Our Team

Empowering the Future STEM Workforce Together

Meet the Team

Our team is a group of business and community leaders, listeners, and learners united in their shared passion to transform the future of the STEM workforce.

Board Member
Managing Director – Cyber & Strategic Risk, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Director of Programs

Julie Cooke - SD2 Board Member Chief Human Resource Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences

Board Member
Chief Human Resource Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences

Program Manager

Mike Hird - SD2 Board Member Partner, Pillsbury Law

Board Member
Partner, Pillsbury Law

Board Member
Worldwide Head of Precision Medicine and Genomics, Amazon Web Services

Board Member
Chief People Office, Illumina

Darin Lippoldt - SD2 Corporate Secretary Chief Legal Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences

Corporate Secretary
Chief Legal Officer, Neurocrine Biosciences

Board Member
CEO, Curebound

Chief Operating Officer

Gentry Patrick, PhD - SD2 Board Member Professor of Neurobiology & Creator, Director PATHS Scholars Program, UC San Diego

Board Member
Professor of Neurobiology &
Creator, Director PATHS Scholars Program, UC San Diego

H. Puentes - SD2 Co-Founder & Board Member Executive Director

Co-Founder, President & CEO, Board Member

Bill Rastetter, PhD - SD2 Founder & Chairman of the Board

Founder & Chairman of the Board

Carlos Ramirez - SD2 Ex-Officio Board Member Senior Associate, Cooley LLP

Board Member
Partner, Cooley LLP

Board Member
Senior Vice President, Business Development, Bench International

Charles Theuer, MD, PhD - SD2 Board Member President & CEO, TRACON Pharmaceuticals

Board Member
Chief Medical Officer, Halozyme

Board Member
Executive Managing Director, JLL

Paul Vaden - SD2 Board Member Founder, Answer The Bell

Board Member
Founder, Answer The Bell

OUR PARTNERS IN CHANGE

Together, we support programs that make STEM disciplines and careers visible, accessible, goal-worthy, and achievable. We work with a large coalition of community partners to leverage our resources and maximize our impact. We’re incredibly grateful for the commitment our partners consistently demonstrate to empowering students pursuing STEM careers in San Diego.

EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S STEM LEADERS TODAY™

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF STEM TOGETHER.