
Leadership & Board
Meet our people
Board Members
John Melcher
Chair
John Melcher is the Chief Strategy Officer at First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union.
Allan I Goldberg, M.D.
Vice Chair
Dr. Goldberg attended University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry in 1973.
Sandy Ewing
Treasurer
Sandy Ewing is Head of SEI’s TRUST 3000® business and an Executive Vice President of SEI.
Terence Grugan
Secretary
Terence Grugan is an associate at Ballard Spahr LLP, practicing out of Philadelphia in the firm’s white collar defense and internal investigations practice group.
Dr. Ginneh L. Akbar, MSW, LSW, DSW
Dr. Akbar serves as Program Director and Department Chair of Graduate Social Work at West Work at at West Chester University and she recently started Akbar & Associates
Byron Cotter
Byron Cotter is the retired Director of Alternative Sentencing for the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
John F. Cooley Jr
John is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of M, LLC, a Philadelphia-based advertising agency.
Jocelyn Arnold
Jocelyn Jones Arnold holds a deep and unique expertise in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and local government sectors.
Edward G. Rendell
After 34 years of public service, including 24 years as an elected official, Governor Rendell continues to pursue many of the same issues he was passionate about while serving.
Abd’Allah Wali Lateef
Abd’Allah Wali Lateef is the Pennsylvania Coordinator for the Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network (ICAN) Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.
Caitlin Taylor, Ph.D
Caitlin Taylor, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at La Salle University.
Cliff Stanley
Rev. Dr. Clifford L. Stanley is a retired US Marine Major General and a former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
Team Members
Marian V. Marchese
Founder & CEO
Marian V. Marchese has a diverse background in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. In…
Norberto ‘Rob’ Rosa
Senior Vice President – Programs
Rob’s career began in 2002 at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford (SCIG) working on 1800 acres of farmland.
Dianne Engle
Vice President – Operations
Dianne Engle, Senior Director of Administrative Services has extensive experience in nonprofit business operations. Prior…
Juliet Layne
Administrative Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
Juliet Layne, Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator, came to New Leash with a degree in…
Samantha Dzikowski
Lead Veterinary Technician/Adoptions Coordinator
Samantha is our Lead Veterinary Technician and Adoptions Coordinator. As a college student, Sam began…
Jane Bridwell, CFRE
Director of Development
Jane Bridwell, CFRE serves as the Director of Development for New Leash on Life USA,…
Rachel Britton
Employment Specialist
Rachel joined our team in September of 2023 as an Employment Specialist. Rachel has experience…
Caroline Cox, LSW, MSW
Social Services Advocate
caroline@newleashonlife-usa.org
Caroline Cox is a lifetime animal lover who is passionate about criminal justice reform. She…