Terri Quenzer
InnovATEBIO CoPI, DEIA Initiative Lead, CA State Team Co-Lead, and Supply Chain Hub Co-Lead
As Executive Director of the Bioscience Workforce Development Hub at MiraCosta College, Dr. Terri Quenzer leads regional and state initiatives that facilitate alignment of over 40 community college bioscience programs with industry needs throughout California. She leads the InnovATEBIO DEIA Initiative, where she established a national community of educators, industry partners, and resource providers around providing accessible learning to students with disabilities and other hardships to open pathways that lead to industry internships and employment. Dr. Quenzer also co-Leads the CA State Team to address Bioscience training and workforce development gaps in the state, and the Supply Chain Hub, that with the support of an NSF ATE grant, provides training and support to help community college educators provide biomanufacturing projects whereby their students manufacture lab kits for high school students. Dr. Quenzer is an Analytical Chemist by training with over seven years in the pharmaceutical industry, and served as an industry representative on the Biocom Education Committee, as a member of the American Chemical Society’s Chemical Technology Program Approval Committee, and on several college advisory boards. Terri holds a BACE Credential (Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam) and strives toward a transition to entry-level hiring practices that consider qualified candidates with validated knowledge and skills, with or without a Bachelor’s degree.
Contact information: tquenzer@miracosta.edu
The Biotechnology program prepares students for industry employment in research, development, quality control and assurance, manufacturing, analytical testing, or lab technician work. The Biomanufacturing Bachelor’s degree program allows students with an Associate’s degree in Biomanufacturing or equivalent coursework to enter as juniors and earn a baccalaureate degree.