March 1, 2023 (Cambridge, MA) – MassBioEd Foundation, a nonprofit focused on education, training, and workforce development within the burgeoning Life Sciences sector, announces new leadership of their Board of Directors.

Lauren Celano, co-founder and CEO of Propel Careers, a life science search and career development firm focused on connecting talented individuals with entrepreneurial life sciences companies, has been elected Chair of the MassBioEd Board of Directors and Kristin Goppel, a consultant at Avania Clinical, a global CRO that advances the research of medical devices, novel technology, and combination products, has been elected Vice Chair.

Longtime Board members at MassBioEd, Celano, who served as vice chair for four years, and Goppel, began their leadership terms on January 1, 2023. Celano succeeds Chris Murphy, CEO of Akron Bio, who served as chair for four years and will remain on the board following the leadership transition.

“I am thrilled to be MassBioEd’s next Board Chair and to work with Kristin Goppel as vice chair to advance MassBioEd’s mission,” said Celano. “We are committed to developing and fostering the life sciences talent pipeline and increasing opportunities, especially for underrepresented talent. I have been active in this space for more than 15 years and am so enthusiastic to be able to leverage my experiences as Board Chair. I look forward to building upon MassBioEd’s tremendous momentum and continuing to increase our impact.”

Celano has recruited for over 60 life sciences organizations to help them hire talent, coached thousands of students, postdocs, medical residents and professionals to advance their careers, and presents often at conference, universities, and research institutions on career development topics. Before Propel, she spent 10 years working in the life sciences advancing drug molecules. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Gettysburg College and an MBA from Boston University.

Celano was first elected to MassBioEd’s board of directors in 2014.In addition to MassBioEd, Celano serves on the board of the National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association and mentors young scientists through the Association of Women in Sciences and The International Center for Professional Development.

At Avania Clinical, Goppel and her team provide early stage strategic consulting services. Prior to joining Avania, she served as Senior Program Development Manager for Life Sciences Strategic Initiatives at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She previously worked at Anika Therapeutics and Genzyme Corporation.

A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in chemical engineering, Goppel first partnered with MassBioEd during her tenure as WPI’s Associate Director of Pre-collegiate Outreach. She was elected to MassBioEd’s board in 2018.

MassBioEd also announces the appointments of Heather Connor and Johanna Jobin to its Board of Directors. Connor is Head of Global Communications, Healthcare for Merck KGaA, and Jobin is the Global Head of Corporate Reputation & Responsibility of Biogen as well as the Executive Director of the Biogen Foundation.

Connor has extensive experience and expertise across the spectrum of the healthcare and biopharma industries. At Merck KGaA, she provides strategic leadership in strengthening the global reputation of the company’s Healthcare business, engaging employees, and contributing to the vision and values of the organization. She is also a member of the Global Communications Leadership Team. Connor has been with Merck KGaA for 18 years in positions of increasing responsibilities.

Jobin oversees corporate branding, issues management and corporate responsibility strategy, programs and stakeholder engagement worldwide for Biogen and leads their strategy and reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. As the Executive Director of the Biogen Foundation, Jobin also heads Biogen’s global community engagement strategy. Prior to Biogen, she spent seven years at MilliporeSigma, the life science business of Merck KGaA, as Head of Corporate Responsibility & Community Affairs. She is active on the board of directors for the Kendall Square Association, ESG & CSR Board, Project Green Schools, e Inc., and Duke University’s Business and Environment Advisory Council.

Connor and Jobin join a growing Board whose background encompasses a range of experience in the Life Sciences industry and academia.

View MassBioEd’s Board of Directors here: https://www.massbioed.org/about/board-of-directors/

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About MassBioEd Foundation

The MassBioEd Foundation (MassBioEd) is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. Its mission is to build a sustainable life sciences workforce in the region through educational programs that engage and excite teachers, inspire and propel students, and illuminate the pathway from the classroom to careers with a focus on expansion, opportunity, and diversity.

MassBioEd Media Contact:

Name: Naomi Jones | Email: naomi.jones@massbioed.org | Phone: (857) 998-8454