Meet the da Vinci Center Team
We are a small and mighty team, each highly passionate and driven to imagine the future of higher education. Our staff are just like our students in that we work collaboratively and across disciplines to serve our students and partners. We work tirelessly to ensure that our students are better prepared to engage in an increasingly global world because they have developed the skills and tools necessary to engage in difficult dialog, to disagree, to reframe failure, and make change.
Lloyd Young
Interim Executive Director, VCU da Vinci Center
Co-founder, Shift Retail Lab
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Manjari Kumarappan
Assistant Director
VCU da Vinci Center
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Alicia Edgerton
Administrative Coordinator
VCU da Vinci Center
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Caslin Applewhite
Communications Coordinator
VCU da Vinci Center
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Cael Parker
Postdoctoral Fellow in Innovation and Human-Centered Design
VCU da Vinci Center
Pronouns: she, them
Kyle Pineault
Communications Specialist
VCU da Vinci Center
Pronouns: he, him
da Vinci Residencies
In-Residence roles are an integral part of the VCU da Vinci Center curriculum. They are the practitioners who link our students with the community and local entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Rather than solely being driven by academic achievement or research accolades, our in Residence partners are selected based on the power of their community work and their innovative approaches as practitioners in bridging the divide between design, education and real world operation.
Ideator-in-Residence
Todd B. Waldo
Founder and Principal Consultant at Hugh Helen LLC
Pronouns: he, him, his
Todd B. Waldo is the founder and principal consultant of Hugh Helen LLC, a team dedicated to developing solutions for client success and social good. As a strategic partner, Hugh Helen collaborates with executives and their teams to facilitate deep, transformational work that propels organizations forward. Their approach is grounded in empathy and supported by data, ensuring that every step aligns with the organization’s vision and outcomes. With practice areas including economic development, executive leadership, operations, and technology, Waldo and his team are committed to creating meaningful change for their clients.
Founder-in-Residence
April Palmer
Pronouns: she, her, hers
April Palmer is a former top sales performer for Fortune 100 companies across various industries, where she consistently drove double-digit growth in six- and seven-figure portfolios. Today, she helps aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses by developing strategies that integrate finance, marketing, sales, and customer experience. Palmer's expertise lies in helping organizations achieve the growth needed to secure investor funding and establish a strong market presence. Her work focuses on empowering entrepreneurs to navigate the complex journey of building and scaling a business.
Innovator-in-Residence
Gopa Nair
Pronouns: he, him, his
Gopa Nair is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in innovation, product management, change management, automation, and digital transformation. He is skilled at optimizing processes to maximize efficiency and cost benefits. As a change agent and transformational leader, Nair understands the unmet needs of both customers and employees. He uses design thinking, agile, and lean methodologies to drive organizational transformation. Nair also provides entrepreneurship training to small businesses through a local nonprofit organization.
Visionary-in-Residence
Briana Williams
CEO & Head Wonder | Brand Strategist
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Briana Williams is the founder and lead brand strategist of With Wonder Creative Co., a creative studio dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and organizations bring their brands to life through storytelling, strategy, and soulful design. Formerly the founder and CEO of LipLoveLine, a clean beauty brand that operated for five successful years, she brings over 15 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and event management across corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Williams has collaborated with national brands, community leaders, and celebrities alike. A proud alumna of Virginia State University and Virginia Commonwealth University, she holds degrees in strategic public relations, communications, and marketing. Her expertise spans brand strategy, content creation, and coaching in entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, and business leadership.
Innovator-in-Residence
Denise Myerson
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Denise Myerson is a CEO, board member, and management consultant with over 30 years of experience focusing on education, training, and workforce development. She is passionate about helping organizations grow by setting strategic direction, ensuring financial governance, and driving innovation. Myerson is the founder and director of Management Consultancy International, an award-winning education and training provider, and the founder and CEO of The Focus Learning Group. Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead organizations to success by fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Food and Beverage Specialist-in-Residence
Ryan Evans
Pronouns: he, him, his
Ryan Evans, former director of Hatch Kitchen, has a wealth of experience in helping food and beverage businesses launch and grow. He is the founder and lead consultant at Nickel Bridge Company, a food and beverage consulting and operational support agency. A former restaurateur, chef, and cheesemonger, Evans brings a deep understanding of the industry to his work. He is passionate about mentoring and is available to assist students interested in starting their own food and beverage businesses.
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