About KUBI



Current Executive Team

Micah Borghese Headshot

Micah Borghese

President

Micah is a senior Honors student studying Computer Science and Mathematics. He was been involved with the KU Blockchain Institute since Fall 2023 but his interest in blockchain started long before then. In 8th grade, Micah gave a presentation on if Bitcoin would be the future of currency. Since then, he was explored developing on the blockchain, winning 3rd place at HackKU 2024 for his XRPL sidechain NFT supply chain solution.

Alex Perez Headshot

Alex Perez

VP of Business

Alex is a sophmore majoring in business administration from Chino Hills, California. He is also the Director of Funding for the United Business Council (UBC) at KU.

Jahnvi Maddila Headshot

Jahnvi Maddila

VP of Engineering

Jahnvi is the VP of Engineering at KU Blockchain Institute, previously leading outreach, marketing, and retention. Her research focuses on Spectrum Management Framework for Unmanned Aerial Systems. Jahnvi is especially excited about applications of blockchain in DeFi and social networks.

Kyle Spragg Headshot

Kyle Spragg

Director of Development

Kyle Spragg will be a third year student at the University of Kansas this fall, studying Computer Science and Business. He is from Naperville, Illinois, and participates in athletics. He became an Academic All-American in his fourth year of high school sports, and pursued club lacrosse in college. Currently, Kyle is the Vice President of the Kansas Lacrosse Team and a Financial Analyst for the Rock Chalk Investment Club.

Emma Du Headshot

Emma Du

Director of Marketing and Communications

Emma is a sophomore majoring in computer science and minoring in business. She has been involved in KU Blockchain Institute since Fall 2023. Emma is interested in blockchain's potential to create a more transparent and fair digital economy, as well as its applications in the healthcare industry. Outside of KUBI, she is a part of the KU SELF Program and plays the violin in the KU Symphony Orchestra. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and tennis.

Caleb Hite Headshot

Caleb Hite

Director of Outreach and Growth

Caleb is a Sophomore Computer Science student from Shawnee, Kansas. Caleb is a member of ACM and German Club. Caleb was also a part of the Kansas Blockchain Fellowship.

Vatsa Pandey Headshot

Vatsa Pandey

Director of Research

Vatsa is a freshman studying CS, Math, and Economics, Competitive programmer, Machine learning researcher and KU Blockchain's director of Research. His hobbies include robots and rockets.

Nischay Rawal Headshot

Nischay Rawal

Director of Education

Nischay Rawal is a current honors freshman and self fellow dual majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. He has been involved with the KU Blockchain Institute since Fall 2024 and is now the Director of Education. Nischay is currently also involved with research on programming synthesis.

Wolfgang Sell Headshot

Wolfgang Sell

Director of Education

Wolfgang is a freshman majoring in Cybersecurity Engineering from Shawnee, Kansas. His interest in decentralized technology began by participating in the Kansas Blockchain Fellowship, and has since been inspired to pass on that knowledge to others as Director of Education. His current research is in healthcare applications of LLMs, and is also an avid violist playing in the KU Symphony Orchestra and numerous other ensembles.