Our founders personally understand the challenges of a mental health crisis as well as the life-restoring impact of successful interventions. They are dedicated to supporting research and treatments that will offer new hope to families like theirs.
Founders
DAVID BASZUCKI
David is the founder and CEO of Roblox, a global platform where millions of people around the world gather together every day to imagine, create and share experiences with each other in immersive, user-generated 3D worlds. Pioneering the category of virtual human co-experience, Roblox became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in March of 2021. David has committed any additional compensation he receives as CEO toward philanthropic purposes.
With his wife, Jan Ellison Baszucki, David has funded neuropsychiatric research for many years. Together, David and Jan launched Baszucki Group in 2021 to propel and expand this work and to address societal change in other areas. David co-directs Baszucki Group’s philanthropic investment strategy, with particular interests in metabolic health, democracy and astronomy. David and Jan have four children and live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
JAN ELLISON BASZUCKI
Jan is president of Baszucki Group and founder of Metabolic Mind. A former Silicon Valley fintech marketing executive, Jan is a writer, parent, mental health advocate and aspiring citizen scientist. She is the author of the national bestselling debut novel, A Small Indiscretion, which was a San Francisco Chronicle recommended book of 2015. Her essays have appeared in publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Writer’s Digest, and her short fiction has received numerous awards, including an O. Henry Prize for her first published story.
Jan holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford, and an MFA from San Francisco State University. She is currently at work on a memoir about her son’s recovery from bipolar disorder with a 100-year-old metabolic treatment for epilepsy.
Jan is married to David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox. David and Jan have a son and three daughters and live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Together, they co-founded Baszucki Group to advance the family’s philanthropic goals. Jan co-directs strategy and runs day-to-day operations. Jan’s particular passions include metabolic treatments for mental illness, regenerative approaches to both food production and environmental conservation, and voting reform.
Staff
AMELIA SCHOOLEY
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Amelia supports Baszucki Group and Metabolic Mind with social media, website management, and campaign execution across digital platforms. Before joining Baszucki Group, she worked as a freelance digital marketer and user experience designer, delivering projects in industries such as mental health and artificial intelligence. Alongside her digital work, Amelia has experience working with neurodivergent children, teaching them to use alternative and augmentative communication devices to support their development. She is passionate about using technology to empower disadvantaged communities and raise awareness around important issues.
Amelia earned a B.A. in psychology with minors in communications and emergent digital practices from the University of Denver. A San Francisco Bay Area native, she enjoys drawing, playing video games, and reading in her free time.
AMELIA SCHOOLEY
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Amelia supports Baszucki Group and Metabolic Mind with social media, website management, and campaign execution across digital platforms. Before joining Baszucki Group, she worked as...
ANNA HUYNH
Senior Director, Grants & Systems
Anna manages the grantmaking process and drives ongoing operational excellence through technology solutions for Baszucki Group. Prior to joining Baszucki Group, Anna was the senior grants manager at Sunlight Giving, overseeing the grantmaking and budgeting process for a private foundation and two donor-advised funds. Prior to that, Anna worked in the private sector for six years, building and scaling workflows to expand Google Shopping and Google Play into new markets.
As a first generation Vietnamese American, Anna remembers nonprofit workers who stopped by after their work day to help her mother fill out government paperwork, as well as her teachers who offered their lunch hours to teach her English. The deep appreciation for those that helped transform her life motivates her to be a positive force beyond her immediate circle of influence.
Anna received a BA in Economics at University of California, Berkeley. While in college and throughout her career, Anna has volunteered her time to fundraise for a nonprofit that supports children in Vietnam by enabling their access to basic need services and organizes public forums to discuss issues faced by the AAPI community in the Bay Area. For fun, Anna seeks out new activities that pique her interest including long-distance cycling, marathon training, Krav Maga and Toastmasters.
ANNA HUYNH
Senior Director, Grants & Systems
Anna manages the grantmaking process and drives ongoing operational excellence through technology solutions for Baszucki Group. Prior to joining Baszucki Group, Anna was the senior...
ARI FEFFERMAN
Head of Marketing, Metabolic Mind
Ari is thrilled to join the Baszucki Group team as Head of Marketing for Metabolic Mind, where she hopes to drive awareness and growth for the metabolic psychiatry community. She brings nearly two decades of experience in technology and healthcare to advance the organization’s mission of fundamentally improving metabolic and mental health.
