Alumni-in-Residence: Fall 2022

Location: United States

Julie Babayan ’03

Julie Babayan smilingJulie Babayan ’03 is the head of policy development with Adobe’s Policy, Government, and Ethical Innovation team in Washington, D.C. In her role at Adobe, she focuses on a range of global technology policy topics, including artificial intelligence, intellectual property and education issues. As part of Adobe’s internal AI Ethics Committee, Julie worked on a diverse, cross-functional team that helped develop and implement Adobe’s AI ethics principles and processes.

Before joining Adobe, Julie worked on technology policy issues on Capitol Hill, serving as counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce and the Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, Julie practiced telecommunications law in Washington, D.C. Julie is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French from Amherst College and her Master of Science and Juris Doctor degree from Boston University.

Dr. John Riggins Jr. ’12

John Riggins smilingDr. John Riggins Jr. ’12 is an emergency medicine physician at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospitals, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His main clinical interests include eliminating health disparities in underserved populations, patient safety, healthcare quality assurance, and healthcare operations.

John is currently the inaugural fellow for the Dr. Lorna M. Breen Fellowship in Healthcare Administration for the NYP-Columbia Emergency Department. As an inaugural fellow, he trains in all facets of healthcare administration while pursuing his Masters of Healthcare Administration through the Executive Program at the Mailman School of Public Health.

John attended secondary school at The Taft School in Waterbury, Connecticut, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies from Amherst College. After Amherst, he mentored and tutored high school students as an AmeriCorps member with the City Year New York program. John completed his emergency medicine residency training at SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospitals in Brooklyn. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Andre Gray ’10

Andre Gray ’10 is the chief creative officer for global advertising agency Annex88. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies from Amherst College and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Advertising and a Master of Arts in Global Communications from the American University of Paris.

Andre began his career as a copywriter and worked up to becoming a creative director, leading award-winning campaigns for brands like Adidas, Gatorade, Nissan, Las Vegas Tourism and Intercontinental Hotel Group. Andre spent most of his career in Europe, using French language skills to connect and English writing skills to stand out.

Andre paved his own path as a first-generation student and credits the rigor of his Black Studies major in providing him with training in debate, research, and critical thinking, which have helped him thrive professionally. Andre is among a small group of Black creatives in leadership roles in advertising and a vocal advocate for equity and diversity in the industry.

Antara Ganguli ’01

Antara Ganguli smilingAntara Ganguli ’01 is the director of the United Nations Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI). UNGEI is the only multilateral entity dedicated to girls’ education and gender equality in and through education.

Antara has 20 years of experience in international development. She led gender equality for UNICEF India, its largest non-humanitarian office, where she advised and supported 13 field offices on gender-based violence, gender-transformative pedagogy and positive masculinity. She has a Master of Arts in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor or Arts in English and Psychology from Amherst College.

Previously, Antara was the deputy representative for United Nations (UN) Women in Bangladesh. She started her career as a primary school teacher for children of sex workers. Antara is also a novelist. Her most recent work, Tanya Tania, a coming-of-age epistolary novel set in Pakistan and India, was published by Bloomsbury in 2016.

Charmel Maynard ’07

Charmel Maynard smilingCharmel Maynard ’07 currently serves as associate vice president, chief investment officer, and university treasurer for the University of Miami. In this capacity, he leads the University’s efforts to invest over $4B in assets, including endowment and pension funds. Charmel is also responsible for the University’s ~$1.5B capital structure, including liquidity and debt issuances. Additionally, he manages treasury and cash management.

Charmel currently serves on the Sculptor Capital Management Board of Directors (NYSE: SCU), Sculptor Acquisition Corp I (NYSE: SCUA^), Mead Art Museum board as the chair of the Budget Committee, Landed Board of Directors, Catalyst Miami Board of Directors (Finance Committee), Knight Foundation Community Advisory Board and Black Angels Miami Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Amherst College.

Charmel was previously a vice president with J.P. Morgan’s Investment Bank in New York City. During his 10-year career with J.P. Morgan, he focused on investment banking debt capital markets and leveraged finance, where he advised clients on capital structure solutions, deal structuring, and execution of syndicated revolving credit facilities, institutional term loans, and bond issuances.