Co-op Coordinator Vanecia Harrison-Sanders sat on a panel titled “Increasing Opportunities: What Life Sciences Industry Can Do to Increase Diversity Within” during MassBioEd’s Life Sciences Workforce 2018: 3rd Annual Massachusetts Conference.

The conference, hosted at Northeastern University, centered on advancing discussion on workforce development issues related to the life sciences industry and seeks to increase engagement and collaboration between higher education and industry.

Harrison-Sanders’ panel talked about recent research highlighting the lack of minorities represented in the industry and discussed various diversity initiatives underway. Serving with her was Jeffrey Herrera, Senior Associate, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Biogen; Melodie Knowlton, Head, Vertex Learning Lab; and Joan Reede, Dean of Diversity, Director of Minority Faculty Development, Harvard Medical School. It was moderated by Travis McCready, President & CEO, MLSC.

The goal of the panel was to discuss potential ways in which industry, government, and educational systems can partner to alleviate underrepresentation in the life sciences industry.