Kayla Nolan has been involved with Girls Gotta Run Foundation since 2009 as a volunteer and in 2012 as the Director of Outreach, Research and Development. In 2009, at the age of 19, Kayla travelled to Ethiopia to conduct a two-month research project on the empowerment of women through running. She later developed that research project into an academic article that she has presented at numerous national and international academic conferences including the Sportswomen in Africa Conference at the University of Oxford. Kayla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy and World Affairs with a minor in Urban and Environmental Policy from Occidental College. While at Occidental College, Kayla served two terms on the Center for Gender Equity Board, conducted independent on-site research on the role of women in sustainable development and community organizing in Cameroon, served as a Richter Scholars Fellow and John Parke Young Fellow, and was a member of the Occidental Track, Cross Country and Lacrosse teams.
After working with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development in 2012 to evaluate the effectiveness of their summer violence reduction program, Kayla moved to Brooklyn and began her position as the GGRF Director of Outreach, Research and Development. During this period, Kayla designed and built the new GGRF website, worked closely with new volunteers to develop GGRF online communications, presented research at two national conferences, represented GGRF at various events including the screenings of the Town of Runners at the Tribeca Film Festival and the World Bank Africa Film Series, developed the GGRF 2013 program model and business plan, and forged new partnerships with organizations and individuals supporting the work of GGRF. Kayla is excited to bring her passion for the empowerment of women, the benefits of running and the advancement of Ethiopia to her current work with GGRF as Executive Director.
Sheena Dahlke, M.A., Chair of the Board Sheena Dahlke was introduced to Girls Gotta Run Foundation in 2008 after spending a summer running with a group of Ethiopian runners who lived in Washington, D.C. She loved the concept of GGRF immediately, and started volunteering with the organization soon after meeting Patricia Ortman. From 2008-2010, Sheena served on GGRF’s Board of Directors. During this time, she focused on fundraising and developing relationships between GGRF and the local running community. Sheena served on the organization’s advisory board while earning a master’s degree in mass communication with a specialization in public relations from the University of Florida from 2010-2012. After completing courses in Philanthropy and Public Relations for Development and Social Change, Sheena returned to GGRF as the Chair of the Board in 2012 with a deeper understanding of effective fundraising and strategic communications.
Sheena currently lives in Eugene, Oregon, with her boyfriend, Jake Logan, and his son, Max. Eugene is home of the University of Oregon, a school with a rich history of track and field and distance running. Running legend Steve Prefontaine ran for the University of Oregon in the 1970s and many Olympians continue to call Eugene home. Running is so ingrained in the culture of the community that Eugene has earned the moniker “Track Town U.S.A.”
Ashley Kollme, M.A., Vice-Chair of the Board Ashley Kollme has been involved with Girls Gotta Run since joining the board in 2009. A local avid runner who is passionate about the mission of the organization, Ashley has focused on helping to raise funds for GGRF through sponsored races and by forging local partnerships with other organizations such as Girls on the Run of Washington, DC. Ashley is the former Development Director for Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, where she was responsible for all initiatives toward the annual goal of raising over $9M in grants and donations. Prior to this, Ashley worked for Davidson College as an admission officer. She is currently the Director of the Latino Student Fund; college preparation program. Ashley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Davidson College and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education from Harvard University.
Royce Brooks, J.D
Royce G. Brooks joined the Girls Gotta Run Foundation in 2010. She is an attorney working on environmental issues in the United States Senate. In this capacity, Ms. Brooks leads oversight and legislative efforts related to a variety of environmental issues including water infrastructure, oil spill remediation, drinking water protections, and species management. Previously, Ms. Brooks was an environmental policy analyst with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a public policy research institution focusing on issues of concern to communities of color. Prior to her work with the Joint Center, Ms. Brooks was an international trade and litigation associate with the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. She has a solid background working with energy companies, government agencies, universities, and other institutional clients. Before beginning her legal practice, Ms. Brooks worked as a legislative assistant for former House Democratic Caucus Chairman Martin Frost, where she had responsibility for policy issues including energy, health care, technology and finance. Ms. Brooks is a graduate of Rice University and Harvard Law School.
Natalie Coupe
Natalie Coupe joined the Girls Gotta Run Foundation Board in 2010. She has 8 years’ experience working in public policy, grant management, and coalition building for nonprofit organizations. Natalie’s work on the Board has focused on fundraising, strategic planning and program development. She is currently the Policy Director for The National Center on Family Homelessness.
In this role, Natalie directs federal policy and government relations from The National Center's policy office in Washington, D.C. She previously worked as Policy Director for the National Human Services Assembly, an association of national nonprofit human services organizations. Natalie also led the National Collaboration for Youth, a coalition of over 45 national child and youth serving nonprofit organizations. She graduated from American University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics.
James Scott, M.B.A.
James Scott is a founding member and the treasurer of the Girls Gotta Run Foundation. He is Population Reference Bureau's chief financial and operating officer, and has more than 30 years' experience as the chief financial officer of nonprofit organizations in the health care, environment, and policy fields. He also has been an executive committee member of the nonprofit environmental organizations Earth Share and American Whitewater, and a board member of the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), an independent accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. He received a B.A. from Georgetown University and an MBA from George Mason University.
Greta Stults, M.A.
Greta Stults first became involved with Girls Gotta Run in 2010 while working as a Program Officer at the Academy of Educational Development’s Center for Gender Equity, where she worked on international development projects to improve girls’ education and women’s empowerment in the Middle East and Africa. She currently serves as Program Coordinator in Education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where she works on issues surrounding the Holocaust, contemporary genocide, and human rights. As a Board Member for Girls Gotta Run, Greta has assisted with grant writing, as well as outreach and fundraising within the running community. Greta is an avid marathon runner and is active in the Washington, DC running community. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in German from Davidson College and a Master’s Degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University.
Ginger M. Sullivan, P.C.
Ginger Sullivan used to be a long-distance runner. In fact, she was a nationally-ranked miler as a 14-year old.Because running was such an important part of her early life in terms of character development and goal-achievement, when she learned of GGRF, she knew it was her time to give back so that other girls could also benefit from the multiple positive effects of athletics. In addition to giving her time and her heart to GGRF, Ginger is a psychotherapist in private practice in Washington DC and the mother of two children.
