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Nicole AndrewsChair | Houston, TexasNicole Andrews learned about STAAR in 2020 while undergoing chemotherapy for LGSOC.
She decided she needed to do something to raise money for research as well as educate other women about ovarian cancer symptoms. In two weeks, she organized a socially distanced 5K, found a sponsor for 200 symptom T-shirts, had 200 people join her as she walked the 5K, and raised $25,000 for LGSOC research. Following the passing of founding member Jess BeCraft in September 2021, Nicole was asked to serve the remainder of her term. Retired from her role as associate professor at the University of Houston, Nicole and her husband have three children, a corgi, and live in Houston. She is now on maintenance medicine and is currently thriving with no evidence of disease. Nicole loves to garden, read, cook, and is learning to needlepoint. |
Alyssa ToomesVice Chair - Fund Development | Tiki Island, TexasAlyssa Toomes recently joined the STAAR Board of Directors as the Vice Chair of Fundraising. Prior to her new position, Alyssa worked on the STAAR Fundraising Committee and was Co-chair of Step Up America in 2022.
Alyssa, along with the Step Up America Committee, launched a successful fundraising campaign that ultimately funded research studies at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is looking forward to supporting STAAR’s mission to encourage survivors to thrive as she advocates for advanced research. As an educator, Alyssa has spent her career teaching both children and adults as a reading specialist and literacy coach. Alyssa resides on Tiki Island along the Texas Gulf Coast with her husband and three pups. |
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Kari NeumeyerVice Chair - Marketing & Communications | Bellingham, WashingtonKari Neumeyer, STAAR Vice Chair–Marketing & Communications, was 44 years old when she was diagnosed with stage IV low-grade serous ovarian cancer. She had a successful surgery in 2020 that removed all signs of visible cancer and is now committed to improving outcomes for others with this understudied subtype of ovarian cancer.
Kari joins STAAR’s board after organizing her first-ever fundraiser in 2022—Ride the Teal Wave: Paddling for a Cure in Bellingham Bay. She grew up in Los Angeles and has a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism. She works as a communications manager in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her boyfriend of nearly 20 years and their German shepherd. |
Christina CampbellTreasurer| Manvel, TexasChristina Campell has been volunteering with STAAR since 2022 and serves as treasurer.
She was born in Morgan City, Louisiana, with roots in the Lafayette Louisiana area. She moved to Pearland, Texas, when she was 7 and now lives in Manvel, 20 minutes south of Houston, with her husband Ed of almost 30 years, and her boys Justin and Josh. She graduated from University of Houston Clear Lake with a bachelor of science with a major in accounting. She has worked in accounting for more than 30 years. She loves traveling, relaxing on a nice beach, and watching the sunset. She’s also a huge Houston Astros fan. |
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Morgan GaynorSecretary | Highlands, New JerseySTAAR Secretary Morgan Gaynor has always been passionate about volunteering and also serves as president of the Junior League of Monmouth County.
Morgan grew up in New Jersey and completed an MBA at Monmouth University. She was diagnosed with stage IV low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma in 2019 at the age of 30. In addition to her work with STAAR, Morgan advocates at the federal, state, and local levels on behalf of ovarian cancer patients for increased funding for ovarian cancer research and awareness with the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and participates in OCRA’s Survivors Teach Students program. |
