Board of Directors
We have a talented and passionate Board of Directors who are committed to helping DCIS Understood achieve its mission. Our board members bring a range of professional skills and backgrounds, and hail from four corners of the U.S.; we are proud to say that we have representation from New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami. Some of our board members have been directly impacted by ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer. Read more about us below.
Julia Stalder
As our founder, Julia oversees the day-to-day management, program creation and growth of DCIS Understood. Julia brings over two decades of organizational management and development experience. In addition to her lead role at DCIS Understood, she currently oversees operations and business development at Stalder Mediation, a boutique mediation services and training firm that she started with her husband in 2012. Julia is a practiced non-profit professional, with rich experience in strategic planning, fundraising, program development and board governance. She previously held senior staff and consulting positions at several non-profit organizations, including the Peaks Foundation, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and Hadassah, and was a founding and long-time board member of Eden Village Camp. Julia is also an attorney and, earlier in her career, practiced law at Chadbourne & Parke, focusing on estate planning and family matters. Julia received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Emory University. She lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband, daughter, son, and two German Shepherds, and spends her free time trail running with her dogs or practicing piano and guitar.
Erin Ankin
Erin is the Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations, at the real estate investment firm Bridge Industrial, where she oversees day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. Prior to joining Bridge Industrial, Erin served for 14 years as Managing Partner and General Counsel at Waterton, where she was responsible for strategic initiatives, fund and corporate structuring, transaction negotiations, litigation, insurance, risk management and the firm’s talent management and general human resource functions. Erin also oversaw corporate compliance under local, state, federal and other jurisdictional laws, served as Waterton’s initial chief compliance officer and also co-chair of the firm’s culture committee. Earlier in her career, Erin was a real estate and finance associate at a Chicago-based law firm. She holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Erin is also a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Urban Land Institute. She lives in Chicago with her husband, daughter and son, and in her free time enjoys skiing and traveling with her family.
Ashley Litwin
Ashley is a seasoned white collar criminal defense lawyer, specializing in appeals and other post-conviction motions at Seitles & Litwin. Ashley has successfully argued numerous cases in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the 2nd District Court of Appeals of Florida. Before joining Seitles & Litwin, Ashley clerked for Judge James Lawrence King on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and Judge Peter T. Fay on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Ashley was also an associate at Jenner & Block in Chicago, where her practice focused on complex commercial litigation. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School where she was awarded the Ann Watson Barber Award for outstanding service to the law school. Ashley also serves as the President of the Board of Transition, Inc., a non-profit providing job training and placement services to ex-offenders. She lives in Miami Beach with her husband and three children and spends her time on the water, at baseball games, and reading when she can.
Shira Weissman
Shira is the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at the auction and real estate investment company Rabin Worldwide, where she oversees legal and business affairs and manages day-to-day operations. She is involved in the acquisition of industrial projects particularly in the purchase of complete facilities with real estate and equipment. Over the years, Shira has built lasting and strategic relationships with banks, attorneys, trustees and partners. Prior to joining Rabin, Shira practiced law at Baker & McKenzie in Chicago, focusing on litigation and international arbitration. She also worked as a teacher in the South Bronx with Teach for America. She received a J.D. with honors from Northwestern University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. Shira also serves as a lay leader of the Israel-based Varda Institute, which assists communities in crisis and guides organizations through difficult decision-making. Shira lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and outside of work, loves cooking shabbat dinners, skiing any mountain and hiking around Mt. Tamalpais with her husband and three children.