BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JESSICA LEMBELEMBE
Board Chair
I believe that leader development and institution building in for-impact settings fuels long-term social change. I currently serve as Chief of Staff for United World Mission, a leadership formation and ministry training organization. Previously, I served for 7 years with a leader development ministry in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I am from the United States, where I earned a degree in History from the University of Evansville (IN) and a Masters in International Peace Studies from Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute (IN). My husband and I live in Chicago where we enjoy exploring different neighborhoods, preferably by bike!
HANNAH CONNELLY
Secretary
Hello, I’m Hannah Connelly. I’ve always had a passion for helping people and understanding what motivates us to chase our dreams and be happy in life.
I grew up in Granville, Ohio, and graduated from Granville High School in 2011. I then went to Bowling Green State University (OH), graduating in 2015. After working as a social worker in Toledo (OH) for five years, my husband, daughter, and I moved back home to be close to family and raise our daughter in the community I know and love. I am chasing my passion to help others through real estate and local/digital marketing.
I am so excited to start this journey serving my community who has given so much to me!
DR. BREONNA STONE
Vice Chair
Dr. Breonna Stone is a leader, educator, and community advocate who is passionate about helping people and organizations grow in meaningful ways. She currently serves as the Director of Operations at HOPE Christian School Caritas, where she supports students, families, and staff while helping lead the day-to-day work that keeps the school running strong.
Breonna earned her PhD in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and has spent years working across education, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement. No matter the role, her heart has always been rooted in service, building relationships, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.
She also served as instructional faculty in the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, mentors youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, and supports nonprofits and leaders through strategy and consulting work.
Breonna believes leadership is not just about titles. It is about showing up for people, doing the work with integrity, and helping others feel valued, capable, and supported. She is deeply committed to faith, community, and making sure the next generation knows they belong in every room they walk into.
LOIS SHAW
I have a deep passion for networking, especially connecting African women who are full of potential and dreams with those who can offer valuable experience and wisdom.
Having spent most of my adult life in Kenya, I have witnessed the incredible resilience of women in our communities. My husband, a professor at Africa International University, teaches PhD students while I engage with women graduates and support single mothers grappling with poverty on the fringes of society. I thrive in these two worlds, where my heart truly lies.
For many years, I have found fulfillment in hosting tour groups of North American women who aspire to transition “from success to significance.” We collaborate to share professional insights with African women leaders and extend our outreach to marginalized women, helping to uplift those in need.
Impact Now is where I hope to harness my lifetime of experiences to create meaningful impact. I received my Doctorate in Transformational Leadership from AIU, centering my research on relational philanthropy. I genuinely believe that transformative change occurs when we build authentic relationships with those we aim to serve.
I am proud to be the grandmother of four exceptional grandsons, who inspire me every day!
GRACE HA
My worldview and heart for service was shaped by growing up in a family with a service-oriented vocation and early exposure to different cultures while growing up in Korea, the U.S. and Kenya. I observed time and again how women make a major difference in the survival and success of their families and communities in every culture I encountered, and I hope to be of service to the women that Impact Now supports through its programming.
My professional background consists of legal practice in the areas of criminal prosecution, international arbitration, healthcare reimbursement and complex commercial dispute resolution, and in non-legal capacities in project management and real estate development. I hold degrees from Duke University (AB) and Emory University (JD), and I am currently the Deputy Director of the Chicago International Arbitration Center.
JANICE MCADAMS
My professional experience includes over 25 years as a nonprofit and development leader. I enjoy building long term relationships and growing programs and buildings that accommodate those programs. In my spare time, just give me a good book or a great path to walk!
MEGAN SLOAT
Megan is a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) who has been delivering babies for 14 years. She earned her midwifery degree (MSN) from Yale University and also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Boston University.
Besides her extensive clinical experience, Megan has worked on policy and programming issues related to maternal and child health across various settings. This work has deeply informed her perspective that a community is only as healthy as its women. She is driven by a passion for engaging in initiatives that foster healthier, more robust communities.
Megan currently lives in Ames, Iowa, where she enjoys reading, traveling, crafting, and spending time outside with her husband and two kiddos.
SUPPORT IMPACT NOW
Individuals and organizations who recognize the value that women make in this world support our work. Please consider joining us through a donation.