Our Staff
We prioritize representation of people with brain injury and caregivers at every level of our organization—from our founders, staff, Board, and advisors to the Program Leaders who bring our work to life. Over 50% of our core staff have experienced brain injury or caregiving themselves, centering lived experience alongside leadership qualities of resilience, vulnerability, curiosity, and compassion.
Senior Director, Programs, Research, & Operations
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: The ancestral lands of the Abenaki people, today known as Vermont
My Superhero Is: Anyone who leans into adversity for learning and growth.
Kyla serves as the Senior Director of Programs, Research, and Operations, overseeing the design, implementation, and evaluation of LoveYourBrain programs on a large scale. She has been part of the Pearce family for years, and, following Kevin's accident, played an integral role in the launch of LoveYourBrain. By turning inward through yoga, Kyla believes we learn to be with our whole selves with greater compassion, which is fundamental to wellbeing and inspiring positive social change. Kyla has blended her expertise as a yoga and mindfulness teacher and practitioner, researcher, and advocate to develop evidence-based, TBI-centered yoga curricula, which she trains yoga teachers and clinicians to deliver through yoga studios and health care facilities across the United States and Canada. She teaches the LoveYourBrain Yoga and Mindset programs and co-facilitates LoveYourBrain Retreats across the country. She recently completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Dartmouth College investigating the impact of yoga and meditation for people with neurological conditions.
Director, Communications & Marketing
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Pronouns: he/him/his
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral land of the Lenape (“The People”), who spoke Algonquian and whose homeland was Lenapehoking, now known as New York City.
Superhero: One of my superheroes is Shantideva, an 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk, philosopher, and poet, who wrote the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, his personal testament and guidebook to living with an altruistic spirit.
As the Director of Communications and Marketing, Sasha oversees the creative direction, brand presence, and messaging of LoveYourBrain. Sasha is a creative storyteller, strategic systems thinker, and collaborative leader. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Narativ, the listening and storytelling company, which uses storytelling for community building, advocacy, executive leadership, and employee onboarding. He has also held a long-standing volunteer position at Mangala Shri Bhuti. Having multiple family members with TBI, Sasha has a deeply personal connection to LoveYourBrain’s mission—witnessing firsthand the impact of brain injury on the whole person, and the potential for healing and growth. Meditation has been a central part of his life, and he is honored to support an organization that utilizes mindfulness to be of benefit to others.
Director, Development
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Pronouns: he/him/his
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral and traditional homelands of the Anikituwagi, commonly known as the Cherokee Nation, as well as the Yuchi, Miccosukee, and other Indigenous nations that have stewarded this land since time immemorial, today known as Asheville, NC.Superhero: My superhero is my son, Risden. His resilience through adversity has shown me that you can become what you dream, as he carries out the mantra of my father, “Do it, who can stop ya? As long as you’re not intentionally hurting anyone along the way.”
As the Development Director, Jonathan specializes in building the systems and relationships that transform organizational vision into measurable impact. With 20+ years of experience funding missions from international universities to holistic educational retreat centers, Jonathan helps to bridge the gap between heart-centered narratives and the operational integrity required for long-term sustainability. He believes fundraising is a core program of the mission, not a separate department. Jonathan focuses on moving organizations away from transactional gifts of support toward an authentic Culture of Philanthropy where donor values and organizational goals align for a more compassionate future. Outside of work, Jonathan is also a singer/songwriter/guitarist and is often found playing at an open mic night or in the bleachers cheering on his son playing baseball.
Program Manager, Clinical Affiliates
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral land of the Massachusett and their neighbors the Wampanoag, and Nipmuc Peoples, now known as Boston, Massachusetts.
My Superhero Is: my mom for teaching me what it means to allow strength, resilience, faith, compassion, and joy to co-exist.
As the Clinical Affiliate Program Manager, Ellie spearheads the implementation and expansion of our partnerships with clinical facilities to offer the LoveYourBrain Yoga program across the U.S. and Canada. She also manages outreach initiatives to increase awareness of and access to our mindfulness, yoga, and community-building programs. As an Occupational Therapist (OTD, OTR/L, CKTP) she has experience working in inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation with adults and pediatrics, including for patients with TBI. As a clinician and yoga teacher (RYT-200) she is passionate about offering holistic rehabilitation services that integrate traditional therapy with yoga and meditation, as well as providing clinicians with the tools to offer this approach in their respective settings.
Senior Program & Operations Manager
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: The ancestral lands of the Mvskoke or Muscogee people, today known as Greenville, South Carolina.
