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.
Deborah Grant
Deborah Grant brings extensive nonprofit leadership and hands-on community service to the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club. She is Executive Director of La Comida de California, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that provides fresh, nutritious meals every weekday to older adults in Santa Clara County and a welcoming community space to address isolation and mental health challenges.
At La Comida, Deborah provides strategic and operational leadership, working closely with the Board of Directors. She advocates for both reliable access to healthy food and the companionship that shared meals provide. Founded in 1972 by the Rotary Club of Palo Alto, La Comida has a longstanding connection to Rotary service and now provides more than 75,000 weekday lunches annually.
Deborah’s service extends across generations. She has served on the board of Planned Parenthood of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino, and Cake4Kids, helping support its mission of recognizing special occasions for underserved and foster children across the country. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in San Francisco, she supports foster youth through important transitions in their lives. Her volunteer experience also includes many years with the SF-Marin Food Bank, as a public school advocate, and as a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
She has also served as board president and a board member of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, contributing to fundraising and leadership transitions. Her experience combines organizational leadership with direct, personal service—a background that connects naturally with Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self.
We are delighted to welcome Deborah to our Friday Morning Mavericks!
Theodore Timpson
Theodore Timpson is the founder and head of Trū School, a progressive kindergarten-through-fifth-grade microschool in Palo Alto. An experienced elementary educator, he encourages students to explore meaningful questions, develop self awareness, and connect their learning with the world around them.
​
Theodore holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard, a master’s degree in education from Bank Street College, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from San José State. His background includes teaching in progressive elementary schools, running a tutoring business, and working in publishing, web design, and branding.
​
Outside school, Theodore enjoys playing Chopin on the piano, birdwatching, studying Sanskrit, writing poetry, and backpacking in national parks. He also studied in France and the United Kingdom and has traveled widely in Europe and parts of Asia.
​
We are delighted to welcome Theodore to the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club. After attending our service fair, he signed up for the Youth Services Committee—an opportunity to bring his experience in education to our club’s service activities.
Ashok Kapoor
Ashok Kapoor is a semiconductor technology innovator and entrepreneur, who graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. His professional journey took him through Bombay, Cincinnati, Ohio to complete his PhD, and Palo Alto, California, where he lives today. He worked with leading technology companies, including Philips India, Fairchild, Hewlett-Packard, National Semiconductor, and LSI Logic, before attempting to found Sensitron and Suvolta and becoming associated with PhotonIC to develop silicon photonics devices before retiring. During his career, he was awarded Inventor of the Year at LSI Logic in 1995, and has invented and coinvented approximately 120 patents. He considers himself fortunate to have witnessed the extraordinary evolution of semiconductor technology, from 64-kilobit memory chips to gigabit scale devices, and the emergence of transformative technologies such as silicon photonics and quantum computing.
​
Beyond technology and entrepreneurship, Ashok has a deep interest in Advaita Vedanta and the philosophy of science, particularly questions concerning consciousness, knowledge, and the nature of reality. He enjoys woodworking and gardening, pursuits that provide a creative counterbalance to his lifelong engagement with technology. He values meaningful conversations, diverse perspectives, and the opportunity to service the community through volunteering and tutoring.
Nisha Koul
Nisha Koul serves as Vice President of Development at Avenidas, a Palo Alto nonprofit supporting older adults and their families. She joined Avenidas in September 2023 and leads the fundraising efforts that connect community generosity with programs supporting older adults and caregivers.
​
Previously, Nisha served as Director of Annual Campaign at YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley, where she raised nearly $4 million for programs and services. Her earlier experience includes roles with the Clinton Foundation, High IQ for Humanity, and A. F. Ferguson, a Deloitte group company.
​
Nisha holds an MBA from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand, and a bachelor's degree from Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology.
​
Through the Rotary, Nisha hopes to be more involved in the community where she spends much of her time. She looks forward to contributing beyond her professional role, learning from fellow members, and connecting with others committed to making a difference.
​
Outside of work, Nisha is married and the mom of two daughters. You'll often find her cheering from the sidelines at a volleyball game.
​
Nisha is welcomed to the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club with Jyotika “Jo” RoyC as her sponsor and Eliane Neukermans as her mentor.
Greg Benson
Greg Benson brings a background in software engineering, technology leadership, and international service to the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club. His career has included leadership roles at Netflix, Google, and Disney Streaming, with experience in mobile development, engineering management, and helping others grow in their careers.
​
Greg’s interests also extend to music and audio technology. He earned a master’s degree in Music and Audio Technology in 2003, studied at the University of York, and spent more than five years working at Dolby. His professional experience connects software development with the ways people experience music, sound, and entertainment.
​
Outside his technology career, Greg is the founder of the West African Volunteer Organization (WAVO). His involvement in Ghana began with a volunteer visit in 2006, when he met fellow volunteer Rory Peters. They continued supporting the Ultimate Volunteer Organisation, helping raise tens of thousands of dollars and connecting more than 50 volunteers with opportunities to serve. WAVO works to improve the lives of West Africans, particularly people living in poverty, through support for basic needs, education, and community partnerships.
​
Greg joins PAUR with Larry Christenson as his sponsor and Don MacKenzie and Mike Schwartz as his mentors. We look forward to the experience and enthusiasm he will bring to our Friday Morning Mavericks.
Sara Crellin
Where Neuroscience Meets Service
​
What happens when a passion for understanding the brain meets a commitment to strengthening communities? For Sara Crellin, the answer is a life dedicated to both neuroscience and service. Please join us in warmly welcoming Sara to the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club! A neuroscientist with a PhD from the University of Otago, Sara studies how communication between brain cells influences mental health, with a particular focus on bipolar disorder. Her research explored the brain’s “wiring” and how treatments such as lithium affect it, with the goal of contributing to better psychiatric care and a deeper understanding of mental health.
A MacGibbon Fellowship brought Sara to Stanford’s Brain Stimulation Lab for four months of research and training. During her time here, she also enjoyed connecting with local nonprofits and learning more about how communities can support mental health and well-being. Her dedication to sharing science earned her first prize in the Otago Medical School Research Society’s 2024 doctoral speaker competition—an impressive recognition of her ability to make complex ideas meaningful and accessible. She has now returned to Stanford to continue her research as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the BSL in the department of Psychiatry, where she is using intracranial data to better understand the brain networks underlying the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Sara is passionate about helping people understand science and believes that greater knowledge can foster empathy, reduce stigma, and strengthen support for those living with mental illness. She is excited to meet fellow members, become involved in PAUR’s service efforts, and contribute to the club’s spirit of friendship and connection.
We are delighted to welcome Sara to PAUR and the Friday Morning Mavericks!
Maureen Clark
Maureen Clark is the CEO of Three Sixty HR, Inc. and the founder of its predecessor company, Clark Associates. Her depth and breadth of HR experience inside organizations and consulting, as well as her extensive volunteer experience, are all brought to bear on solving clients’ problems. Maureen’s prior HR management
positions in the professional services, financial and manufacturing industries formed her practical understanding of complex employment issues, and helped hone her ability to unravel and de-escalate difficult situations.
Maureen has held numerous positions on academic, professional and community service boards. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Forensic Expert Witness Association (FEWA), the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) and the Peninsula Executives Association (PEA), where she is a two-time Past President and recipient of the Executive of the Year award.
Currently, while crafting a retirement strategy, Maureen conducts internal HR investigations and serves as an HR expert witness.
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.
​
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.
​
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.