AfterRIT Workshop Leader Bios

Christina Battista
Christina Battista, Ph.D., is a Senior Principal Scientist at Simulations Plus, Inc., where she uses mathematical and computational modeling to help advance the development of safer and more effective drug therapies. With a background in applied mathematics, Dr. Battista has built a career at the intersection of mathematics, biochemistry, and pharmacology, demonstrating how technical skills and diverse interests can open doors to unexpected career opportunities. Throughout her career, Dr. Battista has worked across disciplines, collaborated with diverse teams, and translated complex scientific concepts into meaningful insights that support advancements in drug development. Having navigated career opportunities across academia, government, and industry, she recognizes that building a fulfilling career involves more than technical expertise alone. Dr. Battista earned her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University and her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Amber Charlebois
After more than 20 years of teaching undergraduate organic and biochemistry, seven of which included a part-time role as Pre-Health Advisor, Dr. Charlebois decided to transition into a full time Pre-Health Advising. Her new role as Director of Pre-Health Professions at RIT allows her to be fully committed to developing programs, mentoring and advising students, establishing a pre-health committee, and creating a collaborative and fruitful Pre-Health Community on campus. She still loves Chemistry, evidenced by the periodic table blanket in her office, but is dedicated to helping RIT students from any major create their absolute best self in preparation for their application to health professional programs.

Maiah Johnson and Andy Dunn
Maiah Johnson Dunn tells heart-forward stories about New York wine. After a 13-year career in experiential marketing, Maiah transitioned to wine writing and educating in 2020. As the Beverage Education Manager at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua, New York, Maiah’s focus is building a space for everyone to learn about New York’s craft agriculture–wine especially. Her classes include Wine for Normals, Exploring Black Wines, and DEI Over Wine. Maiah’s writing can be found in (585) magazine, City Newspaper, Decanter Magazine, and the recently published fifth edition of Jancis Robinson’s Oxford Companion to Wine. Maiah is a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker 2023 honoree and a fellow of the Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. She is also the 2022 New York Wine & Grape Foundation Unity Awards Consumer Award recipient for her support of New York wines and 2024 Colors of Success Inclusive Leadership Award Honoree. The Boston native lives (and loves) in Rochester, New York.

Ira Hoffman
Ira Hoffman joined The Dow Chemical Company in 1986 after earning a BS in Physics from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. During his career with Dow, Ira spent eight years in Dow’s Information Technology department and 18 years in various finance functions including credit risk management, pension operations, and internal auditing. He has led multinational teams in six continents. After retiring in 2012 Ira relocated to the Portsmouth New Hampshire area and served on the Board of Directors of MPAY, Inc., a North Carolina company that provides cloud-based Payroll, HR, Compliance, and Cash Flow solutions. In 2017 he joined SCORE, a nation-wide all-volunteer organization affiliated with the Small Business Association that provides free mentoring services for small business owners. Ira was awarded the RIT College of Science John Wiley Jones award in Physics, and he holds both a third degree black belt in karate and a fourth degree black belt in tae kwon do.

Melissa Scrimo
A seasoned change management and process improvement consultant with 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Melissa has led global initiatives across large, mid-size, and startup companies. As the founder of Applied Intelligence Consulting, she helps companies improve their operations. She works with clients to design, develop and implement key business processes and employee training programs to ensure that employees are equipped to do their jobs. Melissa's background includes roles as an instructional designer, trainer, and cell biologist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from RIT, a Master of Arts in Biology from Villanova, and a Professional Certificate in Innovation and Technology from MIT.