The UCR Foundation Board of Trustees has welcomed four new members, all of whom began their two-year terms July 1.
The 35-member volunteer Board of Trustees oversees UCR’s affiliated foundation, receiving and managing the investment of a $251.4 million endowment as of April 30 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 its programs.
The new members are Tom Delfino, Bill Dull, John Leonard, and Damon Richardson. Read more about them below.
Tom Delfino
Delfino is a senior principal with S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., an environmental consulting firm. Delfino previously served as executive director for California Citrus Nursery Society, the industry association for citrus nurseries in California. Prior to California Citrus Nursery Society, he was a principal, vice president, and member of the Board of Directors of Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., an environmental consulting firm. He is a retired Naval Reserve Medical Service Corps industrial hygiene officer. Delfino holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley. He is a co-inventor of a method for bioremediation of chlorinated organic pollutants in soil and groundwater. He and his wife, Cynthia Dong, have been friends of UCR for more than 20 years.
William (Bill) Dull
Dull is a leader in the power magnetics field, with more than 40 years’ experience in the industry. In his role as President of Triad Magnetics since March of 2003, Dull manages a diversified portfolio of standard power transformers, inductors and power supplies, as well as Triad’s U.S. Design Center in Perris, California, which provides extensive custom engineering services. His background leading North American divisions of Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese companies has provided expertise in global markets, with key business and marketing strengths in the magnetics arena. Under his leadership, Triad Magnetics has been a lead sponsor of the Bourns College of Engineering Dean’s Innovation Fund since 2018. For the past five years, Dull has also served on the BCOE Dean’s Advisory Board. Dull earned a bachelor’s in administrative studies from UCR in 1983. He is excited to help represent and grow the UCR Foundation as a trustee.
John E. Leonard
Leonard is senior vice president, Technical Operations, of the biotechnology company Vaccinex, a position he has held since early 2009. From 2005-2008, he served as a consultant to various national and international biotechnology companies. Previously he held various positions of increasing responsibility at IDEC Pharmaceuticals, including vice president, Product Development. From 1977-1983, Leonard was a postdoctoral scientist at UC San Diego, and from 1983-1988 he was an assistant research biochemist at UC San Diego Cancer Center. Leonard has been involved in the clinical development of 35 biologic or small molecule drugs indicated for the treatment of patients with cancer, autoimmune or neurodegenerative disease. Of these drugs, three were approved for commercial use by the FDA and international regulatory agencies. Leonard earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from UCR in 1978. A returning trustee, he is also the 2017 recipient of the UC Riverside Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Damon Richardson
Richardson is based in Silicon Valley and serves as vice president, finance, for Google. With over 25 years of experience in professional services firms and tech, Richardson now leads the global tax function for Google, leading a team of over 140 tax attorneys and accountants. He also serves in various leadership roles across the company, including executive sponsor of Google’s Finance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, and is a founding member of Black Leaders at Google and a lead on its Economic Empowerment Core Team. An avid runner and former student-athlete, Richardson earned a bachelor’s in sociology and administrative studies from UCR. He also holds a law degree from UCLA.
