OUR TEAM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GILLIAN LICHOTA

BOARD CHAIR, FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gillian Lichota is the founder and CEO of the iRise Above Foundation. She is also a mother, marine biologist, adventure-seeker, and thriver. Gillian was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and again in 2017. Since discovering that her breast cancer had metastasized, she has committed herself to living her best life and to challenge her prognosis. Gillian founded the iRise Above Foundation to help other young women to challenge their prognosis, so that they, too, can feel inspired, empowered, and supported to heal and live a more intentional, authentic life after breast cancer. Gillian strives to support these women through a goal-oriented, mind-body-spirit approach to health and wellness that provides the resources, tools, and strategies for sustainable healthy living -- ultimately improving quality of life and long-term survivorship. Gillian hopes to empower young women with breast cancer to self-advocate, and to use their experiences to live their most fulfilling and authentic lives, as she herself has done.

Gillian was born in Canada, and resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. By professional training, she is a marine biologist, specializing in Arctic sciences, who has spent two decades advancing scientific understanding of ocean and coastal science, climate and global change, and improving society's ability to plan and respond. When not being an advocate for the environment or exploring the ocean, Gillian dedicates her life to her beautiful children, Laykelyn and Kailen, and loving husband Boe.

Read more about Gillian’s Story here >

KRISTI MANGAN
BOARD DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

  • Kristi Mangan is a writer and assistant professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College where she teaches college composition. Before she became a teacher, Kristi was a journalist, writing for daily newspapers, and trade and corporate publications. She has also worked in broadcast journalism and public relations. Kristi holds a Master’s degree in print journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s degree in English, also from Northwestern University. In addition, she holds a Master’s degree in English with a concentration in the teaching of writing and literature from George Mason University.

    ​In 2012, at 37, Kristi was diagnosed with HER 2+ breast cancer and successfully underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries. During treatment, Kristi cultivated a holistic approach to her health that incorporates physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. She is thrilled to see that same focus at the core of the iRise Above Foundation. She is eager to share the inspiring stories of young women with breast cancer and the ways in which they thrive in the face of that life-altering diagnosis.

DAGAN LACORTE
BOARD DIRECTOR, TREASURER

  • Dagan LaCorte is Managing Member of L&L Partners Wealth Management, LLC. He also runs a family office that owns and develops commercial real estate. From 2009 – 2013 Dagan served as Mayor of Suffern, New York. Dagan is Treasurer of the Friends of JCC Krakow, an organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness in support of the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow Poland. Dagan also serves as the Treasurer of the GhostBear Foundation. The GhostBear foundation was founded by NHL Defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and supports and encourages organizations motivating young athletes as well as helping ill and disabled children and at risk or endangered animals. Dagan is a graduate of Union College in Schenectady New York and New York University School of Law.

VERED STEARNS
BOARD DIRECTOR

  • Dr. Vered Stearns is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist in Weill Cornell Medicine, and New Your Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Dr. Stearns received her M.D., from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (1992) and went on to complete residency in Internal Medicine (1995) and a fellowship in Medical Oncology (1997) at the Georgetown University. It was during her fellowship at Georgetown University and Lombardi Cancer Center where she first began focusing on breast cancer.

    In addition to being an extraordinary clinician, Dr. Stearns serves as Director for Translational Breast Cancer Research, and Associate Director for Clinical Services at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center. She has previously served as Director of the Women’s Malignancies Disease Group at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, where she held several other leadership positions. As a translational scientist, Dr. Stearns aims to further an individualized approach to the prevention, treatment and care for people with or at risk of breast cancer. Currently, she focuses on the utilization of biomarkers to predict response to standard regimens used to treat and prevent breast cancer and to introduce new approaches.

DYANE O’LEARY
BOARD DIRECTOR

  • Dyane O’Leary is a lawyer and an Associate Professor of Legal Writing at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, MA, where she also co-directs the law school’s Innovation & Technology concentration.  Prior to joining academia, Dyane practiced law in the complex commercial and intellectual property litigation groups at WilmerHale, LLP in Boston.  She holds a BA from Villanova University, where she was an Academic All-American soccer player, and a JD from Suffolk University Law School.  From coaching youth soccer to representing clients in domestic violence cases to assisting women with immigration concerns to mentoring law students with disabilities, Dyane has been a supporter of causes centered around helping young girls and women overcome challenges.  She believes in helping women find the “grit” to turn challenge into opportunity, and hesitation into celebration.  Her personal interest in iRise stems in part from the recent loss of both of her husband’s parents to cancer, and from watching their personal struggles not to let “cancer patient” become a defining label.  Dyane resides outside of Boston with her husband and three young children, and hopes to instill in each of them a determination to indeed rise above the obstacles life brings.

