Join us on Friday Mornings at Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel
PAUR Welcomes Our Newest Members
Celebrating new energy, ideas, and service.
We’re thrilled to welcome the newest members of the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club: community-minded leaders who bring fresh ideas, diverse experiences, and a shared spirit of service. Each of them strengthens our mission to connect, serve, and make a lasting difference. Please take a moment to meet these inspiring individuals and join us in celebrating their arrival in our Rotary family.
Dr John (Jack) Colford
Jack Colford is a recently retired Professor of Epidemiology at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health, where he spent nearly 30 years leading landmark research on water, sanitation, and hygiene. As principal investigator for the WASH Benefits trials — large-scale field studies conducted in Kenya, Bangladesh, Bolivia, and elsewhere — he helped shape global public health policy on clean water interventions. He also served as an attending physician in Infectious Diseases at the UCSF/VA Medical Center.
Born into an Air Force family and raised across the U.S. and Germany before settling in Mountain View, Jack studied chemistry at Santa Clara University, earned his MD at Johns Hopkins, and completed residency and fellowships at UCSF and Stanford. Colleagues and former students describe him as someone who leads with generosity, scientific rigor, and genuine kindness.
Now living in Palo Alto, Jack volunteers as a tutor at St. Francis Center in Redwood City, enjoys outdoor biking and Peloton, and is a parishioner at St. Thomas Catholic Church. He joins PAUR with a keen interest in community service, civil discourse, and youth programs.
James (Jim) McDonnell
Jim McDonnell is a retired senior corporate executive with a career spanning sales and marketing leadership in technology and medical devices. He held senior vice president roles at companies including Honeywell and Vispero, and has served as a board member at Cyngn, a Silicon Valley autonomous vehicle technology company. A graduate of Villanova University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Jim built a career at the intersection of complex technology and business development.
A longtime Palo Alto resident, Jim is a volunteer at Gamble Garden and serves on the Tahoe Meadows HOA board. When he's not in the community, he can be found skiing, hiking, or out on the skeet range. He joins PAUR with an interest in vocational and community service.
Gerald (Gerry) Stratford
Gerry Stratford spent 30 years as owner of Stratford Design Associates, a San Francisco Bay Area firm specializing in corporate identity, advertising, and packaging design. A man of many creative pursuits, Gerry is also an accomplished writer, travel photographer, and course rater for Golfweek magazine — a role that has taken him to courses across the country and beyond. His passion for the game extends to the Donald Ross Society, dedicated to preserving the legacy of one of golf's great course architects.
A Philosophy graduate of the University of Virginia, Gerry has long been active in civic life. He is President and Emeritus Board Member of The Olympic Club Foundation in San Francisco and a past President of the South San Francisco Rotary Club. Now living in Atherton, he joins PAUR with an interest in community service and sport-related programs for youth.
Alteya Stern
Alteya is a licensed clinical social worker providing psychosocial support to patients and families at Stanford Hospital. Before her current role, she spent nearly a decade with a local nonprofit supporting individuals with mental health and emergency needs. Her experience also includes re-entry counseling for justice-involved individuals, elder abuse investigations, and work as a certified mediator and negotiator.
Originally from Bulgaria, Alteya moved to the U.S. in 2006 and holds a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Clinical Social Work from Harvard Extension and Portland State University. She has a son who works in the fintech field and is an avid photographer contributing to local newspapers. Alteya brings diverse experience in social work, education, and management—and enjoys hiking, traveling, the arts, and giving back to her community.
Mike Schwartz
Mike Schwartz is a retired software engineer, executive, and consultant with more than 40 years in the tech industry. His career has spanned the evolution of personal computing, the Internet, and mobile technology, working with both innovative companies and ambitious start-ups.
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A proud San Francisco native, Mike earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Stanford University and has lived in Palo Alto since 1983. He and his wife, Janice, have traveled extensively with their son, Carey—visiting about 80 countries along the way. In addition to Rotary, Mike volunteers with Pets In Need as a dog caretaker and mentor to new volunteers. Though he dreams of one day having a frisbee dog, for now he’s a devoted cat dad to two beautiful cats.
Liz Cowie
Liz Cowie is a dedicated community volunteer whose career has spanned environmental law and educational advancement. She worked as an environmental attorney before moving into fundraising for education research at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, where she began volunteering for East Palo Alto Academy and its Foundation.
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Recently retired from Stanford, Liz enjoys reading, playing pickleball, and learning golf. Most of all, she loves time on her bike, exploring Palo Alto or venturing farther on her e-bike, especially if there’s a coffee stop along the way. Originally from New Jersey, Liz spent much of the 1990s in Atlanta before settling in Palo Alto at the turn of the century. She and her husband, Jim, live in Midtown and are delighted that their three daughters now all live nearby.
Inspired by our new members? Bring your energy, ideas, and enthusiasm to PAUR and become part of a community where friendships and service go hand in hand. Together, we engage in projects, connect with our community, and celebrate meaningful contributions.
Fill out our interest form to learn how you can get involved and make a difference.