Register to attend the GSBS Alumni Career Symposium!
Keynote Speaker: Yolanda Sanchez, PhD
Director and CEO, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
1993/Ph.D./Human and Molecular Genetics
Dr. Sanchez is an internationally recognized cancer researcher and academic leader serving as Director and CEO of the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. She oversees the center's research enterprise and clinical cancer programs, guiding efforts in basic, translational, clinical, and population science while advancing cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across New Mexico. An expert in DNA damage response pathways, Dr. Sanchez has made foundational contributions to understanding how cells respond to DNA damage, discoveries that have shaped the fields of cancer biology and therapeutic development. Her research has focused on identifying novel oncology targets, advancing drug discovery, and developing new therapeutic strategies for cancers driven by dysregulated Ras signaling. Prior to joining the University of New Mexico, she served on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, where she built a distinguished research program while mentoring the next generation of scientists. She was named a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences in 2001 in recognition of her innovative research. Throughout her career, Dr. Sanchez has been equally committed to scientific excellence, mentorship, and leadership. She established the Emerging Leaders Program at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Cancer Institutes, and advises numerous NCI-designated cancer centers through External Advisory Boards. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing cancer research while creating opportunities for future generations of scientists and physician-scientists.