary of State campaign, then served as a community engagement and youth outreach coordinator for the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, where she designed and implemented programs, events, and support groups bringing awareness to domestic violence. She plans to use her law degree to continue fighting for social justice in her community.

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  Matthew Hayes ’12

  College of Business

  

  Matthew Hayes ’12

  College of Business

  In his undergraduate commencement address, Matthew Hayes urged his URI classmates to find and follow their career passion instead of living for the weekend—advice he has taken to heart. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he went on to receive an M.B.A. from Columbia University and helped launch the commerce platform Teespring.com. He is currently a general partner at Point Judith Capital (PJC), a leading early-stage venture capital firm, where he focuses on consumer and enterprise technology investments. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise as a volunteer mentor to entrepreneurs through Company and to youth from under-resourced communities through BUILD Boston. A frequent speaker at URI College of Business events and career days, he is an inspirational role model for students.

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  Josie Chaves ’19

  Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies

  

  Josie Chaves ’19

  Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies

  Josie Chaves graduated with a B.S. in kinesiology with a physical education/health education and adapted physical education (APE) specialization. She was an exceptional student, earning the Society of Health and Physical Education Major of the Year award and the Academic Excellence Award from the Kinesiology Department in 2019 for her 4.0 GPA. Currently, she serves as the athletic director for Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island and the coordinator of the Newport Basketball Association. Chaves also volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County, where she develops basketball clinics and recreational activities related to youth basketball, as well as at Viking Hoops Basketball Camp in Newport, where she serves as camp director in the summer.

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  Maeve Story ’20

  College of Engineering

  

  Maeve Story ’20

  College of Engineering

  Originally from Maryland, Maeve Story came to Rhode Island for URI’s International Engineering Program and now calls the Ocean State her home. After completing dual degrees in ocean engineering and German, she stayed at URI to earn a master’s degree in ocean engineering and ultimately landed a job in the field. As a project engineer with Cathie Group, Story oversees geotechnical engineering projects for the global offshore wind industry. As a student, she was active in the Society of Women Engineers and volunteered at College of Engineering welcome days and open houses, in addition to being involved with the URI Women’s Center. Her enthusiasm for URI’s ocean engineering program remains strong, and she was thrilled to be involved in the 2022 election campaign for voter approval of the $100 million bond that will bring much-needed funding to the Narragansett Bay Campus.

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  Jennifer Newport ’21

  College of the Environment and Life Sciences

  

  Jennifer Newport ’21

  College of the Environment and Life Sciences

  Jennifer Newport chose URI because of her interest in environmental conservation, and as an undergrad she developed a specific interest in water treatment and conservation. During the summer before her senior year, Newport participated in URI’s Coastal Fellows Program to conduct research on water treatment using seashells. She was also a URI Service Corp. leader and a dedicated volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, as well as president of the Student Alumni Association. After earning her degree, she began working as an environmental scientist for Verdantas, LLC. in the remediation sector and is involved with the Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals. She continues to participate in events hosted by URI’s department of geosciences and hydrology and still volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

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  James Carrier ’13

  College of Health Sciences

  

  James Carrier ’13

  College of Health Sciences

  An undergraduate internship led to an impressive career in epidemiology for James Carrier. As a health studies major, Carrier interned in the Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology at the Rhode Island Department of Health and continued to work there following graduation. He went on to earn a Master of Public Health specializing in epidemiology from Boston University before relocating to Maryland, where he became an epidemiologist in the Center for HIV Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Evaluation at the Maryland Department of Health. He conducted routine surveillance on HIV and AIDS diagnoses until November 2020, when he was promoted to Deputy Center Chief overseeing a staff of 12. In addition, he has assisted the department’s COVID-19 response. Carrier remains a dedicated ambassador for URI, making time to mentor students and participate in College of Health Sciences career events.

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  Phoebe Hall ’16, D.N.P.’19

  College of Nursing

  

  Phoebe Hall ’16, D.N.P.’19

  College of Nursing

  A dedicated advocate for public health care, Phoebe Hall graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing followed by Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees in 2019. While she was a student, she traveled to the Dominican Republic and Liberia for hands-on experience in the field. As part of her doctoral work, Hall launched a pilot childhood screening program at Thundermist Health Center, which is now a fully functioning, multidisciplinary program. She joined Thundermist full time in early 2020, serving the community at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now the medical director of convenient care practices there. She has continued her relationship with URI as an adjunct professor of nursing, preceptor, and guest lecturer in the graduate nursing program.

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  Nicholas DaSilva ’14, Ph.D.’19

  College of Pharmacy

  

  Nicholas DaSilva ’14, Ph.D.’19

  College of Pharmacy

  A passionate and entrepreneurial pharmaceutical scientist, Nicholas DaSilva earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences in 2014, followed by a Ph.D. in 2019. As a postgraduate, DaSilva assisted Professor David Rowley for two years in developing an immunotherapy program and lab to seek novel cancer therapies. During his time as a Ph.D. student, DaSilva and two URI classmates founded Alcinous Pharmaceuticals in 2016. The company uses the power of big data to research and develop new drug therapies for aggressive cancers. After five years as head of research operations at Alcinous, DaSilva joined Takeda Pharmaceuticals in 2022 as a proteomics research fellow, where his research supports the development of cell therapy programs. During his spare time, he volunteers at the Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island.

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  Chase Livingston ’16

  Athletics

  

  Chase Livingston ’16

  Athletics

  A seasoned Rhody athlete, Chase Livingston spent his time at URI as an Atlantic 10 champion playing for the baseball team before earning his degree in physical education and kinesiology in 2016. After leading the Rams to the 2016 NCAA tournament, Livingston went on to play one season of professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals. He then retired to pursue his dream of becoming a licensed chiropractor, earning a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Texas Chiropractic College. Combining his passions for sports and chiropractic care, Livingston currently works for Mystic Spine and Sport as well as several professional and collegiate sports organizations, including the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. He continues to grow his professional career while supporting the URI baseball program and improving the lives of others through his medical expertise.