Executive Director
Michael Douglas, PhD
Mike completed his degree from Southwestern University and graduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biology from St. Louis University. He has served as the executive director of the Texas Life Science Collaboration Center, a non-profit accelerator and an educational foundation. In medical research and education, he chaired Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University North Carolina Chapel Hill, Professor at UT Southwestern Medical School, and as Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research at Washington University St. Louis. In the commercial sector, he headed various biotechnology startups and was CEO of Sigma Diagnostics, a global publicly held diagnostics company. He is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam conflict.
Board of Directors
| Barbara Baldwin Pearce, RN | Barbara is a 44-year resident of Georgetown, Texas. She has held clinical positions in pediatrics, public health nursing and infection control; served in the Georgetown School District; as executive director of The Georgetown Project, devoted to building a healthy community where all children thrive. She was on the Georgetown City Council for two terms and was a founding member of the Georgetown Healthcare System Foundation. |
| Stephen Benold, MD | Stephen is a life-long resident of Georgetown and a family physician for 28 years. He was the first medical director of the Williamson County EMS and served in that position for 32 years. One of his main outside interests is teaching. Stephen serves on boards of the Caring Place and the Chisholm Trail Community Foundation in Georgetown. |
| Thomas A. Forbes, JD | Tom was born and reared in Georgetown, Texas. A partner at Butler Snow, LLP, Tom is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court. He was a trustee of Southwestern University in Georgetown for 19 years and is currently a Director of the Austin Trust Company and chairs its Audit Committee. |
| Marcos Gonzalez | Marcos Gonzalez is a lifelong resident of Georgetown, Texas. Marcos serves as a Trustee on the Georgetown ISD Board and as a member of the Georgetown Education Foundation. |
| Rob Hardy, MHA | Rob served as an EMS paramedic for 11 years and has served in various C-level positions at Austin Diagnostic Clinic, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic, Scott and White, Austin Pathology Associates, among others. He is an interim administrator in critical access and rural health care clinics and is currently focused on value-based medicine to help physicians and administrators adapt to changes in health care. |
| Alma Molleur, MEd | Alma Molleur is a professional educator and consultant with the Flippen Group, which uses research programs to transform school districts. She’s served in the Georgetown Independent School District, chaired the Georgetown Healthcare Foundation Board, the Georgetown ISD Education Foundation Board, and as a member of the St. David’s Medical Center Hospital Board of Directors. |
| Josh Schroeder, JD | Josh Schroeder serves currently as the mayor of Georgetown. He is a shareholder at Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C. He is the former chair of the City of Georgetown’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Historical and Architectural Review Commission, and the Planning & Zoning Commission. |
| Jake B. Schrum | Jake served as the president of Southwestern University for 13 years. He was the national board chair for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Educational and Institutional Insurance Administrators, the Associated Colleges of the South, and the Independent College and Universities of Texas. |
Community Volunteers
The Foundation is assisted in its mission by volunteers serving on three advisory committees that extend the management and outreach of the foundation. On these committees retired healthcare professionals enrolled in the study provide support and advice in the areas of Study Enrollment, Education, and Philanthropy.
Research Partners and Collaborators
UT School of Engineering
UT Southwestern Medical School
Southwestern University Intern Scholars
Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative
Boston University
