MBC Alliance Welcomes New Executive Group Members for 2026

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The MBC Alliance is delighted to welcome the following newly elected members to its Executive Group for 2026.

Stephanie Walker – Chair

Stephanie Walker most recently served as Vice-Chair of the MBC Alliance’s Executive Group. Previously, she was project lead for the Alliance’s BECOME (Black Experience of Clinical Trial and Opportunities for Meaningful Engagement) initiative.

Since 2017, Stephanie has resided in a rural area, where her experiences have fueled a passion for supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2018, she faced the life-altering side effects of cancer treatments. With limited resources and support available locally, she dedicated hundreds of hours to online research to find the information and tools necessary to navigate her journey. Now, Stephanie is committed to empowering others with knowledge, equipping them to make informed decisions about treatment and survivorship.

Stephanie is particularly focused on advocating for Black men and women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in underserved areas. She highlights the importance of amplifying their voices, which are often overlooked, ignored, or marginalized. She advocates for greater representation and involvement in decisions about care, participation in clinical trials, and understanding how treatments impact the unique biology of Black individuals with cancer.

Her contributions extend to volunteering with the Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) Helpline and Hear My Voice (HMV) programs, as well as serving as a Susan G. Komen AIS volunteer, among other roles. Through her involvement in various community initiatives, Stephanie emphasizes the critical importance of mental health in the cancer journey, asserting that it should never be discounted or dismissed.

Stephanie’s mission is clear: to provide unwavering support and ensure that no one facing breast cancer has to navigate it alone.

Josh Newby – Vice Chair

Josh Newby is the Founder & Executive Director of Theresa’s Research, a nonprofit that develops educational and research initiatives that unite advocates, oncologists and scientists. The organization strives to drive progress toward curative approaches for metastatic breast cancer by funding research, encouraging collaboration, supporting clinical trials, providing more resources for patients, and improving access to care.

Josh co-founded Theresa’s Research with his mother, Theresa Newby Harpole, and has made it his life’s mission to continue the work they started together following her passing from MBC. With over a decade of experience at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Josh transitioned in 2025 to focus fully on the Foundation while maintaining a close collaborative relationship with the faculty. A longtime leader in the advocacy space, Josh previously served on the MBCA Executive Group and represented the Alliance on the ABC Global Alliance Board.

Roberta Albany – Member-at-Large

During her treatment for hormone receptor positive breast cancer in December 2013, Ms. Albany observed a gap in the outcomes for underrepresented communities. To address this issue, Ms. Albany became a Young Women’s Advocate through Living Beyond Breast Cancer in September 2015.

Ms. Albany collaborates with various advocacy organizations, including The Chrysalis Initiative, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Unite for Her, among others. She has also participated as a panelist for the Drug Information Association (DIA) and Physicians’ Education Resource, LLC (PER) at the Miami Breast Cancer Conference. Currently, Ms. Albany serves on the Board of Directors for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, acts as a Patient Advocate (Research Advocate-Breast Committee) for SWOG Cancer Research Network, Advocate In Science Committee Member for Susan G. Komen and was featured in Canvas Rebel Magazine (Meet Roberta Albany). She is also involved with the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center (MRCT) of Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard as a member of the Clinical Research Glossary Work Group. 

Ms. Albany is the Founder/CEO of Cancer In The Know, which focuses on the impact of disparities within the Black/African American community, and she is a contributing author of Bruised, Broken & Blessed.

Melanie Sisk – Member-at-large

Melanie was a wife, mom of two young boys, and working full-time as a Registered Nurse when she was diagnosed with Stage 1A Breast Cancer at the age of forty-three. She completed her recommended surgery and radiation and was on endocrine therapy. Melanie thought she had put cancer behind her because she did everything right. However, she was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer at the age of forty-seven. Much to her surprise, she was in the twenty to thirty percent of early-stage breast cancer patients that will be diagnosed with metastatic disease. Melanie was never educated on this reoccurrence percentage. Due to her metastatic treatment protocol and disease, she retired from her nursing career.