Ari has held various marketing leadership roles across the tech landscape, from early-stage startups to major corporations such as Fitbit, Google, FitOn Health and SignalFx (acquired by Splunk, now Cisco). Early in her career, Ari started her professional life living in the Southern California woods working for an Environmental Science School. She serves on the Uprise Travel board and chairs its marketing committee.
Ari graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a dual degree in Environmental Studies and Marketing. When not focused on her mission, the Chicago-suburbs native enjoys traveling the world, with a particular love for being in the mountains or under water, or playing guitar and piano.
ARI FEFFERMAN
Head of Marketing, Metabolic Mind
Ari is thrilled to join the Baszucki Group team as Head of Marketing for Metabolic Mind, where she hopes to drive awareness and growth for the...
BRET SCHER, M.D.
Medical Director, Metabolic Mind and Baszucki Group
Bret leads Baszucki Group’s medical initiatives, directing continuing education programs for clinicians and cultivating a community around metabolic psychiatry and brain health. As host of the Metabolic Mind podcast, he shares insights on the connection between metabolism and mental health and spotlights innovative approaches for treating serious mental health and metabolic conditions.
A board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist, Bret has experience in therapeutic metabolic interventions, including ketogenic diets. Before joining Baszucki Group, he was medical director at DietDoctor.com, where he developed educational resources on low-carb nutrition and metabolic health. He remains a practicing cardiologist, helping patients improve heart health through lifestyle interventions.
Bret earned his M.D. from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and a B.S. in biology from Stanford University. Based in San Diego, he enjoys mountain biking, swimming, hiking, and being outside and active with his two sons.
BRET SCHER, M.D.
Medical Director, Metabolic Mind and Baszucki Group
Bret leads Baszucki Group’s medical initiatives, directing continuing education programs for clinicians and cultivating a community around metabolic psychiatry and brain health. As host of...
BRIAN ZEICHICK
Senior Manager, Experience & Web Operations
Brian manages web operations and digital experience at Baszucki Group, bringing over 20 years of expertise in healthcare technology with a focus on product design and product management. Throughout his career, Brian has applied design thinking principles to improve experiences for users, clients, and internal teams—always striving to make systems more intuitive and efficient. Most recently, Brian led the successful implementation of AI chatbot solutions that help users navigate complex state-level Medicaid, Medicare, and VA regulations.
Brian studied Mathematics and Art at UC Santa Barbara. He lives in Oakland with his wife, two children, a pug, and four cats. In his spare time, he enjoys swimming (and teaching others to swim), snowboarding, gardening, and traveling.
BRIAN ZEICHICK
Senior Manager, Experience & Web Operations
Brian manages web operations and digital experience at Baszucki Group, bringing over 20 years of expertise in healthcare technology with a focus on product design...
CAROLYN WALL SAKATA
Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer
Carolyn directs Baszucki Group’s philanthropic strategy, guiding the organization’s programs, expanding its operations, and managing a dynamic team to advance its mission. She has extensive experience working with family foundations at various stages of growth, including serving as managing director at Sunlight Giving, where she helped launch the private foundation and affiliated donor-advised funds. Her previous roles include working with family foundations at Pacific Foundation Services, the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, and as a program officer at the Medina Foundation.
Earlier in her career, Carolyn worked as a clinical social worker in community mental health and dual diagnosis settings, which shaped her deep understanding of client needs and the importance of effective interventions.
Carolyn holds an M.S.W. from Smith College and a B.A. in history and Hispanic studies from Vassar College. She lives in Redwood City and enjoys exploring the outdoors, swimming, and getting lost in the immersive worlds of books.
CAROLYN WALL SAKATA
Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer
Carolyn directs Baszucki Group’s philanthropic strategy, guiding the organization’s programs, expanding its operations, and managing a dynamic team to advance its mission. She has extensive...
Cristina Nigro, Ph.D.
Policy and Partnerships Officer
Cristina manages capacity-building projects and strategies at Baszucki Group that promote the adoption of metabolic approaches in mental health. She brings expertise in biomedical and public health policy analysis, strategic planning, program evaluation, operations, and communications.
Most recently, Cristina served as Chief of Staff to the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the NIH. Prior to that, she worked at NINDS as a legislative liaison and policy analyst.
