Dr. Ritts walked the students through her journey as a science academic, with degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering, and then into the halls of Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense. She wanted to get close to where decisions are made and power is held. Now, in her executive Vice President position at Jefferson, she summarized her work as overseeing three areas: one of running a design lab, which includes 3D bioprinters that create complex biological structures; another is developing a program called Rise Up Philadelphia, addressing significant health inequities in the city; and the third is overseeing the transfer of the innovative intellectual property to companies, who can use them to help people.
In addition to her work at Jefferson, she’s also an active investor in innovative technologies, especially those focusing on food futures and cryptocurrency. She offered the students advice on investing, mentoring, and networking.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.