Forum Network

W. Grant McGimpsey received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Queen's University, Ontario, Canada in 1985 and spent several years as research scientist at the National Research Council Canada. In 1989, he joined the faculty of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 2005, McGimpsey was appointed as the Director of WPI's Bioengineering Institute (BEI), an organization focused on the development and commercialization of medical technologies. In 2007, McGimpsey was also named the WPI Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies ad interim. In addition, he is president and co-founder of Active Surface Technologies Incorporated, a company developing thin film technology for medical, sensor and energy applications. McGimpsey's research interests focus on surface chemistry, thin film devices, nanotechnology, molecular scale devices, micro- and nano-fluidics and biosensors. His research program, which has attracted nearly 8.5 million dollars in external support over the past 15 years is currently funded by the Department of Defense. In 1995, McGimpsey was visiting scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Radiation Chemistry in Germany and in 2002 he was visiting professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is now adjunct research professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UMASS. Also in 2002, McGimpsey was given the WPI Trustees Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Scholarship.

James P. Dunn is the executive director of the Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FASTec) which is sponsoring the development of the Electric Aircraft. He is also the president of Advanced Technology Products, Inc., of Westborough, Massachusetts which is building the fuel-cell powered aircraft. Dunn also serves as the Chief Technical Officer for the Center for Technology Commercialization at NASA's New England Regional Technology Transfer Center. He is a widely known electrical engineer who is credited with inventing the laptop computer. He has more than 25 years of experience in a variety of high technology ventures with companies from startups to Fortune 100 companies like IBM and Exxon.

Felix D. Arroyo was a city councilor (at-large) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States from January 2003 - January 2008. Arroyo also served as Vice President and President of the Boston School Committee.

Jack Newfield pioneered a new kind of investigative journalism -- a passionate advocacy of social causes and political reforms backed up by relentless digging for the facts. He began in the 60's as a columnist for *the Village Voice*. He left after 24 years and continued his investigative reporting successively for *the New York Daily News*, *the New York Post*, *the New York Sun* and *The Nation* magazine. He was a fellow of the Nation Institute. Jack was the author of 10 books and collaborated on numerous documentaries. He received the George Polk Award for Investigative Journalism in 1990, an Emmy for his documentary on Don King in 1991, and numerous other awards. Jack Newfield died on December 21st, 2004.

**Eva A. Millona,** is Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the state's largest organization representing the foreign born, and co-chair of the National Partnership for New Americans, the lead national organization focusing on immigrant integration. Ms. Millona directed the refugee resettlement program in Central Massachusetts. In her native Albania, she practiced civil and criminal law, serving on Tirana's District Court from 1989 - 1992, when she was the nation's youngest district judge ever appointed. Ms. Millona is the co-chair of the Governor's Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants and serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In 2010, she co-chaired the nation's largest immigrant integration conference, which MIRA hosted in Boston. She is the recipient of over a dozen major awards, including the prestigious 2009 USCIS Outstanding American by Choice Award, the 2010 Wainwright Bank Social Justice Award, and the 2011 and 2012 Powermeter Award, presented to the most influential people for Latinos in Massachusetts.

Dr. Albert F. Argenziano has over 40 years of experience as both a teacher and administrator in public and overseas education. His most recent position is with the Massachusetts Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. Prior to the EQA, Dr. Argenziano served as the Executive Director of International Campuses at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. Dr. Argenziano served as Superintendent of the Somerville Public Schools from 1993 to 2005. Dr. Argenziano has also served as a college professor at Radford University, Lesley University, Bridgewater State College, Endicott College and Christopher Newport College. He has been a member of the American Association of School Administrators and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Suffolk University Alumni Association and has received numerous building dedications in Massachusetts and overseas.

Jefferey Pokorak is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Programs at Suffolk University Law School.