2023 VAI Graduate School Commencement Program

VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE SCHOOL
2023 | COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM

Wednesday, June 7, 2023
1:30 PM | TOMATIS AUDITORIUM
DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE PDF OF THE PROGRAM BOOKLET AND GRADUATING STUDENT
BIOSKETCHES AT BIT.LY/VAI2023COMMENCEMENT.
PROCESSIONAL
OPENING OF CEREMONY AND DEAN’S REMARKS
Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg, President and Dean, Van Andel Institute Graduate School
EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE EDUCATION AWARD
Recipient: Dr. Scott Rothbart
INTRODUCTION OF GRADUATES BY MENTORS
Dr. Rita Guerreiro
Dr. Peter Laird
Dr. Scott Rothbart
Dr. Matt Steensma
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREE
Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg
CONFERRING OF DEGREES
Dr. Juan Olivarez, Chair, Van Andel Institute Graduate School Board of Directors
PRESENTATION OF HOODS
REFLECTIONS BY GRADUATES
Menusha Arumugam
Eric Cordeiro-Spinetti
Nadia Dehghani
Jamie Endicott
Ariana Kupai
Lauren McGee
CONTINUING STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Bailey Tibben, on behalf of the Graduate Student Association
RECESSIONAL
Reception to follow in Cook-Hauenstein Hall.
Music for today’s celebration performed by Kopper and Keys.
For general questions, please contact Susanne Miller-Schachinger.
CANDIDATES FOR DEGREE AND THESIS ADVISERS
Menusha Arumugam — Dr. Matt Steensma
Eric Cordeiro-Spinetti — Dr. Scott Rothbart
Nadia Dehghani — Dr. Rita Guerreiro
Jamie Endicott — Dr. Peter Laird
Ariana Kupai — Dr. Scott Rothbart
Lauren McGee — Dr. Matt Steensma
VAN ANDEL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Van Andel
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Van Andel Institute
James E. Bultman, Ed.D.
Susan Keipper Meell
Juan Olivarez, Ph.D.
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Ed.D. (hon)
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE SCHOOL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Juan Olivarez, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board
Mary O’Riordan, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Maria Cimitile, Ph.D.
James B. Fahner, M.D.
Peggy Farnham, Ph.D.
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Candace T. Smith-King, M.D.
Thomas Curran, J.D.
Secretary to the Board
Katie Helder
Treasurer to the Board
VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE GRADUATE
SCHOOL FACULTY
Marie Adams, M.S.
Stephen B. Baylin, M.D.
Sarah Bodbyl, Ph.D.
José Brás, Ph.D.
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Nick Burton, Ph.D.
Hong-Yuan Chu, Ph.D.
Gerry Coetzee, Ph.D.
Juan Du, Ph.D.
Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D.
Stephanie Grainger, Ph.D.
Carrie R. Graveel, Ph.D.
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Brian Haab, Ph.D.
Michael Henderson, Ph.D.
Galen Hostetter, M.D.
Scott D. Jewell, Ph.D.
Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)
Russell Jones, Ph.D.
Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.
Peter Laird, Ph.D.
Heidi Lempradl, Ph.D.
Huilin Li, Ph.D.
Evan Lien, Ph.D.
Wei Lü, Ph.D.
Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.
Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.
J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Laurent Roybon, Ph.D.
Hui Shen, Ph.D.
Xiaobing Shi, Ph.D.
Matthew R. Steensma, M.D.
Piroska Szabó, Ph.D.
Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D.
Hong Wen, Ph.D.
Bart O. Williams, Ph.D.
Mary Winn, Ph.D.
Evan Worden, Ph.D.
Tao Yang, Ph.D.
Qiang Zhu, Ph.D.

Graduating Student Bios
Menusha Arumugam
Dissertation: Tumor microenvironment in NF1-deficient
breast cancer
Thesis Adviser: Matt Steensma, M.D.
Hometown: Kajang, Malaysia
Next Step: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Hilgendorf Laboratory,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Jamie Endicott
Dissertation:
Thesis Adviser:
Hometown:
Next Step:
Signal from noise: Experimental validation
of replication-associated DNA methylation loss in
PMDs and construction of a model to infer
replicative history
Peter Laird, Ph.D.
Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Scientist, Altos Labs, San Diego, California
(since Jan. 2023)
Eric Cordeiro-Spinetti
Dissertation: Lysine methylation signaling and the regulation of
skeletal muscle myogenesis
Thesis Adviser: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Next Step: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sharifi Laboratory,
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Ariana Kupai
Dissertation:
Thesis Adviser:
Hometown:
Next Step:
Development and application of quantitative
epigenetic methods using chromatin-associated
proteins and antibodies
Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.
Seattle, Washington, United States
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Peek Laboratory,
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
Nadia Dehghani
Dissertation:
Thesis Adviser:
Hometown:
Next Step:
Genetic characterization of neurodegenerative
diseases: from an understudied population to a
national biobank
Rita Guerreiro, Ph.D.
Southampton, United Kingdom
Postdoctoral Fellow in the McMillan Laboratory,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Lauren McGee
Dissertation:
Thesis Adviser:
Hometown:
Next Step:
YAP signaling promotes resistance to MEK and
AKT inhibition in NF1-related MPNSTs
Matt Steensma, M.D.
Fishers, Indiana, United States
Postdoctoral Fellow in the LeBlanc Laboratory,
NCI/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland

History of Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Van Andel Institute began with a vision to improve human health through
biomedical research and science education. Van Andel Institute Graduate School
plays a key role in this mission, combining rigorous coursework, extensive
laboratory experience, and the mentorship of VAI’s expert faculty to develop the
biomedical research leaders of the future.
The Graduate School was founded in 2005, with a charter to grant doctoral and
master’s degrees, through the leadership of Dr. Gordon Van Harn as the Director
of Van Andel Institute for Education. Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg became the founding
Dean in 2006, bringing a vision of creativity and innovation for biomedical graduate
education. The school earned accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission
in 2013 and is gaining a national reputation for its program design, curricular
approach, and student support.
From the first cohort of three pioneering students in 2007, the Graduate School
has grown to a student body of 47 scholars from 14 different countries. Including
today’s graduates, 39 students have earned Ph.D. degrees and four have earned
master’s degrees. Graduate School alumni are now taking leadership positions
in academia, research, and industry, carrying forward VAI’s values of curiosity,
collaboration, and urgency to improve the health and enhance the lives of current
and future generations.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge that the success of the Graduate School arises from:
• The vision and generosity of Van Andel Institute Founders Jay and Betty
Van Andel
• The stalwart support of David Van Andel, Chairman and CEO of
Van Andel Institute
• Encouraging guidance from Van Andel Education Institute Board of Trustees
• Creative direction and diligent oversight by past and current members of the
Van Andel Institute Graduate School Board of Directors
• Committed leadership of Dr. Steven J. Triezenberg, President and Dean of
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
• Dedicated and excellent work by Graduate School staff members Dr. Sarah
Bodbyl Roels, Taylor Boyd, Taijah Claybrook, Michelle Love, Christy Mayo,
Susanne Miller-Schachinger and Alli Roman

Van Andel Institute Graduate School
develops biomedical research leaders
through an intense, problem-focused
Ph.D. degree in molecular and cellular
biology. By combining rigorous,
problem-based coursework with
extensive experience in laboratories
led by the Institute’s expert faculty, the
Graduate School prepares students
for productive careers in biomedical
research and beyond. The Graduate
School thrives within the state-of-the-art
facilities of Van Andel Institute, with
access to extensive core technology
support and the resources of
collaborators in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and around the country.