Update from July 10, 2025: After our announcement on May 30, Dr. David Peisner MD (BS’74) submitted a qualifying number of petitions to trigger an election under §6.02 of the Association bylaws. Dr. Peisner was the only petitioning candidate. Conducting a canvassed election with over 26,000 alumni would have incurred over $45,000 in direct costs as well as precious staff time. The board decided, in accordance with §4.02(a) and §4.07 of the bylaws, to expand the size of the board and nominate Dr. Peisner to this open seat starting in September 2025. This avoids the costs of the canvassed election and allows the association to focus on connecting and serving alumni. Dr. Peisner most recently helped organize his class reunion. We look forward to working with him in the near future.
Previous announcement from May 30, 2025: We are pleased to announce the 2026 board-nominated slate for the Caltech Alumni Association Board of Directors. Our directors serve as stewards of the Association’s funds and mission, bringing their professional skills and alumni experiences to the table. Directors advise on the programming for over 26,000 living alumni. A Nominations Proposal Committee composed of 10 non-board alumni and six current board members—reviewed and interviewed 19 candidates. The full Board of Directors approved the following slate of directors:
Board-Nominated Members:
Ken Diest (PhD ’10)
Daina Paulikas, MBA, MS (BS ’02)
SK Sharma (PhD ’05)
Nate Thomas (PhD ’19)
Amanda Cashin (PhD ’06) – returning
David E. Chavez, PhD (BS ’96) – returning
Evan Tsang (BS ’99) – returning
Continuing Board Members:
John Abbott, PhD (BS ’74)
Rebecca Adler Miserendino, PhD (BS ’06)
Frederic Caldwell (BS ’96), Vice Chair, Leadership
Edgardo García-Berríos (PhD ’11)
Tara Gomez-Hampton (PhD ’11), Vice Chair, Finance
Miral Kim-E, PhD (BS ’78), Vice Chair, Governance
Dan Liebling, MS (BS ’02), Chair
Zachary A. Rivkin (BS ’14)
Jasmine Sears, PhD (BS ’12)
Liz Stameshkin, JD (BS ’03)
Jay Turner, MBA/MS (BS ’01)
We were fortunate to have a rich pool of candidates nominated through the online form available year-round. The Nominations Proposal Committee nominates candidates after jointly examining the board’s composition, identifying needed professional skills, and interviewing each candidate. Directors will join the board unless an election occurs pursuant to §6.02 of the Association bylaws.
Nomination Process and Committee Composition
The process of choosing board members each year to fill vacancies starts with the selection of a Nominations Proposal Committee (NPC). In this board election cycle, it was decided to have alumni nominate themselves, or another alum, for a position. We were pleased to receive 17 applications, including three from outside the U.S for the NPC. Learn more about the process and criteria for the NPC. The 2025 NPC includes:
NPC Non-Board Members (Voting):
Aneesh Acharya (PhD ’16); Pasadena, CA
Daniel Kyme (BS ’21); New York, NY
Anandi Raman Creath, MS (BS ’96); Phoenix, AZ
Greg Stone (BS ’74, MS ’74); Pasadena, CA
NPC Board Members (Voting):
Edgardo García-Berríos (PhD ’11); San Jose, CA
Miral Kim-E, PhD (BS ’78); La Jolla, CA
Liz Stameshkin, JD (BS ’03); San Francisco, CA
Jay Turner, MBA/MS (BS ’01); Torrance, CA
NPC Board Members (Non-Voting):
Frederic Caldwell (BS ’96); San Jose, CA
Dan Liebling, MS (BS ’02); Seattle, WA
NPC U.S. Advisory (Non-Board, Non-Voting):
Zvonimir Bandic (PhD ’00); San Jose, CA
Ingrid Cotoros, PhD (BS ’02); Hillsborough, CA
Marty Sirkin, PhD (BS ’84); Mercer Island, WA
NPC International Advisory (Non-Board, Non-Voting):
Pui Ying Angel Kong (BS ’04); Hong Kong
Edgard Schweig (PhD ’82); Lima, Peru
Gerry Wrixon, PhD (MS ’65); Kinsale, Ireland
Questions? Contact Dan Liebling, MS (BS ’02) at info@alumni.caltech.edu or 626-395-6592.