Edward Rover is the Chairman, President, and CEO of the Dana Foundation. He is Chairman of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and the European Alliance for Brain Initiatives.

Mr. Rover was a senior partner at White & Case until 2004. At White & Case, he led a broad tax practice, where he advised and represented many tax-exempt organizations and domestic and international companies. He served as outside counsel to many public charities and private foundations. He continues to act “of Counsel” to White & Case.

He has served as director of the Foundation since 1995.

Mr. Rover earned his B.A., egregia cum laude from Fordham University, after studying at the Institute d’Etudes Politique in Paris. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

Barbara Gill is an Executive Vice President and the Executive Director of the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives. She has overall responsibility for the Foundation’s Public Affairs division; including the global Dana Alliance with membership of more than 600 eminent neuroscientists and clinicians in 34 countries; program development and implementation worldwide; budget, financial, and management responsibilities; and establishing and maintaining strategic programming partner relationships in the US and Europe.

Ms. Gill has an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a background in communications and public affairs. Prior to joining the Dana Foundation in 1992, she was in corporate public affairs at Mobil Corporation.

Burton M. Mirsky is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer. He joined the Foundation in 1996 upon his retirement after 35 years at KPMG LLP, including 28 years as a tax partner serving multi-national clients. At KPMG, he served terms as partner-in-charge of professional development for the firm and as partner-in-charge of professional practice for the New York region. He was also a lecturer in taxation at the Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania from 1985 through 1995.

Mr. Mirsky earned a B.S. in Economics degree from the Wharton School and a LL.B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi honorary societies. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New York, where he served as a director of the New York State Society of CPAs, and New Jersey, and is a member of the New York Bar.

Amanda Bastone is the Dana Foundation’s Project Associate. In addition to managing administrative tasks for the Foundation’s website and various social media platforms, Ms. Bastone assists in organizing programs with the directors of Brain Awareness Week and the Cognitive Fitness Initiative. She received a B.A. in Sociology and Art History from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, where she graduated summa cum laude. Ms. Bastone is a member of Phi Betta Kappa. She is studying web development at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Bastone was an Apprentice Museum Educator at the Rubin Museum, a research assistant at Roosevelt House School of Public Policy at Hunter College, and an intern at the Bronx Zoo. Ms. Bastone has been at the Dana Foundation for three and a half years.

Barbara Best is the Vice President and Director of Member Relations for the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI). Ms. Best is responsible for all aspects of DABI membership, including working with the Executive Committees, overseeing and implementing new member nominations, and finding innovative ways to engage members in both DABI and Foundation outreach. She supervises the European Dana Alliance (EDAB) staff to ensure EDAB members’ inclusion in the Alliance’s global membership. Ms. Best serves as second-in-command in the Public Affairs department for the Executive Vice President. She has been at the Foundation for 22 years. Prior to her work at Dana, Ms. Best worked for Doyle Dane Bernbach and Mobil Oil, among others. She is a founding member of Tennis Against Breast Cancer, a member of the United States Tennis Association and a volunteer at local senior centers and soup kitchens. Ms. Best attended LaGuardia Community College and the School of Visual Arts.

Ali Chunovic is a Dana Fellow and Public Affairs Associate at the Dana Foundation. Her responsibilities include handling the administrative aspects of the department, as well as assisting with events and Dana Alliance membership. Ms. Chunovic graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in English and a double minor in Fine Arts and Spanish. Her combined studies led her to teach science in Spain for two years after graduation. There, she realized her interest in education and working with children. She has a strong interest in writing and her goal is to be part of an education non-profit in which she can promote outreach for learning, from an administrative and management position. Ms. Chunovic hopes to use her time at Dana to learn more about the inner workings of a non-profit organization, as well as get involved in community outreach programs.

Laura Reynolds is the Director of the Cognitive Fitness Initiative. She is responsible for overall management of the Successful Aging & Your Brain project, which focuses on maximizing brain function and health in older adults. The program includes live public forums, printed materials, a website section, and a DVD program. She also serves as a mentor to junior staff and works on special assignments for the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. Ms. Reynolds has B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts. She has been at the Foundation for 16 years.

Kathleen Roina is Director of the Brain Awareness Campaign. Ms. Roina directs the annual global campaign; the New York City Regional Brain Bee, an academic neuroscience competition for high school students; and the Lending Library program, a year-round neuroscience outreach program at select partner universities. Ms. Roina is responsible for several print and online resources, including the Mind Boggling series for K-12 students, the Q and A: Answering your Questions about Brain Research for adult readers; and other print and online materials across several age groups. Ms. Roina received a B.A. in History from the College of the Holy Cross. She is a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run, NYC, a physical activity youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade. Ms. Roina has been at the Foundation for 15 years.