Cristina has also worked at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, focusing on Medicare payment policy, and at President Obama’s Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, where she addressed neuroethical questions related to advancements in neuroscience research and technology. In addition, she has consulted for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on pricing and market access strategies.
Cristina earned a PhD in the History of Health Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco, where she studied the history of neurophysiology. She also holds an MS in Neurosciences from the University of California, San Diego, and a BA in the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania.
She lives in Baltimore with her husband and daughter and aspires to one day opening a café and community gallery space in the city.
Cristina Nigro, Ph.D.
Policy and Partnerships Officer
Cristina manages capacity-building projects and strategies at Baszucki Group that promote the adoption of metabolic approaches in mental health. She brings expertise in biomedical and...
ELIZABETH (LIZ) RIMIO
Program Director
Liz manages several Baszucki Group grantmaking initiatives including regenerative agriculture, documentary film and other issue areas. She brings over 15 years of experience working with family foundations, individual donors, and family offices across diverse issue areas. In addition to her role at Baszucki Group, Liz maintains a philanthropy consulting practice, advising individuals and family foundations on strategic giving.
Before launching her consulting work, Liz spent much of her career in a single-family office in Palo Alto, where she oversaw multiple philanthropic vehicles, including private foundations, donor-advised funds, and direct giving. In that role, she led the family’s philanthropic strategy, with a particular focus on supporting underserved communities through local grantmaking.
Liz holds a B.A. in liberal studies from San Francisco State University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and their dog, and enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and exploring the outdoors.
ELIZABETH (LIZ) RIMIO
Program Director
Liz manages several Baszucki Group grantmaking initiatives including regenerative agriculture, documentary film and other issue areas. She brings over 15 years of experience working with...
Erin Paruszewski
Chief of Staff to the President
Erin serves as a strategic partner to the president at Baszucki Group, providing high-level project management and leadership on key initiatives. Before joining Baszucki Group, she was the founder and CEO of Alkalign, a holistic health and wellness company focused on functional fitness and nutrition. Earlier in her career, she worked in investment banking and Six Sigma project management, and brings a diverse background spanning finance, marketing, product development, communications, and metabolic health.
Erin’s lifelong passion is helping people feel better from the inside out. She is a certified holistic health coach and the author of It Doesn’t Have to Hurt to Work, a memoir about her own health and wellness journey.
Erin earned a B.A. in history from Georgetown University. She lives in Menlo Park with her husband and two daughters and enjoys traveling, cheering on her kids, Mahjong, and hip hop dance.
Erin Paruszewski
Chief of Staff to the President
Erin serves as a strategic partner to the president at Baszucki Group, providing high-level project management and leadership on key initiatives. Before joining Baszucki Group,...
Gabe Brown
Director of Digital Strategy
Gabe leads digital strategy at Baszucki Group, drawing on more than 15 years of experience in web user experience (UX) and audience engagement. Known for his user-centric approach, he crafts digital experiences that connect with diverse audiences and deliver impactful results.
Before joining Baszucki Group, Gabe served as head of UX at an enterprise SaaS company, where he developed strategies to enhance user engagement, boost conversion rates, and improve retention. He also managed digital platforms for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, helping the public access critical financial information during a key period.
Gabe studied photography and digital design at the Academy of Art. A Bay Area native and outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys mountain biking, wing foiling, surfing, and snowboarding.
Gabe Brown
Director of Digital Strategy
Gabe leads digital strategy at Baszucki Group, drawing on more than 15 years of experience in web user experience (UX) and audience engagement. Known for...
Gwenaelle Thomas, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Neuroscience
Gwenaëlle supports Baszucki Group’s efforts to build evidence and advance science advocacy for metabolic psychiatry. Her career spans biomedical research, nonprofit administration, and consulting, focusing on how medications influence brain function and behavior in conditions such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anorexia nervosa, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Previously, Gwenaëlle was scientific project manager at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, managing research portfolios funded by private philanthropy and the NIH. She led the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative and implemented community-based research in Baltimore City. As a science communicator, she has collaborated with organizations including NAMI, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, One Mind, and BlackInNeuro to promote science education and mental health advocacy. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Morgan State University.
Gwenaëlle earned a Ph.D. in neurobiology from Duke University School of Medicine and dual B.S. degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Based in Maryland, she enjoys creating art, cooking, and exploring nature.
