Farmington, Conn. – Stephanie Wasco, a communications professional with more than 15 years’ experience in science, technology and nonprofit organizations, is the new senior director of strategic communications and public relations for The Jackson Laboratory (JAX).
In her newly created position, Wasco will be responsible for developing communications strategies to raise the institution’s visibility and influence, in order to increase support for its mission and goals.
“I am thrilled to join the Jackson Laboratory team and work with such a talented and dedicated group of people who are passionate about preventing, treating and curing some of humanity’s most devastating diseases,” Wasco says. “It is an exciting time to join JAX, as the organization is poised for tremendous growth and to make an even greater impact to advancing human health."
Wasco joins the Laboratory from Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tewksbury, Mass., where she led communications programs for the defense technology company’s 15,000 employees. Prior to joining Raytheon, Wasco was the vice president of corporate communications for PerkinElmer, Inc. in Waltham, Mass, a global scientific technology company, where she held multiple marketing and communications positions of increasing responsibility. She joined PerkinElmer in 2000 from PanAmSat, a satellite communications provider, where she led employee communications. Earlier in her career she was marketing and public relations director for the H.M. Bark Endeavour Foundation in New York, N.Y. She holds a B.A. in English from Connecticut College.
Kristen Rozansky, JAX vice president for advancement and communications, says that Wasco’s background in scientific and technical organizations will be a significant asset for the Laboratory. “Stephanie has developed numerous marketing communications programs geared towards scientists, lab technicians and business partners, as well as more general audiences,” Rozansky says. “And as a key strategic advisor to the Laboratory’s leadership, she will bring innovative approaches to elevate strategic communications and public engagement to the level of excellence that drives the Laboratory’s science, education and business programs.”
The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution and National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center based in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a facility in Sacramento, Calif., and a new genomic medicine institute in Farmington, Conn. It employs more than 1,600 staff, and its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.
Contact(s):
For information on automatic email delivery of news releases (journalists only), please send an email request for details to news@jax.org. Please address other inquiries to pubinfo@jax.org.
Media Relations, Communications Office
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609-1500
Phone: 207-288-6058 (journalists only)
Main Jackson Laboratory phone: 207-288-6000
Fax: 207-288-6076
Email: news@jax.org