Core Committee

We are currently looking for officers for the Fall 2025 semester! If you are interested in being a core part of UABC, please talk to Jasmine Meredith (club president).

*We highly reccommend a half to a whole semester of officer shadowing before you fully dedicate yourself to the role. This will allow you to get a better grasp of officer expectations and tournament season time committment. Thank you!

President: Jasmine Meredith (she/her)

Jasmine is a first year accelerated master’s student majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology (with an emphasis in genetics), with minors in Flute Performance, French, and Sociology. She has played badminton on-and-off for about 10 years. Her hobbies include playing piano, going to art museums, and photography.

Vice President: Richard Peng (he/him)

Richard is a third year Optical Sciences and Engineering student with a minor in Math. He has been playing badminton for 1 year. His hobbies include photography and bird watching.

Treasurer: Shalan Wu (she/her)

Shalan is a second year undergraduate majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She has been playing badminton for 1 year. In her free time, she likes to draw, play video games with friends, and play piano.

Secretary: Patrick Li (he/him)

Patrick is a first year Master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He’s been playing badminton for about 10 years. His hobbies include hiking, playing piano, and trying new restaurants.

Assistant Secretary: Laila Garro (she/her)

Laila is a third year undergraduate majoring in Medicine. She has been playing badminton for about 6 months. Laila’s hobbies include going to the gym, drawing, and reading.

Tournament Site Manager: Zenith Mesa (he/him)

Zenith is a second year Aerospace Engineering masters student. He has been playing badminton for 5 years. His hobbies include motorcycling, photography, and listening to music.

Equipment Manager: Ash Abbate (she/they)

Ash is a fourth year Geology major. She has been playing for about 10 months. Ash’s hobbies include hiking and motorsports.

Membership Chair: Katie Lu (she/her)

Katie is a second year undergraduate student with a major in Medicine. She has been playing badminton for 5 years. Her hobbies include listening to K-pop, running, and hiking.

Head Coach: Rob Waters (he/him)

Rob Waters has been involved in coaching since 1992. He first coached at Tucson Parks & Recreation for ten years, and at the U of A Rec Center from 1994-2015 as well. He has played in several major tournaments around the US including the National Senior Olympics and the US Masters. His desire is to teach all he knows to a younger generation of eager badminton players.

Assistant Coach: Ramesh Bondalapati (he/him)

Ramesh Bondalpati has been a member of the club for the past 17 years. He has 37 years of experience in the sport and he also worked with YONEX as a advisory staff member for 6 years. Ramesh has played national and international tournaments and won various medals. He has been giving individual and group Badminton lessons in Tucson for the last 16 years.

Assistant Coach: Lin Zhang (she/her)

Lin Zhang has been a member of AZBC for about nine years, the same amount of years she has played badminton for. What amazes her is how the sport brings together players of all skill levels to enjoy the game. Additionally, she is committed to promoting the growth of badminton in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

“When I was a beginner, I received guidance, encouragement, and support from many experienced players in the club, and I deeply appreciate being part of such a wonderful community. Now, with years of badminton training and tournament experience, I am excited to give back by sharing my knowledge, especially to inspire young female players to pursue badminton with confidence and enthusiasm.”

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cholik Chan (he/him)

Dr. Chan is a Professor of the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department in his 36th year. Outside of badminton, Dr. Chan enjoys being active in hiking and bike riding.