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Madelyn Spencer, a former �鶹Ӱ�� dual enrollment student and current Novo Nordisk employee, received her high school diploma while she earned her associate degree in engineering during the summer of 2024 by going through the �鶹Ӱ��’s Career and College Promise program.  

While going through the CCP program, Spencer learned about the College’s BioWork certificate course, which she immediately enrolled in after receiving her high school diploma and associate degree. 

Spencer said �鶹Ӱ�� taught her the technical side of the profession, and life sciences showed her how it applies to the jobs she envisioned herself doing. 

“For example, what I learned from both Physics I and Physics II plays a part in what I do now. While I don’t necessarily use the information I learned on a regular basis, some of what I do now requires a basic understanding,” Spencer said. “A lot of my biowork certificate work was more lab-work focused. While a lot of what I learned in the BioWork Program helps me, my day-to-day work is more mechanical. Overall, my skills from �鶹Ӱ�� are transferable and I can build off them to meet the specific requirements of my job.”  

Spencer said her professors at �鶹Ӱ�� prepared her well for classes at a four-year university.  

“I think that my BioWork course prepared me more for what I am doing currently, while I believe I am prepared educationally, and I am building my career experience now,” she said.  

It was during her Biowork class that Spencer connected with Lynn Tovar, a �鶹Ӱ�� life sciences career development specialist who helped students find career fairs and networking opportunities.  

“I went to the first career fair I could get to,” Spencer said. “I connected with a Novo Nordisk representative and handed in my resume. I kept in touch with the representative.”  

 Spencer applied for several other jobs, but also with Novo Nordisk, which operates three manufacturing sites in North Carolina where they make treatments for chronic diseases.  

“I believe I filled out three applications for Novo for different work shifts and while still doing my Biowork course, I found a day shift position for a manufacturing operator. I interviewed for it and shortly after got an offer,” Spencer said.  

Spencer said she felt proud to get what was a competitively sought after position.  

“I felt surprised,” she said. “I knew the interview had gone well, but it was so competitive for Novo Nordisk jobs. The wait for their booth at the career fair was by far the longest one. So many people work very hard to get those positions and I had no experience. However, I put in the effort for it, so I did not feel the job offer was undeserved.”  

Spencer has been working at Novo Nordisk for a month and a half at the company’s �鶹Ӱ�� facility where she helps to operate the high-tech equipment that makes a treatment for people living with Type 2 diabetes. She says the job is going well.   

While still in training, Spencer says day-to-day involves assembling and disassembling the machine to which she is assigned and ensuring the machine is running correctly.   

“There is a strong community at Novo Nordisk and I have been treated well even with my young age and small amount of on-the-job experience,” she said. “They are a wonderful employer and there is room for advancement.”  

Spencer also is actively helping others who would like to follow a similar career path. 

“Maddy is giving back to the �鶹Ӱ�� community,” Tovar said. “She has returned to speak with current students and recent alumni at a Life Sciences networking event to help others who want to go into this profession.”