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Caltech Y Unveils New Leadership Team for New Academic Year

The Caltech Y, which fosters personal development and civic responsibility among Caltech students through community service and outreach, has appointed new officers to guide the Board of Directors during the 2023-2024 academic year.

From left to right: Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, Kevin Maxwell, Athena Castro, Cindy Bengtson, Nicholas von Gersdorff, Katie Clark



Cynthia Bengtson Budzyn, retired from the ARCO/BP oil company and currently a dedicated community volunteer, assumes the role of Board Chair.


“It is a tremendous honor to serve the Caltech Y as Board Chair for one more year,” Budzyn said in a statement. “This Board is a remarkable collection of dedicated, talented, and caring individuals who work together for the good of the Caltech Y and the students at Caltech. And by enriching student life and challenging students to grow into responsible citizens of the world we also serve the entire community!”


Budzyn also recently retired from Leadership Pasadena, is on the leadership team for Pasadena Executive Roundtable, is PR Chair for the Los Altos auxiliary supporting Hathaway Sycamores, and currently Membership Chair of the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.


Joining Budzyn on the Caltech Y board are Nicolas von Gersdorff, Chief Dam Safety Engineer at Southern California Edison, who takes on the role of Board Vice Chair; Kevin Maxwell, VP and Corporate Controller at FabFitFun, as Treasurer; Katie Clark, Administrative Assistant for Biology and Biological Engineering at Caltech, the newly appointed Secretary; and Rupa Kurinchi-Vendhan, representing the Student Executive Committee as President. She is a member of Caltech Class 2024.


Founded by students in 1916, The Caltech Y is separate from the YMCA or YWCA and operates on a mission to enrich student life and foster the personal growth of students into responsible global citizens.


Caltech Y programs are initiated and led by students, emphasizing leadership, civic engagement, perspective, service, and adventure, all of which complement Caltech’s rigorous academics.



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