Amgen Gives Atlanta College $1.5 Million

Hoping to promote diversity in its workplace, Thousand Oaks-based biotech giant Amgen on Thursday announced a $1.5-million gift to Spelman College in Atlanta.

Spelman is a liberal arts college with 1,900 students, all African American women.

“We’re always looking to better diversify our staff here,” said Amgen spokesman David Kaye.

“It is tough to recruit because the Ventura County area is not particularly diverse demographically, and in the science field it is particularly difficult because minorities are not well represented.”

Kaye said Spelman was targeted in part because of its reputation for strong science programs.

Thirty-seven percent of Spelman students major in the sciences, mathematics or a dual degree program in engineering.

Amgen has been working closely with Spelman since 1993.

Last summer, four students from the school spent the summer as interns at Amgen. Three more Spelman interns are expected this summer.

On Wednesday when the gift was announced, Spelman declared “Amgen Day” on campus. The $1.5 million will be paid out over five years and will be used to establish the Amgen Center for Molecular Biology to advance the study of biotechnology and molecular biology.

“Through the program, students can begin to look at biotechnology as a potential career path,” Kaye said. “And hopefully they will come to work at Amgen.”