Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors and Advisory Council work tirelessly to provide programming to the communities and people that need it most.
Rise Advisory Council
Co-Chair—Member since 2020 | Campbell & Company, Former President & CEO
Terri Becks joined the Board of Rise in 2021, after being involved with the organization (through service work and participation on the Leadership Council) since 2008 and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board. She worked for 20 years with Campbell & Company before retiring in 2011. Campbell & Company is an alternative asset management firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, where Terri served as Chief Financial Officer for 15 years and as the President and CEO for her final five years. Terri graduated from the University of Delaware with an Accounting degree and was a CPA. She worked for Ernst & Whinney and Bank Maryland Corp before finalizing her financial career at Campbell.
She currently also serves on the Board of Loyola Blakefield School and chairs its Finance and Investment Committees. She serves on the Board of Catholic Charities of Baltimore, formerly as President of the Board and chaired its Investment Committee. Terri has served on the boards of the Managed Funds Association and Family & Children's Services of Central Maryland, was a Court-appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) in the Baltimore County foster care system and a former substitute teacher.
As part of her involvement with Rise, Terri and her daughter, Erin, traveled to Bulgaria in 2008 on a Service Ranger project. In July 2012, Terri and her three sons created a week-long children's camp at Des' Village in Ethiopia. They later brought the same team and theme to Rise in Haiti in 2014 and Vietnam in 2016. Terri and her children reside in Towson, Maryland.
Co-Chair, Chair of Nominating Committee–Member since 2014 | Big Bite, Inc., Founder and CEO
Susan Neisloss’s expertise spans the media, corporate, and public relations arenas including reporter, producer, anchor, and bureau chief at major market TV stations, e.g., CBS in Orlando, WPIX in New York; senior executive at Golin/Harris and Fleishman-Hillard, two respected global public relations firms; and, international spokesperson, media/crisis manager, and video producer at pharmaceutical giant, Syntex, now Roche.
Susan also was communications director for the CBS flagship TV station in Los Angeles where she served as media spokesperson and head of public relations. Her Los Angeles communications firm, Big Bite Films, produces corporate and non-profit marketing videos for website and social media platforms. In addition, Susan specializes in customized media/presentation trainings, crisis communications programs, and Moving Memoirs© - customized videos that capture a person’s life and legacy.
Clients include:
• Novavax - produced a legacy documentary about the biotech firm’s journey to produce its unique COVID vaccine and first ever product
• Kaiser Permanente - produced website and marketing video for Santa Monica community medical center involving interviews with patients and physicians
• Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce - produced videos honoring local COVID heroes, e.g., medical staffs, teachers, firefighters
• Stanford University - produced more than a dozen legacy and tribute videos, e.g., former president Donald Kennedy, respected alumni, professors
• Montage Laguna Beach - media trained 20 senior executives to prepare for resort opening; crafted messaging and served as spokesperson following guest shooting
• Families of September 11th - media trained founders for 10th anniversary event and moderated international press conference at Ground Zero
• Dreamworks Animation - media trained director for international press tour of major film
• Pfizer - media trained senior ophthalmic researchers for introduction of new eye product.
Susan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and graduated from Columbia Journalism School’s Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program.
Secretary—Member since 2014 | The Career Leap, CEO
Misha Rubin is CEO of The Career Leap. His mission is to facilitate meaningful, intentional changes in people's lives.
He was a Partner at Ernst & Young, where he spent 15 fruitful years of his career. He sold and managed hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of projects and guided the careers of hundreds of professionals.
His 20-year corporate experience, personal quest for meaning, and work with hundreds of clients gave birth to The Career Leap method—a guided, actionable inquiry designed to help people discover and pursue their next career move. Misha has worked with hundreds to reinvent their careers, start new businesses, and reenergize their lives.
Member since 2026 | Founder and Principal, Adelante Global Consulting
Susan Coskey is the Founder and Principal of Adelante Global Consulting, where she advises organizations on leadership, culture, governance, strategy, operational execution, and organizational transformation. She brings more than three decades of executive, legal, and board leadership experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Most recently, Susan served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Francis Energy, a leading developer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the United States. She previously served as Chief People Officer and General Counsel of Cap Hill Brands and held senior executive leadership positions with Holland America Group (Carnival Corporation), the City of Seattle, and other global organizations. Her background also includes private legal practice as a law firm partner and service as Counsel to a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Sub-Committee.
Throughout her career, Susan has worked at the intersection of strategy, governance, operations, compliance and people leadership, helping organizations navigate complexity, strengthen performance, and build cultures and operating models that enable individuals and teams to thrive.
