Board Members 2022-2023
Dr. Harrison Tudor Evans is a molecular neuroscientist and postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Neural Sciences at New York University. His research explores how the crucial cellular process of protein synthesis is impaired in neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Harrison’s current work examines how ribosomes, the cellular machines responsible for protein synthesis, are altered in FTD, and whether tau-induced impairments in protein synthesis can block the formation of new long-term memories.
Harrison has been a member of Rotary and Rotaract since 2014 and has served as President, Secretary, Community Director, and Youth Director at various clubs. In his time in Rotary, Harrison has also established and led a number of projects designed to help survivors of domestic violence.
In his free time, Harrison is also an amateur photographer and an avid scuba diver.
Vice President
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Treasurer- Antonio Cesaro
Antonio is 30 years old and comes from Italy, specifically the Amalfi Coast. He work in New York as a Capital Market Associate in a top tier-1 American Investment Bank. He has his Bachelor, Master, and MBA in Finance. He loves to travel all around the world, clubbing, and speaking in French.
His motto is: «A goal without a plan is just a wish. We don’t wish here”.
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Secretary and Director Public Relations- Hanna Lissinna
Hanna has been a member of Rotaract since 2017 and has held multiple positions on the board, including Community Service Director and Director of Fellowship. Since 2021 she has been part of RCUN in New York and currently serves as the Secretary and Director of Public Relations of the club.
She is a Psychometrist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and works in research investigating cognitive changes in people with viral infections. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University.
In her free time, Hanna enjoys spending time with friends, running, learning sign language, and exploring the city as much as possible.
Director of Membership and Fellowship- Elena Pulgar Lanzaco
Elena is a Fulbright scholar from Spain who graduated last May from Columbia University with a Master of Public Health (MPH), specializing in Global Mental Health. She recently joined the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) as a Mental Health Special Projects Coordinator. Elena works directly with the Director of Mental Health to improve access to mental health services for individuals and families with children experiencing homelessness in New York City by coordinating behavioral health projects such as the Children's Mental Health Task Force and Suicide Prevention Resources for the migrant population.
Prior to moving to New York, Elena participated in a 6-month volunteer placement at a Children's Social Welfare House in Strasbourg, France with the European Solidarity Corps, a European Commission program that supports the youth to make a positive impact on communities worldwide. She collaborated with a team of early childhood education professionals in the daily accompaniment of underprivileged children exposed to adverse childhood experiences and at risk of social exclusion.
In her free time, Elena loves to dance (hip-hop, afro dance, Latin dances), sing, travel, interact with people from all over the world, and learn new languages.
Director of Community Services- Vincenzo Giordano
Vincenzo has been a Rotaract member since 2015 and served as Club President in 2020-21. Born and raised in Italy, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in International Business and Economics from the University of Pavia.
Vincenzo lived in Copenhagen and San Francisco before moving to New York City in 2011. He co-founded a software company specialized in energy regulatory data and is now a senior product manager at FactSet. Vincenzo is a certified fencing teacher and loves soccer, clean-tech, history, geography and good conversations.
Director of International Relation- Abbey Hawthorne
Abbey is Deputy Director of Arbitration & ADR for North America at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in New York. She has been in her role since 2022. Prior to her role as Deputy Director, Abbey was an adjunct professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and worked at law firms specializing in business immigration law and business litigation in Arizona.
Abbey holds a J.D. focused on international commercial arbitration & alternative dispute resolution from Arizona State University, where she also earned dual bachelor’s degrees and was a three-time U.S. Department of State Title VIII Fellow. Abbey first joined Rotaract in 2011 as historian of the Rotaract Club of Arizona State Univerisity and proceeded to hold titles including international relations chair and secretary. She helped restart and build both the Rotaract Club of ASU and the Rotaract Club of Phoenix. Abbey also launched the only U.S. based Rotaract round trip at the time, the Rotaract Arizona Trip. Regionally, Abbey served as a director and then a board member on the board of trustees of Big West Rotaract, the North American west coast Rotaract MDIO.
Abbey is conversational in Spanish and Croatian, loves her two dogs, and enjoys yoga, distance running, Latin dance, sailing, and exploring new places.
Director of Professional Development- Audrey Zvinavashe
Audrey is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. She is the co-head of the Americas Operations Black Network and a member of the Vice President’s People Council. Audrey moved to New York City in November 2017. She earned her dual Bachelor's Degrees (LLB and BSS in Economics and Legal Theory) from Rhodes University in South Africa and was registered as an Attorney in the High Court of Harare.
Audrey has a passion for people and development, and strives to ensure all those around her and the community feel empowered and positively impacted.
She has been a member of Rotaract Club at the United Nations, since September 2020, and previously, a Rotaractor in University and an Interact member in High School. She currently serves as Director of Professional Development. Audrey enjoys traveling, music, sports, art and trying out different restaurants
Past President- Christina Wellington
Christina is an educator who specializes in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Christina moved to New York City to earn her Bachelor's Degree from CUNY Hunter College. She later received her Master’s Degree in Education from Universidad Nebrija in Madrid, Spain and completed her student teaching in Lyon, France.
Christina values continuously learning from people and the world around her. Inspired by her students’ enthusiasm for taking action, Christina became a member of Rotaract to participate in the club’s initiatives to bring about a positive change in the community.
As a member of Rotaract Club at the United Nations, Christina held the position of Treasurer in 2021-22 and currently serves as Club President. This year, Christina has also assumed the role of Deputy District Rotaract Representative and is Co-Chair of the District 7230 DEI Committee.
She enjoys dancing, water sports, reading, and indulging her adventurous side through travel.