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MCASD Board Approves New Board President and Welcomes Four New Trustees
SAN DIEGO- July 21, 2025 - At their July Board meeting, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) officially welcomed new Board President Maryanne C. Pfister and offered thanks to outgoing president Steve M. Strauss for his three years of service working to refine the Museum’s operations after its most recent renovation and expansion, completed in 2022.
“As a longtime board member, Maryanne brings a personal background in MCASD’s development over the years,” said David C. Copley Director and CEO Kathryn Kanjo. “Maryanne’s extensive experience with our organization makes this transition seamless as we express gratitude to Steve Strauss for his vision and commitment continuing a family tradition of leadership and support.”
Ms. Pfister joined the Board in 2006 and has been a Vice President for 10 years. She has chaired the Advancement Committee and Capital Campaign Committee, helping raise funds to support the institution and its recent expansion. The Pfister Gallery, featuring the Museum’s treasured California Light and Space collection, is named in honor of Ms. Pfister and her husband Irwin’s generous support.
Before getting involved with nonprofit organizations, Ms. Pfister had a career in corporate communications in the high-tech industry for 12 years before starting her own consulting business specializing in developing strategic marketing communications plans for companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Cadence and Artest Corp. In addition to her work with MCASD, she is a former director of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (formerly known as the Zoological Society of San Diego) Foundation Board and served on its Executive Committee and is currently on the board of The New Children’s Museum. Ms. Pfister and her husband made their permanent home in La Jolla in 2005.
“We have a world-class collection that includes some of the biggest names in contemporary art, and we’ve also nurtured mid-career and younger artists. I want to communicate that to the broader community because I don't think many people realize just what a treasure we have here,” she explained. “Contemporary art can be beautiful and playful, but sometimes it’s uncomfortable, and I find that thought-provoking. It’s the art of current times and a reflection of our culture and society today. It’s not always pretty—but it makes you think.”
Also joining the Board as trustees are four active community volunteers.
Deidre Buddin (92117)
Deidre Buddin is a San Diego native and retired dermatologist. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her graduate training in dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Deidre has had a long and deep appreciation for Puerto Rican and Latin American contemporary art, drawn to its vivid colors and deep cultural stories. Through her philanthropic work, she supports underprivileged youth in San Diego and Puerto Rico through educational and art funding, curative research and basic needs funding for type 1 diabetes, as well as support for young entrepreneurs to help improve their social and economic impact.
Tao Jiang (92067)
After graduating from a top university in Shanghai and working in a petrochemical research institute in Nanjing, Tao Jiang came to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at State University of New York in Buffalo with a full scholarship. In 1995, he moved to San Diego to conduct postdoctoral research on cancer imaging and detection under Nobel Laurate Professor Roger Tsien. Subsequently, Tao worked in the biotech industry and at UCSD for ten years. In 2007, he cofounded his own biotech company, which was acquired in 2022.
Ali Nafii (92067)
Born in Paris, raised across Morocco and Montreal, and now proudly calling San Diego home. With over 15 years of experience in wealth management, Ali leads Northern Trust’s San Diego Wealth Management team. Ali’s career began at Jarislowsky Fraser Ltd. in Montreal. In 2014, he joined Northern Trust, where he has served as a Senior Portfolio Manager in Orange County before assuming his current leadership role in San Diego. Ali holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Finance from Concordia University in Montreal, where he also competed in varsity soccer. He later earned his MBA from Hult International Business School, completing his global education across campuses in San Francisco and London.
Alex High (92037)
Driven by a passion for building vibrant communities, Alex High helps steward a $5 billion national portfolio of commercial real-estate investments. A double honors graduate of the University of San Diego (Bachelor of Science & Master of Science in Finance, top of the class), he has served on the advisory board of XPRIZE and helped produce and fundraise for TEDxSanDiego. Last year, Alex was one of the chairs at MCASD’s first annual Avant Garde Ball.
ABOUT MCASD:
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of today. Open since 1941, the Museum invites people to reflect on their lives, communities, and the ever-changing world through the powerful prism of contemporary art. Located in the coastal community of La Jolla — MCASD showcases an internationally-recognized collection. Its dynamic exhibition schedule features a vast array of media in an unprecedented variety of spaces, along with a growing dedication to community experiences and public programs. www.mcasd.org
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