Seven Arts & Sciences Graduates Named To 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight Cohort

Seven College of Arts and Sciences graduates have been named to the 2024 cohort of the Texas A&M University 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight.

Dr. Lauren Lewis '11 (bachelor of science in biomedical sciences, 2011), Chris Tucker '11 (bachelor of science in university studies, 2011), Dr. Anand Narayanan '12 (doctorate in molecular, cell and developmental genetics, 2012), Jamie Pawlowski, M.D. '12 (bachelor of science in biomedical sciences), Maj. Aramis Brewington '13 (bachelor of arts in communication), Andrea "Ande" Burks '13 (bachelor of science in university studies, 2013) and Banard "Max" Gerall '18 (bachelor of arts in communication, 2018) are among this year's 12 recipients selected by The Association of Former Students to receive the prestigious honor recognizing former students who have graduated within the past 12 years for demonstrating excellence in business and service while representing Texas A&M’s core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.

Additional members of the 2024 cohort include Omar M. El-Halwagi '11, Christian Joel Gonzalez '11, Dr. Judy Amanor-Boadu '13, Mason R. Parish '14 and Maj. Taylor Rammrath '14.

Lewis has served for the past two years as a project toxicologist and senior scientist with Bristol Myers Squibb, where she oversees nonclinical safety-evaluation programs for selected drug candidates. In addition to her bachelor's degrees in biomedical sciences and a minor in French, she earned her doctorate in toxicology from Texas A&M in 2019 as well as master's in business administration degrees from both Boston University (2021) and Rutgers University (2023).

Thus far in her career, Lewis has designed regulatory toxicology packages for two new candidate drugs in autoimmune space and received more than two dozen awards from industry and academia combined, including the Bristol Myers Squibb Nonclinical Safety Innovation Award and the Texas A&M Distinguished Graduate Student Award.

"She is an exemplary and extraordinary former student who is a hard worker, a tireless volunteer and a dedicated professional," Lewis' nominator said. "Together, she exemplifies and champions the Aggie values and follows her heart into her passion for drug development and service commitments."

Tucker, who describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, is the owner of Rail & Rye Kitchen & Rooftop Bar and Revival Barbershop in downtown Navasota as well as Navasota WiFi and various real estate assets. Prior to making the move to Grimes County, he had an extensive background in the oil and gas and energy sectors in Houston.

In addition to being a Class Agent, Tucker serves on the board of directors for the Navasota/Grimes County Chamber of Commerce and the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 570C. During his student days at Texas A&M A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and a Ross Volunteer as well as a student senator and a Buck Weirus Spirit Award recipient.

"Christopher’s pursuit of excellence is evident in all his endeavors, whether it’s his role as a Class Agent, his involvement on various boards or his many entrepreneurial ventures," Tucker's nominator said. "He consistently delivers high-quality work, exceeding expectations, and sets a standard of excellence for others to follow."

Narayanan has served for the past two years as a genome engineering scientist in therapeutics discovery with Johnson & Johnson. Prior to joining the Johnson & Johnson team, he completed postdoctoral training in the cardiology section of the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and also was director of business for the Career Network for Student Scientists and Postdocs at Yale.

Narayanan also was highly involved while at Texas A&M, serving as president of the University Apartments Community Council (2007), president of the Biology Graduate Student Association (2008), a senator in the Student Government Association (2008), chair of the Outstanding International Alumnus Award Selection Committee (2012-13) and a regional representative for the Association of Former Students' inaugural Young Alumni Advisory Council (2012-13). He also received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award, J. Malon Southerland Aggie Leadership Award and the Eppright Outstanding International Student Award.

"He is inspiring the next generation to become Aggies and is leading by example," Narayanan's nominator said.

Pawlowski is a radiation oncologist and medical director of radiation oncology at CHI St. Joseph Health Cancer Center in Bryan as well as an adjunct clinical assistant professor in the Texas A&M School of Medicine. She received her doctorate in medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed a preliminary year in internal medicine at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple. She also served as chief resident in radiation oncology at Mays Cancer Center, part of the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in South Texas.

Pawlowski has received numerous awards and collaborated on multiple publications and is actively involved in several professional affiliations. In addition, she is active in the Bryan-College Station community and providing education about cancer prevention and treatment. Currently, she serves as chair of the Cancer Journal Club of the Brazos Valley and the Survivorship Committee at CHI St. Joseph Health Cancer Center.

"Dr. Pawlowski is extremely loyal to her patients and passionate in her work as a radiation oncologist," her nominator said. "Her tenacity as a teacher and physician serves the Brazos Valley well."

Brewington is deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army’s Chief of Public Affairs and a Gen. Omar N. Bradley Fellow since June 2021. He has nearly six years of service with the U.S. Army after previously serving three and a half years with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Germany. Brewington currently is involved with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy as well as Globally's EaGLE Program, an initiative that selects a handful of talented leaders to participate in an intensive range of virtual workshops, roundtables, networking sessions and keynote speaking engagements spearheaded by senior leaders from government, academia and private industry.

Among his many service contributions, Brewington founded a nonprofit organization to enable mentorship for tech innovation in government services. In addition, he is an active contributor to soldier and family readiness groups and also volunteered with the Killeen and Belton Independent School Districts' Adopt-A-School programs.

"Aramis’ commitment to selfless service is remarkable," his nominator said. "He’s not just a leader on the field but also a change-maker in his community."

Burks has served for the past year as assistant to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government Relations & External Affairs in the Texas A&M College of Engineering. Prior to that, she has held numerous assistant positions across the campus, primarily in Texas A&M Engineering and in the Bush School of Government & Public Service. In addition, she is co-owner of Burks Creations.

Burks is active with Junior League of Bryan-College Station as well as a member and leader of various Texas A&M staff committees. Her career awards to date include the College of Engineering Staff Excellence Award, the Department of Nuclear Engineering Staff Excellence Award and the Buck Weirus Spirit Award. In addition, she has been honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing her for 4,000+ volunteer hours.

"Ande possesses a set of personal values lived and witnessed daily, all of which personify the core values of Texas A&M," her nominator said.

Gerall is executive director and founder of The REACH Project, a nonprofit launched in 2017 and currently encompassing 34 programs spanning health/wellness, homeownership, entrepreneurship and education that serve 4,000+ working poor families across the Brazos Valley. He previously was recognized for those efforts with a 2022 American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award. Gerall is also a member of Texas A&M's Community Engagement Advisory Committee. 

"Max is not only a man with a vision, but he also works with commitment and perseverance to act on that vision," his nominator said. "Family by family, he is changing our community and the world. Max is a powerful testament to the core values of Texas A&M."

The 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight was conceived by the Young Alumni Advisory Council, a selected body of younger former students who advise The Association’s staff on ways to better connect with the hundreds of thousands of recent graduates of Texas A&M. Since the award's inception in 2014, only 120 of Texas A&M’s 500,000-plus former students have been recognized with the accolade.

The Association of Former Students, established in 1879, is the official alumni organization of Texas A&M University. The Association connects hundreds of thousands of members of the worldwide Aggie Network with each other and the university and provided $13.6 million in impact to university scholarships, awards, traditions and student activities and recognition for students, faculty, staff and former students in 2021.

For more information about the Texas A&M 12 Under 12 Young Alumni Spotlight or The Association, visit www.AggieNetwork.com.