(L-R): Mary Harner ’06 and A.C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Dr. Charles D. Schaeffer Jr.
Elizabethtown College’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department presented alumna Mary Harner ’06 as the winner of the Oscar F. Stambaugh Outstanding Alumni Award. Harner was recognized during Etown’s annual Homecoming and Family Weekend Celebration on Sept. 28.
“Upon arrival in graduate school or the job market, you are surrounded by intelligent and motivated people,” Harner said. “Those who stand out exemplify the ability to reduce theory to practice in ways that impact their technical field or business unit. The scientist and leader I am today was shaped by my incredible experience at Etown where I first learned to apply the chemistry & biology curricula to the opportunity I had to participate in independent laboratory research.”
The Stambaugh Award is presented to a graduate of Etown who has made distinguished professional contributions in chemistry or medicine. The award is named in honor of Professor Oscar F. Stambaugh and his years of service and leadership at the College.
Harner is currently a Worldwide Medical Lead within Early Differentiation and Pipeline at the global biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where she’s been since the beginning of her professional career. She currently supports assets as they enter first-in-human clinical studies and demonstrates proof-of-concept across solid tumor oncology and hematology indications.
Harner began her professional career at BMS as part of the small molecule drug discovery team in 2014 after she completed her doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since then, she held various roles with increasing responsibility in the small molecule Biophysics Platform until she transitioned into the Oncology development organization at BMS in 2021.
Outside of BMS, Harper is an AFAA-certified Group Fitness Instructor and is an avid runner and fitness competitor.
