Welcome to all our new members for 2023! All of them are dedicated to helping fund our scholars’ work in the science, engineering and medical fields, recognizing that our scholars will have a profound impact on our world.  Here they are—in case you missed them. 

Meredith Bell

Sponsors: Margaret Turk and Beth Maguire

Meredith is a retired environmental chemist and physician. She specialized in radiology in positions at UNC, St. Louis, Duke and Northside. Meredith’s community service includes the Atlanta Symphony, Project Open Hand, and FurKids Animal shelter where she volunteers weekly delivering surgical and medical procedures.

 

Lisa Brown

Sponsors: Kristen Gibbs and Leslie Petter

Lisa was a biology and chemistry major and worked professionally in consulting for Andersen Consulting and on her own. She is a board member at the Humane Society and very active in the contributing her expertise in strategy, fundraising, planning and project management to community and startup organizations.

Jamie Deeter

Sponsors: Angelle Hamilton and Susan McGonigle

Jamie is a senior director in scientific relations at Roche Diagnostics. With a Masters and PhD in infectious diseases and degrees in biology and chemistry, Jamie has had a long global career at Roche Diagnostics, Roche Molecular Systems, UGA, UC Davis, Aalto Scientific. She delivers frequent lectures on a range of scientific and health subjects in university and business forums. 

Laura Draper

Sponsors: Mary Watson and Ann Taylor

Laura was a long-serving high school English teacher and is involved in an array of community and volunteer endeavors spanning history, horticulture, education and fund-raising. Laura has strong expertise in writing, communication and event planning.

Meg Heyer

Sponsors: Patty Reid and Betsy Kazazian

Meg had an extensive career in finance and banking and has been very involved in a range of community endeavors in Atlanta. With a criminal justice educational background, she has given her expertise to several causes focused on bridge building, mentoring and fundraising in religious, juvenile justice and educational communities.

Eileen Higgins

Sponsors: Suzy Wasserman and Vicki Morrow

Eileen is President of The Zeist Company and CFO of the Zeist Foundation. She has an extensive financial background as a CFP and CPA and has served in strategic financial leadership roles with financial planning and arts associations. Eileen has led financial and fundraising work for Agape Community Center, and her foundation leadership work is highly regarded in our community.

Maggie Joslin

Sponsors: Lee Doyle and Mary Jo Peed

Maggie has a business and legal background with a 30+ year legal career in corporate and public finance. She is an active mentor of young women in the legal field across several firms. Her community endeavors include literacy at Everybody Wins!, civic engagement, election integrity and voter protection.

Debby Kelly

Sponsors: Molly Eskew and Ann Curry

Debby has a range of professional and community experience. She was a pre-school teacher and has served on numerous community boards including GA Shakespeare and Young Audiences, and has been extensively involved in several schools and churches. Debby has traveled extensively in Africa co-leading several safaris.

Niv Persaud

Sponsors: Sara Jean Burke and Cathy Wahlen

Niv is an engineering graduate from Ga Tech and is experienced in financial planning and analytics.  She runs her own planning, and advisory firm and is extensively involved in professional and community organizations, with a focus on fundraising, mentoring, and strategic oversight.  She has served Georgia Tech, CHOA, Zoo Atlanta, Shepherd Center, and her Lutheran church in a range of leadership functions.

Kathryn Richard

Sponsors: Carolynn Cooper and Liz Mori Lauer

With an MBA from UNC, Kathryn has an extensive marketing career in brand and product management. She has contributed to a broad range of volunteer endeavors across multiple Atlanta schools, scouting, religious, arts and civic organizations. She is an artist and designer, speaks Russian and is a skilled writer.

Suzanne Sullivan

Sponsors: Beth Finnerty and Mary Dodson

Suzanne has an extensive fine arts educational and career background and has her own firm as a classical realist painter. She is dedicated to a lifelong spirit of volunteerism and has served in volunteer leadership roles for Pace Academy and Christ the King, along with numerous strategic, event and fundraising goals in executing Charity Clays and Annie Oakley events. Suzanne enjoys sport clay shooting, flower arranging and several outdoor activities among a broad range of interests.

Macie Thompson

Sponsors: Kelli Keb and Sarah Batts

Macie is Director of Foundation Relations at the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech. In addition to a long career in foundation and endowment operations and strategy, she has extensive community and civic volunteer experience with grant-making, with giving and finance as a key focus. STEM is an element of Macie’s daily professional focus and her volunteer leadership skills have benefitted a range of educational, community, and religious organizations.