Eden Autism is pleased to announce four new members to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2024. Joanna Adu, Gahan Pandina, William Rue Jr., and Michelle Watts join seventeen other board members to provide Eden with guidance, leadership, and strategic counsel.
Joanna Adu
Joanna Adu is a Shareholder and Partner at Lyons & Associates, P.C., and Chairs the firm’s Trusts, Estates, and Finance Practice Group, where her practice is devoted to all aspects of wills, trusts and estates, guardianships, and business law, including business formation, litigation, and ongoing consultation. As a special needs parent, she has an innate understanding of the issues and concerns of special needs families, including providing for their future care through special need trusts and guardianships.
Joanna’s son is a student at the Eden School. She serves on Eden’s Development Committee and has been a guest presenter for Noonan Legacy Society webinars.
Dr. Gahan Pandina
Dr. Gahan Pandina is a Senior Director, Compound Development Team Leader for Janssen Research and Development, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. His research includes development of tools and technologies to enable novel medication development for Autism Spectrum Disorder, novel approaches for disease interception and intervention in Mood Disorders, and treatment of depression and suicide.
Gahan received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Binghamton University (and is licensed in NJ) and his B.A. from the University of Vermont. Gahan is also a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Gahan served as Chair of Eden’s Program Committee and on Eden’s Executive and Development Committees.
Bill Rue
Bill Rue is the President of Rue Insurance. Prior to joining Rue, Bill was an analyst in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch where he was responsible for valuation analysis and merger and acquisition advisory services for Fortune 500 industrial companies. He also served as head of analyst recruiting where he coordinated the hiring of employees worldwide.
Bill has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and degrees in economics and political science from Duke University. Outside of work, Bill serves as a member of the board of directors of Lakeview Child Center, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Princeton Family YMCA. He is also the past treasurer of the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness and the past chairman of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton’s Young Professionals Group.
Michelle Watts
Michelle Watts leads the Global Executive Search and Talent Advisory practice for Verizon Communications. She currently serves as Director – Talent Management in the Talent and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Center of Excellence. Her responsibilities include external search and internal mobility for Verizon’s director and above population, executive market intelligence and insights, strategic talent planning, and preparation of talent-related presentations for Verizon’s Leadership Committee and Board of Directors meetings. Prior to her current role, she led Succession Planning & Leadership Development, University Relations, and Emerging Pipeline Programs. She’s also managed Verizon’s relocation and immigration services.
Michelle holds a B.A. in Advertising from Penn State’s College of Communications where she graduated summa cum laude. Her son resides at an Eden group home. Her adult son is a resident at an Eden group home. She previously served on Eden’s Audit/Risk, Governance/Nominating Committees, and Development Committee.
In addition to welcoming the new members, Eden would also like to thank Paul Prior, Jayne O’Connor, Marc Citron, and William Johnston for their service on Eden’s board as their terms have ended.
