Leadership

Christine Lagana Riordan, PhD

Executive Director

christine [at] healthra [dot] org

Dr. Christine Lagana Riordan is Executive Director of the Health Research Alliance. Working closely with the organization’s board, she sets its strategic priorities, advances its members’ objectives through key programs, and develops tools for the nonprofit biomedical community.

Throughout her career, Dr. Riordan has managed and collaborated with teams large and small, including staff and volunteers, and has developed and implemented strategic plans for impact. Dr. Riordan’s experience as an evaluator and her deep understanding of the culture and challenges facing the biomedical research workforce will facilitate HRA’s continued collaborative work to promote innovative and effective grantmaking. Dr. Riordan previously served as the Director of Research for the American Urological Association (AUA). Prior to joining AUA, Dr. Riordan served as the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation for Ripple Effect Communications. Inc. and was the Program Manager, Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program for the U.S. Army Public Health Center at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.

Jenna Hicks, PhD

Assistant Director

jenna [at] healthra [dot] org

Dr. Jenna Hicks is HRA’s Assistant Director. Dr. Hicks joined the Health Research Alliance in February 2023 as the Project Lead of the Inclusive Grantmaking Initiative, and was promoted to Assistant Director in September 2023. Dr. Hicks comes to the HRA with a background in research (both biomedical and education research), program development, and evaluation. Prior to joining the HRA, Dr. Hicks worked in graduate education administration at the University of Minnesota, where she developed, implemented, and evaluated professional development programming for biomedical graduate students and postdocs. Dr. Hicks received her PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Diego, and completed postdoctoral training in biology education research at the University of Minnesota.

Board of Directors

The Health Research Alliance is governed by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from HRA member organizations.