Advisory Boards

The Arts & Sciences Advisory Board

Sheryl Atkinson ’83 embarked on a 15-year career with Sikorsky Aircraft following completion of her Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering at WPI and her Master of Science degree at RPI becoming project manager of International Programs before retiring to devote more time to her son, John Jr., and daughter Caroline. Sheryl’s family connection to WPI runs deep: she met her husband, John ’83 at WPI; Sheryl’s father-in-law, Colonel Paul G. Atkinson Jr., graduated from WPI in 1943; her brother-in-law, Paul Atkinson, graduated in 1982; and his wife, Gay, graduated in 1983. In 2008, Sheryl and her husband established the Tara K. Bean/Life Sciences Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of the daughter of friend and former WPI Trustee Karen Bean ’86.

John Gabranski ’75 is a private consultant who provides guidance to clients in the areas of financial analysis, accounting, and contracting, internal controls, external reporting, and financial integrity. John recently retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was an Assurance Partner. John led the Hartford office assurance practice as well as served clients including Yale, UMass Memorial Health Care, and WPI. He graduated from WPI with a degree in computer science and went on to complete his MBA at the Columbia Business School. John joined legacy Coopers & Lybrand in 1978 and was admitted to the partnership in 1985. A CPA and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), John is also a member of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. With his sister, John established the Adam and Agnes Gabranski Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1990; the Fund has assisted WPI to attract and graduate bright, promising students ever since.

Leslie Jelalian is the Vice President of Engineering for Electronic Solutions Sector in BAE Systems. Leslie joined BAE Systems in 1988 (then Sanders). She brings experience in a wide variety of leadership roles in Engineering, Program Management, and Strategy Development as well as experience in the range of program process from technology development and proposals through transition to production. Leslie received her Bachelor and Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. She has received numerous awards including the Association of Old Crows Technology Hall of Fame Award, the University Of Massachusetts College Of Engineering Duane E. Cromack Young Alumni Award, the New England Council's Leadership Award to Women in Business, Nashua YWCA Leadership Award, and the University of Massachusetts Women in Engineering Outstanding Alumna award.

Earl Jones is a Principal with Liberation Capital International, a private equity fund with a focus on renewable energy and waste/wastewater solutions. Prior to joining LCI, Mr. Jones was Global Commercial Leader for GE Water and Process Technologies, responsible for sales, partnerships, risk, and project development. Mr. Jones led the eHealth Solutions business for GE Healthcare IT. A submarine officer who served honorably in the US Navy, Mr. Jones received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the US Naval Academy and his Master of Science degree in EE/CS and an MBA from MIT.

Kenneth Kicia ‘90 is the Vice President of Portfolio Management at SAIC, a Fortune 500 scientific, engineering, and technology applications company. As the Director of Portfolio Management, he is responsible to manage the corporate program, project and service portfolios and lead yearly planning efforts for the overall IT enterprise project submissions. Previously, Ken was the Vice President of IT Service Management at SAIC, responsible to represent IT capabilities in all technology areas related to Business Development, Contracts, Procurement, and other Corporate Services. Before joining SAIC, Ken was a Director at BearingPoint. He then served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SkyTECH Solutions, an IT services firm that provides offshore outsourced solutions and services. Ken served in the U.S. Navy for eight years as a submarine officer and assistant branch head for Naval Nuclear Reactors. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a Master's degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, a Nuclear Engineering certification from the US Navy, and a Professional Engineer’s license from the state of New Jersey.

Jay Labov, PhD [Joining in 2013] is senior staff member of the National Research Council’s Center for Education. Dr. Labov is the Senior Advisor for Education and Communications, splitting his time between the Center for Education and the National Academies’ Office of Communications. In this capacity, Dr. Labov leads an institution-wide effort to leverage the National Academies' work in education by helping to make more deliberate connections between the work of the Center for Education, the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the program units of the National Research Council. He is the principal liaison on education activities between the program units of the National Academies and its Office of Communications, with the goal of enhancing communication with outside stakeholders about the Academies' work in education and the public's understanding of science and technology. He has been Director of the Center’s Committee on Undergraduate Science Education and oversees the National Academy of Science’s efforts to improve the teaching of evolution in the public schools. Prior to assuming his position at the NRC Dr. Labov was a member of the biology faculty for 18 years at Colby College in Waterville Maine.

Leonard Redon ’73 is Deputy Mayor of the City of Rochester, NY and the retired Vice President of Western Operations for Paychex, Inc., a recognized leader in payroll and human resources services and winner of Computerworld’s 100 Best Places to Work in IT. The Deputy Mayor joined Paychex after a 28-year career at Eastman Kodak. He serves on the Boards of the Finger Lakes Health System Agency, the George Eastman House Museum of Photography and Film and the Monroe Community College Foundation. Well known for serving to advance traditionally under-represented youth, he has served on many other local boards including the Center for Youth Services, the Otetiana Council Boy Scouts and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance. A former member of the WPI Board of Trustees, Deputy Mayor Redon received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.

Eliza Jane Reilly is Director of the Phillips Museum of Art and Visiting Assistant Professor of American Studies at Franklin & Marshall College. Previously she was director of programs in the Office of Science, Health, and Student Engagement at AAC&U. From 1998 to 2003 she also served as the executive director of the American Conference of Academic Deans, a national organization of chief academic officers and other academic administrators committed to improving undergraduate liberal education. Eliza received an MA in art history and a PhD in American history from Rutgers University and is a Senior Associate with the Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER) project of AAC&U. For SENCER, Eliza is the general editor and coordinator of the SENCER Models series.

Sergio Salvatore ’02 (Chair) is Vice President of Architecture, D2C Operations for Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. An accomplished jazz pianist who recorded two albums by the time he was thirteen, Sergio is a Sony Music executive who has loaned his musical talents to WPI for past events. Mr. Salvatore was lead architect of a start-up while still at WPI; upon graduating, he has spent his entire career with Sony and has moved rapidly to his current senior executive position.

The Life Sciences & Bioengineering Center Advisory Board

The board includes members from a range of life sciences companies and other academic institutions who work closely with WPI leadership to assess the university’s current programs and direct future life sciences initiatives.