Gwenaelle Thomas, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Neuroscience
Gwenaëlle supports Baszucki Group’s efforts to build evidence and advance science advocacy for metabolic psychiatry. Her career spans biomedical research, nonprofit administration, and consulting, focusing...
Hannah Warren
Communications and Advocacy Manager
Hannah advances communications and advocacy efforts for Baszucki Group and Metabolic Mind, raising awareness about metabolic psychiatry and its emerging role in mental health care. She has spent much of her career in the nonprofit sector, most recently serving as marketing and development director at Serenity Hospice and Home, a nonprofit supporting terminally ill patients and their families. In 2008, she founded Jhoole, an eco-fashion social enterprise employing women in India, and continues to serve on its board of directors.
After implementing ketogenic therapy in 2021 and putting her bipolar 1 disorder into remission, Hannah became committed to sharing the science behind metabolic therapies and promoting them as potential first-line treatments. She is cofounder and board president of Metabolic Collective, a nonprofit mobilizing volunteers and advocates to grow the grassroots movement for metabolic psychiatry and neurology. She continues to implement metabolic therapies for her brain health and mental well-being.
Hannah holds an M.A. in fashion entrepreneurship from London College of Fashion and a B.A. in South Asian studies and linguistics from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She is working on a book titled Radiant Beast: The Mitochondrial Pathway.
Hannah Warren
Communications and Advocacy Manager
Hannah advances communications and advocacy efforts for Baszucki Group and Metabolic Mind, raising awareness about metabolic psychiatry and its emerging role in mental health care....
JULIE MILDER, PH.D.
Director, Neuroscience
Julie leads Baszucki Group’s metabolic psychiatry grantmaking, drawing on experience in neuroscience across academia, grantmaking, scientific strategy, and the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she was associate director at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, where she led the U.S. Medical Affairs Training and Excellence team, supporting collaboration across therapeutic areas including epilepsy, movement disorders, sleep, hematology, and oncology.
Previously, Julie served as the first scientist on staff for CURE Epilepsy, the largest non-governmental funder of epilepsy research, where she directed grantmaking and launched their first team science initiative to develop new treatments for infantile spasms. Her Ph.D. research focused on the effects of a ketogenic diet on mitochondrial function and antioxidant response, exploring its role as a therapy for pediatric-onset epilepsy. Julie is recognized throughout the epilepsy research and advocacy community for her dedication to advancing the field.
Julie earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a B.A. in biology and neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in Denver with her two daughters and their rescue dog, and they try to escape to the mountains as often as possible.
JULIE MILDER, PH.D.
Director, Neuroscience
Julie leads Baszucki Group’s metabolic psychiatry grantmaking, drawing on experience in neuroscience across academia, grantmaking, scientific strategy, and the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she was...
KARIN KISSANE
Head of Investments
Karin directs investments and advises on impact investing for Baszucki Group. She brings over 25 years of experience investing in early-stage companies and funds. Before joining Baszucki Group, she was managing director and chief operating officer at Gates Capital Partners, where she led the private equity program. Earlier in her career, she co-founded an early-stage venture firm, made software investments for a corporate venture group, and worked at Parthenon Consulting Group. Karin serves on the Zellerbach Family Foundation board and chairs its investment committee.
Karin earned an M.B.A. with honors from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in international relations with honors from Stanford University. Based in the Bay Area, she enjoys yoga, reading, travel, and spending time with friends and family.
KARIN KISSANE
Head of Investments
Karin directs investments and advises on impact investing for Baszucki Group. She brings over 25 years of experience investing in early-stage companies and funds. Before...
KAY LEE
Chief of Staff
Kay oversees Baszucki Group’s day-to-day operations, bringing 20 years of experience in organizational management, operations, strategic planning, and change management across philanthropic and nonprofit organizations.
Previously, she was chief of staff at Earthjustice, supporting its operations during a period of rapid growth. Before that, Kay spent a decade at the Ford Foundation working in the Office of the President and Vice President, and in the Office of Strategy and Learning, where she led organization-wide initiatives and advanced systems to enhance learning and effectiveness. Her earlier roles include work with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Asia Foundation, and nonprofit organizations serving refugees and migrants.
Kay holds an M.P.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego. She lives in San Francisco with her family and enjoys traveling, dancing, and taking her kids on beautiful hikes.