Brigida Gay is the Controller at the Dana Foundation. She handles the company’s internal accounting and financial procedures, oversees accounts payable and cash management functions, and coordinates with the Executive Vice President, Finance to prepare the annual budget. Ms. Gay has been at the Dana Foundation for 20 years. She was an External Auditor at a CPA firm, and then an Internal Auditor with a Philippine government group before she moved to the United States, where she worked as an assistant to the Assistant Controller. Ms. Gay earned a B.S., Commerce in Accounting cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and passed the CPA board exam in the same year.

Patricia Mangini is the Director of Human Resources. She is responsible for employee relations, benefits administration, and payroll. She also oversees Dana Press’ business affairs. Ms. Mangini received a B.S. in Management from Pace University. She has been at the Foundation for 23 years.

David Gonzalez is an Office Assistant at the Dana Foundation. He handles general administrative duties, including preparing information for Board meetings and editing the Foundation’s Internal Control Manual. He is working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Pace University then continuing his studies in forensic psychology. He is a member in Delta Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. He has also been in the US Marines since 2012 serving as an 0311 Infantryman with Golf Co. 2/25. He joined the Foundation in 2015.

Nicholas McVeigh is an Office Assistant at the Dana Foundation. He handles general administrative duties, including preparing information for Board meetings and editing the Foundation’s Internal Control Manual. Mr. McVeigh is currently working towards a B.S. in Economics at Pace University, where he expects to graduate in 2018. He is Treasurer of the Delta Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and participates in the Economics Society, Mock Trial, and the Investment Club. He joined the Foundation in 2015.

Christian Medina is the Assistant Controller at the Dana Foundation. She oversees the accounts payable, handles bank reconciliations, journal entries, and other administrative duties. She has been at the Foundation for almost 16 years. Ms. Medina earned her B.A. in Accounting with a minor in Administrative Science from Monroe College and obtained her M.A. in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She served as President of the PTA at the School of Law and Public Service for three years, and was awarded the Chancellor District award in 2003.

Steven Protass is a Finance Associate at the Dana Foundation, where his main responsibilities include managing financial statements, tax return filings, and general accounting issues, as well as attending Dana Investment Committee meetings. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2008, Mr. Protass was a Tax Partner at KPMG and Tax Director at MasterCard Intl. He has also served as both the President and Treasurer of the United Cerebral Palsy Association Nassau. Mr. Protass received a B.S. in Accounting from Baruch College and is a New York State Certified Public Accountant. He was a frequent speaker for the New York State Society of CPAs.

Celina Sooksatan is a Dana Fellow and Financial Affairs Associate at the Dana Foundation. She handles administrative work for the Chairman, as well as assisting with the Board Book. She also creates graphic design work for the Foundation’s website and works on projects across departments. Ms. Sooksatan graduated from Ursinus College with a B.A. in Media and Communications and minors in Studio Art and Business Management. After a broad study of communication theory, she explored her interests in business development, administrative work, and design. She enjoys experimenting with digital art and has refined her interests to visual communication and graphic design. Ms. Sooksatan hopes to continue developing her skills and eventually look towards graduate school. She would like to use her time at Dana to learn more about administration and further explore the way design can communicate the Foundation’s ideals.

Kevin Aguirre is a Program Officer at the Foundation. He oversees the grants and administration process through the Neuroimaging and Matching Gifts programs. He assists in creating database solutions as a system administrator for the grants’ web application and review process. Mr. Aguirre received a B.A. in Philosophy, with a minor in Legal Studies from Hunter College, where he was a Phi Sigma Tau scholar. He has been at the Foundation for two years. Previously, he held positions at the Office of State Senator Serrano and Morrison & Foerster, LLP.

Carolyn Asbury is a Senior Consultant, advising on the Neuroscience Grants program and on Cerebrum.

Dr. Asbury is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. She conducts policy research on drugs and biologics for rare “orphan” diseases. Dr. Asbury was a senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She also directed the Pew Charitable Trusts Health and Human Services Program. Dr. Asbury is the author of Orphan Drugs: Medical vs Market Value (Lexington Books). She also advised pro bono on the 1973 Orphan Drug Act and has published on orphan drug policy in journals and in book chapters. She served on the Boards of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Treatment Research Institute, and National Organization for Rare Disorders. Dr. Asbury received a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a ScMPH from Johns Hopkins University.

Mary Lucas is the Grants Director of the Dana Foundation, where she has worked for the past 15 years. Her responsibilities include managing the grants administration process and staff, as well as fielding grants questions from potential recipients. Ms. Lucas received her M.A. from New York University and has two-thirds of her M.B.A. from Baruch University.

