RIZE Massachusetts Appoints Rosen as Board Chair and Shelto and Sudders as Board Members

RIZE News

May 5, 2026

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE), a nonprofit foundation solely dedicated to creating and funding solutions to end the opioid overdose crisis in Massachusetts, today announced the appointments of Joy Rosen as chair of the Board of Directors and Audrey Shelto and Marylou Sudders as members. Rosen will replace Steve Pollock, who served as chair for seven years and will remain on the board.

“As chair and vice chair of the board, Steve and Joy have guided RIZE to remarkable progress, including a groundbreaking partnership with the state to ensure that opioid settlement funds are optimized to help communities recover from the crisis,” said Steven Lipiner, RIZE board treasurer. “As chair, Joy will couple her experience on the board with her background in government and health care to chart the future course for the organization. Audrey and Marylou will bring perspectives and wisdom to their new board roles honed over their estimable careers and formidable professional accomplishments.”

Rosen, of Brookline, now retired, was the former vice president of behavioral health at Mass General Brigham. Earlier in her career, she held high-level roles with the state Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Rosen earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and a master’s degree in social policy and management from Brandeis University. She has served as vice chair of the RIZE Massachusetts Foundation board for six years and has served on the board for nine years.

For nearly 13 years, Shelto, of Somerville, was the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation before retiring in 2025. She has held various leadership posts within nonprofit health insurance organizations and the state Department of Mental Health. She serves on the board of directors of Women’s Lunch Place and on the board of advisors for Brandeis University’s The Heller School of Social Policy and Management. Shelto earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree in management of human services from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

For eight years, Sudders, of Cambridge, served as secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Before that, she served as commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health. Currently, she is a health policy consultant at a leading public policy group. She previously served as a human services agency CEO, associate professor, and program chair at Boston College School of Social Work. Sudders holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in social work from Boston University, and honorary doctorates from Boston University, Bridgewater State University, and William James College.

About RIZE Massachusetts

RIZE Massachusetts (RIZE) is solely dedicated to funding and collaborating on solutions to end the overdose crisis. Guided by those with lived and living experience and unafraid of new ideas, RIZE is building networks, creating programming, and investing in community partners who are using novel approaches to preventing overdose and increasing access to treatment and recovery supports. RIZE makes health equity a programmatic priority by addressing root causes such as racism, systemic barriers to care, and power imbalances. Learn more at www.rizema.org.

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Position Summary

The Massachusetts Harm Reduction Workforce Coalition (MAHRWC), established in 2024, is a statewide organization designed to strengthen, connect, and sustain the harm reduction workforce across Massachusetts through community, training, mutual support, and collective action.

The first of its kind in Massachusetts, MAHRWC continues to grow its network of harm reduction workers, advocates, and partners committed to saving lives and advancing justice across the Commonwealth.

The project coordinator will be fully dedicated to MAHRWC, providing day-to-day support for coalition operations, communications, and member engagement. This role helps ensure coalition activities run smoothly by:

  • Managing administrative systems and internal coordination.
  • Coordinating meetings, events, agendas, and follow-up materials.
  • Supporting data tracking, reporting, and documentation.
  • Serving as a key point of contact for members, partners, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, committed to public health and harm reduction principles, and comfortable working with diverse stakeholders, including community-based organizations, healthcare providers, policymakers, and people with lived and living experience.

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Administrative & Operational Support

  • Manage coalition calendars, schedules, and meeting logistics.
  • Coordinate virtual and in-person meetings, including agenda preparation and note-taking. This includes the coalition advisory board's regular bimonthly meetings.
  • Maintain shared drives, databases, and internal documentation systems (Google Suite, Zoom, Constant Contact).
  • Support the executive director with activities related to contract and grant reporting.
  • Provide logistical support for trainings, conferences, and coalition events.

2. Communications & Member Engagement

  • Serve as the first point of contact for coalition inquiries.
  • Maintain membership lists and distribution groups.
  • Draft and distribute newsletters, meeting summaries, and updates.
  • Support social media and website updates (if applicable) alongside other staff and consultants.
  • Assist in preparing reports, briefs, and presentations.

3. Data & Reporting Support

  • Track coalition activities, deliverables, and metrics.
  • Assist with grant reporting and compliance documentation.
  • Compile and organize workforce data and partner updates.

4. Event & Training Coordination

  • Coordinate registration and materials for workforce training along with the training coordinator.
  • Support the training coordinator with speaker communication and event logistics.
  • Gather participant feedback and evaluation data.

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and virtual meeting platforms
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

  • Experience in public health, behavioral health, or harm reduction
  • Familiarity with workforce development initiatives
  • Experience supporting coalitions or multi-partner collaborations
  • Experience working with communities disproportionately impacted by substance use and overdose

Core Competencies

  • Commitment to harm reduction philosophy and health equity
  • Cultural humility and trauma-informed approach
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative mindset
  • High level of discretion and professionalism

 

Work Environment

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE), launched in 2017, is the only public-private partnership dedicated to ending the overdose crisis. Guided by those with lived experience and unafraid of new ideas, RIZE is building networks, creating programming, and supporting community partners using novel approaches to preventing overdose and increasing access to treatment. Since its inception, RIZE has awarded over $30 million to more than 275 organizations aligned with its mission.

As MAHRWC’s fiscal partner, RIZE provides financial and administrative support while respecting the group's autonomy and self-determination and supports the coalition’s efforts to dismantle systemic inequities and help build a future where compassion, dignity, and support replace stigma and neglect.

This position reports to RIZE’s chief program officer and works closely with the chief executive officer. It is a full-time, hybrid role with the expectation of two days in the office. RIZE is in downtown Boston, and occasional travel, primarily in-state, will be required for meetings and events as needed. This role may require evening and occasional weekend work.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, or other status protected under the law.

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