Board of Directors
Douglas K. Freeman, J.D., LL.M., Chairman
- Senior Managing Director, First Foundation Advisors, where he provides strategic planning and organizational management advice for businesses, not-for-profit organizations, family and independent foundation, and families.
- He is a retired tax attorney and founder of the law firm of Freeman, Freeman & Smiley, LLP, located in Los Angeles and Irvine, California.
- From 2005-2008, Doug was recognized by Worth magazine as among the top 100 attorneys in the United States and, in 1999, he was featured by Bloomberg Financial as one of the nation’s leading estate planning attorneys.
- He is the founder of National Philanthropy Day, proclaimed by Congress and celebrated throughout the US since 1986.
- He is co-author with Lee Hausner of The Legacy Family…The Definitive Guide to Building a Successful Multigenerational Family (Palgrave Macmillan 2009), and A Founder’s Guide to the Family Foundation, (Council on Foundations 2005).
- He is the Immediate Past Chair of the UC Irvine Foundation Board of Trustees, and prior Chair of the Pacific Symphony. He is a director on four family foundations and oversees the operations of 14 family and independent foundations.
- Doug is a graduate of Stanford University (A.B. with Distinction, 1967), University of California at Los Angeles (J.D., 1970), and the University of San Diego (LL.M. in Taxation, 1984).He retired as a Certified Specialist in Taxation under the State Bar of California in 2008.
Sue Tucker, President
- President of Literacy Project Foundation.
- Sue’s career background as a philanthropist, educator, publicist and journalist has focused on the nonprofit industry for over 27 years.
- Founded OC Public Relations in 1996, specializing in cause marketing, media relations, special event planning and publicity for nonprofit organizations.
- Sue’s journalism career includes over 17 years in positions as society editor, master calendar editor and editor for philanthropic publications.
- Awarded “1998 Honorary Service Award” by the California Congress of Parents, Teachers & Students, Inc. for her literacy work in Orange County elementary schools.
- In 2000, founded the first online magazine calendaring system for charity events in Orange Coast magazine, which expanded to 26 cities nationwide, earning her the “2002 Business Woman of the Year” by American Women’s Business Association.
- Educates on topics of special event publicity, media relations and nonprofit marketing at Cal State University, Fullerton, Volunteer Center OC, UCI Extension Program.
- Served on the various nonprofit boards over 25 years to include 13 years in all capacities as board member of The Sophisticates of ATSC who supports free counseling for troubled at-risk school-age children.
- Sue graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cal State University, Fullerton (B.S., Human Services and Community Development) and studied her master’s degree at CSUF in Counseling & School Psychology. She attended University of California, Irvine Extension Program in the studies of nonprofit fundraising and public relations.
Lee Hausner, Ph.D.
- Senior Managing Director, First Foundation Advisors
- An internationally recognized clinical psychologist, business consultant and family wealth advisor.
- She served as the senior psychologist for the Beverly Hills Unified School District for 17 years.
- An acknowledged expert on psychological issues involving wealth and wealth transfer, she was a presenter at the World Economic Forum in Davos and is a frequent participant at the high wealth/private client conferences for major financial institutions.
- Lee is co-author with Doug Freeman of A Founder’s Guide to the Family Foundation”, published by the Council on Foundations, and The Legacy Family…The Definitive Guide to Building a Successful Multigenerational Family.
- She is the author of the seminal work regarding wealth and the family; “Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families” and co-author of the critically acclaimed family business resource book “Hats Off to You 2: Balancing Roles and Creating Success in Family Business”.
- Lee is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.A., Psychology), San Francisco State University (M.A., Psychology), and Kensington University (Ph.D., Psychology).
David Long, Ph.D.
- David Long earned a doctorate degree in educational administration from Iowa State University, a masters degree in physical education from Missouri State College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from the University of Northern Iowa
- · He has more than 40 years of experience in education, including 21 years teaching in the classroom and serving in a variety of positions: assistant superintendent, principal, associate principal, athletic director and coach
- · Currently CEO of Dave Long & Associates, an education consulting firm
- In September 2008 signed on as a consultant to the California School Boards Association
- Served as Secretary of Education under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2007-2008
- Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Education, served as the superintendent of schools for Riverside County having oversight over 23 school districts serving more than 400,000 students.
- He previously was the superintendent for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District from 1992 to 1999, and he held the same position in the Banning Unified School District from 1989 to 1992.
- Served on the Board of Directors and as president of the California County Superintendents Educational Association
- Chaired the Federal Education Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community Advisory Committee
- Served as a commissioner for the First 5 Commission of Riverside and chair of the United Way Educational Countywide.
Louise Merage
- Louise “Liz” Merage is retired from the Merage business empire where she specialized in real estate investment.
- She serves as an active philanthropic leader as board member of Angels of the Arts, Girls Inc, and Hillel Foundation of Orange County at UCI.
- Liz manages her own private foundation which supports various charities to include Pacific Symphony, Mind Institute and various projects at University of California, Irvine to name a few.
National Board of Advisors
Marian Bergeson
- Marian Bergeson’s experience includes more than 22 years in government service as Secretary of Education under Governor Pete Wilson
- A State Senator from 1984 to 1995 and Assemblywoman from 1978 to 1984 and member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
- She has been a UCI Foundation ambassador since 1999, an advocate of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts and Arts Bridge, and a member of the Center for the Study of Democracy’s Leadership Council
- Currently, Marian Bergeson has been appointed to the California Transportation Commission
Francis M. Crinella, Ph.D.
- Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Human Behavior, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine
- Director, Neuropsychology Laboratory, UCI Child Development Center Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine
R. Preston Gelhart, Ph.D.
- Educational Psychologist, EL 1336
- Emeritus Professor of Education & Psychology, Pepperdine University
- Co-founder and author of the book, The Write to Read, an educational kit designed to serve as a model to enable children to develop their own literacy reading skills, creativity and conceptual style
- Co-founder of the an after school educational center dealing with children with special needs
Daniel G. Aldrich III, Ph.D.
- Senior Development Associate, Institutional Advancement, Office of the President, University of California
- COSMOS board member, University of California, Irvine
- Society board member, University of California, Irvine
Stephen J. Ritter
- 28 years in the K-12 California public schools as a classroom teacher (California, Mexico), principal, school site administrator, and cabinet level administrator at the district office
- Former Assistant Superintendent Business Services for East Whittier City School District in Whittier and Huntington Beach Union High School District in Huntington Beach
- Current instructor in extended education program for school business administration at California State University, Fullerton
