Speakers

Stephanie Finoti, Miss Ohio 2024 is a student at the University of Cincinnati studying to become a Pediatrician. Her community service initiative is That STEM Girl: Skills, Training, Empowerment, Medicine; where she hopes to inspire the next generation of marginalized women to become emerging medical leaders! She currently is an UPRISE scholar where she works as a research intern at Cincinnati Children's hospital's Fetal Therapy center. She has previous laboratory experience working as an undergrad teaching assistant in Microbiology Lab at University of Cincinnati, and as a research assistant at The Ohio State University's The James Comprehensive Research Center. 

Stephen Taylor has a doctorate degree in chemistry, along with decades of experience in teaching and research at Purdue University and The Shepherd Chemical Company. His mission-driven passion and diverse scientific background mixed with business acumen are a welcome addition to LSI. Before taking the helm at LSI, he was helped build Narratize and Untold Content, two successful startups focused on innovation storytelling and generative AI.

Raj is appying his backround in science, medicine and marketing to teach LSI's lab safety courses and coordinate LSI's Enrollment Management Program. His hardworking, positive, and professional attitude has been a great addition to our team.

Mr. Barton is the current chair of the Board of Directors. He received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, at Amherst, and Master of Science degrees in both Secondary Education and Environmental and Occupational Health Science. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional.

Mr. Barton is the Chief Safety Officer and Director of Research Safety Affairs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Prior to that he was at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the New York University Langone Medical Center. His experience also includes environmental consulting, work as an environmental laboratory technician, and a experience as a high school science teacher covering classes in chemistry, biology and forensic science. He is a member of the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) and American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and is past President of the Midsouth Local Section of the AIHA.

James Mack currently serves as the Dean of the College of A&S at the University of Cincinnati, overseeing over 900 faculty and staff and more than 8,000 students. Previously, James served as the Divisional Dean of Natural Sciences in A&S, contributing to the establishment of the School of Environmental Studies and Sustainability. He also held the position of Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Cincinnati, where he developed strategies to address the achievement gap between majority and underrepresented students.

Before transitioning into administrative roles, James began his tenure at the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry. He earned promotions, first to Associate Professor with tenure, and later to the rank of Professor. James' research focuses on sustainable methods for conducting chemical reactions and has gained recognition in prominent publications such as the New York Times, Chemical & Engineering News, and Chemistry and Industry. His research endeavors have been supported with over 2 million dollars in funding, and he was acknowledged by the Royal Society of Chemistry as one of the top 5% of cited authors in both 2019 and 2020.

James has also translated his research into practical solutions by establishing Cinthesis, a synthetic company dedicated to using mechanochemistry for environmentally benign synthesis of chemical products. This reflects his commitment to applying academic solutions to real-world challenges. Beyond research, James has been recognized for his mentorship and service by faculty and students.

A Bronx, NY native, James Mack graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor's degree. Following his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of New Hampshire as a New England Board of Higher Education fellow, earning his Ph.D. in Chemistry. After completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Boston College, he joined the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor. James is supported by his wife Carol and their two children, Allison and Anthony.