Thursday, June 19, 2025
4:30 - 7:30 PM                                                          
At Work Collaborative
101 Arch St, enter on the Summer Street Side
Boston, MA 02110

The ISPE Boston Ethnocultural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDEI) Committee cordially invites you to join us for a Juneteenth Celebration and insightful panel discussion. The panel discussion will feature thought leaders who will share their perspectives on fostering ethnic diversity and advancing equity within our professional landscape. Come prepared to learn, share, and connect as we work together to build a more inclusive future.

Event Schedule: 
4:30 pm  Arrival and Registration
5:00 pm  Registration and Networking
6:00 pm  Panel Discussion and Q & A
7:00 pm Additional Networking

Your registration includes the following:

• Cocktail/Networking Hour
• Flavorful small bites

Celebrate, learn, and connect with us at this significant and inspiring event.

Registration Fees:

ISPE Members - $35
ISPE Emerging Leader Members - $25
ISPE Student Members - $20
Non-Members - $45

PANELISTS:

Richard Harris - Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Engineering 
Harris has contributed to and oversees grants including the NSF Northeast Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program; the NSF INCLUDES Engineering PLUS Alliance; the S-Power Scholarships for STEM partnership with historically Black colleges and universities; and the LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate.  Harris’s honors include the 2020 College of Engineering Dean’s Meritorious Award; 2019 NSBE Minority Program Director of the Year; 2019 NSBE Boston Professional STEM Advocate Award; 2016 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Carter G. Woodson Bowties & Pearls Higher Education Award; 2015 National GEM Consortium University Representative of the Year; and 2014 Raytheon, Patriots, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Science of Sports Science Fair Award. He is a volunteer leader with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; National Society of Black Engineers; National GEM Consortium; Good Sports; Mass General Brigham Community Advisory Board; Empower Yourself youth-based STEM program; and the Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts, Inc., which oversees the Paul Robeson Institute for Positive Self-Development Program for urban males in grades 3–12.

Saraswathy (Sara) V. Nochur, Ph.D. – former Chief Regulatory Officer at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Sara serves on the Board of Directors of City Therapeutics and on the Board of two non-profit organizations: Biomedical Science Careers Program that aims to increase the representation of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged individuals in all facets of science and medicine, and of Hospitality Homes, an organization that provides free/low-cost housing for patients and caregivers from all over the world who seek specialty medical care in Boston area hospitals.

Cassie Ramos – Director for MOSAIC, Biogen’s multicultural employee resource network.
Cassie is an agile compliance counsel focused on employee lifecycle issues with exceptional leadership and organizational skills. She is recognized as particularly effective at analyzing complex issues; creating practical solutions to unusual fact patterns; presenting complex information across disciplines; and developing long-term strategies for streamlined operations.

MODERATOR: 

Lateffa Curry – Marketing Associate with the S/L/A/M Collaborative 
Lateffa Curry, a Marketing Associate with 18 years of experience at the S/L/A/M Collaborative in Boston, MA, will moderate the DEI panel discussion at the upcoming ISPE Juneteenth Event on Thursday, June 19th, 2025. With S/L/A/M Collaborative having a strong presence in the life science market sector, Lateffa brings a passion for fostering DEI awareness not only within the AEC industry but also in the broader science and research community.