The College of Natural Sciences has announced the recipients of this year’s CNS Alumni Awards, a collaboration between the college and the Dean’s Advisory Council that aims to recognize the accomplishments of the college’s former trainees.

Distinguished Alumni Award - Gale Sinatra, BS ’81, MS ’87, Ph.D. ’89

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have grown into a visionary leader in their field and have reached exceptional levels of leadership, service, teaching, innovation and/or accomplishments that positively impact society.

Sinatra currently serves as Distinguished Professor of Education and Psychology, Stephen H. Crocker Chair and associate dean for research in the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology from UMass Amherst. An elected member of the National Academy of Education, her expertise spans from the science of learning to the learning of science. She is also actively involved and committed to enhancing public understanding of science, and in 2021 co-authored the book, “Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It.”

Outstanding Young Alumni Award - Christina Arieta, BS ’09, Ph.D. ’14, and Kyle Landry, MS ’12, Ph.D. ’16

The CNS Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes emerging leaders in the early stages of their careers, whose outstanding professional and personal achievements highlight the recipients’ ambitions and potential to positively impact society.

Arieta earned her Bachelor of Microbiology and her Doctor of Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences degrees from UMass Amherst. She is currently the senior director of molecular immunology at BioNTech US Inc. and provides scientific leadership for their next-generation COVID-19 vaccine program, among other aspects of the company's vaccine program.

Landry earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in food science from UMass Amherst and also earned a certificate in business foundations from the Isenberg School of Management. He is co-founder and president of Delavie Sciences LLC, and he has been instrumental in driving the company’s success through his leadership in product development, patent submissions and strategic marketing initiatives. 

More information about the CNS Alumni Awards, including a nomination form, can be found on the college’s website.