Kenzie Novak is a Dana Fellow and Salesforce Administrator at the Dana Foundation. She works with the Foundation’s scientific consultants, manages and implements the new grantee and reviewer portals, and provides Salesforce.com support and training. Ms. Novak graduated from Bowdoin College with a B.A. in both German and Psychology. She has a keen interest in the brain and human behavior and enjoys a hands-on approach to learning. She spent a year abroad teaching in Austria. Ms. Novak’s goal is to gain more experience in clinical research while narrowing down her options for graduate school. She hopes to use her time at the Dana Foundation to explore new areas of interest and see where they take her.

Bill Glovin is Executive Editor of the Dana Press and serves as Editor of Cerebrum and the Cerebrum Anthology: Emerging Issues in Brain Science. Prior to joining the Foundation three years ago, Mr. Glovin was Senior Editor of Rutgers Magazine and editor of Rutgers Focus. He has served as managing editor of New Jersey Success, editor of New Jersey Business magazine, and as a staff writer at The Record newspaper in Hackensack, NJ. Mr. Glovin has won 20 writing awards from the Society of Professional Journalists of New Jersey and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He has a B.A. in Journalism from George Washington University.

Blayne Jeffries is the Communications Associate. She is the layout/design production editor for the Department’s publications and in-house designs, including Brain in the News and the Report on Progress. Ms. Jeffries also works with outside vendors essential for publication production, contributes to the Dana blog, and edits the “Seniors” web section. She handles administrative duties. Ms. Jeffries has an M.A. in Media Arts from Long Island University and a B.A. in Journalism from Hampton University. She joined the Foundation eight years ago.

Andrew Kahn is a consultant to the Communications Department and serves as Editor of Brain in the News. Mr. Kahn has been with the Foundation in several capacities for seven years. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and has a Professional Certificate in Journalism from New York University.

Marc-Arthur Nicolas is the Web Associate. He is the front-end developer of Dana.org, the Dana Blog and the Intranet sites. He is responsible for developing new web applications, web-based tools and functionalities for the Foundation. Mr. Nicolas has been at the Foundation for nine years. He has worked at NYSE in System Support and at IBM as a web developer. He earned a B.S in Computer Science from Brooklyn College and has a certificate in Web Development and a certificate in Digital Marketing, both from New York University.

Rekeube Otor is the IT technician at the Foundation. He is responsible for the general function of Internet applications and security, the Foundation’s operating systems and electronic equipment. Mr. Otor received a B.B.A. from Baruch College in Information Systems Management, and A.A.S. in Programming and Systems from LaGuardia Community College. He is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA). He has been at the Foundation since 2013.

Nicky Penttila is the Executive Editor, Web. Ms. Penttila manages the stream of content posted on the Dana site, including editing its news stories and the Reports on Progress. She is also responsible for spreading the word about the Foundation’s activities through social media. Before joining Dana, Ms. Penttila worked as a journalist for the Harford Courant, San Francisco Examiner, and the Baltimore Sun. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers and the DC Science Writers Association. Ms. Penttila has a B.A. in Telecommunications from Michigan State University and an M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Central Connecticut State University.

Seimi Rurup is a Dana Fellow and Associate Editor at the Dana Foundation. Her responsibilities include managing the Foundation’s blog and YouTube channel, as well as implementing new graphic design and video projects for media outreach. Ms. Rurup received her B.L.A. degree from Sarah Lawrence College with a double concentration in creative nonfiction and music. Since then, she has pursued her passion for the written language by working in editing, copywriting, and learning Japanese. Ms. Rurup hopes to take her skills and her enthusiasm for writing abroad to continue working in journalism and translation. Though primarily focused on education and environmental awareness, she is also interested in developing greater knowledge and experience in science journalism. She is a member of New York Women in Communication, Inc.

James Rutt is the Chief Information Officer at the Dana Foundation. His responsibilities include providing strategic planning for information and technology management and overseeing all back office technology operations necessary to support the Foundation. Mr. Rutt is a graduate of Stetson University, where he received a B.B.A. degree. He has 18 years of technology experience and has been at Dana for five years. Mr. Rutt is a board director of Technology Affinity Group (TAG) and is a member of Society for Information Management, Cloud Security Alliance, and CIO4Good, among other leadership organizations.

Isaac Sashitzky is the Senior Web Specialist. His responsibilities include managing the technical updating of the Foundation’s website, and administration of the Content Management System (CMS). He provides technical support and works on web-based projects. Mr. Sashitzky is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society. He received his B.S. in Business Administration and Management from Touro College, and has a certificate in Internet Technologies and a certificate in Web Development, both from New York University.

Ann Whitman is the Director of Marketing & Communications at the Dana Foundation. She develops marketing and media strategies for the Foundation and produces editorial content for the website and social media. She received a B.A. in History from Hamilton College and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy. Previously, Ms. Whitman worked in the development office of a Boston-based nonprofit organization focused on GED preparation and workforce training for underserved populations.