Judith Craven

Dr. Judith Craven is the past president of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, the fourth largest United Way in the country, in terms of dollars raised.  Dr. Craven led this organization that raised over $60 million dollars annually.  Under her leadership, the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast also utilized thousands of volunteers through more than 250 programs in 82 agencies in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Waller County and in the Bay Area.

Dr. Craven, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, holds a B.S. degree in Biology and English from Bowling Green State University.  She attended Texas Southern University, where she fulfilled her premedical requirements, and she then went on to earn a Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Dr. Craven’s past professional appointments include Chief of Anesthesia for Riverside General Hospital, Chief of Family Health Services and Director of Public Health for the City of Houston Health Department, Dean of the University of Texas School of Allied Health Sciences and Vice President for Multicultural Affairs for the University of Texas Health Science Center. In addition, she also served as a Major in the United States Medical Reserve Corps.

Dr. Craven has held many offices and served on many local, state and national boards, some of which have been the Board of Directors of Belo Corporation, the Texas Medical Center, the University of Texas Board of Regents (Houston Branch), Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, the Better Business Bureau, the Houston Convention Center Hotel Board of Directors and the American Red Cross.  Dr. Craven presently serves on the Corporate Board of Directors of Sun America Funds, Luby’s, Inc., Sysco Corporation and Valic Corporation.  Dr. Craven also serves on the Board of Directors of The Souper Bowl of Caring. Her current volunteer, community and civic involvement include serving as a member of The Philosophical Society of Texas, Houston Links, Inc., The National Council of Negro Women, the NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Associate Member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (Houston Chapter), Girl Friends, Inc. (Houston Chapter) and Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ.

Dr. Craven has received numerous awards and honors, including Women on The Move Award, YWCA Outstanding Women Award, Outstanding Young Women of America Award, NAACP VIP Award for Community Service, Houston’s Thirty Most Influential Black Women Award, Fellow in American Leadership Forum and induction into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Craven is married, and she is the mother of two daughters.

Judith Craven, AVEN, M.D., M.P.H.

Past President

The United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast