Jessica Hughes Karnes

Jessica Hughes Karnes has over 23 years of work experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Jessica is currently serving as the Executive Director of Portfolio Strategy & Alliance Leadership at Zenas BioPharma since December 2021. Prior to this, Jessica held various executive director roles at AbbVie, including Global Scientific Training/Learning Excellence from September 2020 to November 2021 and Scientific Insights & Planning from May 2020 to August 2020. Before joining AbbVie, they worked at Allergan as the Executive Director of Scientific Insights & Planning in the Global Scientific Communications & Training department from March 2020 to May 2020. Jessica also served as the Director of Project Management in the Global Medical Excellence and Scientific Communications team from January 2017 to March 2019, and as the Director of Project Management in the Brands R&D division from March 2016 to December 2016. Jessica began their career as an Associate Director of Project Management at Allergan in March 2015. Prior to that, Jessica worked at Actavis plc (now Allergan) as an Associate Director of Scientific Assessments & Corporate Project Management from July 2014 to March 2015. Jessica also held the position of Associate Director of Scientific Assessments and Corporate Project Management at Forest Research Institute from September 2012 to June 2014. Jessica's work experience also includes being a Senior Project Manager of Scientific Assessments at Forest Research from December 2010 to August 2012, a Project Manager of Scientific Assessments at Forest Research Institute from October 2008 to December 2010, and a Senior Clinical Scientist of Clinical Development at Forest Laboratories (now Allergan) from April 2004 to October 2008. Jessica started their career in the pharmaceutical industry as a Senior Clinical Research Associate at Metropolitan Research Associates from May 2000 to April 2004 and as a Clinical Research Associate at SCP from November 1998 to April 2000.

Jessica Hughes Karnes received their Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Trinity College-Hartford, which they attended from 1995 to 1998. Prior to that, they attended the University of Vermont in 1994. Jessica also completed an MBA from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business from 2005 to 2007. Jessica completed their high school education at Choate Rosemary Hall from 1990 to 1994.