Where Policy, Finance, and Science Meet

The path that led Meg Dodge ’08 from Colby to the front lines of biotechnology was not linear. A government and art history double major, she arrived eager to immerse herself in ideas, debate, and evaluation. Dodge left Mayflower Hill with a foundation that would later anchor her career in law, finance, and life sciences.

Following graduation, she earned her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and an L.L.M. from New York University School of Law. Dodge clerked for a federal judge before beginning her career in finance, holding roles at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. There, she advised companies through capital strategies and gained expertise in how markets evaluate risk, credibility, and long-term value.

Despite her personal achievements, Dodge found herself searching for work that felt directly connected to impact.

That realization led her into the biotechnology sector, where scientific innovation, capital formation, and patient needs intersect. Her role at early-stage biotech companies was to help founders translate their scientific vision into practical operations.

Today, Dodge serves as senior vice president and head of external affairs at Rocket Pharmaceuticals, a gene therapy company focused on developing treatments for rare and devastating diseases. In her role, Dodge oversees investor relations, corporate communications, government affairs, and executive operations.

In an industry defined by long timelines, high failure rates, and complex patient needs, Dodge helps ensure that communication is clear and honest and that stakeholders understand the responsibilities inherent in biotech and gene therapy development.

“Drug development is not just about science,” Dodge said. “It’s about trust, alignment, and the ability to sustain focus through uncertainty.”

Through initiatives like Mission: Genome, Dodge and her colleagues are providing no-cost, third-party genetic counseling and testing to patients with a family history of, or suspected diagnosis of, a particular genetic condition. This effort can shave years off a diagnostic journey that many rare disease patients and families endure.

While gene therapy remains an emerging field, Dodge sees its future as transformative. Rather than treating symptoms, gene therapy aims to address the disease at its root cause, an initiative that introduces significant responsibility and remarkable potential.

Her work involves closely engaging with policymakers and industry leaders to advance innovation responsibly and equitably. In a field where progress is measured in years and lives changed, Dodge remains focused on the long view: building systems, narratives, and strategies that allow science to reach the patients who need it most.

Dodge’s experiences at Colby played a significant role in shaping her perspective on gene therapy by sharpening her analytical flexibility and building the communication skills that now define her leadership style. Courses that demanded close reading, careful argumentation, and ethical reasoning laid the groundwork for navigating high-stakes environments where decisions carry lasting consequences.

Outside the classroom, Dodge rowed varsity crew, an experience she describes as formative. The discipline, resilience, and collective accountability required on the water would later mirror the demands of leadership in biotech, where progress depends on coordinated effort across diverse teams.

For students considering their own paths, Dodge emphasizes curiosity over certainty.

“Colby teaches you how to think, not what to think,” she has said. “That ability to adapt, to move across disciplines and ask better questions, stays with you.”