Chairman of the Board, Siemens Foundation
Thomas McCausland was elected to Chairman of the Board of the Siemens Foundation in June 2004. Founded in 1998, the Siemens Foundation provides nearly $2 million in college scholarships and awards each year for talented high school students, teachers and schools in the United States.
Thomas McCausland retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Customer Solutions Group for Siemens Medical Solutions, USA in May 2006. For over ten years, he oversaw the US operations of one of the most successful divisions of an enormous multinational company – Siemens AG, headquartered in Munich, Germany.
His responsibilities included sales, service and logisticsof Siemens Medical Solutions U.S. business, including medical information technology software, imaging equipment and medical therapy.
Mr. McCausland joined Siemens in 1986 with Siemens Energy and Automation in Atlanta, Georgia where he served as deputy general manager, Large Motor and Generators, and as vice president, Motor Drives Division. His knowledge and presence in this area refocused efforts onto more profitable operations and created a strong atmosphere for teamwork among both labor and management, resulting in increased sales by 300 percent from 1987 to 1990. Mr. McCausland served as the operating company’s vice president of Sales and Marketing from 1992 to 1996, before joining the Medical Division. He was responsible for domestic and international sales and exportation of the company’s industrial, construction and utility transmission markets.
Prior to joining Siemens, Mr. McCausland held numerous senior-level sales, marketing, engineering and manufacturing positions during his 20 years with Westinghouse.McCausland also serves on the board of directors of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and AdvaMed, and is Chairman of the Board of CPS, a joint venture between Siemens Medical and CTI, Inc. He was also the recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s 2001 CEO of the Year Award in the Medical Imaging category.
Mr. McCausland holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York in Buffalo.
August 2006
President, Siemens Foundation
James E. Whaley was appointed President of the Siemens Foundation in June 2006. He has overseen the Foundation’s management since joining as Vice President in October 2004. In addition to his work with the Foundation, Mr. Whaley also serves as the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs for Siemens Corporation.
Under Mr. Whaley’s tenure as President, the Foundation developed The Siemens We Can Change The World Challenge in partnership with The Discovery Channel and the National Science Teacher Association, this innovative program will focus on educating and engaging students, teachers and communities across the nation in exploring solutions for a more "green" environment built on sustainability practices. The Foundation also expanded its Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement program to all fifty states, recognizing students, teachers and schools for exceptional achievement in AP math and science courses nationally. It launched the Siemens Teacher Scholarship which awards college scholarships to encourage minority students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to pursue teaching careers in science and math. Mr. Whaley also initiated Siemens Science Day, a national program created to captivate young students’ interest in math, science and technology.
Previously Mr. Whaley served as Director of Communications at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In that position, he executed an innovative communications plan in celebration of West Point’s 200th anniversary. This plan resulted in 24 books, eight network television documentaries, and won the 2003 Public Relations Society of America Award of Excellence and the 2003 PR Week Public Campaign of the Year.
Mr. Whaley has more than 20 years of management experience that includes integrated marketing, strategic communications, media relations, internal communications, crisis communications, and community relations. He is a graduate of Lock Haven University where he received his undergraduate degree in journalism in 1984. He completed his MBA at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Frankfurt, Germany, in 1989. Mr. Whaley also attended the Defense Information School, Meade, MD, 1998 and completed the U.S. Army Helicopter Instructor Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, AL in 1990. Mr. Whaley retired after 20 years in the US Army where he received the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Master Aviator Badge and numerous other awards during his career. He serves on the Board of Directors of American Heart Association, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce.
July 2008
Vice President, Siemens Foundation
As Vice President, Jeniffer Harper-Taylor oversees day-to-day management of the Siemens Foundation and its signature programs. Since joining the Foundation in March 2000 as Program Manager and subsequently serving as Program Director, Ms. Harper-Taylor has been the primary liaison between the Foundation and its business partner The College Board, the six university partners that host the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology regional events, and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and United Negro College Fund.
Ms. Harper-Taylor has more than twelve years experience in human resources with a particular expertise in University recruitment. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was Manager of Recruitment for Siemens Energy and Automation, where she was primarily involved with recruitment activities at college campuses nationwide. Before joining Siemens, she worked in a variety of human resource management positions in Rochester, New York, and Gainesville, Georgia.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Harper-Taylor has played an active role in various community organizations in her hometown, including participation in the Atlanta chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters and membership in the NAACP and Urban League. Her professional affiliations include membership in the Society of Human Resource Management.
Ms. Harper-Taylor is a graduate of Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. She works at the Foundation’s headquarters in Iselin, New Jersey.
June 2006
Senior Program & Educational Outreach Manager
Valerie Francois joined the Siemens Foundation in June 2007 and brings to the organization 2 1/2 years of experience as a Communications Manager at Siemens Corporation. Valerie will be responsible for the daily management of the Siemens Foundation programs, including a comprehensive public relations strategy to maximize internal and external communication about the Siemens Foundation and its programs. She will also be responsible for increasing outreach in the educational community in the areas of math, science and technology.
Valerie's previous experiences include 14 years as a successful project manager in multimedia environments including Girl Scouts USA, Educational Testing Service, Dow Jones & Co. and Black Enterprise magazine.
Valerie holds a B.A. in Journalism from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is a volunteer in New Jersey with the Parent Teacher Association, West Windsor-Plainsboro Education Foundation and InSpira Dance Theatre.
Valerie works at the Foundation’s headquarters in Iselin, New Jersey.
June 2007
Program Coordinator
Kiesha Boykins is Program Coordinator for the Siemens Foundation and provides administrative support for the Siemens Foundation team. She is also responsible for assisting with coordination of Siemens scholarships and awards programs.
Prior to joining Siemens, Kiesha was a Chargeback Analyst for Merrill Lynch. In this role, she was responsible for assisting clients with credit card disputes. Kiesha also has several years of administrative and customer service experience.
Kiesha received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
January 2007
Communications Coordinator
Lauren Espin joined the Siemens Foundation in June 2006. Lauren coordinates communication activities and event planning for the Foundation’s signature programs, particularly the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology and the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement. Additionally, Lauren manages the Siemens Scholar Network, a social networking site exclusively for Siemens scholarship winners.
Lauren's previous experiences include positions at Siemens Shared Services in Iselin, NJ and NBC Channel 4 News in New York, NY.
Lauren is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Journalism. She is currently pursuing an MBA at Seton Hall University.
July 2008
Program Coordinator
Maureen Cooke is Program Coordinator for the Siemens Foundation, specifically working on outreach geared toward elementary and middle school students. Her responsibilities include running the Siemens Science Day program, serving as the primary liaison between the Foundation and its business partner Discovery Education and developing communications for the program. She acts as the primary contact with Siemens Foundation partners Discovery and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) on the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. Maureen also supports the Siemens-Disney alliance through her work on the online webisodes "Siemens Science Minutes."
Maureen is a graduate of Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts with a Bachelor's degree in English
September 2008
