Staff promotions in the School of Engineering

Gwen Buchanan, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Biomedical Engineering

First as a staff assistant and now as an administrative coordinator, Buchanan supports daily operations in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. She coordinates BME events and the graduate seminar, research-related purchases, travel and business reimbursements, as well as scientific shipping. She handles website updates as well. Buchanan joined Tufts University in 2018. 

Emily Edwards, Senior Engineering Lab Coordinator, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering 

Since 2010, Emily Edwards has managed the undergraduate lab, designed experiments, and handled other lab duties for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. She launched a recycling program of Styrofoam coolers as an Eco-Ambassador, won a Distinction Award, served on the Distinction Award and Green Labs Committees, and gave presentations for President Monaco’s sustainability initiatives. She is currently applying a unique pedagogical method developed alongside the late Professor George Smith to improve student cognition in the ChBE undergraduate laboratory. 

Brandon Mennillo, Senior Director of Administration, Office of the Dean

As the Senior Director of Administration, Mennillo provides oversight of all administrative and financial matters pertaining to the school with specific emphasis on policy development, employee compensation and equity, core facility management, online academic programs, and summer course administration. He also represents the School on several University-wide committees pertaining to human resources, IT, and space and facilities management.

Isaac Nicholas, Communications Manager, Office of the Dean

Moving from senior communications specialist to communications manager, Nicholas brings a wealth of expertise in all areas of communications and marketing. He maintains the School of Engineering’s web presence including lab sites, department sites, and external web sites. He started at Tufts in 2017 in the School of Engineering Graduate Programs office and transitioned to the communications and marketing team in 2019.  

Laura Place, Lab Manager, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Previously an engineering lab coordinator, Place ensures that all labs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering adhere to proper safety standards. She oversees safety training, core instrument purchasing and training, data management, special experiment setups, and more. As lab manager, she will continue to keep the department’s lab operations running smoothly. Place holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from Colorado State University.

Kiely Quinn, Senior Communications Specialist, Office of the Dean

In her new role, Quinn continues to support internal and external communications efforts for the School of Engineering. Through compiling print materials, web articles, and newsletters, she helps get the word out about faculty, staff, and students’ research and accomplishments within the school. She also manages the School of Engineering’s social media presence.

Courtney Russo, Senior Department Administrator, Department of Mechanical Engineering  

With 10 years of experience at Tufts, Russo began in the Center for STEM Diversity and transitioned to the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2021. In 2019, she received a Tufts Distinction award in recognition of her dedication to the university. Her responsibilities include administration, finances, and operations, as well as faculty, student, and academic services for the department.

Keleigh Sanford, Senior Director of Research Administration and Strategy Development, Office of the Dean

Sanford leads the School of Engineering Research Administration team. She provides administrative leadership for research activities, including strategies to support large interdisciplinary research institutes and centers administered by Engineering, implementation of procedures to optimize funding, pre- and post-award support for sponsored projects, and guidance on issues related to compliance. In 2023 her team was honored with a Research Administration and Development Day Award for Outstanding Research Administration Team of the Year from OVPR’s Research Administration Unit.