KAY LEE
Chief of Staff
Kay oversees Baszucki Group’s day-to-day operations, bringing 20 years of experience in organizational management, operations, strategic planning, and change management across philanthropic and nonprofit organizations.
Kirk Nylen, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Neuroscience
Kirk directs Baszucki Group’s strategic approach to neuroscience research and discovery, drawing on extensive experience in health and research sectors. Previously, he served as deputy scientific director and vice president of research and informatics at the Ontario Brain Institute, where he led collaborative research networks, informatics and analytics, and knowledge translation initiatives. Earlier in his career, he developed healthcare strategies and business plans for Ontario’s provincial cancer agency.
Kirk is a member of the Milken Institute’s LeadersLink program, a fellow of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT Health), and has advised national and provincial governments on research and data governance. He is a recipient of the Van Gelder Savoy Award for epilepsy research, the CIHR Doctoral Research Award, and led work recognized with the Changemaker Award from Neurological Health Charities of Canada. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.
Kirk holds an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Saskatchewan. Based in Toronto, he enjoys traveling, baking sourdough bread, playing ultimate frisbee, and once worked as an alluvial gold miner.
Kirk Nylen, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Neuroscience
Kirk directs Baszucki Group’s strategic approach to neuroscience research and discovery, drawing on extensive experience in health and research sectors. Previously, he served as deputy...
Nicole Feldman
Grants Associate
Nicole supports all grantmaking activities across Baszucki Group, helping ensure smooth and effective operations. Before joining Baszucki Group, she spent five years at the Heising-Simons Foundation, where she managed grants processes, strengthened systems, and coordinated closely across program and finance teams. She brings a strong background in process improvement and collaborative grants management.
Nicole earned a B.A. in sociology from San Jose State University. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she enjoys being close to the beach and never far from a hiking trail.
Nicole Feldman
Grants Associate
Nicole supports all grantmaking activities across Baszucki Group, helping ensure smooth and effective operations. Before joining Baszucki Group, she spent five years at the Heising-Simons...
Rachael Xiong
Senior Program Associate
Rachael leads project management and operations for Metabolic Mind. Before joining Baszucki Group, she worked at wikiHow, a mission-driven internet company, where she led expert relations, developed site features, and managed digital and social content.
Rachael has also been active in community initiatives supporting healthcare access and higher education. She has volunteered at free clinics to support uninsured patients, led programs for Hmong youth, and mentored high school students from underrepresented communities to encourage higher education pursuits.
Rachael earned a B.A. in human biology from Stanford University. Based in San Francisco, she enjoys hiking local trails, reading fiction and exploring new destinations.
Rachael Xiong
Senior Program Associate
Rachael leads project management and operations for Metabolic Mind. Before joining Baszucki Group, she worked at wikiHow, a mission-driven internet company, where she led expert...
Soly Lee
Program Associate
Soly supports the day-to-day operations of Baszucki Group’s science program, contributing to projects that advance research and organizational effectiveness. Previously, he worked as an admission counselor at Stanford University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission, where he focused on improving public-facing communications and streamlining operational processes. He also served as a health fellow at The Primary School, a nonprofit integrating education, health, and family support services. During college, Soly was involved with several public service organizations dedicated to improving healthcare and education access.
Soly earned a B.S. in human biology from Stanford University and serves on Stanford’s Young Alumni Philanthropy Council. Based in San Mateo, Soly enjoys volunteering, traveling, and exploring the outdoors with family and friends.
Soly Lee
Program Associate
Soly supports the day-to-day operations of Baszucki Group’s science program, contributing to projects that advance research and organizational effectiveness. Previously, he worked as an admission...
Xia Luu
Executive Administrative Partner
Xia supports Baszucki Group as an executive administrative partner, bringing over 11 years of experience collaborating with C-level executives and managing complex operations. Prior to joining Baszucki Group, she held roles at BlueJeans by Verizon and Malwarebytes, where she built strong strategic partnerships and contributed to organizational effectiveness. She is committed to continuous learning and embraces new challenges in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
Xia earned a B.A. in business administration with a concentration in management from San Jose State University. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. When not lost in the pages of a novel, she loves exploring new places through travel.
Xia Luu
Executive Administrative Partner
Xia supports Baszucki Group as an executive administrative partner, bringing over 11 years of experience collaborating with C-level executives and managing complex operations. Prior to...