Ambassador For Scientific Research: Beverly Ann Booker Shelton, MS

Regulatory and Training Research Associate
Animal Regulatory Affairs and Training
Merck Research Laboratories

Beverly Ann Booker Shelton became a member of NJABR's Speakers Bureau just a few weeks after joining the staff at Merck Research Laboratories in February of 1994. At that time, Bev was anxious to visit classrooms and told many educators in her home town that she was available as a guest speaker. Soon, her calendar filled with speaking engagements.

Once comfortable with the children in her own school district, Bev branched out to neighboring towns and kids of all ages. She has been a featured speaker at Pre-Vet and/or Biology clubs at Livingstone College in North Carolina, Xavier University in Louisiana, Prairie View College in Texas, Tuskegee University in Alabama, North Carolina A &T State University and Florida A & M University.

In May of 1997 and 1998, Bev coordinated and presided over a Math and Science Expo for school-age children in Plainfield, New Jersey. This event, funded by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority who partnered with the local Board of Education, hosted approximately 140 children and adults.

Bev has served as a workshop leader and seminar lecturer at the National American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) conventions from 1996 through 2002. She was a guest speaker at AALAS Branch meetings in Seattle and Boston, and, in June of 2000, served as a workshop leader at the local Tri-Branch meeting. For the past two years, she has also been a panelist for Merck's annual "Raising Awareness of Life Science Careers Day," a program for high school students from Bound Brook, Bridgewater-Raritan and North Plainfield, New Jersey.

A highlight of Bev's career occurred when she was invited to present her ideas in a video. Funded in part by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science Foundation and Merck, Bev made a two hour instructional video entitled, "Reach Out". This video has served as a guide for many in the biomedical research field who wish to educate kids and adults about animal research.

Bev truly sees this outreach as a blessing and is extremely grateful to Merck, and the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research for the opportunity to "reach out" to the community.

Caring Heart Award

Community Service Award

Ambassadors for Scientific Research

Programs For Scientific Literacy