Georgia Bio’s Megan Heaphy Named to the 2024-2025 Education Policy Fellow Program

Atlanta, GA (August 5, 2024) – The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education is thrilled to announce the selection of 24 new fellows for the 17th cohort of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), including Megan Heaphy, Director of Georgia Bio’s Biotech Teacher Training Initiative & Manager of Workforce & Talent.

This cohort of leaders are embarking on an intensive 10-month journey through Georgia's education policy landscape that will begin in August 2024 and conclude in May 2025.

The participants will hear and discuss education policy with the most respected policy makers in the state and nation. At the end of a year, EPFP Fellows will be better informed, more skillful advocates for sound public policy.

“Georgia Bio congratulates Megan and her acceptance into this prestigious program,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Bio. “This experience will not only provide Megan with valuable leadership training skills, but also the organization more knowledge and networks to advance the core issues of education policy that align with our efforts to strengthening Georgia's bioscience workforce.”

Heaphy has been with Georgia Bio for over 6 years and oversees workforce development efforts spanning the entire workforce pipeline, from K-12 to the current workforce. She has over a decade of experience in science education, having taught Chemistry, Biology and AP Biology in metro Atlanta high schools in Clayton and Gwinnett counties, as well as life sciences courses at Gwinnett Technical College and Georgia State University. Heaphy serves in various leadership roles including with Atlanta Technical College, Central Georgia Technical College, Athens Technical College bioscience program advisory boards, and the Athens Community Career Academy Biomanufacturing Catalyst Committee.

A Georgia native, with degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University, Heaphy has a passion for helping educators and students gain awareness of pathways to employment within life sciences and ensuring that schools have the materials to do hands-on science labs through the Georgia Bio Equipment Depot.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Melissa Carter

404-920-2043

mcarter@gabio.org

EIN Press Release: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/733499127/georgia-bio-s-megan-heaphy-named-to-the-2024-2025-education-policy-fellow-program

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Georgia Life Sciences designates City of Brookhaven as newest BioReady® Gold Community

February 20, 2026

Recognition highlights Brookhaven’s commitment to life sciences growth and biomanufacturing readiness Brookhaven, GA, Feb. 18, 2026 – The City of Brookhaven has been designated a BioReady Gold Community by Georgia Life Sciences, the state’s leading life sciences membership organization. The BioReady Community program evaluates a community’s preparedness to support life sciences development across key areas, including zoning and permitting, utilities and infrastructure, workforce readiness, and coordination among local government and economic development partners. The Gold distinction represents a high level of readiness and alignment with industry needs. “Achieving Gold BioReady status underscores Brookhaven’s commitment to being a competitive destination for life sciences innovation and manufacturing,” said Aaron Szarowicz, City of Brookhaven Economic Development Director. “This designation reflects the intentional investments and partnerships we’ve built to support companies as they scale and create high-quality jobs in our community.” Brookhaven’s BioReady assessment highlighted the City’s modern infrastructure, strategic location within metro Atlanta, access to a skilled workforce, and collaborative approach between City leadership, regional partners, and the business community. Together, these assets position Brookhaven to support companies across the life sciences value chain—from research and development to scale-up and manufacturing. The BioReady rating system evaluates communities across three tiers—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—based on their readiness to attract and support life sciences facilities. Through these ratings, Georgia Life Sciences helps municipalities better showcase biotech-zoned sites, strengthen infrastructure planning, and clearly identify life sciences-friendly locations. This approach enables communities like Brookhaven to compete more effectively for private investment and job creation. Georgia Life Sciences works to advance innovation, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and grow Georgia’s life sciences economy through the BioReady Community program, modeled after MassBio’s nationally recognized rating system which assesses a community’s readiness to host life sciences facilities based on zoning practices and infrastructure capacity. For more information on the non-profit, membership-based organization, visit www.galifesciences.org . For more information about Brookhaven’s economic development initiatives, visit www.BrookhavenGA.gov/EconDev . ### Media Contact: Ann Marie Quill, Assistant Communications Director 404-205-3832 AnnMarie.Quill@BrookhavenGA.gov