A committed civic leader, Susan has served on numerous nonprofit boards throughout her career, including as Chair of YouthCare, an organization serving youth experiencing homelessness, and as Vice Chair of the Privacy Fund, which advanced LGBTQ civil rights and advocacy in Washington State. She currently serves on the board of Jewish Family Services Seattle.
Chair of Development Committee—Member since 2022 | Talking Hedge Events Inc., Founder & President
Meg Bode D’Ariano creates and produces conferences for the hedge fund industry through Talking Hedge Inc., a company she founded in 2016.
For 20 years, Meg was a consultant to Managed Funds Association, providing media relations, member communications, and conference production. As President of the PR agency Bode & Associates, she worked with numerous firms to plan and execute their marketing campaigns, media relations, communications materials, website development, and advertising.
Meg is a member and former “Angel” of 100 Women in Finance and serves as a Director on the Board of Worldwide Orphans Foundation.
Most importantly, she built her family through adoption and is the proud mom of two daughters who were born in China and are now young women in their 20s.
Member since 2026 | Search and Care, President
Orla Coleman is a nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of board, philanthropy, and partnership-building experience. As President of Search and Care, a New York nonprofit supporting older adults aging in their homes, she has piloted and expanded programs including the Silver Circles Tech Initiative to bring technology to the door of isolated older adults in New York City.
Orla also serves on the Global Board of Education for Employment (EFE) and is a Founder's Circle member of Every Mother Counts (EMC). She is passionate about trust-based philanthropy and cross-sector collaboration, and has helped foster collaboration between EMC and EFE to support maternal health training initiatives in Gaza.
Moving from the for-profit to nonprofit worlds has allowed Orla to see opportunities and create solutions where none seem apparent—"Getting to Yes!" She also serves as an advisor to an inner-city state school in her native city of Dublin, which seeks to support children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds by providing stability, trust, and opportunity.
In her prior career, Orla worked at Sotheby's as a Director of Fine Art in New York and London.
She holds an MA from Trinity College Dublin and maintains a close relationship with her alma mater to help create sanctuary scholarships for refugees and support other initiatives. She speaks three languages, including basic conversational Arabic, and has supported nonprofits with programs in Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, Kenya, and other countries.
Member since 2017 | Swing Search, Co-Founder / COO
Mandy Edmund is known among the venture capital community in the Bay Area for her uncanny ability to define the go-to-market leadership needs of early-stage companies. She loves working with early hiring teams, providing clarity on what is needed in a role, and helping founders craft their pitch to top talent.
At Swing Search, Mandy serves as the executive stakeholder on a wide range of high-profile searches. She is focused on continually raising the bar for both Swing Search and its clients.
Mandy is a Board Member of Worldwide Orphans Foundation, an active mentor at Techstars, and the proud mother of three amazing daughters.
Member since January 2024 | Worldwide Orphans Foundation, Former Executive Director
Claudia Fleming, Rise board member and former Executive Director of Rise, began her career in nonprofit over 25 years ago as the Executive Director of New Yorkers for Children, an organization that works alongside child welfare agencies and community partners to improve the well-being of youth and families in the child welfare system, with an emphasis on older youth aging out of the system.
In 2001, Claudia accepted the position as the first Executive Director of Good+ Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy), a nonprofit that works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for under-resourced fathers, mothers, and caregivers. She held this position for six years and later served on their Board of Directors for an additional six years.
She joined the Rise team in 2019, months before the pandemic.
Claudia lives in New York City with her husband George Bitar and has four children and a granddaughter.
Chair of Program Committee—Member since 2021 | International Rescue Committee, Senior Director, Talent Management
Maya Samadani brings deep expertise in talent management and organizational leadership through her work at the International Rescue Committee, where she serves as Senior Director, Talent Management.
She has extensive experience leading people strategy, organizational development, and global talent initiatives across complex international environments.
Maya is committed to advancing mission-driven organizations through thoughtful leadership, strong people systems, and inclusive talent practices.
Member since 2026 | Lending Specialist, JPMorgan Private Bank
Nealy Griffith is a Lending Specialist at JPMorgan Private Bank and has worked there since 2013. She focuses on structuring customized lines of credit for high-net-worth individuals that support their broader financial strategies in a tax-efficient way.
Nealy graduated cum laude from Dickinson College, where she double-majored in Spanish and Russian.
She is deeply connected to the mission of Rise Alliance for Children through her own personal story—she was adopted from Bulgaria as a baby and grew up in Baltimore.
Today, Nealy lives in New York City with her husband, their twin toddlers, and a golden retriever.
Member since 2024 | WisdomCircle, Senior Advisor—Africa
Lyapa Nakazwe-Masiya is Founder and CEO of LNM Leadership Advisory, an organisation that works with global executives and organizations to address talent and leadership needs.
