Erika L. Kurt, President & CEO

Erika is President and CEO of the Small World Initiative, an innovative discovery-based education program aimed at inspiring students in STEM while tackling one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time – antibiotic resistance. In this role, she leads the program on its quest to engage thousands of students around the world in the hunt to discover new drugs to treat infectious diseases known as superbugs.

Under her leadership, the program has impacted hundreds of schools in 15 countries. The program’s unique approach provides an inexpensive “crowdsourcing” model for early-stage drug discovery as well as a blueprint on how to retain students in STEM and increase scientific literacy. The global COVID-19 pandemic is a very real example of why the work she is doing is so important.

Recently, Erika was named a AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassador, an honor given to 125 courageous women innovators in STEM to share their story and inspire the next generation to change the world, and she will soon become one of the few real American women represented in the public sphere with a statue. As part of her commitment to advancing women and girls in STEM, Erika serves on Million Women Mentors’ CT Steering Committee and chairs The Hockaday School’s STEM Alumnae Group. Previously, Erika was a Strategist for LGT Venture Philanthropy where she developed a novel framework to increase the impact of investment strategies on health outcomes in emerging markets. She was also a Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focused on their scientific education efforts.

Outside of work, Erika loves spending time in the mountains and the seas. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College with Highest Honors and earned two law degrees with Distinction from McGill University. She resides with her husband in Connecticut, an hour outside of New York City.

Elizabeth A. Hart, Chief Development & Program Officer

Elizabeth has been an inspirational leader in the education, science, and health nonprofit arena for over three decades. For many years, she was involved in research and advocacy in breast cancer, including serving as Chairman & CEO of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, member of the Department of Defense's Congressionally Mandated Breast Cancer Research Program Integration Panel, member of the inaugural National Cancer Policy Board, Komen Chair of the National Cancer Institute/Komen Breast Cancer Summits, and on multiple additional committees. In addition to Komen, Elizabeth was CEO for Easter Seals of Greater Dallas (now North Texas) and has held leadership roles at the Women's Guild of United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Dallas, the Yellow Rose Foundation, the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, and the Center for Non-Profit Management. Most recently, she served as the President & CEO of the RISD Excellence in Education Foundation. Prior to leading education, science, and health nonprofits, Elizabeth taught biology and general science and served as a nurse. Elizabeth received a Diploma in Nursing from the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing and graduated with a BA from George Washington University. She pursued additional studies at Boston University, Harvard University, and LeTourneau University and has co-authored publications on breast cancer.

Elizabeth Andreev, Treasurer

As Treasurer of the Small World Initiative, Elizabeth brings her extensive financial and business acumen, STEM background, and commitment to philanthropy. Currently, Elizabeth is an Executive Director in the Municipal Securities Group at UBS Wealth Management, where she works in Public Finance as an Underwriter. Previously, she was a Director in the Municipal Securities Group at US Bancorp in New York City and a Municipal Bond Trader at Susquehanna Investment Group in Philadelphia. Elizabeth has been active in her philanthropical commitments. For the food rescue and hunger charity City Harvest, she led a top performing team in their annual "Skip Lunch, Fight Hunger" fundraiser. Elizabeth graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in Mathematical Sciences and a minor in Music Performance.

Eleonora Andreeva, Secretary

Eleonora is an architect with passion for making the built environment a more sustainable and healthy place to live in. She is currently a Project Manager for Design Management at Columbia University’s new Manhattanville campus development group. Previously, Eleonora served as a designer and sustainability coordinator at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects where she spearheaded the firm’s sustainability and wellness initiatives and explored a broad range of innovative design topics. Through her passion for sustainability and past leadership and volunteering endeavors, she brings a long-standing commitment to helping communities thrive to her role as Secretary of the Small World Initiative. Eleonora graduated from Columbia University with a BA in Architecture and Mathematics followed by a Master of Architecture with Honors in Building Technologies.