Leadership & Staff

Research!America's dedicated staff are willing to work with you on your efforts to advocate for research to improve health.

Leadership

Susan Dentzer, Chair of Research!America’s Board of Directors, is one of the nation's most respected health and health policy thought leaders and a frequent speaker and commentator on television and radio. She is Senior Policy Fellow for the Robert J. Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University, where she focuses on aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic response; health system transformation; biopharmaceutical policy; health coverage expansion, and other key health policy issues.

More about Susan Dentzer.

Mary Woolley is the president and CEO of Research!America. Under her leadership, Research!America's membership has more than quadrupled as it has earned the attention and respect of research, media, and community leaders with its signature public opinion surveys and advocacy resource materials.

More about Mary Woolley. (Click on the photo for a hi-res color headshot.)

Leadership team

Mike Coburn

Michael Coburn is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Throughout his more than 30 years serving the nonprofit sector, his focus on optimizing organizational performance through strong governance, sound financial management, innovative program development and passionate advocacy has blazed a track record of success with prominent mission-based organizations. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of The Arc of the United States, President and CEO of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and in management and leadership roles with a number of national nonprofit organizations. Mike currently serves on the advisory Board of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which aims to facilitate the medical community’s awareness-raising efforts of the impact of climate change on health.

Eleanor (Ellie) Dehoney

Ellie has been Vice President of Policy and Advocacy since March of 2011. Prior to joining Research!America, Ellie served as a Legislative Director in the office of Senator Sherrod Brown. Ellie also served as the legislative director for Brown in the House of Representatives, where she maintained lead responsibility for work related to his role as Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee. Before joining Brown’s staff, Ellie served as a Legislative Assistant for former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

Jenny Luray

Jenny Luray is Vice President of Strategy and Communications. Jenny served as Chief of Staff to former Senator Barbara Mikulski, Legislative Director to Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Deputy Assistant to the President in the Clinton White House. She directed U.S. policy and government affairs for BD and Abbott as well as led the Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance as its president. Jenny sits on the Governing Committee of the FDA-supported NESTcc, and on the Advisory Council of the Brown University School of Public Health.

Donna McKelvey

Donna McKelvey is Vice President of Alliance Development and Membership of Research!America. Previously, she served as the Chief Development Officer for Food Allergy Research and Education, overseeing the revenue and relationship development for major gifts, individual giving, membership, corporate and foundation, and special events on a national level. She has also spent more than 20 years of her career as a leader, both on a local level and the national level, with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, including serving as the Executive Director for the Organization’s National Capital Area Chapter and the Rhode Island Chapter, as well as serving as a National Field Director.