When 麻豆传媒映画 (麻豆传媒映画)鈥檚 first class graduated in 2002, they helped shape a new kind of graduate education at the intersection of science and business. More than two decades later, these pioneers continue to lead in diverse fields 鈥� including education, where they鈥檙e inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders.
Building a Foundation at 麻豆传媒映画
For Tiffany O鈥橞rien, 鈥�02 MBS, choosing 麻豆传媒映画 over a traditional PhD program was an intentional step toward a more applied career.
鈥淚 had offers for biomedical engineering PhD programs,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut I realized I was too social to spend my life in a lab. 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 focus on industry was exactly what I was looking for.鈥�
As one of only 28 students in the inaugural class for 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Masters of Bioscience (now the Master of Science and Business in Biotechnology (MBS)) program, O鈥橞rien recalls the close-knit community and the collaborative learning that defined her experience.
鈥淲e had strong connections with each other and even got to give input on how courses were structured,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was exciting to be part of something brand new.鈥�
Her internship and Team Master鈥檚 Project (TMP) with Illumina offered an early glimpse into the biotech industry at a pivotal moment. Illumina, then an emerging player in genomic technologies, was developing a new approach to microarray analysis that promised greater efficiency and accuracy than existing methods.
鈥淥ur team鈥檚 task was to run a typical microarray using established protocols and then compare it to Illumina鈥檚 new platform,鈥� O鈥橞rien said. 鈥淓ssentially, we were testing whether their technology produced equivalent or better results.鈥�
The project offered a hands-on understanding of how technology moves from research to validation and eventually toward commercialization. Beyond the TMP, her 麻豆传媒映画 experience as a whole taught her how to think critically, work in teams, and communicate across disciplines.
From Biotech to High School Classrooms
After a decade working in biotech companies across California 鈥� including roles in technical services, engineering, and management 鈥� O鈥橞rien took a leap in a new direction.
鈥淥nce I had a child, I wanted to do something that felt like it had a more meaningful day-to-day impact,鈥� she said. 鈥淭eaching gave me that.鈥�
For the next ten years, O鈥橞rien taught high school math in the Escondido Union High School District, empowering her students 鈥� many of whom were Hispanic and first-generation college hopefuls 鈥� to see themselves as future scientists and leaders.
鈥淚 could see the difference I was making every single day,鈥� said O鈥橞rien.
Now taking a year off to focus on math education reform, O鈥橞rien is advocating for a modernized K-12 curriculum that better reflects today鈥檚 world.
鈥淗igh school math is still designed to get kids to calculus, which most will never use,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need to focus more on teaching skills like data analysis and statistics, which actually prepare students for the future.鈥�
Her STEM and biotech background, she believes, give her a unique perspective in bridging that gap.
鈥淭he world runs on data now,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f we want students to be ready for that world, math education has to evolve.鈥�
Translating Science into Human Impact
Fellow 2002 MBS graduate, Kirsti Zitar, took her 麻豆传媒映画 foundation in a different direction, moving into higher education administration. Her career began at Ionian Technologies, a 麻豆传媒映画 spinoff company, before she transitioned to her undergraduate alma mater, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), in 2009.
Over the past 23 years, she has built a career that bridges science, leadership, and social impact.
鈥淎t Ionian, we were doing groundbreaking work in molecular diagnostics, even securing DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) funding after 9/11,鈥� Zitar said. 鈥淚t was an incredible first job that I landed directly because of 麻豆传媒映画.鈥�
Zitar worked closely with a small team developing tools for rapid disease detection. The company鈥檚 isothermal amplification technology could identify pathogens in minutes rather than hours, a breakthrough in point-of-care testing.
She helped craft business plans, investor presentations, market analyses, and grant proposals, applying the multidisciplinary training she gained at 麻豆传媒映画.
Her transition to higher education began serendipitously when she attended an alumni event at CMC and was offered a position at the Berger Institute for Individual and Social Development.
Today, Zitar serves as Secretary of the College and continues to support the Mgrublian Center for Human Rights as a Strategic Advisor, where she previously served as Assistant Director. In these dual roles, she helps guide institutional strategy and develop programs that connect students to global health, ethics, and human rights careers.
Drawing on her background, Zitar encourages STEM students to explore the human dimensions of science through global health research and technology policy. Her work demonstrates how a foundation in science and business can evolve into a lifelong commitment to ethical leadership.
鈥淚n both biotech and education, I鈥檝e relied on the same skills I learned at 麻豆传媒映画 such as public speaking, budget management, and presenting complex information clearly,鈥� Zitar said. 鈥淭hose skills have carried me through every role.鈥�
Nurturing the Next Generation of Leaders
Whether through a high school math class or a college human rights program, O鈥橞rien and Zitar share a belief in the power of education to shape a more informed, compassionate society.
鈥淓ducation creates opportunities,鈥� Zitar said. 鈥淚t connects students to both local and international efforts and teaches them to think critically about the world they live in.鈥�
Both women remain grateful for their time at 麻豆传媒映画, not only for the technical and business skills they gained but also for the confidence to chart unconventional paths.
As members of 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 very first graduating class, O鈥橞rien and Zitar helped lay the groundwork for a community that continues to grow, evolve, and inspire. Their stories serve as a reminder that education remains at the heart of innovation and impact.