The UCR Foundation Board of Trustees has welcomed six new members who began their two-year terms July 1.
The 45-member volunteer Board of Trustees oversees UCR’s affiliated foundation, receiving and managing the investment of a $257.5 million endowment as of May 31 that supports the long-term strength of UCR’s research programs, colleges, and scholarship funds. Trustees advocate for UCR and advance its mission by seeking and securing private support for all of its programs.
The new members are Tony DeLucia, Ching Liu, Walter Matera, Al Stroberg, Bill Thomas, and Tracy Wang.
Also, Sue Johnson, who had been on the board for 44 years, was made a trustee emerita.
Learn more about the new members below:
Tony DeLucia ’70
A professor at the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, DeLucia competed in several sports at UCR while first earning a bachelor’s degree in biology.
At East Tennessee, DeLucia’s primary focus is the environment and health. He credits his years of competitive running, studies done at the UCR greenhouses, and outstanding faculty with inspiring him to become involved in air quality and related issues throughout his career. From 2002-03, he served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Lung Association, fighting for cleaner air and to slow climate change.
Ching Liu
Liu is the co-founder of SolarMax Technology Inc. in Riverside, a solar energy company. She has 20 years of experience in global private equity investments having previously worked at Merrill, formerly known as Merrill Lynch.
Liu serves on the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council and was an executive fellow with the UCR School of Business in 2013-14 where she currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Council. In 2014, she established a SolarMax endowment Scholarship at the School of Business.
Walter Matera ’69
A retired sixth grade teacher and career soldier, Matera earned his bachelor’s degree in history at UCR, where he met his wife Katherine. He received his master’s from California State University, Long Beach, in 2000.
Two years ago, he established the Katherine M. Matera Endowed Award Fund, named after his wife who died in 2014. The fund offers financial support to undergraduate and graduate students majoring in a STEM field who also demonstrate a commitment to music and the arts.
Al Stroberg ’70
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Stroberg was in his first few weeks as a first-year student at UCR when the bell tower was dedicated. He went on to earn his medical degree at UC Irvine and did his residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He later served as a faculty member at UCLA.
He recently established the Stroberg Lecture Series at the UCR School of Medicine, a regular event intended to bring scientists and clinicians together and create opportunities for collaboration.
Bill Thomas
Thomas has been a partner at The KPC Group for 25 years, a company which owns and operates health care services and facilities. He was previously a founding partner at a Riverside law firm, focusing on business and real estate.
Thomas attended UC Santa Barbara, UC Hastings College of the Law, and New York University School of Law. At UCR, he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council to the School of Business, was an executive fellow in 2018-19, and established a scholarship in his and his wife Terre’s name.
Tracy Wang
Wang is the clinical programs director for Anthem Inc. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychobiology and master’s in public health from UCLA. Her son, Justin, is a UC Riverside Regents Scholar studying computer science.
Wang has over 15 years of volunteer service with local and national nonprofits. She also served as Troy High School Parent Teacher Student Association president and as a school board member for United Christian Education Center and FHL Academy. Tracy was recognized with the California State PTA Golden Oak Service Award and Fullerton Joint Union High School District Certificate of Appreciation for her support and contribution to Troy High School.
