Staff
Barbara A. Brenner, J.D., Executive Director
Barbara A. Brenner is a tireless activist who believes that everyone can-and is needed to-make a difference in ending the breast cancer epidemic. Her passion is contagious, and her effectiveness as a leader of the breast cancer movement is demonstrated in the growth and achievements of Breast Cancer Action since she took the helm as executive director in September 1995. Barbara joined the board of Breast Cancer Action (BCA) in September 1994, one year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 1996, Barbara had a local recurrence of breast cancer, which resulted in a mastectomy.
Barbara is highly sought after by the national media, and has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, ABC News, and CBS Evening News. She is co-author of the chapter, "Cancers," in Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause (The Boston Women's Health Book Collective, 2006). She is also the author of the chapter, "Sister Support: Women Create a Breast Cancer Movement," in Breast Cancer: Society Shapes an Epidemic (Palgrave, 2000).
She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Smith College and a law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Barbara is an inspirational speaker about breast cancer and the movement and how people can get involved to steer the tide of the disease. She is available to speak to your organization.
Joyce Bichler, Deputy Director
Joyce is responsible for seeing that all BCA departments are working well together and ensuring that BCA has the program and administrative capacity to accomplish its mission and vision. She is involved in implementing the BCA strategic plan and works closely with the Executive Director in support of the program, administrative, finance, and human resource functions of the organization.
A cancer survivor and lifelong activist, Joyce, who has a Master of Social Work Degree, brings to BCA strong leadership skills and an impressive background in cancer support and not-for-profit management. She is the author of Joyce Bichler: DES Daughter, which details her cancer experience and how she confronted the pharmaceutical industry.
Caitlin Carmody, Membership Coordinator
Caitlin is responsible for coordinating and tracking BCA’s online membership communication. She works in concert with the development, program and communications departments. In addition she assists the development department with gift processing and acknowledgments, data entry, and event planning. She has previously worked as the Program Organizer for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Zoe Christopher, Office Manager and Resource Liaison
Zoe provides general support to the BCA staff by managing the day-to-day operations of the office. In addition, she responds to requests for information regarding detection, treatment, and prevention of breast cancer; supervises office volunteers; and assists the executive director.
Sarah Harding, Development Manager
Sarah is responsible for supporting the development director in planning and implementing a complex individual donor campaign. Sarah supports volunteer solicitors in fundraising activities, and organizes and supports third party event logistics. She is responsible for building relationships with corporate funders and responding to calls from donors. Sarah manages the Membership Coordinator in coordinating and tracking BCA’s online membership communication and other development-related services.
Amy L. Harris, Development Director
Amy is responsible for overseeing a multi-faceted fundraising program, and for planning, developing, and maintaining strategies to meet BCA's financial goals. She is responsible for planning and coordinating various fundraising campaigns, building relationships and communicating with individual donors, foundation program officers, and corporate funders. Amy supervises a full-time Development Manager and works in concert with the Board Development Committee as well as other volunteers and staff.
Alicia Harris, Program Associate
Alicia assists in planning and implementing BCA's campaigns, as well as coordinating volunteers and engaging members in our work. She works closely with the Program Manager to foster and build our grassroots activities, helps represent BCA on coalitions, and coordinates educational presentations. Alicia holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Vassar College and previously worked with organizations focusing on environmental justice, women's health and creating safe spaces for youth.
Kim Irish, Program Manager
As Breast Cancer Action's Program Manager, Kim Irish oversees the organization’s programs and program-based campaigns, and fosters and builds BCA’s grassroots activities and national presence. Kim graduated from the University of California, Davis with degrees in comparative literature and Spanish before attending the University of San Francisco School of Law. Prior to her graduation in 2006, Kim learned how to be an activist for many social justice causes. She taught a street law course to high school students, clerked at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and Equal Rights Advocates, and was a Frank C. Newman Intern for the USF International Human Rights Clinic. Kim most recently worked as the program director for Law Students for Reproductive Justice. She was a 2008-2009 fellow with the Women’s Policy Institute of California, and currently serves on the board of directors of Human Rights Advocates and the Good Ol' Girls. In her free time, Kim enjoys traveling, hiking, and cooking Thai food.
Angela Wall, Communications Manager
As Breast Cancer Action’s Communications Manager, Angela works closely with Barbara to make sure the “voice” of BCA is broadcast clearly and articulately to the public at large. She’s the primary point of contact for media relations and writes for and manages the production on the Annual Report, e-alerts and BCA’s quarterly newsletter. Angela holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to BCA, she was a Brittain Teaching Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology where she taught in the department of Literature, Communication and Culture. She has written and published on women’s reproductive health, popular culture and media. She worked for 4 years as a strategic planner for Red Sky Interactive, a web-based advertising agency. She loves to watch movies, read, write, and hike, bake, bike, live and laugh with her sweet husband (whose tech skills are regularly volunteered at BCA) and delightful daughter, Frances.