The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) Young Leaders Board (YLB) is a diverse group of young professionals united to raise lupus awareness, fundraise, and advocate for lupus research programs.
The Leadership Committee spearheads the Young Leaders Board and works collaboratively with the Lupus Research Alliance to achieve its goals. Currently the Leadership Committee is comprised of the following highly active members:
Nancy Mize Gonzalez
Originally trained in classical piano, Nancy-Mize Gonzalez returned to school to take pre-medical courses, after experiencing loved ones suffering from autoimmune diseases. Fascinated by the immune system, Nancy-Mize joined the Yoder lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, studying T cells in polycystic kidney disease. Next, Nancy-Mize entered Texas A&M School of Medicine, on the MD/PhD track, and currently is studying the role of lupus T cells in driving brain and kidney involvement.
In 2020, as a second-year medical student, Nancy-Mize joined the Young Leaders Board, thrilled to help organize fundraisers, panel talks, and community events to increase knowledge about lupus and the importance of supporting autoimmunity research. Being a part of the Young Leaders Board has been an incredible and rewarding experience. The YLB is a dynamic, tight-knit, and welcoming community, filled with so many brave individuals fighting for a future without lupus. As a future physician-scientist, Nancy-Mize hopes to develop therapies to protect the brain in lupus from immune attack. When not in the lab, the library, or shadowing in the OR, you can find Nancy-Mize enjoying family time with spouse Christopher and son Baby Lucían – especially swimming, sailing, and hiking.
Stephanie Patti
Stephanie Patti is a middle school English teacher and cross country coach on Long Island. Diagnosed with lupus in 2016, she faced new challenges of managing the unpredictability of this chronic illness. Despite joint pain, fatigue, and flare-ups, Stephanie chose to fight back through running. With the support of her close friends and family, she set the ambitious goal of running marathons in all 50 states, and despite the hurdles lupus brings, she continues to pursue this dream. Every finish line Stephanie crosses makes her feel stronger, serving as a reminder that she can push through challenges and defy limitations.
Stephanie is so grateful to have found support within the Lupus Research Alliance and its Young Leaders Board. Her experiences with doctors, treatments, and the LRA’s network of support have solidified her understanding of the critical role advocacy plays, not only for her own health but for others living with lupus. By sharing her story and learning from fellow lupus warriors, Stephanie remains motivated through adversity, which helps fuel her dedication to perseverance, community, and raising awareness for lupus.
As the Community Outreach Co-Chair for the Young Leaders Board, Stephanie is committed to raising awareness about lupus and ensuring that those affected have access to resources and support. Through her marathon journey across the country, she has found a platform to share her story, inspire others, and spread hope. Stephanie runs not only for herself, but also for those battling lupus, using her experiences to advocate for research and collaborate with the LRA and YLB to work toward a future that will hopefully, one day, be free of lupus.
Sarah Schottenstein
Sarah Schottenstein has been a longtime supporter of the incredible work of Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and first became involved over a decade ago with its predecessor, S.L.E. Lupus Foundation. An engaged Young Leaders Board (YLB) member for many years, Sarah was appointed to the Leadership Committee in 2020. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and earned a B.A. in Communication Arts. She further completed a specialized training program in Dramatic Writing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Sarah has worked in Film/TV Development and Acquisitions, and she has evaluated screenplays for top production companies.
Sarah was honored to be a featured young leader at LRA’s 2021 Gala for the record-breaking $7.5 million fundraiser for lupus research. In 2019, she Co-founded the Lupus Lifestyle Series, educational panels for young leaders across the globe. The acclaimed cognitive health panel held during the peak of the pandemic continues to empower audiences with over 1,500 views. Additionally, Sarah is the 2018 Scholarship Recipient for the PA Fund’s Annual Advocacy Meeting and Hill Day in the inaugural year in Washington, D.C.
