Professional Development in the Nonprofit Sphere: How to Advance and Grow in Your Position [Spring 2025 HRA Members Meeting]
Engage with other HRA members and learn from your peers strategies for moving up in your organization! This session will feature panelists at various career stages and different professional backgrounds such as HR representatives and government officials. In this session, we plan to discuss how you can navigate the promotion ladder without having a scientific background, how to help support the professional growth of those working on your team, and how to transition from the lab to grants management administration.
Speakers
Kara Coleman, PhD
Vice President of Grants Administration, The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Kara Coleman, PhD, is the Vice President of Research and Grants at the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Kara got her PhD in cell and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on the role of BRCA1 in DNA double-strand break repair. After completing her PhD, Kara worked in medical writing for pharmaceutical marketing 4 years. She then pivoted to the non-profit space and was the Director of Biomedical Grant Programs at the Pew Charitable Trusts for 8 years where she managed grant programs for postdocs and early-career faculty. In 2023, Kara took her current position at the V Foundation where she oversees a portfolio of cancer research grants for early-career and established faculty. Kara has expertise in grant program strategy and in communicating the impact of funding to donors and partners.
Mary McGowan, MA
CEO, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research
Linda Sikora, PHR, SHRM-CP
Senior Director, Human Resources, American Brain Tumor Association
Linda Sikora joined the American Brain Tumor Association in 2019 and currently holds the position of Senior
Director Human Resources. She is part of the ABTA Leadership Team; and her responsibilities include
managing all aspects of the Human Resources function including developing and implementing HR programs
while advancing positive employee relations and best practices in support of organizational growth and
strategic initiatives. Linda works at developing and delivering creative, cost-effective human resources
solutions in support of the organization’s strategic business plan, culture and core values.
Linda has a broad range of experience in Human Resources, including within a medically based fitness center
through Northwestern Memorial Healthcare. She has expertise in benefits, xompensatin, payroll, performance
management, training, coaching, employee relations, and compliance. She is an advocate of employee well-
being for optimal work-life balance of all staff.
Linda maintains professional human resources certifications through the Human Resource Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.
Shawna Strickland, PhD, CAE, RRT
Associate Executive Director – Programs, American Epilepsy Society
Shawna Strickland (she/her), PhD, CAE, is the Associate Executive Director, Programs, at the American Epilepsy Society, where she focuses on effective association practice, project management, and quality continuing education. In this role, she leads the clinical activities, research, and education teams and special projects, including a CDC grant that aims to improve outcomes for underserved people with epilepsy. Dr. Strickland started her career as a clinician in pediatric intensive respiratory care. From there, she transitioned into higher education, serving as faculty and in program administration, as well as serving as an ethics consultant for the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Center for Health Ethics. She has been active in developing clinical practice guidelines and researching areas such as clinician burnout and provider workforce shortages. Dr. Strickland earned her undergraduate degrees from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale and her graduate degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.