August 14, 2024
We are excited to announce that Bill Beasley ’82, a longtime Silicon Valley senior executive, has been named as our new innovation director. In this role, Bill will be responsible for growing the Innovation @ Saint Francis program by bringing industry partners to Saint Francis to offer opportunities for students to work on meaningful projects with real-world applications.
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Bill comes to Saint Francis with decades of leadership experience, having worked both at large companies early in his career, and for the past 20 years, in technology and medical device startups. Over the course of his professional life, he has held senior roles in software development and consulting, IT management, manufacturing and operations, and executive management. While overseeing the Innovation @ Saint Francis program, Bill will continue to serve as part-time president and chief operating officer of Enspectra Health, an emerging medical imaging company located within Fogarty Innovation on the El Camino Health campus in Mountain View. His dual role will support the mission of Innovation @ Saint Francis, bringing industry partners and students together to work on shared ideas and goals. |
The program will also empower students to explore new interests and take risks while simultaneously helping them build professional networks. Past Innovation @ Saint Francis projects have included developing a VR experience that uses pulse sensors to measure biofeedback, designing solutions for dementia care, and pitching investment proposals to finance experts. Santa Clara University, Adobe and Readability Matters are among the companies and groups that have worked with Innovation @ Saint Francis students.
“I came back to Saint Francis because I have a long history and passion for the school and the Holy Cross mission, and I’d like to build a connection with young people who will be our future leaders,” Bill says.
“I’m thrilled to be here because I want to give back to the community that launched me on my career path. I look forward to meeting the latest generation of Lancer students and providing them with hands-on learning opportunities with mentors who can provide valuable guidance prior to their entry into the professional world.”
Meighan Wilson Friedsam ’97, vice principal of curriculum & instruction at Saint Francis High School, is excited about the perspective that Bill brings to the Innovation @ Saint Francis program.
“His work with young entrepreneurs, scrappy startups, biomedical companies and larger enterprises gives him a lot of versatility,” she says. “Bill's energy is contagious, whether engaging with our educators, getting into the robotics lab or being able to see the vision of how Holy Cross education is adapting. He is rooted in our Lancer legacy and passionate about the ways we can expand to both serve the world and galvanize students to their fullest potential.”
Saint Francis High School President Jason Curtis is excited about the direction of the innovation program and its future.
“The Innovation @ Saint Francis program relies upon mutually beneficial partnerships to create transformative experiences. Because of Bill’s deep connections with our school and his breadth of experience and relationships in the business community, I know the number of partner mentors and projects will continue to grow at an amazing pace,” he says. “We warmly welcome Bill back to Saint Francis as an educator and look forward to seeing how the Innovation @ Saint Francis program will continue to inspire and flourish under his leadership.”
About Saint Francis High School
Founded in 1955 by the Brothers of Holy Cross, Saint Francis High School is a leading co-educational, diverse, Catholic, college preparatory school focused on educating the whole person. With a proven reputation for excellence in academics, athletics and the arts, the 118-member teaching staff prepare approximately 1,760 Saint Francis students for the rigors of college and the challenges of global citizenship in the enduring Holy Cross tradition. Saint Francis offers 162 courses in a traditional college preparatory curriculum spread across ten academic departments. Saint Francis is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, the College Board and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors. Located in Mountain View, California, Saint Francis High School is in the heart of Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.sfhs.com.
Media Contact
Jamie Ceccato Perkins ‘97
Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications
P: 650-968-1213 | Ext. 318