Our Team

Executive Director

Senior Policy & Communications Manager

Senior Campaign & Convening Manager

Membership Manager

Data Management Specialist

Public Health Writing Specialist

Senior Coalition Relations Coordinator

Senior Operations Coordinator

Campaign & Convening Coordinator

Nikia Sankofa

Executive Director

Nikia Sankofa is the Executive Director of the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. She joined the team in October of 2019 after having served as Project Director for breastfeeding at the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Nikia's public health work encompasses a broad range of functions, including, multi-site project management and team leadership; program design, monitoring and evaluation; data management and analysis; advocacy; and delivery of training and technical assistance. Nikia's home base is in Baltimore, MD, surrounded by a plethora of lovingly-tended plants. An avid traveler, Nikia looks forward to again enjoying adventures on the road now that her daughter is in college.

Cheryl Lebedevitch

Senior Policy & Communications Manager

Cheryl Lebedevitch serves as Senior Policy and Communications Manager at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. Cheryl leads the USBC policy and communications teams and serves as co-steward of the Workplace Support Constellation. She serves as Editor-In-Chief of the weekly e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire, and is a contributing author to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion report, "The Role of Law and Policy in Assisting Families to Reach Healthy People's Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Breastfeeding Goals in the United States." Cheryl joined the USBC in 2009 and has held many titles and responsibilities during her time with the organization. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, completed an undergraduate fellowship at the Newberry Library, and is currently attending the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as a Master of Public Policy student. Cheryl lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts with her husband and children, who can frequently be spotted at USBC events.

Camille Abbe

Senior Campaign & Convening Manager

Camille Abbe serves as Senior Campaign and Convening Manager at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. With a background in public relations and event planning, Camille coordinates the design and implementation of USBC fundraising and advocacy campaigns and the meeting design and external relations for online and in-person convenings, including USBC Constellation workgroups. Her projects include the design, coordination, and rollout of the National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening, National Breastfeeding Month, and the USBC Annual Report. Camille joined the USBC in 2013, having previously served as a birth doula, advocate, and as coordinator for the annual conference for the Midwives Alliance of North America for almost a decade. She lives in Massachusetts, is an enthusiastic ceramics hobbyist, and is also a 500-hour certified yoga instructor.

Christina Beccles

Membership Manager

Christina Beccles serves as the Membership Manager at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. In this role, she is responsible for recruiting, engaging, and retaining the USBC organizational membership base, including developing and implementing member engagement strategies, coordinating membership events, and ensuring member satisfaction. Prior to joining the team in 2023, Christina worked with non-profits in the education and healthcare sector, and her passions for equitable rights and access to information are part of what led her to the USBC. Christina lives in Maryland and enjoys traveling with her children, learning how to use new tools, and DIY projects.

Alina Everson

Data Management Specialist

Alina Everson serves as the Data Management Specialist, and joined the team in June 2023. In this role, Alina will be pivotal in supporting the USBC's mission and impact by harnessing the power of data to enable us to make informed decisions, tell compelling stories that drive positive change, and achieve our goals effectively. Alina has a background in supporting data and reporting needs for various community service programs like homelessness prevention, family stability, and prenatal and early childhood development. Alina has followed her passion for turning data into meaningful insights. She enjoys working with her kitty Feliz curled up on her lap. Alina lives in Oregon and is a movie and TV enthusiast who can always recommend something to watch.

Suzan Ajlouni

Public Health Writing Specialist

Suzan Ajlouni serves as the Public Health Writing Specialist at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. In her role, Suzan develops strategic communication and promotion materials for stakeholders, including member organizations and policymakers, and supports the communication of academic and research findings to the public. She also works with constellation work groups to support the communication and dissemination of expert opinion and recommendations for the field. Suzan received a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University School of Public Health.

Miriam Rodriguez

Senior Coalition Relations Coordinator

Miriam Rodriguez serves as Senior Coalitions Relations Coordinator at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. With the organization since 2018, Miriam supports capacity building programs and services for State, Territorial, Tribal, local and cultural breastfeeding coalitions. In addition, she assists in the planning and execution of the National Breastfeeding Conference and Convening, and supports volunteer committees including the Conference Program Committee and the CRASH Committee. Miriam holds a master’s in International Public Service from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Born and raised in Chicago’s South Side, Miriam continues to live in Chicago and enjoys photography, painting, and yoga, and especially traveling to visit her family in Mexico.

Michelle Hilliard

Senior Operations Coordinator

Michelle Hilliard serves as the Senior Operations Coordinator for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. Michelle oversees organizational operations and coordinates administrative functions of the executive team; liaises with the Board of Directors, USBC members, partners, volunteers, and other stakeholders. She supports and leads aspects of optimization of organizational workflow, project management, and research. Michelle earned a Master of Public Health and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Purdue and has a background in community health, health education, and chronic disease prevention. She lives in Illinois and is the proud owner of a certified therapy dog.

Erin Fortuna

Campaign & Convening Coordinator

Erin Fortuna serves as the Campaign & Convening Coordinator at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee. The Campaign & Convening team supports gatherings including the annual conference and membership meetings; campaigns including communications and fundraising; and stakeholder relations with donors and the field. An IBCLC who is passionate about equity in the first food field, Erin is a committed advocate for human milk feeding, and comes to the USBC with a background in business management and community health services. You can usually find Erin baking bread, seeking out the next best sushi restaurant, and enjoying the great outdoors with their family in the Pacific Northwest.

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Staff Team