Dr. Jim Ramos is a higher education leader committed to advancing academic and regional development in the border region. As Academic Dean and Director of Distance Education Innovation at Southwest University, he has led the launch of graduate programs in business, healthcare, and nursing. He has cultivated strategic partnerships with local entities including the City of El Paso, school districts, and healthcare organizations to strengthen workforce development and to grow and retain local talent. His current academic and professional focus integrates leadership, research, education, and community impact. Dr. Ramos brings a multidisciplinary background with undergraduate degrees in Bioengineering and Accounting, an MBA with a concentration in Finance, and a Ph.D. inBiomedical Engineering. Dr. Ramos also serves as Vice President of the Board for Insights Science Discovery, promoting STEM education and community engagement across the region.

Dr. William (Bill) Pieratt has served as Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine since August 2020. Under his leadership, Burrell College has developed innovative, community-based learning programs to help future physicians better understand the social and cultural drivers of health outcomes in our region and to collaborate with community partners to promote education and well-being. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine in 1995 and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dean Pieratt has broad experience in both ambulatory and hospital-based medicine in rural as well as urban settings, in both private and system-based practice. Dean Pieratt previously served as Associate Dean for Texas A&M College of Medicine’s Bryan-College Station campus and Interim Department Head for Primary Care and Population Health. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M and received his Doctor of Osteopathy from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992.

Jennifer currently serves as In House Counsel and Director of Corporate Contracts for Unichem Pharmaceuticals USA, a multinational generic pharmaceutical company. Jennifer is responsible for providing business minded legal support for all commercial agreements, supply chain and compliance matters. She has developed valuable experience in DSCSA implementation and works closely with the Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance teams. Jennifer has successfully managed internal litigation delivering valuable cost savings for the organization. She also provides counsel on labor and employment law issues. Prior to joining Unichem, Jennifer practiced at several leading Texas law firms defending pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare organizations. Jennifer was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Whittier College and received her Juris Doctor from The University of Houston. She is married with two adult children and lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Jon serves as the District Chief Strategy Officer at the University Medical Center of El Paso, where he leads strategic and business planning for UMC, El Paso Children’s Hospital, El Paso Health, and ten outpatient clinics throughout the region. He brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare and public health. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer and President of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, where he founded PHIX, the region’s health information exchange. Earlier in his career, he volunteered full-time with Annunciation House, supporting shelters for migrants in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Jon currently serves on the board of the FEMAP Foundation, which supports a hospital and nursing school in Ciudad Juárez. His past board service includes the City of El Paso Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #5, the Downtown Management District, and the Texas Health Information Exchange Coalition. He holds a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at El Paso and a Doctor of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.