Ian Phillips
Professor Emeritus; Norris Professor of Applied Life Sciences
Norris Foundation“KGI changed my research interests. I started having a deep interest
in rare disease research and teaching.”
Sue Behrens
George B. and Joy Rathmann Professor in Bioprocessing; Director of
the Amgen Bioprocessing Center
Dennis and Linda Fenton, Amgen Foundation“I am excited to develop the bioprocessing program to train new
talent for the biopharmaceutical industry as it continues to grow.”
Kiana Aran
Assistant Professor, Medical Diagnostics and Therapuetics
KGI Start-up funding, Rogers Family
Foundation, Open Philanthropy Research gift"Kiana Aran is the first to combine the power of CRISPR’s nucleic acid
targeting with the ultra-sensitivity of graphene, making it possible to digitally detect DNA without
amplification."
Master of Engineering in Biopharmaceutical Processing (MEng)
Students
Sartorius Gift-in-kind lab equipment
"We have about 70 students using this equipment on an almost daily basis
in our laboratories now.” - Parviz Shamlou, former Director of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center.
Steven Casper
Dean of the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences; Henry E.
Riggs Professor of Management
Gayle Carson Riggs“I am incredibly proud to be part of an organization that has positively
impacted the lives of hundreds of students, who as bioscience industry professionals are making
important impacts on society.”
Cynthia Martinez
Dean of Students
Gayle Carson Riggs"The Gayle Carson Riggs Student Center is an excellent opportunity for our
students to get to know other KGI students across academic programs and promotes a positive campus
culture. It is great to have a designated space for students to gather and socialize in between
classes whether they are sitting and relaxing or having a friendly competition of pool or foosball."
Talia Puzantian
Professor of Clinical Sciences
California Healthcare Foundation
KGI study examines the furnishing of naloxone by California pharmacists.
The investigators found that only 23.5 percent of pharmacies were furnishing naloxone. “Pharmacists
are trusted, knowledgeable, and accessible medication experts,” says KGI Associate Professor Talia
Puzantian.
Barbara Fortini
Assistant Professor of Genetics and MSGDA Program Coordinator
Amgen“In just two years, the MSGDA program has gone from a dream to a reality.
Every day I get to watch our students take steps along their journey to becoming genomic data analysts
in the growing precision medicine field.”
J. Mario Molina
Founding Dean, KGI School of Medicine
Hearst Foundations“As I reflect on my professional journey in the U.S. healthcare system,
the experiences I have gained confirm both the need and the timely imperative at KGI to transform
medical education by providing students with the academic, technology, and self-awareness tools to
become compassionate physicians and to advocate for the good health of the communities they serve. I
look forward to working with leaders across the campus and to contribute to this great cause.”
Carmen Barrios Castellanos
Undergrad student, Skidmore College
Anonymous Donor“I am very happy to have participated in the Botswana Summer Undergraduate
Research Experience program because it gave me
the assurance to pursue a career in the health field, and who knows, maybe in the future I will be
involved in the development of a new vaccine, and when that day comes, I will remember my BSURE
experience.”
Kelvin Phiri
Postdoc Researcher, Grill Lab
Anonymous Donor“To be in the forefront or even involved in trying to improve the
livelihoods of people in the developing world is an honor.”
Viridiana Murillo, MSGDA ’20
KGI student
Student Success Fund“Being awarded the Student Success Fund Scholarship ensured me the
opportunity to be part of the inaugural cohort of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Graduate
Data Science Summer Program (GSDDP). As a GDSSP Fellow I was able to contribute to research efforts
and learn alongside world-class scientists at one of the most prestigious biomedical research centers
in the world.”
Molly Chestnut
Chief Development Officer, School of Medicine
The Hearst Foundations“The early gift from the Hearst Foundations signaled to the philanthropic
community the importance of re-thinking and investing in medical education. Funds from this grant –
the first foundation grant for the School and the largest grant issued by the Hearst Foundations in
2018 – catalyzed crucial early planning work.”
