Horizon Foundation Appoints 3 New Board Of Trustee Members

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Three new members have been appointed to the Horizon Foundation's board of trustees. The new trustees began their terms Jan. 1.

Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, associate professor at The Johns Hopkins University; Yvette Rooks, head team physician and assistant director in the University Health Center at the University of Maryland, and; Lanlan Xu, public health expert and community advocate will serve a four-year term on the 18-member board of the Horizon Foundation, the largest independent health philanthropy in Maryland.

“We are thrilled to welcome these three impressive women to the Horizon Foundation board,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “Each of them brings a passion for public health, community service and making our community more just and equitable. We look forward to their guidance in helping further the Foundation’s mission of making good health and well-being achievable for everyone in Howard County.”

Lisa Pearson, formerly the vice chair of the Board of Trustees, will ascend to the role of board chair. Chris Fortune will become vice chair and Gopi Suri will serve as secretary. Mark Cissel will remain as treasurer. Yvette Oquendo-Berruz, Larry Appel and Greg Olaniran left the board of trustees at the end of December after completing their eight-year terms.

“I can’t thank Yvette, Larry and Greg enough for their incredible leadership and service to the Horizon Foundation,” said Vernick. “They all worked tirelessly to help improve public health for everyone in our community, and we will miss their passion and presence greatly.”