Learn more about the IANDS team, including our board and staff. And be sure to also take a look at our IANDS Advisory Board, too!
Executive Committee of the Board
Evan Mecham, MA – President (2025)
Residence: Colorado
Occupation: President & Founder of Conversations to Heal the Heart – Transpersonal Therapies
Experience: IANDS Groups Coordinator; IANDS President (2025-present); IANDS Board Member, 2023-present
Bob Coppes, PhD – Vice President (2026)
Residence: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Occupation: NDE Researcher; Author
Experience: IANDS member, 2002-present; IANDS Vice President (2026-present); IANDS Board Member, 2023-present
Janet Melcher, PhD, LISW-S – Secretary (2021)
Residence: Ohio
Occupation: University of Cincinnati School of Social Work 1990-present; UCS SSW BSW Field Coordinator
Experience: IANDS Board, 2020-present
Janet Riley, MS, CAE (2024)
Residence: Maryland
IANDS Executive Director
Occupation: Communications Professional/Association Executive
Experience: IANDS Executive Director, 2024-present and ex officio Board Member
Other Board Members
Dani Foffa, MSc, MPhil
Residence: Italy
Occupation: Afterlife Researcher, Lecturer on NDEs at the University of Padua, Entrepreneur
Experience: IANDS member 2024, IANDS Podcaster 2025, IANDS Board 2025, IANDS Team Leader Italy, Business Analyst, Branding & Marketing Consultant
Debbie James, MSN, RN, CCRN-K
Residence: Texas
Occupation: Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
Experience: IANDS Board, 1995-2008, 2011-2017, 2020-present; IANDS Conference Coordinator, 1996-2006, 2010; IANDS Conference Co-Chair, 2021; Education Committee Co-Chair, 2020-present; Ethics Committee Co-Chair, 2020-present
Mike Precopio, BA
Residence: Pennsylvania
Occupation: CEO of Summers Laboratories, Inc. Business owner, chemist, SCORE certified business mentor, and motivational public speaker.
Experience: IANDS member; IANDS Board, 2025
Kathy Winings, EdD, MDiv
Residence: New York
Occupation: Professor Emerita Religious Education; President Board of Directors IRFF; President Educare
Experience: IANDS member; IANDS Board, 2025
Staff
Susan Amsden, BSc
IANDS Office Manager; Editor of Vital Signs; New Groups Mentor; Durham RT IANDS Group Leader
Residence: North Carolina
Occupation: Business Specialist
Hope Pickard, BA
Bookkeeper
Residence: North Carolina
Occupation: Office Assistant
Experience: IANDS staff, 2019; 2024-present