Science Center CEO Steve Tang stepping down to run Bethlehem company

Major leadership change at the University City Science Center: President and CEO Stephen Tang, a decade into his transformative work at the helm of the 55-year-old institution, will step down in February.

At times the liaison between tech and policymakers, at others, an advocate for immigrants, Tang will be taking the CEO seat at OraSure Technologies, a Bethlehem, Pa.-based medical device company focusing on diagnostic products and collection devices. In his absence, the organization’s board has named Curtis Hess, Senior Vice President for Real Estate Operations, as interim President and CEO starting February, with the search for a successor beginning shortly.

Tang, chairman of OraSure’s board since 2016, and board member since 2011, was picked by the company’s CEO Douglas A. Michels, 61, who will retire in March.

“It was an extremely difficult decision to leave the Science Center,” Tang said in a statement Thursday. “I’ve been privileged to work with a dedicated Board and lead a talented group of colleagues who are committed to the Science Center’s mission of inspiring and leading a diverse and inclusive community of innovation and entrepreneurship that nurtures and scales economic development through technology commercialization, business growth and civic engagement.”

The exec, who was a key figure in the upcoming $1-billion development project between his org and Wexford Science + Technology, said he was excited about the Science Center’s future and momentum. “I believe the foundation has been laid for continued growth and success.”

Board Chairman Craig Carnaroli, on behalf of the Science Center’s Board of Directors, thanked Tang for his “dedicated leadership and service” and wished him well in the next phase of his career.

“During Steve’s tenure, the Science Center has launched new programs to support technology commercialization, strengthened partnerships with the region’s academic and research institutions and launched the largest campus expansion in our 55-year history,” Carnaroli said. “Together these initiatives have positioned the Science Center as a leading tech-based economic development organization in the Greater Philadelphia region.”