Maria Thacker Goethe, MPH

Maria Thacker-Goethe joined Georgia Life Sciences in 2006 following graduate school at Tulane and became president and CEO of the organization in 2019. Today, she spends her workdays meeting with members, partners, and leaders to help patients by ensuring innovative companies have the best environment possible to research, develop, and commercialize breakthrough therapies and cures.

Georgia Life Science’s mission is to advance the growth of the state’s life sciences industry and nurture partnerships to create a healthier world. Life sciences in Georgia have seen dramatic growth; and, for over 20 years, Thacker-Goethe has established a strong reputation for her industry knowledge, patient advocacy, and expertise with Georgia businesses, leaders and legislators. Additionally, Thacker-Goethe has a passion for strengthening the life sciences workforce pipeline and helps to strategically lead efforts to shape a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive industry workforce in Georgia and nationally.

Maria serves on the boards of the CJD Foundation, Council of State Bioscience Associations, Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative, Greater Atlanta Red Cross, Southeast Life Sciences Association, Women in Global Health-Georgia, the Georgia IP Alliance, and MyHealthID Global. She is appointed to the industry seat for Georgia General Assembly’s Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) and serves as its secretary. Additionally, Maria serves on the Piedmont Atlanta Patient & Family Advisory Council and DeKalb County Life Sciences Advisory Council. Most recently, she was named to Georgia Trend magazine’s 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022, 500 Most Influential Georgians; 2023, 2022, and 2021 “100 Most Influential Georgians” list; 2022 Power 100 and a top visionary by Atlanta Business Chronicle, and is a 2022 graduate of the Leadership Atlanta program. In 2019 the Metro Atlanta Chamber presented Maria with their Phoenix Award for her role as an ambassador for life sciences and global health in the state of Georgia.

Maria holds a master’s in public health from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Sweet Briar College. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Patrick, and daughter Cecilia.