BOARD OF DIrectors
OFFICERS
Cynthia R. Plouché serves as board member of the Alzenia Project as Founder and CEO. Cynthia is extremely passionate about creating a space for women in which they can achieve their goals with a sense of belonging. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and social relations at Harvard University and her Master’s degree in business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
founder, CEO
Cynthia R. Plouché

Throughout her participation in her numerous other professional, civic, and volunteer activities, she brings a solid commitment to and knowledge of the importance of non-financial factors to organizational excellence in both the corporate and education arenas.
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Dr. Brown is the principal medical scientist for Gilead Sciences’ New York region’s Medical Staff Affairs team. She is an obstetrician and gynecologist whose career reflects a deep interest and expertise in women’s and girls’ health issues, and preventive care.
Dr. Brown is a graduate of Harvard University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and received her OB/GYN training at Harlem Hospital Center. She completed fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine and surgical-anesthesia critical care at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.
Project Advisor
Gina Brown, MD

Joe is an actuary and leads the Enterprise Risk Management team for the Kuvare US insurance companies. Joe has over 35 years of actuarial and financial experience in the life and annuity insurance industry. He was the appointed actuary for Lincoln Benefit Life and worked for KPMG and Allstate Financial. Joe has a BA from Brown University in mathematics. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and Chartered Financial Analyst.
treasurer
joseph rafson

Claire Rafson
Claire Rafson is a Stanford MBA Candidate and Knight-Hennessy Scholar. With previous experience as a management consultant at Bain & Company and her work at the private equity tech fund Silver Lake Partners, Claire plans to apply her degree toward democratizing access to capital, making essential services more accessible, and embedding ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles into companies.
Jessica Rafson
Jessica Rafson is a research chemist at the FDA, specializing in analytical chemistry and advancing innovative scientific solutions. She holds a PhD from Cornell University and honed her expertise during a fellowship at the CDC. Jessica is passionate about using her skills to contribute to equitable opportunities in STEM fields.
Marley Rafson
Marley Rafson is the co-founder of Alcove, where they help Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) companies reach commercial scale, contributing to global environmental sustainability. With a background in software engineering and federal policymaking, Marley brings a unique blend of technical and strategic expertise to their work. Recognized by Forbes' 30 Under 30 for 2024, Marley is passionate about advancing opportunities for entrepreneurs in tech and policy.