The pursuit of possibility

Advancing discovery through generosity and vision

For BethLynn Maxwell, PhD ’80, JD, and Stephen Reed, curiosity has shaped both their careers and their philanthropy. BethLynn's journey from biomedical research to intellectual property law and Stephen's decades-long interest in artificial intelligence reflect a shared dedication to investing in the next generation of scientists and innovators.

BethLynn’s passion for scientific inquiry took root during her doctoral program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she worked in the emerging field of gene cloning. After earning her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral research and oversaw a tissue culture research laboratory in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. It was there that she received a call asking her to evaluate documents for a lawsuit involving a biotechnology company in California.

“I knew enough about patents then that I knew I wanted to become a patent attorney,” she said.

Her experience with research and interest in patent law led her to South Texas College of Law Houston. She began her legal career at a firm specializing in intellectual property before accepting a position in The University of Texas System Office of General Counsel, where she spent 25 years and later served as the Chief Health Research Officer in the Office of Health Affairs. Her work focused on initiatives such as clinical trial collaborations, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) grants, and the merger of The University of Texas-Pan American and The University of Texas at Brownsville to create The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her background as a scientist gave her a valuable perspective in this work.

“I’m a very curious person,” she said. “I wanted to be able to interact with the scientists and I was comfortable asking questions.”

BethLynn also remembers the scholarship support she received during her PhD program at UT MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, which allowed her to immerse herself in research and take advantage of other educational opportunities, including attending a pathobiology conference in Aspen, Colorado for three summers.

Deeply appreciative of the role of philanthropy in her education, she established an endowed scholarship in the graduate school and has made an estate commitment to enhance her scholarship. She hopes that by easing students’ financial burdens and
allowing them to take part in experiences like scientific conferences, she can help ensure future generations of biomedical scientists have the support they need to flourish.

“I want to give back. The graduate school played a big role in my life. I had no family in Houston, so they became my family,” she said.

For Stephen, who retired from a career that involved early work with artificial intelligence and has since continued his own research in computer science, supporting McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston was a natural fit.

“I’m intensely interested in what’s going on in state-of-the-art artificial intelligence,” he said. “The school wants to take the benefits of computer science, information technology, data science, and apply them wherever it may go.”

That sense of possibility inspired Stephen to endow an innovation fund that gives investigators flexible support to pursue the most promising avenues of research.

“I see an explosion of possibilities, and I want to walk through that door with them,” he said. “I see McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics as a vehicle to spread the benefits of artificial intelligence, and I would like to provide the school with resources.”

A further commitment through the couple’s estate will augment the endowment, allowing faculty in the school to launch new investigations in artificial intelligence, data science, and informatics with the potential to shape the future of healthcare and advance medical research far into the future.

Reflecting on their philanthropy, BethLynn and Stephen are grateful they are able to support areas of UTHealth Houston that reflect the interests and experiences that have shaped their own lives. Through both present and future gifts, they hope to create opportunities for the scientists and innovators who come after them.

“I hope that our charitable intent will inspire others to give to UTHealth Houston,” BethLynn said.