Development Board

The UTHealth Houston Development Board consists of community leaders who have committed to advancing the mission and vision of the institution by increasing public awareness and philanthropic support.

Message from the Chair

What I enjoy most about serving on the Development Board is the chance to bring people together to support the phenomenal work happening at UTHealth Houston. We each bring different experiences and skills to the table. By sharing what we know and inviting others to get involved, we can help UTHealth Houston grow stronger and make a greater difference in our communities.

I have been proud to support the university for many years. The faculty and students—many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting—truly inspire me. As a board, we have a wonderful opportunity to support these outstanding people and encourage others to do the same. I look forward to working alongside you and seeing what we can accomplish together.

Carolyn Frost Keenan

Chair, UTHealth Houston Development Board
2026-2028

Board member spotlight

Thomas Scholarship strengthens pipeline of exceptional nursing talent

Bette and Ralph Thomas have taken a meaningful step in supporting future health care leaders through the creation of the Bette P. Thomas Nursing Scholarship. By participating in the nursing scholarship Trailblazers match—which quadruples the impact of qualifying endowments—their gift will provide lasting support for exceptional nursing students. This commitment strengthens our university’s ability to remain competitive in attracting top talent and addresses the significant nursing shortages affecting health care systems nationwide. In doing so, Bette and Ralph offer an inspiring example of how philanthropy can shape both UTHealth Houston and the communities we serve.
Jeff Firestone UTHealth Houston Development Board

Long time Board Member Jeff Firestone, who oversees the Pierce Runnels Foundation, is partnering with Aanand D. Naik, MD, Executive Director of UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging, to develop an app to help health care providers better understand patients’ priorities and enhance age-friendly care.

The app will assist older adults in identifying their health preferences, produce a structured report of individual health priorities, and integrate that report into the UT Physicians electronic health records and patient portal. Support to fund this project will help clinicians deliver a higher level of age-friendly care and treat patients with multiple chronic conditions.
Howell family gift advances nursing education

A generous gift from the Howell Family Fund to Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston is helping shape the future of nursing by supporting the next generation of nurse scientists and educators. Through this gift, the Howell family is addressing critical workforce shortages in nursing leadership and education by providing vital resources for PhD students.

The scholarship honors the legacy of Evelyn and Paul Howell and reflects the family's enduring commitment to nursing, education, and health care innovation—carried forward by Brad and David Howell and their families. Brad, a longtime member and Chair Emeritus of the UTHealth Houston Development Board, and his wife, Sara, past chair of the PARTNERS organization, have been steadfast advocates for nursing education and research.
Children's Learning Institute

On April 29, 2023, the Children's Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston hosted Friends and Family Volunteer Day in partnership with Generation Serve. Over 75 participants, including Development Board members and their families, volunteered their time to assemble more than 200 kits.

The kits will be distributed to local schools that participate in the Accelerated Early Reading Outcomes (AERO) program, which helps struggling children learn to read and accelerate their early reading outcomes.
LBJ Tour

Members of the Development Board recently toured Harris Health LBJ Hospital, highlighting the partnership with UTHealth Houston to train the next generation of health professionals.

In the November 7 election, voters approved a $2.5 billion bond to renovate and expand LBJ Hospital and other Harris Health clinics.
A new scholarship given by Pappas family

Military service and philanthropy are family values for Maria C. Pappas and Christopher J. Pappas. Former Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ernesto Treviño, a student with Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, recently benefited on both counts.

Maria and Chris Pappas met with Treviño to celebrate him as the first-time recipient of the Maria C. and Christopher J. Pappas VBSN Scholarship award. Their family’s intent for the scholarship is to help those who have served our country successfully transition into meaningful civilian work, succeed in their jobs, and fulfill their dreams.