Jan Price ’74, ’77 MA

After a successful career, alumna Jan Price ’74 has recently retired from her position as the national director of Medical Science Liaisons for Women’s HealthCare and Neurology at Bayer HealthCare. She has recently completed docent training at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms and plans on spending some of her time volunteering.

Price’s hard work over the past years has not gone unnoticed. In the spring of 2018, unbeknownst to her, several women on her staff nominated Price for the HealthCare Businesswomen’s Association’s Luminary Award representing Bayer. The award recognizes individuals who have had more than 20 years of professional industry experience, actively mentors and sponsors others, and is an example of transformational leadership.

“I was permitted to read the nominations that were submitted on my behalf and had never realized the effect that I had on these women,” says Price. “This was definitely the highlight of my career.”

As an undergraduate student at Montclair State, Price majored in Chemistry and had plans to become a teacher. She continued her studies in Chemistry at her alma mater and obtained her master’s in 1977. After graduating, she decided to change paths and became a research chemist for Roche Pharmaceuticals.

With the encouragement from her colleagues, Price attended Farleigh Dickinson University and obtained her MBA in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Studies. Through networking within Roche, she was able to land a sales training job and then move up to a marketing position. After various marketing and sales roles at other smaller medical companies, Bayer came knocking at her door in 2001. There, she started as a senior marketing manager but would later move to a medical affairs position within the company. This was a turning point in Price’s career as she was now entering a new field.

“While I loved being in marketing and sales, I found my passion in medical affairs. With this final career change, I had the opportunity to identify, hire, train and promote so many terrifically talented individuals,” notes Price.

As an undergraduate, Price commuted from Clifton and kept herself busy by being involved in various extracurricular activities. She served as a legislator for the Student Government Association (SGA) and secretary of the Sigma Eta Sigma Science Honor Society. She was also a member of the Chemistry Advisory Board, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, Chi Kappa Xi social sorority and American Chemical Society. During her junior and senior years, she held leadership positions in her extracurricular activities, and had the opportunity to give the commencement address on behalf of her class in 1974.

Price believes that her experiences at Montclair State left an impact on her life. “My time at Montclair State was very rewarding from an academic and personal perspective,” she says. “Not only did I receive excellent instruction in my field, but also gained self-confidence, persistence and a will to reach higher.”

Price credits two particular professors for leaving a positive impact on her academic career. “Dr. Richard Lynde was always available to talk and give advice to students, and when work got difficult, he was there to encourage and demand that you stick to it,” she says. “The late Dr. Irwin Gawley was an excellent professor and a great mentor.”

Just as she once did, Price encourages students to get involved in as many activities as they can as it will help increase their network. She also advises them to “find a mentor or at least someone to talk to as you will need encouragement and guidance.”