Welcome to the “Meet the Team” series. Join us behind the scenes to discover the people, passions, and expertise that drive the NGN project at Yale. Get to know the remarkable individuals shaping the future of connectivity, one story at a time.
Meet the Team
Meet Robert Fuhst Jr., Deployment Engineer
About Robert: Rob has been an integral part of the NGN project since early 2021. With a robust background that includes 30 years with Verizon as a Fiber Splicer and Hi-Tech Field Technician, Rob brings extensive experience and expertise to the engineering team. His career highlights include working on a pioneering video conferencing project between Columbia University and... Read more
Meet Mary Consiglio: Senior Project Manager
About Mary: Mary joined the NGN project 10 months ago, bringing with her 20 years of experience managing infrastructure projects. Her extensive background includes working with a variety of organizations, such as Harvard University, CVS, EMC, and John Hancock. This... Read more
Meet Gina Espinoza: OCM Specialist
About Gina: Gina joined the NGN project in October 2023, and has been a key contributor to the team ever since. With five years of experience in Organizational Change Management (OCM), Gina's background is a blend of technical expertise and creative flair. She has a rich... Read more
Meet Shawn Clark: NGN Project Director
About Shawn: Shawn has been a key figure of the NGN project for the past five years. His extensive background in IT, particularly in setting up IT infrastructure globally, laid a solid foundation for his current role. Before Yale, Shawn ensured the successful construction... Read more
Meet Ayesha Shaikh: Project Coordinator
About Ayesha: Drawing from a rich tapestry of experience, Ayesha's background has prepared her well for her NGN journey. Ayesha joined the project with a range of industry knowledge, specifically in business analysis and implementation strategies. Her time leading the... Read more
Meet Bob Mazzola: Advanced Prep Coordinator
About Bob: Bob joined the NGN team over 4 years ago, stepping into his current role after supporting the pilot migration in February 2020. Prior to joining NGN, he spent nine years as a Distributed Support Provider (DSP), where he got the opportunity to work on the... Read more
Meet Dan Massameno: Director of Network and Cloud Architecture
About Dan: With a career spanning over three decades in IT and network design, Dan began his journey with Yale when he joined the NGN program six years ago as Director of Network and Cloud Architecture. His previous experience... Read more
Meet Aaron Soucy: Wireless Engineer
Introducing Aaron: Aaron is a seasoned Wireless Engineer with a substantial journey spanning over 25 years in the engineering world. His time in the field has provided a depth and breadth of experience, making him a knowledgeable member and critical resource on the NGN project... Read more
Meet Hassam Rehman: Project Manager
About Hassam: Hassam joined the NGN team as a seasoned Project Manager, equipped with experience managing a variety of IT initiatives across diverse organizations. He has managed projects such as network migrations, A/V upgrades, office moves, and database builds. These projects... Read more
Meet Debra Houle: IT Associate Director in FAS-SEAS IT
About Debra: Debra has more than 12 years’ experience within Yale ITS and began working with the NGN project roughly three years ago. A lifelong learner with degrees from Dartmouth College and Wesleyan University, Debra was eager to learn about... Read more
Meet Tanvir "Tan" Azad: NGN Advanced Prep Tech
About Tan: With almost a year of service on the NGN project, Tan brings a rich tapestry of experiences to his role. Equipped with a Master of Science from Central Connecticut State University and practical expertise from previous roles, including Trinity Health... Read more
Meet David Irwin: Senior Network Engineer
About David: David is a Senior Network Engineer on the NGN project. He joined the program with a considerable background in network engineering, having worked on a diverse set of projects and with a wide range of technology. David has a knack for tackling... Read more
Meet David Highsmith: ITS Manager of Network Operations
About David: David is a seasoned professional with an impressive 36 years at the University. For 33 of those years, David has worked in Network Support, where his role has evolved in tandem with the University's expanding network. He has... Read more
Meet Neha Agrawal: FTS Portfolio Manager
About Neha: Neha Agrawal, the Foundational Technology Services (FTS) Portfolio Manager in ITS, brings over a decade of financial expertise to the NGN team. With an extensive background in foundational technology services, Neha’s financial management skills have been... Read more
Meet Kyle Hack: OCM Specialist
About Kyle: Coming from a robust background in Learning & Development, Kyle’s expertise in change management principles and training practices has been instrumental in explaining highly technical concepts in an accessible manner. His refined writing skills and ability to map and refine... Read more
Meet Kevin O'Donnell: Network Engineer
About Kevin: As a Network Engineer, Kevin plays a pivotal role on the NGN team, contributing his expertise to shape the future of Yale’s network. He joins the project from a background in educational IT and with a passion for networking and WiFi, which make him... Read more
Meet Hank Ripperger: NGN Program Manager
About Hank: Hank Ripperger has been an integral part of the NGN project since its inception in early 2019. He finds it remarkable to see the processes and tools he helped create take shape within the project. Hank comes from an IT background in investment banks and is no... Read more
Meet Jim Bruton: Senior Project Manager
About Jim: Jim Bruton, our Senior Project Manager, has been with the NGN project for two and half years. His remarkable journey has seen him excel in various industries, fostering essential project management skills along the way. Jim’s expertise spans technology, where he... Read more
Meet David Woyciesjes: Transition Support Coordinator
About David: David, often known as Dave, is the Transition Support Coordinator on the NGN team, wearing multiple hats to ensure the smooth transition of networked devices and contributing significantly to successful migrations.
David... Read more