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 Cox is a lifetime animal lover who is passionate about criminal justice reform. She…