Biography

Ms. Sanders is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of progressive pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience. Currently, Ms. Sanders serves as the North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. Prior to her appointment as the North Carolina Secretary of Commerce in February 2021, Ms. Sanders served as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Administration from January 2017 to February 2021. In the private sector, Ms. Sanders has experienced increasing levels of quality assurance and manufacturing operations responsibilities with Biogen, Inc. ("Biogen"), Purdue Pharmaceuticals, and AkzoNobel and was most recently responsible for the pharmaceutical operations and technology operational strategy for Biogen’s multiple sclerosis franchise. Since February 2022, Ms. Sanders has served on the board of directors, Science Committee, and Compensation Committee of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global, public biotechnology company. Ms. Sanders previously served as a member of the boards of directors of Novan, Inc. from 2017 to April 2024 and Radius Health, Inc. from 2021 to August 2022. Ms. Sanders earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in health administration from Pfeiffer University.