Joseph Edelman ’ 78
CHANGEMAKER AWARD
Joseph Edelman ’ 78 has seen great success as CEO and advisor at the New York-based investment firm Perceptive Advisors , yet his impact as a Changemaker is felt most deeply in his devotion to mental health — indeed creating a new national model for mental health at universities . A psychology major at UC San Diego , Edelman knows students are a vulnerable population for mental health issues . His support has built a remarkable infrastructure to help students
at such a critical time by allowing for increased student access to specialized psychiatrists , providing students with opportunities to learn in a clinical setting and launching a pioneering research study of college mental health services .
True Xiong ’ 05
CHANGEMAKER AWARD
Coming from a refugee family , True Xiong ’ 05 is a first-generation college graduate who now works to ensure that younger generations thrive in science , technology , engineering and mathematics ( STEM ) fields . In addition to being a software system architect at Sony PlayStation , Xiong has proven himself a Changemaker by actively promoting STEM careers to underserved students on campus and in his community . Xiong established the STEMUplift Foundation to provide scholarship opportunities for
underrepresented students , and serves as a volunteer and partner with many local events and organizations advancing STEM education . As a professional now inspiring students through service and mentorship , Xiong is an exemplar of how the power of UC San Diego can carry on within alumni .
Ronda S . Henry-Tillman , MD ’ 92 , FACS
CHANGEMAKER AWARD
Bryn Sakagawa , MPIA ’ 98
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
With more than 20 years of experience in global health , Bryn Sakagawa , MPIA ’ 98 , has dedicated her career to the well-being of others worldwide , a mission that has culminated in her current role as health office director for the United States Agency for International Development ’ s Philippines , Pacific and Mongolia mission . Sakagawa was especially instrumental in responses to global health crises like the Ebola outbreak in Senegal and the resurgence of polio in Kazakhstan , and has been a leader in numerous other efforts to fight endemic disease . Remarkably , Sakagawa also makes time to engage with students from her former program at the School of Global Policy and Strategy .
Ronda S . Henry-Tillman , MD ’ 92 , FACS , was honored as a Changemaker for her new approaches to health and healing as a renowned breast cancer surgeon and chief of breast oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences . A leader in both research and practice , she has focused her efforts especially on health disparities in underserved populations . A noted figure in medical organizations nationwide as well as in her
home state of Arkansas , she is devoted to improving healthcare worldwide as well , as she regularly travels to Africa to share surgical best practices with practitioners and organizations operating without advanced education or specialized equipment .
Suman Kanuganti , MBA ’ 14
EMERGING LEADER
Emerging Leader Suman Kanuganti , MBA ’ 14 , is the co-founder and CEO of Aira , a startup company revolutionizing accessibility for people with visual impairment . Combining the technological power of smart glasses , artificial intelligence , augmented reality and geolocation along with live , remote assistive agents , Aira ’ s technology enables users to navigate their environment with an unprecedented level of independence . Kanuganti credits his MBA training from the Rady School of Management with helping him build the company , and he sees
Aira as a way to give back — he ’ s donated the service to many events and locations nationwide , including UC San Diego .
Emily Foecke Munden , MIA ’ 16
EMERGING LEADER
Just three years after earning her degree , Emily Foecke Munden , MIA ’ 16 , has become an Emerging Leader on matters of policymaking at home and abroad . Drawing upon a wealth of experience working overseas before entering the School of Global Policy and Strategy , Foecke Munden afterward joined the Center for Global Development in Washington , D . C . She also serves as director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies ’ Commission on Strengthening America ’ s Health Security , which bridges issues of security and health , and unites a
distinguished and diverse group of leaders in the U . S . Congress . In a rapidly changing world , Foecke Munden is on the forefront of next-generation perspectives on how to find solutions in the years ahead .
Submissions are open for next year ' s Alumni Awards . Nominate an exceptional Triton today : alumni . ucsd . edu / nominate
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