Rudy Chang
Former KGI Research Associate
Rachita Sumbria
Associate Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences
National Institute of HealthThe study’s first author is Rudy Chang, who worked as a research associate
in KGI School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Assistant Professor Rachita Sumbria’s lab from November
2015 through January 2018 before pursuing a research opportunity at City of Hope.
Masami Amakawa, MBS ’20
KGI student
Annenberg Foundation“At KGI I have found a valuable, supportive community that I could not
have taken full advantage of without the scholarship.”
Joseph Chow, MEng ’20
KGI student
Fenton Bioprocessing Leadership Fund
“I am a part of a refugee family fleeing from Cambodia during the 1970's,
and both sides of my family have taught me to never take an act of kindness for granted. Keck Graduate
Institute and this donation are a blessing that I will take in stride to further my future and the
name of the school.”
Arneil Liban, MEng ’20
KGI student
Gilead“Your belief in me fills me with motivation to do the best that I can. It
is thanks to the scholarship that I have the ability to achieve those goals.”
Jai Bhakta, MBS ’20
KGI student
Busenberg Endowed Scholarship, Robert
Day Endowed Scholarship“This scholarship has provided me with the opportunity to take part in a
community that is driven to discover breakthroughs in the life science industry.”
Noa Park, MBS ’20
KGI student
Barbara Hamkalo Scholarship, Jean
Miller Scholarship, John and Sandra Leland Endowed Scholarship“Once I have my own career and income, I am motivated by my donors to give
back and create scholarships for students like and unlike myself, who are ambitious and have dreams
but may be hindered by finances.”
Pauleen Banzuela, MEng ’20
KGI student
Edison Scholarship“This gift has opened a new door in my future into the bio pharmacy field;
a field that I continue to explore and love even more.”
John Strom, MEng ’20
KGI student
Hansen Endowed Scholarship“You are providing the ability for students to reach for their dream
careers and get the experience needed.”
Gabriella Mihana Alden, MBS ’20
KGI student
Bradbury Endowed Scholarship, Gilead
Scholarship“The scholarships I received were one of the deciding factors in my
choosing KGI and have made my aspirations for a higher education feasible. I aim to use this education
to improve lives through science - this goal truly would not have been possible without your support.”
Karen Aldana, MBS ’19
KGI student
Fletcher Jones Foundation“Being a pharmacist I have always wanted to contribute to a better quality
of life for people, but back in Guatemala there are not many options to continue learning as a
professional. KGI has opened my eyes into technology, networking, and a broad spectrum of what science
is doing to improve peoples’ health and provide them options.”
Nickie Toloueenia, MS ’19
KGI student
Ian Phillips Scholarship“It means the world to me to be recognized for my achievements and it is
truly inspiring to see the impact hard work can have. This scholarship will allow to take out less
loans for my education and help me get one step further to achieving my dreams.”
Cynthia Ferreyra, PharmD ’22
KGI student
IME BECAS/Juntos Podemos Scholarship
“I am a proud Latina pharmacy student. I realize that there is a barrier
between my community and appropriate healthcare. Through my education, I hope to become a catalyst
that breaks down this barrier for the greater good.”
Caroline Yalda, PharmD ’19
KGI student
CVS Scholarship“Your contribution will help support my academic goals and will help
motivate me to continue to pursue academic excellence as well as my career goals.”
Kaniel Cassady, PPM ’19
KGI student
Anonymous Donor“It is likely that, without this Fellowship, I would not have attended
KGI. Given the impact KGI has had on my career, I am deeply grateful to have been the recipient of
this award.”
Alexandra Obata, MBS ’19
KGI student
The Hearst Foundations“My experience at KGI has broadened not only my business acumen and
knowledge of the life sciences but also my career vision and areas where I want to make impact. I've
also developed incredible friendships and connections at KGI that have been invaluable during my time
here.”