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The UF Alumni Association’s annual 40 Gators Under 40 program honors and celebrates alumni who have made significant impact on their communities, professional organizations, and the Gator Nation at large. The honorees exemplify the values of leadership, innovation, and service that define the UF spirit. This year, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences proudly announces that 13 of its alumni have been selected for this prestigious recognition.

Please join us in celebrating the following outstanding CLAS alumni:

Avan Armaghani
Assistant Manager of the Department of Breast Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center
Location: Tampa, FL
UF Degrees: BS ’09, HS ’09, MD ‘12

Avan Armaghani, a triple-Gator graduate, specializes in breast cancer treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. She is also a core faculty member at the University of South Florida and the Moffitt Cancer Center’s hematology/oncology fellowship program.

Armaghani is also an active member of the medical community, serving on committees like the Hillsborough County Medical Association, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American College of Physicians. She is known for her advocacy of new medical technologies, helping develop the first mobile app for clinical trials at Moffitt Cancer Center. In addition to supporting girls in STEM through her volunteer work with Girls Inc, Armaghani also created a photography exhibit called ‘Portraits of Hope,’ a gallery showcasing the strength, courage, and resilience of breast cancer patients.

Brian Aungst Jr.
Shareholder for Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen
Location: Clearwater, FL
UF Degrees: BSTEL ’05, BA Political Science ’05, JD Law ‘08

Brian Aungst Jr. graduated from UF in 2005 with degrees in Political Science and Telecommunication, then earned his JD in 2008. Since then, he has devoted his career to improving the lives of Floridians across Central Florida.

Aungst has contributed to numerous advisory boards, including the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. He has been a staunch advocate for issues such as collective bargaining rights, domestic abuse, and affordable housing. Notably, he successfully obtained approval for over 500 much-needed affordable housing units in St. Petersburg.

Devin Bustin
Chief Medical Officer of OvaryIt LLC
Location: Jersey City, NJ
UF Degrees: BS Psychology ’07, MD Medicine ‘11

Devin Bustin boasts a BS in Psychology and an MD in Medicine from UF. Now, he wears many hats, serving as the Chief Medical Officer for OvaryIt, a company he co-founded with his wife. Additionally, he serves as the Head of Clinical Informatics at Atria Health, Associate Director of Clinical Informatics at Sollis Health, and works as an attending physician in the Mountainside Medical Center Emergency Department.

Bustin has a passion for ethical entrepreneurship centered on utilizing technology and novel healthcare delivery approaches to increase quality, efficiency, and access to care. In his various leadership roles, he remains committed to driving change and innovation within the healthcare sector.

Sirikanya Chiraroekmongkon
Psychiatry Resident Physician at Yale University’s Department of Psychiatry
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
UF Degrees: BA International Studies ’15, BS Chemistry ’15

Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Sirikanya (Sanya) Chiraroekmongkon completed her undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and International Studies at UF in 2015. However, her academic journey didn’t stop there. Chiraroekmongkon has since studied at Fudan University in China, the University of Central Florida, and Yale, honing her medical expertise.

Chiraroekmongkon is a champion of mental health, working as a physician for individuals with serious mental illnesses. She founded a nonprofit organization called Rising Youth, which aims to support high school students in maintaining their mental wellness. She has also been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Order of Pegasus, UCF’s highest honor.

Anna DeCerchio
Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Location: Tallahassee, FL
UF Degrees: BA History ’12, BA Political Science ‘12

Anna DeCerchio left her home of Tallahassee to attend UF, earning degrees in History and Political Science before returning home to FSU for law school. Since graduating, she has held various positions within Florida’s state government. She worked as a Legislative Aide for Future Speaker of the House Paul Renner and has held several key policy roles in the DeSantis administration.

As a senior policy advisor to Governor DeSantis, DeCerchio played a pivotal role in securing funding for preservation projects in the Everglades, statewide toll relief initiatives, and the state’s response to red tide. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where she oversees over 3,000 employees and the largest environmental budget in agency history.

Julia Furnari
Executive Director of Tapestry, Inc.
Location: Tampa, FL
UF Degrees: BS Marketing ’15, BS Psychology ‘15

After graduating summa cum laude with degrees in Marketing and Psychology, Julia Furnari went on to obtain a master’s degree from Columbia University in Nonprofit Management. Her love of philanthropy would drive her to join the Tapestry Foundation in 2017, a New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands including Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman.

Over the years, Furnari progressed within the organization, ultimately assuming the role of Executive Director. In this capacity, she wields significant influence over the company’s philanthropy and donations. Since taking on this role, she has awarded thousands of scholarships to underprivileged and underrepresented students across the globe, and is responsible for executing over $200 million in donations. She also pioneered the establishment of the $50 million Tapestry Foundation.

Erin Gillaspie
Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Associate Professor at Creighton University Medical Center
Location: Omaha, NE
UF Degree: BS Microbiology & Cell Science ‘04

Erin Gillaspie earned her first college degree while still in high school, foreshadowing her subsequent professional success. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science at UF in just two years, after which she began medical school.

After finishing a general surgery residency at Bassett Medical Center and a thoracic surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic, she joined Vanderbilt as an Assistant Professor of Thoracic Surgery, where she dedicated her time to mentoring students and developing new programs, like a robotic education program and new tools for educating patients about lung cancer. Subsequently, Gillaspie assumed roles of Chief of Thoracic Surgery and an Associate Professor with Tenure at Creighton University Medical Center, making her one of the few women to achieve the prestigious position.

