Our People

Our people bring a broad range of talents, backgrounds, and experiences to their support for the important work of the Elevance Health Foundation. We all share a passion to improve the health of humanity.

Our Leaders

Shantanu Agrawal, MD, MPhil
Chief Health Officer
Elevance Health
Chair of the Board of Directors
Elevance Health Foundation

Dr. Shantanu Agrawal serves as chief health officer for Elevance Health. He oversees Elevance Health’s enterprise whole health strategy, including medical policy, clinical quality, and delegation oversight, as well as the company’s industry-leading work in health-related social needs and health equity. He also leads the Elevance Health Foundation.

Prior to joining Anthem, Dr. Agrawal served as president and chief executive officer of the National Quality Forum (NQF). Previously, he was Deputy Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). He is also the former Director of the Center for Program Integrity (CPI).

Dr. Agrawal serves on the Board of Directors for GroundGame Health, Pharmacy Quality Alliance, and Healthcare Leadership Council. He also serves in leadership roles in National Academy of Medicine, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and New England Journal of Medicine: Catalyst. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Public Administration and Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine.

Lance Chrisman
President
Elevance Health Foundation

Since 2007, Lance Chrisman has served as president of the Elevance Health Foundation overseeing the company’s social responsibility strategy.

In this role, Lance leads the Foundation’s mission to advance health equity by improving the health of the socially vulnerable through strategic partnerships with programs in our communities that focus on maternal child health, food as medicine, and substance use disorder. In addition, he oversees Foundation grants and the company’s associate community engagement programs, and chairs the board of Elevance Health Cares, Inc., the organization’s 501(c)(3) public charity.

Lance has more than 20 years of experience working with corporate foundations. Prior to joining the Elevance Health Foundation, he served as a director with Verizon Corporation in Dallas, Texas. He developed Verizon’s signature cause marketing effort, which strategically aligned all philanthropic activities with the company’s financial and operational objectives. He also managed Verizon’s contribution process, executive and employee volunteer efforts, constituency relations, and community activities at the national, regional, and local levels.

Lance received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Huntington University in Indiana.

Our Team

Leah Birk
Program Manager and Communications Lead
Elevance Health Foundation

As program manager, Leah is responsible for enterprise-wide social responsibility strategies, including Foundation grants and associate engagement. In partnership with the organization’s Corporate Communications team, Leah oversees internal and external communications, ensuring that associates, community partners, and stakeholders are aware of the Foundation’s activities.

She has been a valued member of the Foundation team since 2014. Prior to that she worked as an internal communications consultant for the organization, focused on its Community Service Day and its Associate Giving Program.

Leah earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Maggie Bowden
Program Manager, Substance Use Disorder
Elevance Health Foundation

Maggie serves as program manager for a key pillar of the Foundation’s refined strategy: reducing substance use disorder. Partnering with behavioral health experts across Elevance Health, Maggie has developed a comprehensive effort that enables nonprofit organizations to earn grant funding for the full continuum of care—from prevention and early intervention to community resources and recovery support.

She joined the Foundation in 2012, bringing her extensive nonprofit experience to the team. Previously, she served as associate director of development at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, and was director of development at Purdue University.

Maggie received a dual master’s degree in philanthropic studies and public affairs from Indiana University–Purdue University and has a bachelor of science degree in finance.

Morgan Coleman
Program Manager, Food as Medicine
Elevance Health Foundation

As program manager, Morgan leads the Foundation’s commitment to encouraging food as medicine. She spearheaded a strategy that expands the Foundation’s work in this area by including programs that not only address food insecurity but also measure clinical outcomes related to helping individuals reach optimal health through good nutrition.

Morgan joined the Foundation in 2014. In 2015, she created Elevance Health Champions (formerly Anthem Health Champions), a program that recognizes individuals who have dedicated their lives to leading healthy, active lifestyles. To date, the program has raised more than $10 million.

Morgan obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University Bloomington with a minor in Psychology.

Katie Heenan
Program Manager, Maternal and Child Health
Elevance Health Foundation

As program manager, Katie leads a crucial element of Foundation strategy: improving maternal and child health. Katie has defined the goals for this effort and created the request-for-proposal process, focusing on grants to help ensure that women and their babies can achieve optimal health and well-being.

She has been a valued member of Elevance Health for 25 years, supporting the organization’s communications and community relations efforts. In 2006, Katie joined the Foundation, where she helped redesign our volunteer programs and season of service.

Katie earned a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in communication arts at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Michael Lockard
Executive Director
Elevance Health CARES, Inc.

As executive director of Elevance Health CARES, Inc., Michael leads the strategy and vision for the organization’s public charity, which offers associates and their dependents financial support during times of personal hardship or natural disasters. He also manages a portfolio of national disaster response grants.

He joined our team in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in nonprofit and corporate social responsibility from prior roles at Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, the University of California, Davis, and the Finish Line Youth Foundation.

Michael received a master’s degree in public affairs and nonprofit management from Indiana University and has a bachelor of arts degree in telecommunications. He is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

Taylor Rhodes
Program Manager, Disaster Response
Elevance Health CARES, Inc.

As program manager for disaster response at Elevance Health CARES, Inc., Taylor guides the organization’s public charity, which offers associates and their dependents financial support during times of personal hardship or natural disasters. She also oversees our work in supporting nonprofit organizations focused on disaster preparedness and response and recovery efforts.

Taylor joined our team in 2022. She previously worked at the United Way of Central Indiana, where she managed corporate volunteer events, the ReadUP tutoring program, and other education initiatives.

Taylor obtained a dual master’s degree in philanthropic studies and nonprofit management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University–Purdue University–Indianapolis, and a bachelor’s degree in international studies.

Danielle Shaw
Program Manager, Governance and Reporting
Elevance Health Foundation

In addition to managing a portfolio of grants, Danielle specializes in governance and reporting so that the Foundation can consistently measure improved clinical health in three priority areas: Maternal and Child Health, Food as Medicine, and Substance Use Disorder. Danielle manages our grant and associate engagement database to promote efficiencies and adherence to IRS governance requirements. She also assists with materials for the Foundation’s board of directors meetings

Danielle joined our team in 2022, bringing extensive nonprofit experience from her business development and leadership giving roles at the Riley Children’s Foundation, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Arizona, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation of America.

Danielle has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Anderson University. She also completed the American Express Leadership Academy at the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation.

Emily Sochacki
Program Manager, Associate Giving
Elevance Health Foundation

Emily, the program manager for associate giving, is responsible for Foundation programs such as Dollars for Dollars and the Board of Directors’ Fund. Most recently she created the Community Leadership Appreciation Program to encourage and support our leaders’ involvement in their communities.

Emily joined Elevance Health in 2015 as procurement business change director; she led the organization’s Contingent Labor Program Office, and in 2019 she joined the Foundation. Prior to joining Elevance Health, she worked for AgileOne, a workforce solutions company.

She has a bachelor’s degree in recreation and park administration from Indiana University.

Ashley Sowders
Program Manager, Volunteer Programs
Elevance Health Foundation

As manager for volunteer programs, Ashley oversees such efforts as Dollars for Doers, the Volunteer Recognition Program, and the season of service.

She joined the Foundation in 2021 after working at the Eskenazi Health Foundation, where she managed special events, donor relations, and the Marianne Tobias Music Program.

Ashley earned her master’s degree in public affairs at Indiana University–Purdue University and has a bachelor’s degree in public management from Indiana University. She also obtained a Fund Raising Management Certificate from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.