In the world of sports, the accomplishments of women often extend far beyond the field of play. Niesha Butler, Napheesa Collier, Kaela Davis, Lee Kiefer, Pragnya Mohan, Dr. Erica Ogwumike, and Angela Ruggiero, each represent excellence, combining athletics and social impact. Their journeys reflect a profound commitment to leadership, resilience and dedication. Paired with their commitment to empowering others, they are only role models within their sports but as leaders shaping broader societal progress.
At Project Scientist, we deeply admire these women and the groundbreaking paths they’ve forged. Their accomplishments serve as powerful examples for the next generation. Through our programs, we are dedicated to empowering girls to become bold thinkers, change-makers, and future innovators—just like them.
Niesha Butler is a former professional athlete and accomplished tech entrepreneur who exemplifies the powerful synergy between sports and STEM. After making history as New York City’s all-time high school basketball scoring leader and playing professionally in the WNBA and overseas, she pivoted to a successful career in media and then into the world of technology. Her decorated athletic career includes accolades such as ACC Rookie of the Year, All-American honors, and professional stints in the WNBA, Spain, and the Dominican Republic. Butler later transitioned into the tech industry, becoming a software engineer and educator, teaching computer science for Microsoft, and serving as a board member and partner in several tech startups. Butler founded S.T.E.A.M. Champs, the first Afro-Latina-owned STEM education center in Brooklyn. Her organization introduces young students—particularly those from underrepresented communities—to coding, robotics, and engineering.
Napheesa Collier is a WBNA athlete, currently playing on the Minnesota Lynx where she earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and multiple All-WNBA selections, including First Team recognition in 2023. She is known for her outstanding contributions both on the national and international stage of women’s basketball. She has earned multiple gold medals with the USA Women's National Basketball Team, including victories at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, where she helped extend the team’s record-setting streak to eight consecutive Olympic golds. Off the court, Collier comes from a family rooted in athletics and service, with relatives in both sports and the military. She played a key role in the success of the University of Connecticut Huskies, helping the team win four NCAA Final Fours and a 2016 NCAA Championship, while earning All-American honors. Beyond her athleticism, she is also known for her leadership, resilience, and commitment to excellence.
Kaela Davis is a current WNBA player for the Chicago Sky. Before turning pro, she was one of the nation’s top women’s basketball recruits and chose Georgia Tech over traditional powerhouses like Tennessee and UConn—not just for basketball, but to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Driven by a natural curiosity about how things work, Davis balanced the demands of ACC basketball with a rigorous academic schedule. She excelled both on the court and in the classroom, earning ACC All-Freshman Team and Second-Team All-ACC honors while developing skills in coding and electronics. Inspired by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Davis has expressed interest in using her engineering background to improve lives, particularly in underserved communities.
Lee Kiefer is both an Olympic fencing champion and a future physician. As a Harvard graduate and current medical student at the University of Kentucky, Kiefer has spent the last decade balancing two highly demanding worlds: competitive fencing and medicine. After winning gold in women’s individual foil at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she made the tough decision to pause her medical studies to train full-time for Paris 2024, where she now returns as the defending champion. Kiefer’s path in fencing began as a family affair in her Kentucky home, where her father, a neurosurgeon and former collegiate fencer, taught Lee and her siblings the basics in their dining room. Being from a family of doctors and fencers, she made her world championship debut at just 15 and has since won multiple world medals, four Pan American Games titles, and helped elevate the profile of U.S. fencing.
Pragnya Mohan is a triathlete and social changemaker from India. She is the country’s first and only athlete to compete in the Triathlon World Cup. With a degree in accounting and finance and a strong foundation in data-driven thinking, Pragnya combines athletic excellence with a passion for education and equity. In 2023, Pragnya launched Ek Beti, Ek Cycle (One Daughter, One Bike) through the IOC Young Leaders Programme which donates refurbished bicycles to schoolgirls in rural communities, enabling them to safely travel to school and reduce dropout rates. The project also teaches road safety and bicycle maintenance, promoting independence and confidence. Her journey in the sport has long been tied to her desire to give back. From TEDx talks to community outreach, she champions education and gender equality, using her platform as an elite athlete to drive meaningful change.
Erica is a former Division I basketball player at Rice University and a Tokyo Olympian. She credits sports with instilling the discipline, teamwork, and perseverance that continue to drive her medical career. Her proximity to the Texas Medical Center during undergrad sparked her interest in medicine, ultimately leading her to dermatology, a field she finds naturally aligned with the skills honed through athletics. She has already made her mark through research published in JAMA Dermatology, her advocacy and mentorship in the Student National Medical Association, and her compassionate patient care. Erica is to become a leading clinician, researcher, and educator, with a strong commitment to serving diverse communities and mentoring the next generation.
Angela Ruggiero is a four-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist in ice hockey and was the fourth woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. While excelling athletically, she also stood out academically, where she was captain of Harvard’s national championship-winning hockey team, earning All-American honors, and receiving the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top college player. Outside the rink, Ruggiero co-founded and chairs the Sports Innovation Lab, a tech-driven firm that uses data to shape the future of fan engagement and sports business strategy. She held leadership roles with the International Olympic Committee, served as Chief Strategy Officer for LA’s successful 2028 Olympic bid, and currently sits on several influential boards, including World Rugby and the Boston Athletic Association.