Jennifer Goetz
Director and Inpatient Psychiatry/Eating Disorder Clinical Care Consultant at Mass General Brigham Salem Hospital/Mass General
Location: Cambridge, MA
UF Degrees: BS Psychology ’09, MD Medicine ‘13

Jennifer Goetz earned a BS in Psychology from UF in 2009, marking the beginning of her journey toward specializing in caring for patients with eating disorders. After earning her MD in Medicine in 2013, she began working for Harvard Medical School and the nearby McLean Hospital, where she played a key role in opening a new child and adolescent unit in an underserved area of the state.

Goetz’ dedication and expertise earned her recognition from colleagues, resulting in referrals locally, regionally, and nationally. Her exceptional clinical care for pediatric patients with eating disorders at Johns Hopkins Hospital led to her being recognized as a “Top Doctor” by Baltimore Magazine. Currently, she is engaged in addressing service gaps in eating disorder care across the Mass General Brigham system, aiming to enhance mental health support for her patients.

Raleigh “Billy” Greene
Managing Partner/Attorney for Greene & Greene, Attorneys at Law
Location: Saint Petersburg, FL
UF Degrees: BA Criminal Justice ’07, JD Law ‘11

Raleigh “Billy” Greene, a native Floridian, graduated twice from UF, earning a BA in Criminal Justice and a JD in Law. Specializing in family law, including both litigation and collaborative divorce, he practices as a managing partner alongside his wife and father at Greene & Greene.

Throughout his career, Greene has garnered numerous awards and honors. In 2017, he was awarded the Canakaris Family Law Inn of Court “Young Lawyer of the Year” award and was bestowed the Distinguished Citizen Award by Boy Scouts of America for his community and philanthropic contributions. He has also achieved an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and has been designated by both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. As Chair of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, he has led transformative projects including joint development with the School Board for a health facility and magnet school.

Brock Hankins
Deputy General Counsel and Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Department of Defense
Location: Orlando, FL
UF Degrees: BA Interdisciplinary Studies ’10, BA Economics ’10, JD Law ‘14

Brock Hankins graduated with degrees in Economics and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2010, and would later graduate with his JD in Law in 2014. He now serves as Deputy General Counsel for the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, where he plays a pivotal role in shaping AI adoption and regulation nationwide.

Outside of work, Hankins is deeply engaged in community leadership. He holds the position of Secretary for the UF Law Alumni Council, was elected to the Board of Governors for The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division representing out-of-state attorneys, provides pro bono legal counsel for Florida Diabetes Camps, serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida House on Capitol Hill, and is an advisory board member for Orange County’s Citizen Commission for Children.

Justin Kintz
Senior Vice President at Peloton
Location: Arlington, VA
UF Degree: BA English ‘07

Justin Kintz has spent the 16 years since graduating with a BA in English working with governments around the world, beginning with an appointment to the Bush administration in 2007. From there, he transitioned to the Transatlantic Business Council as a multinational advisor, before joining Uber. With his help, this small company established itself in all 50 states and 70 countries globally, becoming the most well-known name in ridesharing. In 2021, Kintz left Uber to join Peloton as a Senior Vice President.

Kintz serves as an advisor for numerous institutions, joining the Board of The Internet Association in 2015, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association from 2016-2018, The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., and the Board of Directors for the University of Florida Gator Boosters. He also volunteers his time by advising aspiring political candidates and startup founders, and serves as the editor of his community newsletter.

Donovan Thompson
Research and Technology Manager for Albemarle Corporation
Location: Prairieville, LA
UF Degree: PhD Chemistry ‘14

Donovan Thompson graduated from the Department of Chemistry in 2014, where he spent his time studying and performing research in the Butler Polymer Lab under Professor Kenneth Wagner. Since setting out on his own, Thompson has released more than 20 publications, scientific presentations, patents, and three commercial products. In his current role at the Albermarle Company, he has led the commercialization of New Products in Food Safety.

His hard work has been recognized many times, such as the Colgate-Palmolive and SMART Science Awards, AkzoNobel 2017 Early Career Scientist Award, the 2020 New Brunswick (NJ) Alumni Mentorship Service Award, and even an appearance on Georgia Southern University’s 40 Under 40 list in 2018.

Gordon Van Owen
Lead Teacher for the New York City Department of Education
Location: New York, NY
UF Degrees: BA English ’06, BSJ ’06, MAMC ‘08

Gordon Van Owen arrived at UF in the early 2000s as a closeted gay man. Over time, he became a champion for LGBTQIA+ students, both as a student and after graduating with a BA in English in 2006. Having received major support from his peers, he wants to ensure that future LGBTQIA+ students have a similar positive experience. To this end, he has served on the Gotham Gators, helped re-launch the Association of LGBTQ+ Alumni, and connected students and funded scholarships.

During his time at UF, Van Owen also discovered a love of teaching, primarily through his time teaching at the College of Journalism and Communications. He has since transitioned to the New York City Department of Education, where he contributes to writing AP English curricula and mentors emerging educators.

Congratulations to all the honorees for their remarkable achievements and contributions.

For more information about the “40 Gators Under 40” program and to view the complete list of this year’s honorees, please explore here.