Executive Staff

Marilyn Gentry is the President of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), a role she has held for nearly four decades.  She is also the President and a founder of World Cancer Research Fund International, a non-profit organization that leads and unifies a global network of cancer prevention charities, including AICR.  Inspired in the early years by the lack of cancer prevention efforts around the globe, she helped found the other members of this network, which are based in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

She has been instrumental in bringing the concept that you can reduce your cancer risk by adopting a healthy lifestyle–once an outlandish and almost heretical suggestion–to the backbone of mainstream public health and cancer prevention efforts worldwide.

In her role, she continues to champion the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world so that people can make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk.

Deirdre McGinley-Gieser is the Executive Vice President of American Institute for Cancer Research. She has worked to advance the cancer prevention mission and vision of AICR for over 25 years. She oversees the research, education and communications departments of the Institute and leads advocacy and policy. Prior to this position, Deirdre worked at AICR’s international affiliate, World Cancer Research Fund International, in London, U.K. She was the Director for WCRF’s international operations and led organizational start-ups, legal, regulatory, fundraising and program development as well as strategic planning.

Jennifer Mercer is the Senior Vice President of Development for the American Institute for Cancer Research. She is a fundraising strategist and oversees all development activities across all marketing channels and streams including major gifts, planned giving, bequest fundraising, State and Federal Campaigns, memorial giving, monthly donor programs, corporate and foundation partnerships, special events and the gift annuity program. Prior to this position, Jennifer worked on the fundraising consultancy side of the business where she led some of the largest non-profits to maximize their donor experience and revenue.

Nigel Brockton is Vice President of Research at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). After more than two decades as a cancer researcher, a two-time cancer survivor and fervent cancer research advocate, he joined AICR in 2017. He now combines all of his passions directing the AICR research program spanning the cancer continuum— through cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship. Nigel earned his PhD in the genetic epidemiology of colorectal cancer risk from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He moved to Canada to establish his own research program (Cancer molecular epidemiology) focusing on the impact of lifestyle factors on cancer metastasis, particularly in breast, colorectal and head and neck cancers. He maintains an appointment (adjunct Associate Professor) at the University of Calgary, Department of Community Health Sciences, and continues to conduct collaborative research using the rich data and biospecimen resources within the prospective longitudinal studies, that he established, in Alberta.

Michael J. McCarn is AICR’s Chief Information Officer.

Mike supported AICR as an outside IT consultant for many years – first as Vice President of Digital Microcomputer Concepts Corporation, then as President of Microcomputer Management and Support, Inc.

Since coming on staff at AICR, he has worked hard to balance data security, reliability, and usability as the technology landscape evolves.

Ann O’Malley is AICR’s Senior Director of Production and is responsible for the printing and production of AICR’s printed material from books to brochures to the AICR Newsletter and marketing materials. She collaborates with all departments within the organization as well as working with AICR’s outside designers, editors and printers. Ann joined AICR in 1998 after nine years with Congressional Quarterly Books in both book production and print buying. She began her career in the editorial production field as an editorial assistant at the Close Up Foundation. Ann is a graduate of Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, and earned a certificate in the Publication Specialist Program at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Linda is Senior Director of Major Gifts at AICR. She leads her team in developing and maintaining long-term relationships with the American Institute for Cancer Research’s cherished supporters. Linda works closely with distinguished donors to learn about their interests, passions and values, and to communicate how their support improves people’s lives and well-being. She also assists donors in finding the best ways to support the research and education programs that are most meaningful to them.

During her career, Linda has served in a variety of roles in finance and operations management for large corporations in budget planning, financial analysis and leadership of customer service teams.

Melissa Habedank Bender is the Senior Director of External Relations for the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).  In this position, she builds and leads evidence-to-action programs and professional partnerships that support and sustain translational science, training for health professionals, and clinical-to-communities initiatives. Melissa began her career in health legislation and advocacy, spending nearly a decade working in the U.S. Congress to develop and pass landmark health, nutrition and education legislation before working on public health campaigns in East Africa and Southeast Asia.  Immediately prior to joining AICR, Melissa served as Director of Strategy and Innovation and Interim Director of Quality Improvement for a multi-county network of community health centers in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Melissa holds a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University and a BA (Hons.) in Communications.

Jodi is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. She oversees the corporate partnership program for the American Institute for Cancer Research. Through research, outreach, proposal development and communication, Jodi is responsible for increasing corporate revenue and building a network of external partners. Before moving into her current role, Jodi led the annual fund and development operations for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Jodi has a dual bachelor’s degree in business and communication from the University of Pittsburgh and experienced her first love for travel while on board a Semester at Sea Voyage during her college studies.

Vidushi Kumar is Director of Communications at AICR and leads communications and public relations initiatives. She has several years of experience in devising appropriate communication strategies for target audiences and messaging on nutrition and its impact on chronic diseases. Before joining AICR, she worked at the International Food Policy Research Institute where her role included managing US and foreign media. She holds a Master’s degree in Communications from Georgia State University. Vidushi has also worked as a reporter with Voice of America health desk, CNN International, and MSNBC.Com.

Sheena is the Director of Nutrition Programs at AICR. She oversees programs focused on reducing cancer risk through better nutrition, diet and weight management, and provides practical tips to implement AICR’s recommendations in real life. Sheena is passionate about making cancer prevention accessible to all by empowering and motivating audiences through her weekly blogs, webinars and speaking engagements. She has over 10 years of experience working in health promotion, wellness and disease prevention/management areas.

Brittany Henderson leads AICR’s Human Resource and Operations department with a focus on employee engagement, performance management, benefit administration and fulfillment.

Before moving into her current role, Brittany served as a Human Resource and Finance Specialist with a nonprofit consulting firm in Washington, DC. A native Marylander, Brittany attended Virginia State University before transferring and receiving her Bachelors of Science in Business Management through Grand Canyon University.

Brittany is an active member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and has a passion for service with a commitment to helping others achieve their goals.

Kelly B. Browning holds an emeritus position with the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).  He is a board member of the World Cancer Research Fund International, a non-profit organization that leads and unifies a global network of cancer prevention charities, including AICR.

Kelly is the former Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer for AICR and was motivated in the early years by the lack of cancer research focused on prevention, in both the public and private sectors.   For nearly four decades he worked to advance the Institute’s research programs relating to how lifestyle factors impact cancer risk and on ways to increase awareness across the country.