Tell us about your first memories of Woodward.

My first memories of Woodward are in the fifth grade at the Lower School, where I first met many of the classmates who would share most of my classes for the rest of my time at the Academy. I still keep in touch with many of those classmates who became close friends over the years.

Who were your major influences at the Academy?

Some of my major influences were Gus Dearolph, Major Ferguson, Mr. Lineberry, and Coach Rick Boyer. Coach Boyer instilled the values of self-discipline and self-motivation needed to succeed, as well as the can-do attitude of stretching beyond your limits. Major Ferguson and Mr. Dearolph both shared the joy and the humor in learning. I developed an appreciation of the French language and culture from Major Ferguson, and his distaste for misplaced modifiers was passed on to me. Mr. Dearolph inspired me to pursue science as a career and truly made learning physics both fascinating and fun. Mr. Lineberry instilled a deep appreciation and fascination with American History that I still carry to this day.

How did Woodward help you define yourself and your interests/passions in life?

Woodward gave me a love of learning, a strong ability to communicate, and the self-confidence to reach for success.

Tell us about your college education and early career.

I attended MIT for both my undergraduate and master’s degrees in aeronautics and astronautics. When I arrived there, I found that I was much better prepared for the intense workload that we faced as MIT freshmen. I graduated with honors and remained at MIT for a master’s degree, which led to my first job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), working on the first Mars Rover Pathfinder mission.

Describe for us the arc of your professional/life journey.

When I was working at JPL, my brother’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I decided that I wanted to pursue a career that would have more of a direct impact on other people’s lives. I also became fascinated with the recent advances in genetics and molecular biology, so I prepared to switch career directions and eventually entered the Ph.D. program in genetics and molecular biology at Emory University, where I obtained my Ph.D. in 1998. I became a faculty member at Emory in 2001, and soon joined the Winship Cancer Institute. I have been doing cancer research for the past 19 years and using my engineering and science training to perform cancer bioinformatics research that is at the intersection of genomics, cancer biology, big data, and computer science.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of seeing my two children graduate from Woodward in 2014 and 2017.

Tell us about your family and its Woodward connections.

My older brother, Hugo S. Moreno Jr., graduated from Woodward in 1973. My older sister, Ana Moreno Southern, graduated in 1977. My son Ian graduated in 2014, and my daughter Sarah graduated in 2017. Ian is currently an undergraduate at Georgia Tech, where he is majoring in computer science. Sarah is going to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, where she will pursue a career in the visual arts.

Governing Board service is a very important commitment. Why do you choose to devote so much time and energy to your alma mater?

I believe in Woodward as an Institution. It has shaped so many lives in such a positive way. It is a place where students learn to love learning, and where teachers love to teach. It provides so many opportunities that it gives students the chance to find their passions and pursue them. It truly lives up to its motto of Excellence, Character, and Opportunity.