Susan Cardillo ’94
Animal Curator
The Central Park Zoo
Major: Biology
Susan Cardillo is the animal curator at the Central Park Zoo which is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS currently manages five facilities in New York City (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium) and approximately 500 conservation projects worldwide in more than 60 countries. As the animal curator of the Central Park Zoo, Susan manages the entire animal collection and all the staff that care for them on a daily basis. Susan joined the Central Park Zoo in 2008 on a two-year Curatorial Science Fellowship. She was then the assistant curator for four more years and promoted to animal curator in 2013. Prior to this, she held several positions at the Bronx Zoo in the wildlife health sciences and education departments starting in 1992.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at SUNY New Paltz and a master’s degree in biology at the City College of New York. Her graduate research focused on avian physiology, evaluating the behavior of hormones in birds. While at SUNY New Paltz, Susan played on the women’s basketball team, and was also an active member and president of the outing club.
Eileen Conway
Executive Consultant and Founder of NanoNoggin Technologies, LLC
From dragsters to jet engines, power turbines and generators to aircraft, Eileen Conway has designed, manufactured, globally sourced, and leased products that have shaped today’s transportation and utility industries. She takes a deep breath when she considers she has done business in more than 30 countries during her 30 year engineering and financial services career with the General Electric Company, the Hertz Corporation, and, more recently, through NanoNoggin, her management-consulting firm.
Eileen enjoys working with young CEOs, college students, and teenagers, encouraging them to develop their talents and pursue their dreams. Recently, she helped Larry Kosilla, a young CEO, launch and build AMMONYC.com into a global e-commerce platform for Larry’s original auto-detailing products. She is an outdoor enthusiast, rock climber, and certified single pitch instructor with the American Mountain Guides Association. Eileen looks forward to talking with the participants of the SUNY New Paltz Women’s Leadership Summit and is glad to share her insights on career satisfaction and success.
Vanessa Figueroa ’05
Pharmaceutical Microbiologist and Independent Consultant
Major: Biology
Vanessa Figueroa, pharmaceutical microbiologist and independent consultant, has more than 10 years combined experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. She has expertise in sterility assurance, environmental and utilities monitoring programs, and quality control laboratory management. Specifically focused on aseptic manufacturing of parenteral and inhalation drugs, Vanessa is an expert in process simulations, cleanroom qualifications and microbiology testing of liquid and solid drug products, medical devices, and sterile water products.
Vanessa has been working as an independent consultant for the past three years, serving large consulting clients such as PAREXEL and Quality Executive Partners. Her consulting experiences have spanned both domestic and international large pharmaceutical companies, applying both US and global regulatory standards of quality. Prior to entering consulting, she has worked for Discovery Laboratories on aseptically processed sterile liquid dose products for respiratory therapy and Abbott Laboratories, vascular division, on terminally sterilized drug coated stents and medical devices for cardiovascular treatment.
Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from SUNY New Paltz and a master’s degree in molecular biology and microbiology from San Jose State University. She is currently a member of several professional organizations for over eight years, such as the Parenteral Drug Association, American Society of Microbiology, and Association for Women in Science.
Theresa Rosario-Jansen ’81
Vice President and Global Head
Immunology New Patient Value Mission
UCB Biosciences, Inc.
Major: Chemistry/Biochemistry
Dr. Theresa Rosario-Jansen was lucky to have so many opportunities along her journey, and feels that her early life prepared her to embrace diversity. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to a father from Puerto Rico and a mother from a small town near New Paltz. Theresa spent her childhood in both “the city” and rural Ulster County, so she was both a city kid and a country kid. In high school, she was an athlete and a scholar. Theresa attended SUNY New Paltz as a commuter student, where she was encouraged to go as far as she wanted, even though there were few women in the sciences. American culture was rapidly changing and the women’s movement was really taking hold. Theresa’s decision to go to graduate school was in part inspired by her classmates and professors, and it was one of the best decisions she has made, as it formed the basis for a rich and rewarding career. Why science? Theresa loves mysteries, solving problems, concept-based learning, and a good challenge. Why chemistry? She thought she would study biology, but in her freshman year realized that she couldn’t figure out what she was looking at when she stared into a microscope. Theresa has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry from SUNY New Paltz and a doctorate in chemistry from Ohio State University.
Theresa held a variety of positions at Proctor & Gamble including staff scientist where she designed new fast-to-biodegrade active ingredients for consumer products. She was also a section head in their pharmaceutical research division working on osteoarthritis biology, prevention of muscle wasting, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are safe to the GI tract. She also helped develop a low dose testosterone patch for women. Teresa previously worked for Novartis Pharmaceuticals and helped to develop a once per year medicine to prevent bone fractures in people with osteoporosis. At Savient Pharmaceuticals, Teresa helped to develop a treatment for people with severe tofaceous gout who have failed conventional therapy. In her current position at UCB Biosciences, Inc., Teresa develops Cimzia, a medication that is used for multiple diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease.
Theresa’s passion as a pharmaceutical executive is to work with an amazing network inside and outside of her company to co-create high value solutions for people living with serious illnesses so that they can live the lives they wish to live. She and her husband of 32 years, Lance, have raised two great children, Arian and Elise. In their spare time, Theresa and Lance enjoy tennis, golf, and having loved ones join them for family dinners.
Lily Yeung-Wagner ’00
Chief of Intrusion Response Operations (Cyberspace Network Defender)
United States Air Force Reserve
Major: Computer Science
Lily is a native of Queens, NY. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. After obtaining her degree, she enlisted in the Air Force as a communications-computer systems controller and was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. After two years enlisted, she received a scholarship for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp at Southwest Texas University, San Marcos, Texas, where she received her commission as an Air Force officer in 2003. Her first assignment was at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where she was a communications and information officer as the flight commander for the Networks Flight for the Air Operation Center. Afterward, she took an assignment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, as an assistant professor of air and space studies where she taught leadership and national security. Lily then deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar and served as the flight commander responsible for managing a team of 75, handling $60-million network operations, and providing communications to 140,000 warriors across 32 sites in 12 countries throughout southwest Asia. She later returned back to the United States and separated from active duty, but continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves. Lily has worked at the Pentagon, General Dynamics, Hewlett-Packard, and in the intelligence community. Currently she commutes between Texas, Rhode Island, and her home in northern Virginia for military duties as a cyber warfare officer. She is a graduate of basic and advanced cyber officer training, intermediate network warfare training, air and space basic course, and squadron officer school.
Lily volunteers to empower more women to enter the cybersecurity field. She also coaches middle and high school girls for cyber competitions. She has a Master of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Maryland University College and holds various certifications in information security. She is married to Andrew Wagner and they have two beautiful girls.
