Starting her two-year term as Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors in April 2024, Judy Bernas will oversee the board of directors during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.
Under Bernas’ direction, the 29-member Board will oversee the governance, provide management oversight and strategic direction of the nonprofit organization in keeping with its prominent role in college football and extensive community and charitable efforts. During her two-year term, she will preside over the first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in the expanded 12-team Playoff, robust charitable giving with millions of dollars donated back into the community and the year-long calendar of community events that also include the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe and more.
Bernas first became involved with the Fiesta Bowl as a board member in 2013, served as Board Chair-Elect and on the Executive Committee for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. She has served on committees in nominating & governance, hospitality, charitable giving, strategic planning and audit and compliance.
A 40 Under 40 recipient from Inside Tucson Business and the Phoenix Business Journal, Bernas previously served as Board Chair for the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. Currently the senior associate dean and chief strategy and communication officer for the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, she previously served the University of Arizona for 24 years at the main campus in Tucson and in launching the medical school in downtown Phoenix.
Named the 2013 Woman of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Arizona, Bernas received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and is currently completing her Master of Public Health at Arizona.
