Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) will host the Global Leaders Speaker Series on Monday, April 13, in the Ron Richard Athletic Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The series aims to inspire and inform attendees interested in scientific innovation and global leadership to build a more connected world.
0This event will feature a keynote address by Dr. Monicca Shanthanelson, a global Medical Affairs executive with more than 15 years of experience in enterprise medical strategy, scientific communications, and organizational leadership across oncology and neuroscience. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Stony Brook University and earned dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Missouri Southern State University.
“Giving our students the opportunity to hear from experts in a diverse set of fields lets them learn leadership and global citizenship skills from people who have lived experience in both of those areas,” said Benjamin Cooper, MSSU’s Director of Global Leaders. “Bringing Dr. Shanthanelson back to the MSSU campus is an exciting opportunity for them to learn from someone who was once in their position and has gone on to have global reach in her career.”
She currently serves as Scientific Director of Cross-Oncology Strategy within Global Medical Affairs at AbbVie, where she leads initiatives that align medical teams across international markets. In her many impressive roles, Dr. Shanthanelson has developed global frameworks to expand the reach of clinical data and improve coordination across major groups. Her work has contributed to measurable operational efficiencies and the adoption of standardized practices across global oncology teams, making a true impact.
Prior to joining AbbVie, Dr. Shanthanelson served as Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs Business Consulting at Veeva Systems. There, she advised life sciences organizations and executive Medical Affairs leaders on global strategy, omnichannel engagement transformation, insight generation, and digital enablement of scientific exchange while owning profitability and client satisfaction. She also held senior leadership roles at MedThink SciCom (now FingerPaint Medical) where she supported pharmaceutical clients worldwide.
With her impressive array of accomplishments, attendees of the Global Leaders Speaker Series are guaranteed to walk away with fresh insight from Dr. Shanthanelson.
About Global Leaders Speaker Series
Missouri Southern’s Global Leaders Speaker Series reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering global perspectives and connecting students and the community with leaders and visionaries shaping the future of their industries. Through events like this, the university continues to create spaces and opportunities for meaningful dialogue, propagating students’ learning and engagement beyond the classroom. For more information about the Global Leaders program, visit the program webpage.
