Trustees

The UC Davis Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Executive Trustees, made up of UC Davis supporters who are distinguished leaders in their fields. Through their dedicated volunteerism, members of the Board help increase philanthropic support for UC Davis and steward private gifts to the university, furthering UC Davis’ mission and its global impact. The Board works in concert with academic leaders and advancement staff to achieve the Foundation’s goals.

The UC Davis Foundation Board:

  • Advances the mission of UC Davis by promoting philanthropy
  • Oversees the investments and other business operations of the Foundation
  • Offers guidance and advice to university leaders in areas related to philanthropic support and public trust
  • Builds good will and widespread support for UC Davis by knowledgeably representing the university

The Board is made up of elected Executive Trustees, who have voting privileges; Trustees; ex-officio Trustees, who serve on the Board by virtue of their position at UC Davis; and advisors. Elected Trustees serve renewable three-year terms. 

2025-26 UC Davis Foundation Roster

As of July 2025

Executive Trustees

  • Chair: Deborah Neff ’76
  • Vice Chair: Debby Stegura ’79
  • Immediate Past Chair: Cecelia Sullivan ’83
  • Audit Committee Chair: David Hultman ’84
  • Audit Committee Vice Chair: Ingrid Swenson ’88
  • Finance and Investment Committee Chair: Lou Fernandes ’99
  • Finance and Investment Committee Vice Chair: Jim Malley ’86
  • Nominating and Governance Committee Chair: Paul Sallaberry ’79
  • Nominating and Governance Committee Vice Chair: Lois Goss ’85
  • Philanthropy Leadership Committee Chair: Michael Hurlston ’88, MBA ’90, MS ’91
  • Philanthropy Leadership Committee Vice Chair: Rob Tobias ’86
  • Stewardship Committee Chair: Andrea Alberini
  • Stewardship Committee Vice Chair: Javier Avitia ’83

Trustees

Andrea Alberini
Independent Primary/Secondary Education Professional

Jesús Argüelles ’02
Director of Investments
The James Irvine Foundation

Javier Avitia ’83
Retired Executive VP Business & Legal Affairs
CBS Global Distribution Group

Jacqueline Beckley ’72
President, Owner & Founder
The Understanding & Insight Group LLC

Thomas Campi ’83, ’87, DVM, MPVM ’89
CEO / Founding Partner
Modulant Biosciences

Joseph Castagnola ’98
Board Member
UC Davis Athletics

Charles Cooper ’76, M.D.
Retired Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Hala Kurdi Cozadd ’98
UC Davis Women & Philanthropy

Kirk DeClark ’01
Director of Acquisitions
LRG Investors, LLC

Chrysanthy Demos
President & Founder
WellCent, Inc.

Pam Fair ’80
Retired Vice President
San Diego Gas & Electric

Lou Fernandes ’99
Chief Investment Officer
Museum of Modern Art

Mike Gilson ’73
Director of Business Development
EicOsis, LLC

Arturo González ’82
Partner
Morrison & Foerster LLP

Lois Goss ’85
Owner
G&G Destinations

Maud Hinchee ’75, Ph.D. ’81
Chief Science Officer
Agricen Sciences

Sonja Hongisto ’85, MBA `91
Owner
Hongisto Consulting Group

David Hultman ’84
Senior Client Executive and Relationship Manager
Bank of the West

Starr Hurley
Honorary Consul for New Zealand

Michael Hurlston ’88, MBA ’90, M.S. ’91
President and Chief Executive Officer
Synaptics

Johanna Kwan ’97
Retired Consultant

Molly Lacob ’09
Deputy General Counsel
KQED

Steven Link ’81
Retired Teacher

David Loury, ’79, Ph.D. ’84
Retired, Executive Vice President of Toxicology
Pharmacyclics, Inc.

James Malley ’86
Managing Director
BTIG

Susan Mayer ’80
Marketing Executive
Mountain Construction, Inc.

Marcia Messmer
Founder and Owner
Guinea Pig Calendar Company

Deborah Neff ’76
Chief Executive Officer
Evanostics

Thomas Pong, MD ’78
Retired Cardiologist
Kaiser Permanente

Michael Rancer
Retired Budget Director
UC Office of the President

Paul Sallaberry ’79
Venture Partner
Icon Ventures

Naoki Shimazaki ’80
Partner
GCA Law Partners LLP

Debby Stegura ’79
Former Attorney at Law

Cecelia Sullivan ’83
Founder/Investor
CLS Consultants

Lori Summa, Ph.D. ’86
Retired Senior Technical Consultant
ExxonMobil

Ingrid Swenson ’88
Retired CFO, Partner and Managing Director
Bertram Capital

Robert Tobias ’86
Chief Executive Officer and President
HDMI LA

Saundra Willis ’79, DVM ’84
Interdepartmental Liaison, Medical Team
Zoetis Reference Laboratories

Lin Zucconi MS ’74.
Pooh Bear Systems Consulting

 

Advisors 

Mark Bavoso ’83
Managing Director
Morgan Stanley & Co.

Caroline Cabias ’72
Retired State of CA Career Executive

Mike Child ’76
Senior Advisor
TA Associates Inc.

Mark Couchman ’80
Chief Executive Officer
Silverado Investment Management Co.

Jeffrey Jarvis ’81
Retired Dentist

Ken Gwynn ’97
Operations Director
Gantry, Inc.

Glenys M.Z. Kaye
Retired Accountant

Robert E. Murphy ’63
Attorney Of-Counsel & Sr. Shareholder
Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard