Board of Directors

2021- 2022 Directors 

Abigail Hagler, M.D. — Currently retired from the field of Internal Medicine, Dr. Haglar previously served as Chief of Staff and Chief of the Department of Medicine at Yuma Regional Medical Center. She also had a private practice in Yuma for many years. Prior to her work in Yuma, she worked for the Bureau of Prisons in Vermont. Before obtaining her medical degree, she taught English as a Foreign Language in the Peace Corps in Tunis, Tunisia. Dr. Hagler is a resident of Academy Village; her current interests include public health, climate, France, writing and sketching.

Cheryl L. Lacasse, Ph.D., R.N. – Clinical Professor of Nursing, University of Arizona. Dr. Lacasse is Director of Teaching/Learning Practice and Evaluation program at the UA College of Nursing. In 2020 she was awarded the Ann Furrow Endowed Professor of Integrative Nursing. She has also been awarded Distinguished Gerontological Educator, the Daisy Foundation Award for Extraordinary Faculty, and is a recipient of the Integrative Nursing Fellowship at the UA. Her specialty areas include integrative nursing, oncology nursing, gerontology, and the improvement of teaching and learning in nursing education. Dr. Lacasse is an external member of the Board.

Douglas L. Poust, MA, PT – Mr. Poust’s career as a Physical Therapist and manager of healthcare services spanned 30 years prior to his retirement. During that time, he managed all inpatient rehabilitation services at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson; served as a member of a community Bioethics Study group in Carlsbad, NM; and as a member of the Ethics Committee at the Guadalupe Medical Center in Carlsbad. He has held various board positions in several state chapters of the American Physical Therapy Association, including Vice President and President of theNew Mexico Chapter. Mr. Poust is a resident of Academy Village.

Gary D Fenstermacher, Ph.D., currently serves as president of ASC. Prior to moving to Academy Village in 2005, he held professorial positions at U.C.L.A., Virginia Tech, University of Arizona, and University of Michigan. He served as dean of the College of Education at Arizona from 1985 until 1992. He is a philatelist, photographer, film buff, and lover of all things electronic. Dr. Fenstermacher is a resident of Academy Village

Tracy P. Nuckolls, Esq. Chair of the Board. Recently retired as the Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for TMC HealthCare in Tucson, Arizona. His prior Board experience includes the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (Regional Behavioral Health Authority), and currently he serves on the Boards of Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Service (Board Chairman); the Arizona Health Reciprocal Insurance Company (President); and as a member of the Finance and Audit Committee of Pima Community College. Mr. Nuckolls is an external member of the Board.

Richard Howell has been, since 2008, the Managing Director of Operations for Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc., based in Tucson. He is responsible for the management of all Watermark communities, corporate departments, community transitions, new community openings, and new initiatives for the company which has grown from 10 communities in 2008 to 39 at present. Prior to 2008 he was Executive Director of The Fountains at La Cholla, and held management positions with other retirement communities in Tucson and elsewhere. Mr. Howell is an external member of the Board

Paula J. Perrera, J.D. Currently serves as Director of the Pima County Department of Behavioral Health, managing a staff of 25, with a budget of approximately 50 million dollars. Formerly served as Supervising Attorney for the Pima County Health Law Unit, and Deputy Tribal Attorney for the Pasqua Yaqui tribe. Ms. Perrera is an external member of the Board.

Ben J. Tuchi, Ph.D. Served as senior financial officer and professor of finance at West Virginia University, the University of Arizona, the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and the University of Pittsburgh. Currently serves as Treasurer of the board of directors of the Campus Research Corporation, president of the board of directors of the Arizona Research Park Authority, and Secretary/Treasurer of the board of the Institute on Science for Global Policy. Dr. Tuchi is an external member of the Board.