Come join us as we host Dr. Yvette Seger and Dr. Chanel Matney as our second STEMulate The Vote Seminar Series panelists!
Yvette Seger, PhD
Yvette Seger, PhD, is the Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Director of Science Policy for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), a coalition of 29 scientific societies collectively representing over 130,000 individual biological and biomedical researchers. In these roles, she contributes to the overall strategic vision for the Office of Public Affairs, specifically guiding the efforts of FASEB’s Science Policy Committee and the work of its topical working groups. Dr. Seger launched her policy career at the National Academies as a Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellow where she worked on a report examining processes for identifying and appointing scientists to key federal advisory positions. After leaving the Academies, Dr. Seger held senior policy positions at the research advocacy group FasterCures, the National Institutes of Health, and Thomson Reuters before joining FASEB in 2013. Dr. Seger holds a PhD in Genetics from Stony Brook University, and received a BA in Zoology (Genetics Concentration) and Politics & Government from Ohio Wesleyan University.
Chanel Matney, PhD
Chanel Matney, PhD, earned a doctorate in Neuroscience from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where her research was funded by a NSF graduate research fellowship. While there, Chanel co-founded and served as Vice President of Johns Hopkins Science Policy Group - an organization that provided a platform for scientists to be civically engaged on critical science policy issues. After earning her PhD, she worked in policy affairs at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, a research member society that monitors how federal policies will impact academic biological research. From there, she transitioned to an internship with Research!America, the US’ largest non-profit research funding advocacy alliance, where she learned how to develop strategic communications for target audiences. Following that stint, Chanel completed a fellowship at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a Department of Defense think tank that provides science and technology consulting services to federal defense and intelligence agencies. She eventually made her way out west as a California Council on Science & Technology fellow, where she worked on bills in education policy. From there, she transitioned into her current role, where she serves as a legislative policy consultant for transportation issues in the California State Assembly. Outside of these day jobs, Chanel has also volunteered as an Early Career Policy Ambassador with the Society for Neuroscience, an Associate Editor with the Journal of Science Policy and Governance, and Logistics Chair for the International Brain Bee - an annual neuroscience competition for teenagers. Most recently, Chanel was appointed to the role of Professional Development and Mentorship Coordinator with the National Science Policy Network. She lives in Sacramento with her partner and their Corgi/Dachshund mix, Winnie.
