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IWLCA Leadership

2023-24 IWLCA Board of Directors

The IWLCA is governed by a Board of Directors that consists of an Executive Committee elected by the membership, and representatives elected by each NCAA Division and the NAIA. 

The Board of Directors has general supervision of the affairs of the IWLCA and acts on behalf of the membership. The Executive Committee has decision making authority over business matters of the IWLCA that do not involve significant financial resources or have a significant lasting impact on the membership or the organization.

2023-24 IWLCA Board of Directors and Staff

Executive Committee

Kelly Gallagher

Kelly Gallagher

IWLCA President

Kelly Gallagher was elected as the IWLCA President in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

Gallagher is the head coach at the University of Tampa. Read Gallagher's coaching bio.

Gina Oliver Thomas

Gina Oliver Thomas

IWLCA Vice President

Gina Oliver Thomas was elected as the IWLCA Vice President in 2021. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2024.

Thomas is the head coach at the University of Cincinnati. Read Thomas' coaching bio.


Kelsey Howard

Kelsey Howard

IWLCA Treasurer

Kelsey Howard was elected as the Treasurer in 2022. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2025.

Howard is an assistant coach at Stanford University. Read Howard's coaching bio.

Liz Beville

Liz Beville

IWLCA Secretary

Liz Beville was elected as the IWLCA Secretary in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

Beville is the head coach at Le Moyne College. Read Beville's coaching bio.

Liz  Grote

Liz Grote

Past-President

Liz Grote was elected to the Board of Directors as the IWLCA President in 2020. Her term as the IWLCA President expired in June 2023; she will now serve a one-year term as Past-President.

Grote is the head coach at Bowdoin College. Read Grote's coaching bio.

Division I Representatives

Katie Rhodes Abbott

Katie Rhodes Abbott

Division I Representative

Katie Rhodes Abbott was elected as a Division I Representative in 2021. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2024.

Rhodes Abbott is the head coach at La Salle University. Read Rhodes Abbott's coaching bio.

Sarah Dalton Graddock

Sarah Dalton Graddock

Division I Representative

Sarah Dalton Graddock was elected as a Division I Representative in 2022. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2025.

Dalton Graddock is the head coach at the University of Vermont. Read Dalton Graddock's coaching bio.

Jill Batcheller

Jill Batcheller

Division I Representative

Jill Batcheller was elected as a Division I Representative in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

Batcheller is the head coach at Villanova University. Read Batcheller's coaching bio.

Division II Representatives

Jenny Pawlowski

Jenny Pawlowski

Division II Representative

Jenny Pawlowski was appointed as a Division II Representative to complete another representative's term. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2024.

Pawlowski is the head coach at the Gannon University. Read Pawlowski's coaching bio.

Akasha Kasper

Akasha Kasper

Division II Representative

Akasha Kasper was elected as a Division II Representative in 2022. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2025.

Kasper is the head coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Read Kasper's coaching bio.

Shannon McHale

Shannon McHale

Division II Representative

Shannon McHale was elected as a Division II Representative in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

McHale is the head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Read McHale's coaching bio.

Division III Representatives

Kate Livesay

Kate Livesay

Division III Representative

Kate Livesay was elected as a Division III Representative in December 2021 to replace Abi Jackson. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2024.

Livesay is the head coach at Middlebury College. Read Livesay's coaching bio.

Nora Fallon-Oben

Nora Fallon-Oben

Division III Representative

Nora Fallon-Oben was elected as a Division III Representative in 2022. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2025.

Fallon-Oben is the head coach at Hartwick College. Read Fallon-Oben's coaching bio.

Alice Lee

Alice Lee

Division III Representative

Alice Lee was elected as a Division III Representative in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

Lee is the head coach at Williams College. Read Lee's coaching bio.

NAIA and DEI Representatives

Katelyn Sherman

Katelyn Sherman

NAIA Representative

Katelyn Sherman won a special election for the open NAIA Representative position in the summer of 2022. She will fill the vacated term which expires in 2024.

Sherman is the head coach at Ave Maria University. Read Sherman's coaching bio.

Ashley Holdridge

Ashley Holdridge

DEI Representative

Ashley Holdridge was appointed as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Representative in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2026.

Holdridge is the head coach at Buffalo State College. Read Holridge's coaching bio.

Taylor Paige

Taylor Paige

DEI Representative

Taylor Paige was appointed as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Representative in 2023. Her term on the Board of Directors expires in June 2025.

Paige is the Director of Lacrosse Operations at the University of Virginia.

IWLCA Staff

Liz Robertshaw

Liz Robertshaw

Executive Director

Phone: 617-212-2006

Liz Robertshaw began her tenure as the IWLCA Executive Director on January 1, 2020. She spent 20 years coaching at the Division I collegiate level, including a 15-year tenure at Boston University, earning six America East Championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Quarterfinals on two occasions. 

In addition to collegiate coaching, from 2009-2017, Robertshaw served as an assistant for the U.S. Women’s National Team, winning two consecutive World Cup gold medals. She has sat on the USA Lacrosse Board of Directors as well as the IWLCA Board of Directors, serving as both President and Treasurer during her tenure. 

Robertshaw earned her bachelor's degree from George Mason University in 1998 where she was a four-year starter, three-time All CAA and two time All-American. 

Danie  Caro

Danie Caro

Director of Internal Operations and Programming

Phone: 203-577-5742

Danie Caro was initially hired as the IWLCA Director of Communications in the fall of 2015. Caro has over 20 years experience in intercollegiate athletics, and served as the head women's lacrosse coach at Quinnipiac University after coaching stops at Stony Brook University, St. Bonaventure University, Colgate University, Manhattan College, and Frostburg State University. 

Caro ​is no stranger to the IWLCA, as she ​served as a Division I member of the IWLCA’s Board of Directors from 2011-2015 after having served as President of the organization from 2002-2008. She is a 1993 graduate of Colgate University and also holds master’s degrees from Frostburg State University (Education) and Quinnipiac University (Organizational Leadership).

Tiffany Taylor

Tiffany Taylor

Manager of Communications & Marketing

Phone: 713-856-8006

Tiffany Taylor was named the Manager of Communications & Marketing on March 15, 2022. Taylor joined the IWLCA after serving as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Operations at McMurry University, where her department was named the 2021 and 2022 American Southwest Conference Sports Information Department of the Year. She was also a 2020 participant in the NCAA's Emerging Leaders Program and interned at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a Strategic Communicator from June 2019 to June 2020.

Taylor earned a bachelor's degree (Mass Communications) from Savannah State University in 2013, where she was a two-time softball MVP and a member of the SAAC. She received her master's degree in Sports Management from Liberty University in 2019.

IWLCA Legal Counsel

Samantha  Ekstrand

Samantha Ekstrand

Legal Counsel

Phone: 919-451-0200

Samantha Ekstrand was named the IWLCA Legal Counsel in 2009. Ekstrand co-founded the law firm Ekstrand & Ekstrand in 2002 and oversees the management of the firm, evaluates prospective cases, advises on case strategy, drafts and reviews contracts, and prepares simple wills and trusts.

Ekstrand received her J.D. from Duke Law School, and received an M.A. in History from Duke University. While at Duke, she worked as a staff editor for the Duke Law Journal, and served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Duke University Women’s Lacrosse Team.

Ekstrand earned her B.A. in History and Government cum laude from Dartmouth College. As a college lacrosse player, Samantha earned All Academic Honors.