Our team

The BU Spark! team is made up of professionals from all walks of life — from industry to academia to public service. In addition to our team, our experts in residence and mentors help support our students on their learning journeys.

Ziba Cranmer

Founding Director

Ziba (she/hers) is the founding director of BU Spark! and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. Ziba is an innovation leader with diverse experience spanning both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Boston University community, Ziba led a national initiative supporting community innovators in cities across the U.S. to combat human trafficking through technology. She also spent over 11 years working in the field of corporate responsibilities including at Nike where she was a portfolio director in the Sustainable Business and Innovation Lab, leading initiatives to address the company’s social and environmental impacts. She has also worked on societal and sustainability impact strategies for large companies, startups, and nonprofit organizations including FedEx, Farm Aid, and Hilton Worldwide. Earlier in her career, Ziba worked in international development in Vietnam and Palestine with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and various non-governmental organizations. Ziba is passionate about public interest technology and supporting student leaders with their personal and community innovation initiatives.

Langdon White

Technical Director & Clinical Assistant Professor

Langdon (he/him) is BU Spark!’s technical director and a clinical assistant professor at the Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. He is a 20+ year software industry veteran, working as a chief technology officer, chief architect, vice president, and software advocate and engineer for a variety of companies from startups to Fortune 50 companies.

James Grady, M.F.A.

Creative Director & Assistant Professor

James is BU Spark!’s creative director, and Boston-based designer and educator with nearly two decades of broad-based experience. Combining theory and execution, James’ empirically-based methodology, developed as part of his master’s thesis at the Rhode Island School of Design, encourages deeper levels of creative exploration and unparalleled understanding of brand and visual communication. This intersection of education and practice informs his studio’s, Design Axel, creative approach. James is an assistant professor of graphic design at the Boston University School of Visual Arts.

Lydia Holck, M.B.A.

Operations Director

Lydia (she/her) is BU Spark!’s operations director, having previously worked as the operations manager at the Community Charter School of Cambridge. There, Lydia led staff and student scheduling, academic testing and health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before graduating from Boston College with her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Sociology, she worked in the Match Education tutor corps. She recently graduated from the Boston University Questrom School of Business with her MBA.

Isabel Torres

Community & Communications Manager

Isabel (she/her) is BU Spark!’s community and outreach manager, coming to Spark! with years of experience working in Massachusetts politics and government. Most recently, she was the campaign manager for State Representative Nika Elugardo’s state sentate race, and as the Boston regional director for the Fair Share Amendment Campaign. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston University. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, she grew up in California before moving to Boston. 

Michelle Voong, M.S.

Solutions Engineer for Data Science

Michelle (she/her) is BU Spark!’s data science solutions engineer. She has industry experience building identity solutions, proposal writing, and research experience in social media analysis. She is interested in the application of data science related to social issues and fostering environments that enable students to collaborate and innovate. She earned her Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut.

Asad Malik, M.S.

Innovation Engineer

Asad is BU Spark!’s innovation engineer, a Boston University alum, and free spirit. Primarily working with the BU Software Applications and Innovation Lab (SAIL), he has been involved with Spark! since 2022. After graduating with his master’s, he was a Spark! mentor and co-led the Technology Innovation Fellowship while working at Philips. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from New York University and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Boston University.

Seth Villegas, Ph.D.

Associate Program Manager

Seth is a BU Spark! associate program manager and postdoctoral researcher. He has been involved with Spark! teach ethics to undergraduate innovators through lectures and tools that help students assess the risks associated with their projects. He also helped develop the ethics requirements for the Ph.D. in Computing & Data Science at the Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. His dissertation, “The Desire to Upload: A Theological Analysis of Transhumanist Advocacy for Life-extension and Immortality,” explores the philosophies that support research into radical life-extension, cryonics, and mind uploading. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology Studies from BU. 

Omar Augustin

Assistant Solutions Engineer 

Born and raised in Boston, Omar is a lifelong fan of the Celtics, Patriots, and Arsenal—his love for effective teamwork and strategy extends beyond sports and into his professional life. After spending several years as a software engineer in the marketing and bio-tech world, he developed his technical foundation through industry experience, while maintaining a passion for problem-solving. He is thrilled to be joining the team at Spark!, where he looks forward to not only contributing his technical expertise but also learning from the wealth of knowledge that exists here. He believes that collaboration and continuous learning are key to driving innovation, and is excited to see how we can work together to create meaningful outcomes for BU students, clients, and the community.

Abby Gualda

Post-Baccalaureate Fellow

Abby (she/her) is a Post-Bac Fellow for BU Spark!. As a recent graduate from Boston University with a B.A. in Computer Science, she had the opportunity to be a part of Spark! in various roles including technical teammate, project manager, and technical project manager. Abby’s involvement with Spark! resulted in her becoming a recipient of the Spark! Innovation Award (outstanding achievement in technological innovation) and Firestarter Award (someone who embodied Spark!’s values and has made a unique impact during their time with the program). She believes the work she’s done at Spark! has a positive impact and provides a space where individuals from underrepresented groups feel support and inclusion.

Nolan Thompson

Post-Baccalaureate Fellow

Nolan (she/her) is a Boston University graduate with a BFA in graphic design and a BS in advertising. She has had the pleasure of leading and collaborating in a variety of inspiring spaces through the lens of design and development. As a post-baccalaureate fellow, Nolan is dedicated to helping students to explore their curiosity and creativity.

Daniel Oh 

Post-Baccalaureate Fellow