Dean Ben Benton Attends BIO International Convention

Dean of the School of Math & Science, Dr. Ben Benton, recently participated in the 2022 BIO International Convention in San Diego, California. The BIO International Convention gathers thought leaders from around the globe to address various topics involving science, business and policy.

Dean Benton represented QCC on a panel at The Massachusetts Pavilion, which was sponsored by Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and MassBio. The panel highlighted how Massachusetts is paving the way in the science industries. Dean Benton was chosen as a panelist for a talk entitled Regionalization & Relocation, How to Fill the Workforce Pipeline. He spoke about QCC's novel workforce development approach to quickly on-board a diverse adult workforce into entry-level biomanufacturing jobs in Central Massachusetts. 

"We built on an already successful partnership with Abbvie to respond to an immediate need to quickly fill their talent pipeline. Abbvie and QCC jointly develop a curriculum that provided basic laboratory, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills as well as an awareness of the jobs available in the biomanufacturing space. With a nearly 50% placement success, QCC and its partners secured $500,000 in additional funding to expand the program over the next two years," said Dean Benton.

"We are excited that MassBioEd has also joined us as a partner with their biomanufacturing apprenticeship program. Three of our students were accepted into the apprenticeship program sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbvie, and Rentschler Biopharma," he added.