SAM HOLE
BOARD DIRECTOR

  • Sam Hole (she/her) is a seasoned digital marketing leader with over two decades of experience in building brand awareness and driving engagement through digital partnerships. Currently a Brand Partnership Manager at TikTok, Sam has led numerous campaigns for top-tier clients, spearheading the adoption of emerging channels, facilitating significant shifts from traditional media to cutting-edge digital solutions, and fostering a collaborative team culture.

    Sam also has a deep personal connection to the breast cancer community, having navigated the challenges of her own diagnosis in March 2020 and through that, finding an amazing community of [survivors]. Sam's journey has sparked a profound commitment to supporting others affected by breast cancer through connection, perspective and greater awareness of support resources for women.

JEN POGUE
ADVISOR

  • JEN POGUE (she/her) is a Canadian Screen Award winning host, creator, actor, producer, and writer based in Toronto, Ontario. She works as the Director of Industry for the Canadian Film Fest,  Producer for Filmcoop Inc, and is the creator and host of Bell Fibe TV1's County Blooms. 

    In February 2021, Jen's world came to a screeching halt when she was diagnosed with de novo metastatic triple negative breast cancer that had spread to her lungs and sternum. She receives great care at Princess Margaret Hospital with positive results from cutting edge clinical trial-treatment, and is passionate about spreading awareness and hope for the MBC community, while bridging the gaps between research and the patient experience by sharing her story and perspectives. 

ADVISORS

JESSICA PENDER
ADVISOR

  • Jessica Pender, a resident of Renfrew, ON, Canada, has been a teacher for 24 years, the last 10 of which have been in the role of guidance counsellor. She currently works at an Indigenous High School, where she combines her passion for education with her commitment to supporting students. Jessica loves to travel and is an avid reader, always eager to explore new places and dive into new books.

AMBASSADORS

MEET iRISE AMBASSADOR:
TERRA GOOD

ADVENTURE TRAVELER. CONSERVATIONIST. MENTOR.

  • iRise Above Foundation Ambassador Terra Good discovered her breast cancer during a self-exam.  After a mammogram and biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer just a few days before her 40th birthday in February of 2021. After having completed surgery, intensive chemotherapy, and radiation Terra is now considered cancer free.

    To date, Terra has participated in numerous iRise Above offerings that include two restorative wellness retreats (to Baja, Mexico and Nosara, Costa Rica) and one adventure trip (to Utah), as well as numerous wellness training programs, book clubs, and wellness webinars. Driven by her desire to help other women, Terra enjoys mentoring new friends through their cancer journeys and connecting them to resources and support so they too can feel empowered and have the tools to rewrite their respective stories.. She feels extremely passionate about sharing the iRise Above community with fellow thrivers because it reminds young, athletic, professional, active, beautiful women, who have recently been diagnosed, that they are not alone - and that together we rise!.

    Terra was an International Student Recruiter for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University when she was first diagnosed with cancer.  She knew the high stress associated with an international travel schedule and overwhelming daily work demands would no longer align with her newfound wellness journey to heal after breast cancer. After completing her cancer treatments, Terra made the brave decision to leave her stable job to work at her husband’s environmental engineering company as a project manager. It paid off, allowing her to enjoy more autonomy, time with her family, and financial freedom. 

    Terra resides in Daytona Beach, Florida and enjoys spending time with her husband Bill, bonus daughters, Sarah and Gracie, golden doodle, Sadie, little mutt, Maddie and two mischievous cats Tango and Kiki. She enjoys yoga, international travel, exploring nature, volunteering with small community non-profits, and writing in her breast cancer blog Imperfectly Content.

MEET iRISE AMBASSADOR:
KRISTEN DAHLGREN

AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST. STORYTELLER. ADVENTURER. MOTHER.

  • iRise Above Foundation Ambassador Kristen Dahlgren is an award-winning journalist and network correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. Her work appears on all NBC and MSNBC platforms, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and The Today Show. She is the recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award. Her coverage of the Parkland School shooting in 2018 earned her a National Headliner Award and an Emmy nomination. 

    Driven by a desire to forge connections and to help others, Kristen has reported on everything from national disasters to medical discoveries that have impacted countless people and saved lives -- including her own. In 2019, Kristen was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer after discovering a thickening in her breast that reminded her of a study she had reported on showing that breast cancer does not present as a lump in 1 out of 6 women. It was her desire to help others that led her to share her own experiences with breast cancer surgeries and treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and mastectomy. Since her diagnosis, Kristen has reported on numerous developments in her own journey with breast cancer, as well as in developments in the treatment of the disease and breast reconstruction. 

    Kristen joined the iRise Above Foundation Wellness Program in January 2021 in an effort to return to health and fitness. In October 2021, she participated in the iRise Above Foundation retreat to Utah and shared her experience in segments that appeared on the Today Show and NBC Nightly News.

    She lives in Vermont with her daughter, Cielle “Ceecee”, and her husband, Greg.