SCIENCE SPECTRUM TRAILBLAZERS
EQUILLA WAINWRIGHT Vice President, Diversity and Community Responsibility Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Equilla Wainwright joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2007, after directing the diversity efforts at Johnson Controls since 1996. She is the 2009-2011 secretary to the Executive and Development Committees of the Girl Scouts, a board member at large of the Michigan Roundtable Diversity Council and a member of the Conference Board Diversity & Inclusion Council. She is also mentor member of Black Sisters in Ac- tion, a board member at large of Women Looking Ahead, and a Detroit Public Schools compact mentor.
VRUSHALI WAKNIS, PH.D. Research Investigator, Bristol Myers Squibb Company
Dr. Waknis is an active member of
the American Association of Pharmaceuti- cal Scientists. She served as a summer intern at the Princeton, New Jersey office of Bristol-Myers Squibb between June 2010-August 2010, before being appoint- ed to her new position. She was a gradu- ate student at the University of the Sci- ences in Philadelphia from January 2005 until August 2010, and she completed her doctorate in pharmaceutics in 2010. A year earlier, she spent seven months as a postgraduate co-op at AstraZeneca Phar- maceuticals and a half year as a research scientist at Lupin Research Labs in 2004. She graduated with a Bachelor of Phar- macy in 2002 from the University of Pune and earned an M.S. in pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research.
DONALD WINK Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Chemistry University of Illinois at Chicago
Donald Wink’s work in chemical education includes a preparatory chemis- try and intermediate algebra curricula, and resulted in the publication of the prepa- ratory chemistry text, The Practice of Chemistry, and development of scenario- based laboratory instruction, resulting in the lab text Working with Chemistry. In K-12 education he has worked with pre- service teachers, especially in an integrat-
112 USBE&IT I WINTER 2011
ed science curriculum, and outreach work with a K-12 project that contributed to his work as chemistry course coordinator for the Inquiry to Build Content program for the Chicago Public Schools’ High School Transformation project.
DIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS
OLESTER BENSON, PH.D. Corporate Scientist, 3M Corporate Research Process Laboratory
Since joining 3M in 1988, Dr. Benson has led efforts to develop en- vironmentally friendly manufacturing process technologies using high-energy radiation He has applied these technolo- gies in the medical, safety, traffic control, energy, aerospace, home improvement, semiconductor processing, and electronic display industries. He serves as a mentor in the 3M science training encouragement program (STEP), which recruits, supports, and trains promising high school students. Dr. Benson holds 40 U.S. patents.
ROD CHRISTMON Director, Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion Astellas Pharma US Inc.
Rod Christmon joined Astellas Pharma in 2008. He has held his cur- rent position for more than three years. Astellas Pharma US is the U.S. affiliate of Astellas Pharma Inc., Japan’s second larg- est pharmaceutical company and ranked within the top 20 in the global market. A Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Uni- versity (FAMU) alumnus, Mr. Christmon served as a human resources manager at Commonwealth Edison from 1991-1998 and then as senior HR manager and as- sociate director at Kraft Foods between February 2002 and April 2008.
EDWARD (ED) GADSDEN, JR. Chief Diversity Officer, Pfizer, Inc.
Ed Gadsden is a major driver of
Pfizer’s efforts in recruitment, talent development, and the fostering of global colleague-resource groups which help the pharmaceutical giant better serve its underrepresented patient communities. Prior to joining Pfizer, he was founding
www.blackengineer.com
president of Creative Source Consulting, servicing clients in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods and sports industries. He also served as VP of Global Talent Acquisition and Diversity at Advanced Micro Devices, VP of People, Processes & Diversity at Coca Cola, and director of the Employment & Diversity division at Johnson & Johnson.
MONICA POINDEXTER Director, Diversity & Inclusion Genentech
Monica Poindexter joined Genentech in 2000 and has held various positions within human resources and corporate staffing. She played a key role in devel- oping Genentech’s operations rotation development and M.B.A. programs. In 2001, she co-founded Genentech Schol- ars, which provides internships as well as scholarships for diverse students. To date, the program has awarded over $860,000 in scholarships. Her leadership in the area of workforce development for Genentech has led to development of the Biotechnol- ogy Certificate Program.
MARILYN PRIESTLEY Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Marilyn Priestley is responsible for the development and execution of a diversity and inclusion strategy focused on talent, culture and marketplace. Under her direction, Novartis is building a high- performing, inclusive culture to drive business performance. She was previously the pharmaceutical giant’s VP for Human Resources, making her the first African American vice president at Novartis. She served for many years on the board of the Urban League of Morris County, N.J., and has also been honored with the organiza- tion’s Corporate Award in 2003 and the President’s Award in 2005.
JOSE M. RODRIGUEZ Director of Diversity, Abbott Laboratories
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