Her most recent corporate career was spent in the United States providing advisory services to multinational clients across various industries, including coaching, recruitment, assessment, talent management, and development. Her clientele has included startups, Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, and private equity firms.
She spent her earlier career in executive search placing C-suite executives and board members, partnering with African and European clients across a number of industry sectors.
Lyapa is a published author on the Imposter Phenomenon and lectures on the importance of personal branding and the art of storytelling to African MBA and doctoral candidates.
Passionate about equality and empowerment, particularly for children and women, she also sits on the Board of the National Women’s History Alliance.
A global citizen and mother of two girls, Lyapa understands firsthand the importance of education and community.
Member since 2026 | National Center for Youth Law, Managing Director of Culture and Operations
Colin H. Mincy is a globally recognized People, Culture, and Employee Experience executive, keynote speaker, and Managing Director of Culture and Operations at the National Center for Youth Law—an organization dedicated to transforming the systems that shape the lives of children and youth across America.
Recognized as a Top 40 CHRO, Colin brings more than twenty years of cross-sector leadership experience spanning human rights, financial services, technology, philanthropy, and social impact. He has served as a Chief People Officer and senior executive leader across some of the world's most respected human rights, philanthropic, and social impact organizations, advising CEOs, boards, and executive teams on complex people and culture decisions.
A Certified Organizational Design Specialist and leadership coach, he holds executive education credentials from Cornell University's ILR School in Strategic HR Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Diversity and Inclusion, and Labor Relations. He contributes to CNBC and Medium, advises organizations at the intersection of culture and equity, and teaches with the People and Culture Strategy Institute.
His board and advisory service includes:
• Workforce Professionals Training Institute—Outgoing Board Chair
• Opus 1 Foundation—Board of Advisors Member and Co-Chair, DEI Committee
• Hacking HR—Founding Advisory Board Member
• CNBC Workforce Executive Council—Member (2020–2024)
Colin's commitment to children is not professional—it is personal. He was raised in a family that believed deeply in early childhood intervention and education, shaping his lifelong conviction that early experiences determine long-term outcomes.
He is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. That experience, along with his advocacy and mentorship of people who have faced trauma and adversity, deeply informs his work. He brings not distance, but lived understanding of what it means when systems support—or fail—children and families.
RISE Alliance for Children is fortunate to welcome a leader who brings both rigor and lived insight to this work.
Member since 2025 | The World Bank Group, Partnerships—Private Sector and Foundations
Anna Thompson-Quaye works at The World Bank Group in Partnerships, focusing on private sector and foundation engagement to support development initiatives.
She brings experience in building cross-sector collaborations that advance global development goals and strengthen partnerships between institutions, donors, and implementing organizations.
Her work centers on leveraging partnerships to increase impact, scale solutions, and support sustainable development outcomes.
Member since 2026 | National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Elizabeth Gemoets brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a longstanding commitment to advocating for vulnerable children and families. For many years, she served as a court appointed special advocate and board member with Voices for Children in Montgomery County, Maryland, representing the best interests of children involved in the child welfare system.
Professionally, Elizabeth is a senior nonprofit executive with extensive experience in organizational leadership, governance, strategic planning, and international program development. Her career has included leadership in national and international nonprofit organizations, and program development initiatives focused on strengthening organizations in low-resource and conflict-affected regions.
Elizabeth's experience as both a nonprofit leader and child advocate brings a valuable perspective to the work of Rise Alliance for Children.
Member since 2025 | Executive Coach & Startup Advisor
Wilson Kriegel is an executive coach and startup advisor who works with leaders and early-stage companies to strengthen leadership, strategy, and organizational performance.
He focuses on helping founders and executives navigate growth challenges, improve decision-making, and build effective leadership practices.
Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology, Rutgers University-Camden
M.A., CCC-SLP Speech & Language Pathologist and WWO Program Consultant
Ph.D., Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Education at the University of Delaware
M.P.H., M.S., Director, Medical Student Global Health Programs, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Ph.D., Professor of Applied Psychology New York University
Director, Montefiore School Health Program | Research Associate Professor, Albert Einstein Department of Pediatrics (Academic General Pediatrics) | Research Associate Professor, Albert Einstein Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Rosy Chhabra, Psy.D. oversees 33 school-based health centers that serve close to a hundred NY public schools, comprised of about 45,000 students, spanning from PreK to 12th grade. Dr. Chhabra has a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. Dr. Chhabra has more than 20 years of experience as a public health researcher and program development specialist focusing on addressing health inequities affecting Bronx children in school and community settings. She has managed many successful academic, organizational, and community partnerships nationally and internationally.