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03 May 2022
Optica Foundation announces 2022 Ambassadors
Ambassadors mentor and inspire early-career professionals and students worldwide through virtual and in-person programs
WASHINGTON — The Optica Foundation announces ten exceptional early-career members who will serve as the 2022 class of Optica Ambassadors. This year’s class will join previous honorees (2016-2021) in their mission to support student chapters and host professional development events. Additionally, they are charged with promoting the importance of a diverse and inclusive science ecosystem and bridging connections between academia and industry.
“The ambassador program empowers those recognized to leverage their passion and drive to make a difference in the optics community,” said Eric Mazur, Harvard University, chair of the Optica Foundation Board of Directors. “Through this program, these individuals will influence and inspire the next generation. Optica Ambassadors help retain more great minds in optics and photonics and support local communities through grassroots activities.”
As emerging leaders, Ambassadors provide career advice, technical knowledge and mentorship. The previous class of ambassadors selected the 2022 ambassadors. All program participants receive a lifetime Ambassador distinction visible in the member directory for their continuing efforts.
“As an ambassador, I have been able to support various virtual and in-person events in so many different countries. When selecting this year’s class, there were some hard decisions. I’m confident we have a class of change-makers committed to creating opportunities for others,” said 2021 ambassador Margaret Dominguez, NASA.
The 2022 Ambassadors are:
Barbara Buades, MEETOPTICS, Spain
Brandon Buscaino, Ciena Corporation, USA
Alessandra Carmichael-Martins, Indiana University Bloomington, USA
Jhonattan Cordoba Ramirez, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
Sangyeon Cho, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
Faezeh Gholami, IBM, USA
Alexander Jantzen, Aquark Technologies, United Kingdom
Hyeon Jeong Lee, Zhejiang University, China
Rodrigo da Silva Benevides, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Richard Zeltner, Menlo Systems GmbH, Germany
Optica Foundation
Established in 2002, the Optica Foundation carries out charitable activities in support of the society’s student and early career members. We cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators as they navigate advanced degree programs and become active members of research, engineering and business communities worldwide. The foundation also works to secure the endowments for Optica’s awards and honors programs. The foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. For more information, visit optica.org/foundation.
About Optica
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more at: Optica.org
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