Former City of Framingham Mayor to lead nonprofit tackling poverty & inequity in region
Life Science Cares (LSC) Boston is pleased to announce that Yvonne Spicer, Ph.D., former City of Framingham Mayor, has been appointed as the organization’s new Executive Director, leading efforts to activate the financial and human capital of the life sciences industry to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in Greater Boston.
“On behalf of the LSC Boston Board of Directors, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Spicer, whose experience and commitment to serving the community will translate well as she drives the next phase of growth and impact of Life Science Cares Boston,” said Abe Ceesay, CEO of Rapport Therapeutics and Chair of the Life Science Cares Boston Board of Directors.
In this new role, Dr. Spicer will provide leadership and oversight of all activities related to fulfilling Life Science Cares’ mission and its sustainability in Boston. She will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational planning, including revenue generation and financial management, grantmaking and community investment, organizational development, and marketing and public relations. 
“I have seen what is possible when the business community steps up to support nonprofit organizations and the work they do to help people in need. The potential of the Life Science Cares’ model of collective impact is enormous and I am thrilled to bring my diverse leadership experience to build on this work and continue to make a positive impact on the communities in need,” said Dr. Spicer. Dr. Spicer takes the reins from founding Executive Director Sarah MacDonald, now overseeing the organization’s five affiliates—Boston, Philadelphia, New York, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area—as President.
Since the organization’s inception in 2016, LSC Boston has invested $7.5 million in community partners providing access to basic needs, access to education and access to opportunity. Beyond the financial investment, LSC Boston volunteers have committed 31,000 hours of service and contributed $1.5 million in in-kind contributions to community partners. The LSC Boston network includes nearly 150 companies, 200 industry leaders and thousands of volunteers.
“This is an exciting time for LSC Boston as Dr. Spicer’s track record of civic leadership, STEM policy and advocacy and mission-driven outcomes will further elevate the organization’s role as a convener, connector and impact-maker in the Greater Boston community,” said MacDonald
Dr. Spicer is the first Mayor of the City of Framingham and was inaugurated in 2018. She is also the first African-American woman to be popularly elected mayor in Massachusetts. Previously she served as the Vice President for Advocacy and Educational Partnerships at the Museum of Science, Boston.
Before joining the museum, she was a teacher and administrator in Framingham and Newton Public Schools. Governor Deval Patrick appointed Dr. Spicer to the inaugural Massachusetts Governor’s STEM Advisory Council as the co-chair of the council’s teacher development committee. She was reappointed in 2017 by Governor Charlie Baker and led the Computer Science and Engineering and Career Pathways committees. She currently serves on the Big Brother Big Sister Board Directors, the Moog Foundation, and the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus.
Dr. Spicer is originally from Brooklyn, NY, but has called Framingham, MA, home since 1985. She graduated from the State University of New York-Oswego, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts &Technology and a Master of Science degree in Technology Education. She earned her doctorate in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in Educational Leadership.