Melanie has dived into advocacy work with an urgency to do what she can, while she can. She helped to start and moderate a local support group in her area of North Carolina called Piedmont Triad METsters. She is a Living Beyond Breast Cancer 2023 Hear My Voice MBC leadership alumna and a 2025 NBCC Project Lead grad. She is a trained volunteer with Cancer Services, Inc. and a Peer to Peer Support Group Leader and Light Up MBC State Ambassador for METAvivor. Melanie volunteers for Surviving Breast Cancer, Project Life, Live From Stage 4 Podcast, and PIK3CA Pathbreakers. Melanie is using her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and her associate degree in information systems technology to help in her advocacy roles. She is excited about her Member-At-Large role in the MBC Alliance and is hoping to learn from others and help further the cause and mission of the Alliance. She has a true passion for the metastatic community.

When Melanie is not doing advocacy work you can find her spending time, enjoying her “new normal” life with her family including her husband and now, young men.

Caleen Allen – Nonprofit Member Representative

Caleen Allen is Executive Vice President of Sisters Network Inc., where she leads national strategic partnerships, fund development, community engagement and state policy initiatives.

An experience marketing and communications change agent with over 30 years of experience in the areas of fund development, corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, community relations, advertising, event management, equity and inclusion strategy.

She is also recognized as an exceptional relationship and coalition builder working with national, state and local elected officials, key corporate business leaders, community/civic advocates, and faith-based leaders.

Caroline Koffke – Nonprofit Member Representative

Caroline Koffke, RN, BSN, OCN is the Director of Educational and Healthcare Provider Programs for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. An experienced oncology nurse with a focus on breast cancer care, over the years she has honed a compassionate, patient-centered approach—providing expert guidance and support to individuals navigating the complexities of breast cancer treatment.

In her role with LBBC, Caroline leads initiatives to develop and deliver high-quality, evidence-based educational resources for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. In this role, she works to ensure individuals impacted by breast cancer have access to the latest information, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care.

Before joining LBBC, Caroline worked at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she advanced patient care and education in oncology nursing. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, running, and hiking. She is also passionate about promoting wellness and self-care in both professional and personal settings.

A firm believer in the power of education and support, Caroline dedicates her career to helping those affected by breast cancer through direct care and the promotion of vital educational initiatives.

Madeline Williamson – Nonprofit Member Representative

As a Research Advocate for FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, Madeline Williamson works to improve the lives of individuals and families facing hereditary cancers. FORCE serves as a champion, unifying the community and advocating for awareness, access to care and better treatment and prevention options.

A graduate of Kent State and Case Western Reserve Universities, Madeline is a neurology genetic counselor returning test results as part of the PD GENE study through Indiana University, sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Geraldine Carroll – Industry Representative

Geraldine Carroll is the Director of Patient Advocacy for Breast Cancer and Hematology at Novartis, where she leads the development and execution of integrated advocacy strategies that amplify the patient and caregiver voice across the organization. Her work focuses on building impactful partnerships with patient advocacy groups, driving shared agendas, and reducing barriers to care—ultimately empowering patients to access the best possible care.

A seasoned enterprise leader with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Geraldine brings deep expertise across multiple therapeutic areas and a proven track record of delivering strategic initiatives that advance patient-centricity. She is recognized for her ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and translate insights into actionable strategies that shape policy, improve health equity, and enhance patient engagement. Her core competencies include patient advocacy, strategic planning, health equity, portfolio marketing, and HCP engagement, coupled with strong acumen in navigating complex market dynamics.

Prior to joining Novartis, Geraldine held senior leadership roles at Biogen, including Senior Director of MS Marketing, where she was consistently acknowledged for her strategic vision, innovative approach, and ability to drive measurable impact in highly competitive markets.

Geraldine resides in Bolton, MA, with her husband and two golden retrievers, Lola and Bodie.

The incoming members will serve alongside our returning Executive Group representatives:

  • Past Chair Margaret Flowers (BCRF)
  • Members at Large, Patient Advocates: Barbara Bigelow, Liz Frank, Abigail Johnston, Ellen Landsberger
  • Member at Large, Nonprofit Representative: Keeshia Jones (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis)
  • Member at Large, Industry Representative: Donna Hopf (Lilly)

We are grateful for their continued leadership and expertise during this term.

Learn more about the MBC Alliance’s work and meet our full Executive Group.