Staff
Lai-L C. Daugherty, Executive Director
Lai-L joined The Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation as the incoming Executive Director in June 2025. In her new capacity, she will lead daily business operations, drive innovative program development, and spearhead strategic organizational expansion. Lai-L is an experienced professional with demonstrated leadership and administrative success in higher education, non-profit organization leadership and development, community engagement, and stewardship. A proud Wichita native, she earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Kansas State University and a master's in leadership from Southwestern College.
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Lai-L is committed to serving her community. Lai-L's dedication to service is exemplified by her active involvement on the boards of several organizations, including the Wichita Art Museum, the Wichita Educational Foundation, and Arts Partners. Outside of her professional commitments, she finds joy in exploring new destinations, solving intricate jigsaw puzzles, attending fine arts events, and cherishing moments with her husband and their Miniature Schnauzer.
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Email: ldaugherty@wmref-ks.org
Teresa L. Carter, CPA, CFO/Controller
Teresa is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a BS in Accounting and Marketing. As WMREF's CFO, Teresa is responsible for the financial operations of the Foundation, including day-to-day accounting, preparation of monthly financial statements, and oversight of the Foundation's investment portfolio for the Board of Directors. Teresa came to WMREF in 1995 as a part-time staff accountant. Teresa also serves on the Foundation's Educational Grant Review Committee, which has responsibility for the Foundation's educational funding priorities. Before joining the Foundation, Teresa served as an Accounting Manager at Koch Industries for 14 years. Teresa also holds a CPA certificate from the State of Kansas.
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Teresa is a committed volunteer in the Wichita community. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Affiliate of Susan G Komen and AGAPE Care Cradle. She is an active member of the Delta Theta Chi Sorority, where she served as national president from 2017 to 2019. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Witness Project of Wichita. She and her husband are active volunteers at the Church of Magdalen in Wichita, KS, and with the Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council, Troop 503. In her spare time, she uses her years of accounting experience to provide accounting assistance to small non-profit organizations that cannot afford a staff accountant.
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Email: t.carter@wmref-ks.org