Desert Research Institute Foundation Welcomes New Board Members and Officers

Newly-Appointed Trustees and Officers Bring Diverse Experience and Background to Leadership Roles at Global Environmental Research Leader 

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 23, 2021) – The DRI Research Foundation, based in Nevada, is announcing the addition of long-time community leaders to its Board of Trustees and the selection of its Board leadership at the state’s top environmental research institute.

The Members of the Board of Trustees of the DRI Foundation have elected the following individuals as officers of the Foundation for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021:

  • Michael Benjamin, Chair
  • Nora James, Vice-Chair
  • Kenneth G. Ladd II, Treasurer

Benjamin is a serial entrepreneur presently involved in medical technology, marketing and farming, James is a long-time writer and editor, and Ladd, in addition to serving as the Chair of the Board for Nevada HAND, is a retired national bank executive.

DRI Foundation also welcomed the following new Trustees to the Board, each serving a four-year term, beginning January 1, 2021:

  • Mark Foree, General Manager at Truckee Meadows Water Authority
  • Mary Kay Gallagher, Philanthropist and Trustee of the Tom and Mary Gallagher Foundation
  • Steve Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
  • Stephanie Kruse, Founder and Chair of the Board at KPS3 Advertising, Web and Public Relations
  • Kristin McMillan Porter, Senior Advisor at the Porter Group LLC

“We are proud to welcome the new trustees to the DRI Foundation Board and congratulate our outstanding current trustees as they take on greater responsibility in their new leadership roles as officers,” said Dr. Kumud Acharya, DRI President. “The combined experience and skills of our Board members will be invaluable in making lasting contributions toward supporting the overall mission of environmental stewardship through focused broader outreach, private philanthropy and ambassadorship.”

The upcoming DRI Nevada Medal 2021 honoring former NASA Astronaut and Earth Explorer Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, is an example of key programs under the guidance of the DRI Foundation leadership. This year’s Nevada Medal titled, Sea, Earth and Sky: Celebrating the Spirit of Exploration, Discovery and Innovation, will be made available globally as a special, evening hour-long program for the first time in its 30-year history. To register for the free virtual event please visit NevadaMedal.com.

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The DRI Foundation serves to cultivate private philanthropic giving in support of the mission and vision of the Desert Research Institute. For over 25 years DRI Foundation trustees have worked with DRI benefactors to support applied environmental research to maximize the Institute’s impact on improving people’s lives throughout Nevada, the nation, and the world.  

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is a recognized world leader in basic and applied interdisciplinary research. Committed to scientific excellence and integrity, DRI faculty, students, and staff have developed scientific knowledge and innovative technologies in research projects around the globe. Since 1959, DRI’s research has advanced scientific knowledge, supported Nevada’s diversifying economy, provided science-based educational opportunities, and informed policymakers, business leaders, and community members. With campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI serves as the non-profit research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education. For more information, please visit  www.dri.edu.

February 23, 2021

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