Sarah has Chaired the YLB table at LRA’s Walk with Us to Cure Lupus in New York City and looks forward each Fall to this annual event. She currently serves on the New Wave Steering Committee for the nonprofit Film at Lincoln Center. Sarah loves Italian food, watching films, seeing Broadway shows, and connecting with YLB members.
Jacquelyn Smyth
Jacquelyn Smyth is a proud member of the YLB Executive at the Lupus Research Alliance, where she brings a global mindset, lived experience, and a deep passion for advocacy and community-building.
Born and raised in Canada, Jacquelyn is of both Canadian and Australian heritage. She pursued her higher education in Australia, earning two degrees from a university on the Gold Coast: a Bachelor of Business (concentration in Global Business and Strategy) and a Bachelor of Commerce (concentration in Finance). After graduating, her professional path took her to London, followed by Sydney, and now to San Francisco, where she currently resides. Her career sees her travelling extensively across Western Canada and the U.S., allowing her to connect with diverse lupus communities across North America.
Diagnosed with lupus at the young age of 16, Jacquelyn refused to let the disease define her life. Instead, she transformed her journey into one of empowerment—mentoring others who are newly diagnosed, offering guidance during what is often an overwhelming time. She is a passionate advocate for lupus awareness and is deeply committed to creating supportive spaces for those affected.
Her leadership is demonstrated through action: she founded a Lupus Research Alliance Walk that happens every October in her Canadian hometown, uniting community members and raising critical funds for research.
As part of the YLB Executive, Jacquelyn is dedicated to uplifting young voices within the lupus community, advancing research efforts, and helping others find strength in shared experiences.
Shreece Taylor
Brooklyn native Shreece Taylor earned her bachelor’s in human services with a concentration in Child and Family Services in 2023. Shreece has over 10 years working in the Human Services field and has worked with variety of populations of people including at risk youth in after school programs, being a mentor and coach for adults diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, assisting in fighting food insecurity for low-income families to her most current role to combat homelessness as a Case Manager for the Housing Preservation Development of NYC. Shreece has worked hard and has currently assisted to house hundreds of families in need.
Outside of her career, Shreece is a Lupus Advocate for patients diagnosed with the chronic illness Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). After being diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 17, Shreece has found a passion for pushing Lupus awareness in her community. In May 2023 Shreece participated in the National Lupus Advocacy Summit to speak to law makers and State Senators on getting access to affordable health care and medications for patients with lupus as well as making more federally funded educational programs about Lupus so that the community is more informed. In ongoing efforts to improving patient care and the overall experience, Shreece is a member of Hospital for Special Surgery’s Patient Family Advisory Committee and is now been appointed as co-chair of Community Outreach committee with Lupus Research Alliance’s Young Leaders Board working closely to expand community outreach for walks and other Lupus related events as well as to partner with hospitals, lupus organizations, colleges and other related community groups to increase lupus awareness and expand educational opportunities.
Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson is a lupus warrior and advocate whose life’s journey has been defined by her battle with this autoimmune disease. Diagnosed at a young age, she transformed her personal struggle into a mission for change. Ruth is a dedicated member of the Young Leaders executive committee for the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), where she also volunteers for LRA walks, rallying communities to support lupus research. Her influence extends to the Lupus Landmark Study and the Lupus Nexus Patient Working Group, shaping the future of lupus research. As a Consumer Reviewer for the Lupus Program (CDMRP) in the Department of Defense, she allocates funding to promising research projects, and she further contributes as a member of the Patient Protocol Review Committee for Lupus Therapeutics; her involvement in this committee ensures that lupus clinical trials are designed with the patient’s perspective in mind, ultimately leading to more patient-centered research. With a background in veterinary science and data science, she works tirelessly in research institutions, aiming to advance lupus understanding. Ruth’s story is not just one of personal triumph over adversity, but also a testament to the power of advocacy and the potential for research to transform lives. She firmly believes that research is the only path to a lupus cure, and she tirelessly educates others about the disease in her quest to spread awareness. She hopes that her story will inspire others to join the fight against lupus, to advocate for more research, and to support those living with this challenging condition