Board Chair
Mary Lyons-Hunter, PhD Board Chair (she, her)
Clinical Psychologist; Unit Chief- MGB Chelsea Health Center Behavioral Health; Instructor-Harvard Medical School
Vice- Chair, MEDA Board of Directors; Chair, Conference Committee
Over 30 years experience in mental health care.
Dr. Hunter specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and complex patients.
Dr. Hunter’s career has been spent providing care to underserved communities with high social determinant of health needs. She has worked to expand access to patients with high needs and has consistently pursued innovative approaches to care delivery.
Her passion for MEDA stems from MEDA’s role in helping heal a family member with a severe eating disorder.
Dr. Hunter brings many skills to the MEDA board such as clinical expertise, program development skills, organizational leadership and strategic planning skills.
Dr. Hunter brings years of experience to her role on MEDA’s Board. She is passionate about providing care to the most vulnerable and those most in need. She sees her role in MEDA helping to advance that mission. Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Hunter enjoys time with friends and family, going to the gym, traveling and cooking complicated recipes!
Board Members
Autumn Banning, Board Vice Chair (she, her)
Autumn Banning is a healthcare leader, social work advocate, and passionate voice for body liberation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Human Services from Granite State College and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of New Hampshire. With over a decade of experience in healthcare management, Autumn has led multidisciplinary teams, streamlined patient-centered systems, and championed equitable care—especially for those navigating mental health and eating disorders.
Autumn is especially drawn to organizations that center eating disorder recovery, Health at Every Size (HAES)®, body love, and liberation. Her personal and professional journey has been deeply shaped by the belief that every person deserves access to care that is affirming, trauma-informed, and rooted in self-worth—not shame.
Beyond her professional world, Autumn is fueled by big conversations, bold laughs, and blasting music while driving with the windows down. She’s a proud kayaking enthusiast, an over-sharer by nature, and an aspiring comedian who believes that humor, much like healing, is most powerful when it’s honest. Whether she’s advocating in a boardroom or riffing on life’s chaos with friends, Autumn shows up with heart, curiosity, and a contagious sense of possibility.
Alekhya Bhat, Secretary (she, her)
Founder at Amealiore, Political Science Graduate at Wellesley College
Alekhya is interested in development, inequity in global health (and policy), and American foreign policy. She is a passionate mental health advocate and social entrepreneur in the high-impact startup space.
Lori Goodman (she, her)
Former Vice President at Northstar Pulp & Paper who is transitioning her extensive leadership and operational background into the field of social work. Bringing a strategic track record across business development, sales, and human resources, she combines corporate expertise with a passion for community advocacy. Her multi-faceted background and vibrant enthusiasm offer a dynamic perspective to the board’s governance and mission.
Ann Lyons (she, her)
Ann Lyons brings a long-standing commitment to education, community service, and thoughtful leadership to her work with MEDA. Ann earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Boston College and began her career as an Account Executive at a Boston advertising agency. Ann then transitioned to higher education, joining the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University to plan and manage executive conferences focused on corporate governance. Ann moved from Chicago back to Boston to continue her career at Harvard Business School where she works in Executive Education.
Ann lives in the suburbs of Boston with her husband and three daughters. She is deeply engaged in her local community serving on the Board of a local Athletic and Social club and extensive volunteering in her daughters’ schools.
In addition to her professional experience, Ann is known for her marketing and event-planning skills, which she uses both in her work at Harvard and in support of local community and school initiatives.
Rebecca Manley, MS, CTC, CCTP (she, her)
Rebecca Manley, MS, CTC, CCTP, Founded MEDA in February, 1994
Certified Coach, Manley Coaching
Development committee, board affairs committee, MEDA Memorial Scholarship committee.
Rebecca (Becky) has 34 years of experience in the field of eating disorders and body image.
Rebecca worked with the Office of Women’s Development in Washington, D.C. and helped develop their first ever body image curriculum. She has gone on to publish numerous times on this topic. Rebecca has been named one of the top 125 graduates for Wheelock College’s 100-year anniversary celebration and received the Myra Kraft service award for her work with eating disorders in 2018.
Becky’s passion for helping to eradicate eating disorders and fighting diet culture fuels her continued engagement on the Board. She is particularly passionate about education and working with adolescents and young adults.
Becky brings many areas of expertise to the MEDA board such as knowledge of eating disorder awareness and prevention, fundraising, program development, special events, advocacy and strategic planning skills.
Beyond her professional roles, Becky enjoys time with friends and family, hanging out with her dogs and playing pickleball.
Follow a manual added link
Interested in joining MEDA’s Board? Click HERE for details.
MEDA is a 501(c)(3) organization
Help Us Save More Lives
Every 52 min someone dies from complications due to an eating disorder and 28.8 million people in the US will struggle with an eating disorder.
Donate Now! Healing Shop
