The UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees has elected as new members pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic entrepreneur Greg Reyes, of San Diego, (Kresge ’76, biology) and business banking leader Janet Buck, of Laguna Niguel. Their appointments began July 1.
The foundation board works in close partnership with Chancellor Cynthia Larive and other university leaders to advance private philanthropic support for the campus mission, while also fostering greater understanding of UCSC's activities and impact by the broader Santa Cruz community, California and the nation.
“I am thrilled that Greg and Janet are joining the board,” said Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “Greg’s extensive entrepreneurial work and Janet’s financial background and startup experience will be great assets as we work together to secure much needed resources to advance the university and its impact on the region, state and country.”
After Reyes graduated from UC Santa Cruz, he attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he earned both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Over the course of his career, Reyes has served as scientific leader with many biopharmaceutical firms including senior vice president roles at Celgene and Biogen Idec. He has authored nearly 100 scientific publications and been co-inventor on about 50 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications. Reyes is currently engaged with a number of San Diego-based biotech companies and start-up ventures and continues to advise the Cancer Research UK charitable organization on new drug development funding.
“The work of the foundation is critical to ensuring the futures of UC Santa Cruz students as they develop into our next generation of leaders,” Reyes said. “I eagerly look forward to assisting the foundation in its ongoing mission.”
Buck has served since 2016 as a senior managing director in the business banking division at First Republic Bank, leading the Orange County and San Diego business banking teams. She established the Tony Awaida Fund for Environmental Solutions in 2018 in honor of her late son’s memory. This endowed fund supports the Coastal Science & Policy program, which is training the next generation of coastal science and policy leaders.
“It is an honor to be of service to UC Santa Cruz as it continues its legacy as one of the most innovative and impactful universities in the country,” Buck said.
Buck has also co-founded two businesses. Xporta, a Santa Clara-based startup software and global sales acceleration solutions firm, was founded in 1999 and acquired in 2005. She co-founded Emergent Success, a leadership consulting firm with her husband, Kevin Buck, in 2006. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Boston University.
UC Santa Cruz Foundation Chair Richard F. Moss called Buck and Reyes strong additions to the Board of Trustees
“We are excited to collaborate with such accomplished and well-respected entrepreneurs and thought-leaders in furthering the board’s mission to grow UCSC’s endowments and reputation and to maximize student success,” Moss said.
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees also re-elected the following 10 members to serve additional three-year terms:
- John Arriaga (Stevenson ’76, political science), president, JEA and Associates
- Kamil Hasan, general partner, Granite Hill India Opportunities Fund and Innovus Capital Partners
- Loren Kinczel, founder, Cultivate Financial Group LLC,
- SB Master (Cowell ’75, music, economics, and the history of the book/typographic design), founder and president, Master-McNeil, Inc.
- Donna Mekis (Rachel Carson ’84, anthropology; MA educational policy ’90 ), retired program director, Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz
- Joanna Miller, founder, The Miller’s Daughter, LLC
- Linda Peterson (Stevenson ’70, history) retired associate general counsel, Occidental Petroleum
- Garry Spire (Stevenson ’77, environmental planning), founding principal, Venture Technologies Investment Group
- Claudia Webster, retired teacher and community volunteer
- Randy Wedding, retired senior managing director, UC Office of the Chief Investment Officer
Five board members are retiring from the board. They are:
- Stephen A. Bruce (Cowell ’79), managing partner, Bruce Trust
- Henry Chu (Crown ’72), retired pathologist
- Rob Holo (Crown ’87), partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
- Kristen Marinovic (Cred. ’91) financial advisor, Equinox Wealth Management
- Craig Wilkerson (Merrill ’87), retired ophthalmologist, Helena Eye Clinic
Art Torres (Stevenson, ‘68, government), has completed a two-year appointment as an alumni representative on the UC Board of Regents, a role that included serving as an ex-officio member of both the Foundation Board and the Alumni Council.
Torres, who served in the California State Assembly (1974-1982), the state Senate (1982-1994), and as chair of the California Democratic Party (1996-2009), was named the fifth UC Santa Cruz alumnus to serve as an Alumni Regent in 2020. He is also the vice chair of the governing board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
Over the past year, the UC Santa Cruz Foundation board has championed critical philanthropic support, particularly around the UCSC Student Success Initiative. Launched this past fall, the initiative aims to increase financial support for undergraduate and graduate students, advancing their access to the guidance and experiences fundamental to their education and ultimately future success. More than $22 million in commitments has already been raised.
In February, the foundation board made the extraordinary decision to increase its annual endowment payout by more than $900,000 to provide additional financial support to students through approximately 130 endowment-funded scholarships and fellowships. This represented a one-time 50 percent increase over what the foundation had provided in the fall to all UCSC endowments.
“We continue to be grateful for our foundation trustees’ service to and advocacy for the university,” said Vice Chancellor for University Relations Mark Delos Reyes Davis, who also serves as the foundation’s president. “They provide invaluable insight and give vision to our efforts to raise the resources necessary for the university to expand its impact locally and globally.”
Learn more about the UCSC Foundation.
