Denison celebrates new Young Alumni Impact Award recipients

While earning a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and a minor in economics, Byrum was a standout goalkeeper for the varsity women’s soccer team and a Young Life leader at Newark High School, and was awarded the President’s Medal. She continued her academic journey at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned a Ph.D. in molecular genetics and genomics, researching DNA repair and chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells. She went on to complete postdoctoral training at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she studied the biology of Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. Today, she serves as project manager for the Sarcoma Accelerator Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, leading collaborations among physicians, scientists, and administrators to drive forward research initiatives and clinical trials that improve outcomes for children and young adults with sarcoma.

Colina is an award-winning global manager of learning and development, leadership strategist, and co-founder of Next Move Consulting, LLC. She graduated from Denison with a Bachelor of Arts in history and a minor in educational studies and later earned a Master of Education in counseling from DePaul University. At Denison, Colina was involved with DuWop, LeaderShape, and Kappa Alpha Theta. Today, she serves as a global manager in learning and development at Heidrick & Struggles, a leading executive search and leadership development firm. Her programs have impacted more than 3,000 colleagues in locations across the world, including Singapore, Ireland, and India. A licensed professional counselor, certified social intelligence instructor, and leadership development facilitator, she has dedicated her career to empowering professionals at all stages through her roles at the American Association of University Women, Women’s Business Development Center, and Skills for Chicagoland’s Future.

Curtin is a research analyst at Morningstar, a global independent investment research firm. Since earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics and global commerce with a minor in Spanish from Denison in 2021, he has continued to grow his career at Morningstar, where he is part of a team that evaluates actively managed fixed-income investment products, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. He enjoys the day-to-day analytical challenges of the work while having the opportunity to sharpen his writing and communication skills. As a Denison student, he served as the editor-in-chief of The Denisonian, contributed to the Red Frame Lab, and was awarded the President’s Medal.

Zaravella Gerlach is a program manager, community leader, and advocate for employee experience and corporate social responsibility. She graduated from Denison with a double major in economics and global commerce while competing on the varsity swim team, where she later served as captain and was recognized as an NCAA All-American in each of her four years. Since then, she earned a Master of Business Administration from the Villanova School of Business and built her career at JPMorgan Chase. She gives back to Denison as a regional network and Reunion committee volunteer while also collaborating with campus leaders to create career-launching opportunities for Denison students.

Godley is the co-founder and CEO of Spendly, a fintech company that helps enterprises reduce operating expenses through artificial intelligence. While at Denison, he launched his first company and patented an advanced driving assistance system for vehicles. An economics major, he met his Spendly co-founder, Larry Li ʼ17, in a theater class and credits Denison with sparking the curiosity, focus, and leadership skills that continue to define his work as an entrepreneur. He remains closely connected to campus as a Red Frame Lab mentor and by creating internship opportunities for students.

Holmes is an account director at Real Chemistry, an integrated marketing and communication firm specializing in healthcare and pharmaceutical brands. Her expertise spans oncology and immunology communications, health equity research and strategy, multicultural health communications, and other related fields. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in global commerce with a minor in Spanish, and went on to earn a Master of Public Health in behavioral, social, and health education sciences from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Holmes began her career at global public relations agency Edelman and was recognized by PRWeek with the Outstanding Young Professional in Healthcare and Pharma Communications award.

Lamm serves as corporate counsel at Amazon on the Artificial General Intelligence team, where she focuses on global AI compliance, public policy, and responsible AI for cutting-edge foundation models. She also teaches a course on AI in the workplace as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law School, where she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class in 2019. Lamm has contributed to the conversation on AI in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Law360. She has been recognized by Lawdragon, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers for her leadership in AI and legal technology. She graduated from Denison with a Bachelor of Science in biology, earned the President’s Medal and the James T. Glerum Jr. Presidential Award, and garnered All-Conference and All-Region honors on the women’s cross country and track teams.

Ramsdell is a clinical psychologist specializing in women’s mental health with a focus on body image, eating concerns, and anxiety-related disorders. After graduating from Denison with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and psychology, she started out as an admission counselor at Loyola University Maryland before earning a master’s and doctorate in psychology from that same institution. Her training included an APA-accredited internship at the College of William and Mary Counseling Center, and she is now part of an independent counseling practice while also serving as an internship supervisor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She further supports clients in eating disorder recovery through Project HEAL, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to care in underserved communities. A member of the Burpee’s Seedy Theatrical Company while at Denison, she takes improvisational comedy courses at a local theater.

Ratzer is an account strategist at Google, where she manages a portfolio of lead generation businesses and develops long-term advertising growth strategies across all Google channels. After graduating from Denison with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and communication, she launched her career remotely before moving to Chicago to join the fintech startup Affirm. There, she was part of the company’s small, high-impact sales team and gained the rare experience of contributing through an IPO. She is a dedicated mentor for Denison students and frequently shares career insights via ReMix, Beyond The Hill, and Candid Career Conversations programs. This fall, she is excited to begin her next chapter with Google at its Los Angeles office, where she will continue to drive innovation and growth in the digital economy.

Van Goor is an award-winning jazz vocalist who has built a full-time career as a freelance musician and vocal coach. She was recently honored at the 2025 Michigan Music Awards for Best Jazz Album and Best Jazz Single/Performance, and previously received Detroit’s Preservation of Jazz Excellence Award for Best Vocalist. She has released two independent albums with a third set to debut this winter. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and economics and has been generous with her time on Denison’s campus as an alum. She has presented at several ReMix events and visited classes at the Michael D. Eisner Center for the Performing Arts.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in economics and communication, and a concentration in organization studies, Wilson has built his career on the Equity Capital Markets team at Cantor Fitzgerald, a global financial services and investment banking firm, specializing in equity financing for life sciences companies, including IPOs and follow-on offerings. He was a four-year team member of the Denison football team, serving as captain and earning All-Conference recognition his senior year. He continues to stay connected to the college by supporting the football program and engaging with students interested in careers in investment banking.

Zofchak is the chief financial officer for the T-6 and ATUM branches at the Legacy Training Aircraft Division of the U.S. Air Force, where she leads budget formulation, justifications, and execution for four legacy training aircraft programs, including the T-6 Texan, T-1 Jayhawk, E-9 Widget, and the U.S. Air Force Academy gliders. Previously, she served as deputy chief for budget program integration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller at the Pentagon, managing the rollout of the Department of the Air Force’s $217 billion budget request and overseeing program and budget integration for both the Air Force and Space Force. She graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and minors in art history and visual culture. During her time at Denison, she was a representative on the Academic Affairs Council, president of DUwop a cappella, member of Kappa Alpha Theta, August orientation leader, and co-founder/writer for OneTwentySeven.