Faculty Instructor

Peter Goldsmith is the Director of the Co-op program. He previously worked at CBS Records as Director of A&R Operations under Clive Davis and then joined Grumman Data Systems, where he was Director of Operations from 1975 to 1995. During his tenure, he supported IT programs for NASA and other government sites. In 1995, he led Project Long Island and, in 1997, founded the Long Island Software and Technology Network (LISTnet), where he was elected Chairman and President. Under his leadership, LISTnet grew to nearly 800 member companies with 50 corporate sponsors, promoting the region as a Technology Center of Excellence. In 2016, LISTnet established the Digital Ballpark, a co-working space in Plainview. Peter holds a BBA from CCNY, an MBA with honors from St. John’s University, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University, is on the Board of United Way, and has received several awards, including an honorary Doctorate from Briarcliffe College and recognitions from the American Heart Association, Touro Law School, and Long Island Business Hall of Fame.

Ryan Ahmed is a co-founder of Niura, a brain-computer interface company developing focus-sensing wireless audio earbuds for high-achieving professionals. Under his leadership, Niura was ranked #34 in the Top 100 Startups of 2024 by FoundersPress and was part of TechCrunch 200 in 2023. He received the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award during the Biden-Harris Administration, First Class Honor Ratings from The National Scholastic Press Association, and a Gold Medal from The Columbia Scholastic Press Association. As CEO of the International Socioeconomics Laboratory for six years, he supported data-driven decision-making for local governments, earning commendation from the CDC, and led the NYC Healthcare Expansion Project in Corona, Queens. Ryan has collaborated on research at Harvard, presenting or publishing in journals and conferences like the Harvard Public Health Review, American Neurological Association, and American College of Cardiology. He is also a co-star in "Generation Flex" (2024), produced by Men's Health Magazine, and his patents have been cited by Amazon Technologies and Xiaomi. He has supported grant funding and mentorship for biomedical technology startups.

Pari Patel is a healthcare innovator and entrepreneur, serving as Chief Operating Officer of Niura, where she has helped the company gain recognition among TechCrunch's top 200 emerging startups. Inspired by her father's epilepsy, she is committed to advancing neurotechnology. At Harvard T.H. Chan School, Pari has been a strong advocate for public health legislation, working with congressional representatives to pass significant bills, including New York's Assembly Bill A5610D and Senate Bill S5823C on youth dietary supplement regulation, Maryland's HB0634/SB0602 against harmful substances for adolescents, and Massachusetts's S.1525/H.4271 on corporate accountability in public health. She has testified, rallied support, and met with over 400 lawmakers to drive policy change, earning the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award. Pari has presented her work at the Biomedical Engineering Society and the American College of Cardiology, with her achievements featured in Yahoo Finance and TechCrunch. As the founder of GynoEase, she is dedicated to improving women's healthcare through innovative design.