Senior Director of Program Strategy

Dr. Valerie Shayman Southerland is proud to serve R.I.S.E. Northwest as the Senior Director of Program Strategy. Dr. Southerland previously held the positions of Board President and Interim Executive Director and she is excited to contribute to R.I.S.E. Northwest in this new role. 

Dr. Southerland’s professional experience includes envisioning and building programs from the ground up and leading organizations to support children, adults, and families in the areas of forensic mental health, behavioral health, law, tech, child welfare, and higher education. Dr. Southerland holds a BA in Communications from the University of North Florida, an MA in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.

Director of Program Development

With a deep commitment to supporting children and families through some of life’s most difficult moments, Karly brings experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist in both hospital and community-based settings. She earned her BA in Child Life and Health, followed by an MA in Child Life, where she developed a strong understanding of how children grow, think, and process complex experiences. Her education emphasized how grief and loss impact children at different developmental stages, how to communicate honestly and compassionately about serious illness and death, and how to support coping and resilience in the face of trauma and change.

Karly’s role includes creating and implementing activities that support grief processing, as well as serving as a resource for children and caregivers by providing education and support around children’s understanding of illness, death, and grief.

Community Engagement and Program Coordinator

With a strong background in relationship-building, operations, and community engagement, Eva brings both professional expertise and a people-first approach to everything she does.

After losing her mother at the age of 20, Eva understands firsthand how complex and ever-changing grief can be. A dedicated R.I.S.E. Northwest volunteer for the past three years, Eva is committed to creating a space where children and families feel a true sense of belonging, safety, and support. She is especially passionate about ensuring that kids have the freedom to express themselves in their own way, without expectations or pressure.

Eva focuses on community outreach and helping families discover the support through RISE Northwest. Having experienced the organization’s impact in her own life, she is driven to help it continue to grow and reach more families in need. 

Administrative Manager

Cierra Sorrell-Young supports daily operations, communication, and organizational development. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare operations and administration, she focuses on building efficient systems that allow mission-driven teams to better serve their communities. She holds an MS in Management from Walden University.

Cierra’s connection to the mission is deeply personal. After losing both of her parents in her twenties, she experienced firsthand the importance of compassionate support during grief. That experience fuels her commitment to helping create spaces where children and families feel supported, understood, and not alone.

She is honored to contribute her skills and perspective to supporting the work of R.I.S.E. Northwest.

Benefit Manager

Kelsey was born and raised in Spokane, WA and holds a BA in Applied Management from Spokane Falls Community College. Kelsey and her husband Luke are proud parents of four children, who attend Gonzaga Preparatory School and St. Thomas More Catholic School.

She found her calling in healthcare and currently works for Providence as a Patient Care Coordinator. Along with growing her family and career, Kelsey has dedicated herself to volunteering at St. Thomas More and Gonzaga Prep over the past 12 years in multiple areas, including fundraising, parental involvement, and volunteer coordination, as well as on the Parish Council at St. Thomas More Parish.

Having lost her father suddenly in 2021, Kelsey is truly grateful to serve R.I.S.E. in a fundraising capacity to help those who have experienced parental loss.

Web Designer

Daphne is dedicated to advancing the mission of R.I.S.E. Northwest by designing and managing the organization’s website, ensuring accessible and effective communication.

She holds master’s degrees in Computer Science (University of Piraeus, Greece) and Business Administration (University of the Aegean, Greece).

With experience as Administrative Director at R.I.S.E. Northwest and Business & Communications Manager at the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, Daphne brings expertise in nonprofit management, online marketing, and graphic design. She is committed to using her skills to expand the organization’s reach, ensuring that children in need receive vital support while providing timely information to parents, caregivers, and affected families.