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31 FALL/WINTER 2026 AMULYA VELDANDA VADALI '18 WRITE BRAIN, LEFT BRAIN THINKER BY DAY, AMULYA VELDANDA VADALI steps into a state-of- the-art laboratory at Students 2 Science in Whippany, New Jersey, and designs science and technology programs for high schoolers. A biomedical engineer, Vadali started her career at Roche and then spent five years in research and development at Integra Life Sciences before joining the science education nonprofit. Yet beneath the lab coat lies something just as meaningful: a passion for writing. "Ever since I was little, it was a dream of mine to be an author someday," she says. Vadali's journey into writing began with a simple adventure story for children that featured her own beloved golden retriever, Cosmo. When she was ready to put her story out into the world, she applied her characteristic research skills and weighed the pros and cons of publishing paths before starting her own publishing company, AVVBooks. "I wanted to have that creative control over how my book would look," she says. "And I like being deeply involved in every step of the publishing process." That deep involvement paid off. She first set a humble goal of selling just 50 copies to friends and family. Soon she had sold tens of thousands of copies globally and penned a full series of children's books, including the heartwarming bestseller, I'll Be Your Friend Forever, about losing a pet. Her most recent project delved into writing for adults: The Art of Being Let Go is a satirical picture book that aims to help adults laugh through career transitions. Vadali navigates her dual worlds effortlessly. "There are honestly a lot of similarities between being a writer and being a scientist," she says. "You need to explain things in understandable ways. There's creativity in both." ■ Michelle Rivera writes for Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, and Food & Wine. Off the clock, she sings in a community choir and shares a passion for the performing arts with her family. Peter Murphy is a freelance photographer who has a passion for beekeeping and bike riding. Hannah Yoon is a Philadelphia-based photographer who is passionate about her Korean culture and learns about it through travel and food. Amulya Veldanda Vadali '18 in her lab at Students 2 Science. " Ever since I was little, it was a dream of mine to be an author someday." — Amulya Veldanda Vadali PETER MURPHY

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