2022-24 Executive Committee

Adam Lovell is a kidney/pancreas recipient who resides in Bloomington, Illinois. As president, Adam will preside over the Executive Committee (president/vice president/secretary/treasurer), the Board of Directors and committee chairs. He sets the tone and agenda for board meetings and oversees team accountability. 

 

Adam has worked for two decades in nonprofit management and has worked as a consultant for nonprofits across the country.  Adam is currently the Grants Coordinator at Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois.  Adam will bring to TLI his much-needed knowledge, skills, and interest in promoting organ and tissue donation. His life’s mantra is “See the need, meet the challenge.” He hopes others will embrace it as we move forward together in support of the TLI mission.

Reach out to him at adamclovell@yahoo.com.

Ashleigh Duran is a liver recipient and active in the World Transplant Games Federation. She is passionate about organ and tissue donation and will bring fresh ideas to TLI.

 

As vice president, she will oversee all TGA organizing activities with a focus on bringing in new sponsors. Ashleigh says she wants to serve the transplant community “as a female athlete, a liver transplant recipient, and a voice to help promote the importance of organ donation and transplantation.”

 

Ashleigh is co-owner of Flight Club Power Tumbling and Trampoline in Huntley, Illinois. A former volleyball coach, she still tries to play the game when she can. Ashleigh has competed in two World Transplant Games and serves as a trustee and advisor to that organization. 

 

You can reach Ashleigh at Volleyquinn1187@gmail.com.

It's been 40 years since Susan English was a college student, but that time in her life will stand out as the beginning of a long journey to good health.

 

As a freshman she became hospitalized with elevated liver enzymes and lost 40 pounds. She recovered, but years later, she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called giant cell hepatitis, which had already caused some cirrhosis of her liver by age 30.  Over the next 20 years, Susan battled moderate hepatic encephalopathy, had a TIPS procedure to remove a portal vein clot, suffered a spontaneous splenic artery aneurysm, endured extended stays in the hospital and rehabilitative care, and sat on the waitlist for a new liver three times. Her late husband, Chris was her primary caretaker.  Finally in August 2013, English got the call from Northwestern Memorial Hospital on her father’s 79th birthday that they had a liver for her, and she received her gift of life the following day. Susan was able to return to work full time as a local history museum professional  after 7 long years of disability. She currently works as the Museum Coordinator for the Village of Addison.

 

Susan and Chris participated in all the Transplant Games since Cleveland in 2016.  She competes in  swimming and team trivia events. She lives in Darien and lives with her two miniature dachshunds, Baron and Rusty. She can be reached at Susanpenglish@hotmail.com.

Leah Howell currently serves as Director of Learning Design at Everspring, Inc., where she oversees a team dedicated to the design and implementation of transformative, online educational offerings. She completed her PhD in Educational Studies, with a focus in Developmental and Learning Sciences, at the University of Cincinnati where her research focused on the intersection of identity development and high-risk alcohol use. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Studies & Psychology from Central Michigan University.

 

A two-time kidney transplant recipient, Leah’s journey with kidney disease began in seventh grade with pyelonephritis.  In 2002 she began dialysis, something that had previously been explained as a very distant possibility.  In 2003, she got the call – a 6-point antigen match!  Five days later, she left the hospital and on day seven, she returned, losing the transplant.  Then in 2004, she got the best birthday gift ever – the gift of another donor kidney – the Gift of Life.  And “Joey” has been with her ever since.  Learn more about her transplant journey.

 

You may contact Leah at treasurergoteamillinois@gmail.com.

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