My Superhero is: Richard Rohr
As the Sr. Program & Operations Manager for LoveYourBrain, Bridget oversees the delivery, growth, and quality of programs designed to support people impacted by brain injury, while mentoring a nationwide network of facilitators to effectively deliver LoveYourBrain’s research-backed curricula.
Bridget earned a BS in Psychology from Coker University and is an E-RYT 500. She has extensive experience in yoga education, curriculum development, and training facilitation.
Bridget believes in the power of yoga and mindfulness to improve people's lives and is passionate about making these practices accessible to everyone. She is especially interested in the science behind why they work and helping others understand their benefits. Through her work, she hopes to make yoga more inclusive, approachable, and grounded in both research and real-life experience.
Development Manager
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral lands of the Peoria, Bodwéwadmi (Potawatomi), Kaskaskia, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Myaamia people, today known as Chicago, IL.
Superhero: Anyone who dedicates their time and talents to improving the lives of others. I’m inspired by people who use what they’re good at to make the world a little kinder, more accessible, and more connected.
As Development Manager, Kim brings 10 years of experience in development operations, donor engagement, peer-to-peer fundraising, database management, stewardship, and communications. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Historic Preservation, which led her to fundraising for a 280-year-old historic house and museum and opened her eyes to the world of fundraising and nonprofits. She specializes in building thoughtful, sustainable systems and strategies that strengthen organizations and the relationships at the heart of their work. She believes successful development is about more than raising money. It’s about telling meaningful stories, building trust, and connecting people to the work they care about. At LoveYourBrain, Kim is excited to help grow a culture of philanthropy that makes holistic well-being more accessible to people affected by brain injury and their caregivers. Outside of work, Kim is an avid gamer, museum lover, reader, novice runner, and traveler who is always planning her next adventure.
Program & Operations Coordinator
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral lands of the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Ute, and Sioux people, today known as Denver, Colorado.
Superhero: is anyone who is brave enough to show up authentically, be seen for who they are at their best and at their worst, and see others with an open heart.
As the Program and Operations Coordinator, Irene supports the coordination and delivery of LoveYourBrain’s holistic health programs, bringing heart, clarity, and grounded organization to each step of the process. Irene brings 7+ years of experience coordinating nonprofit programming to serve individuals with visible and invisible disabilities and always aims to create spaces rooted in trust, presence, and possibility. Her work is guided by a deep belief in the power of connection to others, connection to self, and the incredible potential that exists in every individual. She is also a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher and holds a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology and a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology.
Communications and Marketing Manager
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral lands of the Peoria, Bodwéwadmi (Potawatomi), Kaskaskia, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Myaamia people, today known as Chicago, IL.
Superhero: My mother, who teaches me strength, resilience, and kindness. She continues to put other people first, she gives back to her community, and she loves wholeheartedly.
As the Communications and Marketing Manager, Ada brings experience in paid and organic media from both agency side and corporate side. She is a data driven marketing specialist with experience managing high volume, multi-platform campaigns, optimizing audience strategies, and translating performance insights into measurable growth. Ada’s extensive background also includes volunteering for other non-profits with goals of building awareness and supporting their community. Outside of work, Ada can be found with a book in one hand and a volleyball in the other. She also loves hiking, her cat, going to local events, and traveling.
Retreat Program Manager
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Native Land Acknowledgement and Today-Known-As Location: The ancestral lands of the Waxhaw, Catawba, Cheraw, Sugeree, Wateree, and Saponi people, today known as Charlotte, NC.
Superhero: My younger sister, who teaches me patience, empathy, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity as a neurodivergent Black woman.
As the Retreat Program Manager, Devon brings over ten years of experience in program design, curriculum development, external training, and clinical services for people with acquired brain injuries and neurodevelopmental differences. With a background in speech-language pathology, brain injury rehabilitation, yoga, and community-based programming, Devon possesses a person-first perspective that prioritizes the creation of accessible, inclusive, and meaningful services that enhance quality of life. Outside of work, you can find Devon practicing yoga, running, reading, or testing out a new recipe. She also loves a good road trip, with some of her favorite places including Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA, and the Outer Banks, NC.
Design and Product
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Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: The ancestral lands of the Cheyenne, Ute, and Sioux people, today known as Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
My Superheros are my mom and my grandma
Courtney has been part of the LoveYourBrain family since its inception, contributing to the design and execution of products. She brings expertise in graphic design and project management.
Salesforce Admin
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Pronouns: he/him/his
As the Salesforce Admin for LoveYourBrain, Eli oversees CRM operations to ensure efficient data management. Eli has expertise in systems design and innovation, which he applies to mission-driven organizations to maximize their impact.