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Meet Our Leadership Team

Executive Leadership

Stacy Pagos Haller

Stacy Pagos Haller

President and CEO

Diane Bovenkamp, PhD

Diane Bovenkamp, PhD

Vice President, Scientific Affairs

Brian Elderton

R. Brian Elderton

Sr. Vice President, Development

Nancy Lynn Keach.

Nancy Lynn Keach

Sr. Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

Jon Walsh

Jon Walsh

Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration

Board of Directors

Dr. Stanley Prusiner

Stanley B. Prusiner, MD

Nobel Laureate and Honorary Member, Board of Directors

Trisha Stewart

Patricia McGlothlin Stewart

Chair, Board of Directors

Scott Kaiser

Scott Kaiser, MD

Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Thomas Freddo, OD, PhD

Thomas Freddo, OD, PhD

Secretary, Board of Directors

Shawna Gottlieb

Shawna Gottlieb

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Cecilia Arradaza

Cecilia Arradaza

Board of Directors

Paul Campbell

Paul Campbell

Board of Directors

Herbert Drayton

Herbert L. Drayton III

Board of Directors

Dana Griffin

Dana Griffin

Board of Directors

Tonya Matthews

Tonya M. Matthews, PhD

Board of Directors

Adam Myers

Adam Myers, MD, MHCM, FACHE, CHCQM, CPHRM

Board of Directors

John Penn, PhD

Board of Directors

Ann Argabright Seclow

Ann Argabright Seclow

Board of Directors

Jan Stouffer

Jan M. Stouffer, PhD

Board of Directors

Dale Young

Board of Directors

Emeritus Board Members

Grace Frisone

Grace Frisone

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

June Kinoshita

June Kinoshita

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Judith Lee

Judith F. Lee

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Henry Pownall

Henry J. Pownall, PhD

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Brian Regan

Brian K. Regan, PhD

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Scott Rodgville

Scott Rodgville, CPA

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Eric Siemers

Eric Siemers, MD

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

Ethan Treese

Ethan Treese

Emeritus Member, Board of Directors

News

Recent News & Information

Impact factor of Molecular Neurodegeneration from 2023 at 15.1, 2024 at 17.5, and 2025 at 19.6.

Article

BrightFocus Journal Rises to Top 5 Neuroscience Journals Worldwide

With a 2025 impact factor of 19.6 and a No. 5 ranking among 330 neuroscience journals worldwide, Molecular Neurodegeneration continues to expand its influence on research into Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and related neurodegenerative disorders.

Stacy Pagos Haller

Press Release

BrightFocus Foundation Announces President and CEO Planned Retirement and Launches National Search

BrightFocus Foundation today announced that Stacy Pagos Haller has shared her intention to retire as president and chief executive officer following the successful completion of a national search and the appointment of a successor, after 16 years of leadership.

Dr. David Abramson

Press Release

Dr. David Abramson Receives 2026 Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research from BrightFocus Foundation and Helen Keller Foundation

A pioneering clinician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Abramson has transformed understanding and treatment of eye cancers worldwide.

ARVO Vision Award recipients Celia Bisbach, PhD; David Veyssey, PhD; Lily Wu, PhD; Jeremy Sivak, PhD; Tyson Kim, MD, PhD

Press Release

BrightFocus Honors 5 Vision Scientists Advancing Breakthrough Eye Research

At a ceremony recognizing 2026 vision grant recipients, these prestigious awards honor five standout scientists whose work is shaping the future of prevention, treatments, and cures for macular degeneration and glaucoma—two leading causes of vision loss.

Joshua Emmerson, PhD working in a lab.

Press Release

Donor Support Powers $16M+ Investment in 69 Projects Tackling Alzheimer's, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma

Following a year of uncertainty surrounding federal biomedical research funding, BrightFocus Foundation provides critical support for innovative brain and eye research.

United States Capitol Building in Washington DC with Flag.

Article

BrightFocus Statement on Bipartisan Action to Protect Brain and Eye Research

BrightFocus Foundation supports the bipartisan appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026, which provides critical federal funding for brain and eye research.