Campus News
With expertise in finance, tech, ag, and more, new leaders elected to join UC Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees
The foundation invests, stewards, and grows an endowment in support of the mission of UC Santa Cruz.
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 a greater understanding of UC Santa Cruz's activities and impact on the surrounding region, California, and the nation.
The UC Santa Cruz Foundation has elected six new trustees who are established leaders in agriculture, finance, marketing, national security, and national security.
The new members, who began their service July 1, are:
Peter Coha (Kresge ’78, mathematics) retired from Intel Corporation in 2013 after a 35-year career. He provided leadership in computer, network, and application design; installation and operations to run semiconductor fabrication factories; and efforts to improve computer system reliability.
Bill Daniher is a finance and administration professional who, since 2022, has worked as a self-employed CFO consultant. Previously, he served as CFO at the software development company VANTIQ and First Virtual Group.
Carla Dougher is the head of marketing for Tournesol, a leading manufacturer of outdoor products for commercial landscape applications. She oversees brand strategy, creative direction, demand generation, and product design.
Michael Linick (Merrill ’83, politics) is a retired Army Colonel, with over 30 years as an Infantry and Force Management officer. He also served as a senior defense and political science researcher at The RAND Corporation. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor in Georgetown University’s Strategic Studies Program.
Azadeh Rasmussen (Crown ’01, business management economics) is a marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience leading high-impact marketing initiatives for Airbnb, Meta, Apple, Google, and more.
Kirk Schmidt served as executive director of Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc., a private organization that manages the surface water cooperative monitoring program on behalf of the Central Coast agriculture industry. For 25 years, he was the president of Quail Mountain Herbs out of Watsonville, which in 2004 was the second largest fresh herb company in the United States.
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 a greater understanding of UC Santa Cruz’s activities and impact on the surrounding region, California, and the nation.
“It’s an honor to welcome such talented leaders to the foundation board,” Chancellor Cynthia Larive said. “Their ideas, insights and perspectives will help to advance our work in serving extraordinary students and conducting high-impact research that helps to keep the U.S. a global leader.”
At the board’s June meeting, Loren Kinczel, founder of Cultivate Financial Group LLC, was installed as chair and pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic entrepreneur Greg Reyes (Kresge ’76, biology) was elected vice chair.
Kinczel said the six new members bring fresh perspectives rooted in strong professional expertise and with a passion for the role of higher education that will enhance the board’s work. Several of the new members are located in the greater Northern California area, and others reside outside the state including New Mexico and Virginia.
“We are thrilled to welcome such distinguished individuals as we collectively work to grow UC Santa Cruz’s endowments, advance its reputation, and promote student success,” Kinczel said
In addition, the following trustees were elected to 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 and managing member, Cultivate Financial Group LLC,
- SB Master (Cowell ’75, music, economics, and the history of the book/typographic design), founder and president, Master-McNeil, Inc.
- Joanna Miller (Porter ‘75), 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
- Randy Wedding, retired senior managing director, UC Office of the Chief Investment Officer
Three board members became emeritus trustees. They are:
- Donna Mekis (Rachel Carson ’84, anthropology; MA educational policy ’90 ), retired program director, Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz
- Richard Moss (Stevenson ’85), president of the Moss Group,
- Claudia Webster, retired teacher and community volunteer
The foundation board continues to encourage and secure philanthropic support for the university and helps steward the campus’s endowment. The campus’s combined endowment has grown to $359.6 million at fiscal year-end.
In addition, the UC Santa Cruz Foundation has supported campus innovation through the Board Opportunity Fund (BOF). Through seed funding, the BOF enables faculty, staff, and students to explore new ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and make strides in academic and community-oriented initiatives. This strategic financial support amplifies UC Santa Cruz’s educational priorities and strengthens its reputation as a hub for creativity and groundbreaking scholarship.
The board’s work also aligns with the UCSC Student Success Initiative. Launched in fall 2021, 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 $80.7 million in commitments has been raised.
“The campus community is grateful for our foundation trustees who continue to volunteer their time and resources in service of UC Santa Cruz,” said Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Mark Delos Reyes Davis, who also serves as foundation president. “Their support, advocacy and ideas are helping to increase the impact of UC Santa Cruz.”
Learn more about the UCSC Foundation.