Board of Directors
2025-2026 Directors
Palmer Evans, M.D. — Former Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Tucson Medical Center, Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Arizona Connected Care (an Accountable Care Organization), as well as Immediate Past Chair of the Board of the Pima Council on Aging. Recipient of the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement in Health Care Award from the Tucson Medical Leaders program and a Life Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Evans is an external member of the Board.
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.
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.
Lisa Israel — Former Chief Executive Officer of La Posada Green Valley, the first certified Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Arizona. Ms. Israel was affiliated with La Posada from the time of its founding, serving in multiple administrative roles until becoming its CEO. Upon her retirement after 15 years of distinguished service as CEO, she was honored with the title of President Emerita. Ms. Israel is an external member of the Board.
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.
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.
Paula J. Perrera, J.D. — Currently serves as Director of Detainee and Crisis Systems, 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.
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 the New Mexico Chapter. Mr. Poust is a resident of Academy Village.
Edward Schechner, MSW, LCSW — Manager of Academy Village Medical Services, LLC, the operating arm of the Academy Villas assisted living and memory care residences. Mr. Schechner has a long career as a licensed social worker serving the State of Arizona., Tucson Unified School District, Pima Community College, and Handmaker Jewish Geriatric Services. He is an ex officio member of the Board and a resident of Academy Village.
Gerald Stump — Prior to his retirement, Mr. Stump held various administrative positions in hospital systems in Colorado, Illinois, and Indiana, including Director of Patient Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer. He has advised hospitals and long-term care facilities on financial management and oversight of accounts receivable. He is a resident of Academy Village.
Laura Wilson, RN, BSN. Ms. Wilson has served in clinical and administrative positions in the fields of skilled home health care, hospice, infusion therapy, and private duty home care. She currently serves as Executive Vice President of Operations for the Blue Summit Medical Group, located in Virginia. Over her career, she has garnered extensive work experience in hospice and home care across five states. She is a resident of Academy Village.