Major: Chemical Engineering
Originally from Baldwinsville, NY
Currently lives in Baldwinsville, NY
While at Clarkson, Dowd Greene was an active member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Chemical Engineering Honor Society, an officer in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and co-chair of the Junior and Senior Prom Committees; she played in a Clarkson production of Guys and Dolls; and she worked part-time in the cafeteria, the Department of Chemical Engineering, and as an usher at hockey games. After graduation, she began her career as a process engineer at General Foods Corporation and then in positions of increasing responsibility at Stauffer Chemical Company. From 1983 to 1999, Dowd Greene rose up in Bristol-Myers Squibb; her last position there was as Senior Director of Franchise Development for the US Oncology/ Immunology Division. She continued to work in the pharmaceutical industry in various high-level positions, for example as Partner in Rondaxe Pharma, Vice President of Industry Research at Newport Strategies, and Associate Vice President for Industry Relations at Upstate Medical University. She received her MBA from the University of Connecticut in 1983. She is very involved in her community and as a Clarkson alumna. For example, she serves as chair of the Baldwinsville YMCA Board, member of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse Metro Board, President of The Advocates for Upstate Medical University, member of Clarkson’s Alumni Council, Clarkson’s Central New York Chapter President, President of Clarkson’s Alumni Association (1995-96), member of the Girls’ Club Board of Directors, Sunday School teacher, and a volunteer in many programs at her children’s schools. She is married to Mark Greene, class of 1977, and they have two children, both of whom are Clarkson alumni: Bryan, class of 2004, and Elizabeth, class of 2007.
In this clip, Dowd Greene explains why she went into management, as opposed to the technical side of engineering. She also discusses both how Clarkson professors pushed her toward research because they saw that as a “safe place to be,” as opposed to a factory, and what her engineering degree gave her.