Aileen Huang-Saad is the Director of Life Sciences, Health, and Engineering Programs at Northeastern’s Roux Institute (Portland, Maine) and an Associate Professor of Bioengineering.  Leveraging her experience in design, entrepreneurship, education research, and industry, she seeks to close the gap between higher education and professional practice.  Specifically, she is designing interdisciplinary experiential education life sciences, health, and engineering programs to attract, retain, and advance talent in the state of Maine.  These programs are designed to re-imagine how higher education and communities can work together to impact economic and talent development.