AUA Foundation The Official Foundation of the American Urological Association

Staff

Rodney Cotten, MBA, PMP
Manager – Research Programs

Mr. Rodney Cotten joined the American Urological Association Foundation in 2002. Working to fulfill the Foundation's mission of advancing urologic research, he plans and manages annual research events such as the Summer Research Conference and the Research Forum; manages the AUA Foundation funding grants; and produces research reports and communications.

Mr. Cotten has an MBA and an AA in Database Technology. He is a certified Project Management Professional with over 10 years of non-profit experience and 20 years of operations and business management experience. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine force. Prior to joining the AUAF, he served as the Database Manager for The Access Program, an organization dedicated to increasing the rate of college enrollment of high school children in Northwest Ohio.

Cynthia Duncan
Sr. Manager – Development

Ms. Cynthia Duncan has 19 years of diverse and progressively responsible non-profit experience in development, advocacy, public relations and marketing. Prior to joining the AUA Foundation, Ms. Duncan was Executive Director of Hope Street Kids where she helped to establish and manage the daily operations of a startup foundation that was founded by former Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and Randy Walker, in memory of their nine- year-old daughter, Caroline Pryce Walker, who lost a valiant battle against neuroblastoma in September 1999. Since inception, the program has raised more than $10 million, enabling it to award 92 pediatric cancer research grants and fellowships to investigators at 34 major medical institutions across the country.

Ms. Duncan's development experience also includes past positions at Harbor Hospital, a MedStar institution, where she focused on establishing a major gift program as well as an annual fund campaign. At the Children's National Medical Center Foundation, she was manager of promotions and events. Ms. Duncan received her BS degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Sarah Elder, CMD
Sr. Manager – Development

Ms. Sarah Elder joined the AUA Foundation in July 2008. She brought over 15 years of experience in development and fundraising, with more than 20 years of operational management, communications and marketing.

Previous to the AUA Foundation, Ms. Elder raised more than $4 million for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and increased membership revenues at the National Aquarium in Baltimore by 33%. As Vice President of Business Operations for the Historic Annapolis Foundation, Ms. Elder orchestrated increases of close to 20% in retail operations, tour programs and facility revenues. With more than 18 years of experience working with boards, establishing donor programs and delivering mission-based outcomes, Ms. Elder contributes a solid background in fundraising and marketing to support the AUA Foundation's self-sufficiency objective.

Leo Giambarresi, PhD
Director – Research Programs
As Director of Research at the American Urological Association Foundation, Dr. Leo Giambarresi has over 30 years experience in biomedical research and research management. Since joining the AUAF in 2007, Dr. Giambarresi has been working with world leaders in the field of urology to decrease the impact of urologic diseases through research.

Dr. Giambarresi spent most of his career as a US Navy Medical Service Corps Officer where he was active in biomedical research, academic teaching and science administration. He retired from the Navy in December 1998 to assume the position of Program Manager for the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program, a major funder of prostate cancer research, receiving average annual congressional appropriations of about 80 million dollars. He received his PhD in Experimental Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ms. Kimberly Miller recently joined the American Urological Association Foundation. She has experience with a variety of patient education and outreach initiatives including, Manager of the well-known Men Take Ten Prostate Cancer Early Detection & Education Program at Howard University Cancer Center. The program, which is directed by AUA member Dr. Chiledium Ahaghotu, focuses on addressing the metropolitan impact from prostate cancer. Kimberly holds a BS in Chemistry and Psychology from The College of William and Mary and a Master's in Forensic Science from Drexel University. She looks forward to expanding the Foundation's Outreach and Education agenda.

Ms. Michele Stickel is responsible for managing the executive office, AUAF operations, major AUAF inter-departmental projects, legal/contracts, finance and budgets. She has over 17 years project management experience, as well 4 years development experience.

Ms. Stickel comes to AUAF most recently from Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth where she was an Assistant Program Manager. Prior to JHU, she was a Litigation Consultant for FTI Consulting, specializing in communications and trial technology for major mass tort cases. Michele holds a BA in International Affairs & World Politics from West Virginia University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Ms. Alaina Willing began working with the American Urological Association Foundation in April 2011. She is responsible for a variety of projects, including the Foundation's website content, social media outreach, and communications development. Prior to joining the AUA Foundation, she contributed to development and outreach programs with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the human rights organization MADRE and The Darfur Rehabilitation Project. She holds a BA in Political Science and Spanish from McDaniel College.