Our Team
Cindy Swain
FOUNDER
Cindy is the founder of In Her Name Foundation. The Foundation was inspired by her late sister, and created in her honor. Carla J. Baker 1955-1976. Carla was an avid tennis player, runner, cyclist, and mentor to her younger sister Cindy. Carla spoke her mind on many issues, but especially gender equality. Cindy is a passionate sports enthusiast of all types. She is former college athlete, avid long distance cyclist, certified yoga instructor, and physical therapist.
Cindy graduated from the University of Kansas in 1986, and began her professional career in rehabilitation medicine. She has helped many people piece their lives back together from injuries, accidents, and trauma. Since 2013 Cindy continues to commit her volunteer time to supporting girls athletics at Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing, Michigan. Her pursuits include public address announcing for volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. She has provided preseason and in season conditioning and injury prevention since 2005 in all sports. In July of 2021, Cindy became the head coach for Lansing Catholic girls tennis. “Life really does come full circle.”
On the court, field or at the track, for the past eight years, Cindy uses her voice to recognize each and every athlete during that athlete's special moment. And, it is in that moment, when the athlete hears her name she knows she is important and matters. And, it is in that moment In Her Name Foundation is celebrated. And, that moment is truly in her name!
Jeanne Yates-Tomlinson
GRANT APPLICATIONS & TRACKING
Jeanne was a public educator for 38 years serving as a classroom teacher, transition coordinator, and administrator before retiring in 2016. She worked at all levels of education kindergarten thru 12th grade, worked to promote teamwork, implemented grants, and instilled awareness for research based practices. Jeanne built infrastructures with these concepts that focused on improving literacy, math skills, and positive behavior. Her special education background inspired her to include all students with challenges and support their participation in every aspect of education including athletics.
Jeanne pursued swimming, golf, and tennis outside of the school setting. Title IV rulings were not legislated during her high school tenure. Since that time, she has seen how that legislation has shaped sports participation for young women. Because more work is needed, Jeanne is drawn to the Foundation for its powerful vision to promote gender equity in athletics. She has been a light to many during her educational career and a gift to those that know her. She will continue to inspire those in her presence.
Moriah Bender
WEB DESIGNER
Moriah graduated from Michigan State University in 2018 with a degree in Experience Architecture and Graphic Design. She currently works in Denver Colorado as a web designer.
Moriah, a Michigan native, considers herself more artistic than sports minded. She participated in soccer, volleyball, dance, and gymnastics growing up. She used her creative skills as a competitive gymnast for eight years. Thru gymnastics, she learned the importance of discipline, perseverance, and commitment. Moriah practiced four days a week four hours each day which transformed her into adulthood. To this day, she continues to appreciate lessons learned from her sports experiences.
Moriah believes it is extremely important for young people to feel empowered and that participating in sports can shape young minds and bodies for tomorrow. She is excited to be a part of In Her Name Foundation. Her creative skills will enhance the the Foundation message and broaden outreach to young people.
Meg Ropp
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Meg has 30 years of experience in computer design education, research, data visualization. She cares deeply about using data to inform communicate, and to tell a story. Meg holds a PhD in educational psychology from Michigan State University, MA and BS from the University of Nebraska. Meg's educational contributions include director of the Center for Educational Performance and Information for the state of Michigan, and teaching for Louisville public schools in Nebraska, Michigan State University, and University of New Mexico.
Growing up in Nebraska, Meg enjoyed swimming, basketball, and volleyball. Sports allowed her to set and achieve goals, understand the mind body connection and pursue lifelong activities including hiking, cycling and yoga. Meg is passionate about removing barriers that prevent young people from having access to physical activities. Her energy and passion will be a tremendous asset to finding solutions for cost of participation, transportation, and connecting young people to role models and mentors for the Foundation. She wants young athletes to know their community cares about them and will make opportunities happen.
Taylor Parker
ATHLETIC ADVISOR
Taylor is currently the Assistant Athletic Director at Lansing Catholic High School. She comes to Lansing from Detroit where she attended Cass Technical High School and was a 4-year varsity basketball player. She earned a basketball scholarship to Kent State University and later transferred to Glenville State University to continue her academic and athletic career. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Glenville State and upon graduating, was offered the women’s basketball graduate assistant coaching position at Salem University. She completed her master’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management from Salem before returning home to Detroit where she coached girls’ basketball at Detroit Cass Tech.
Sports has always been an important part of Taylor’s life. Taylor’s leadership and dedication to women’s athletics has been her priority. The game of basketball has given her the confidence to be a leader in every area of her life. Many of her coaches and teammates have become lifelong friends and mentors. Because of sports she’s had the opportunity to travel the world while receiving her education. With such a small percentage of women in athletic administration roles, Taylor hopes to be a source of inspiration and to advocate for young women in the community. Taylor has always wanted to be a part of something greater. She realizes the opportunities that she’s been given and wants to help provide those experiences for other young women.
Donna Cooper
HONORARY BOARD MEMBER
Donna is a retired science education teacher of 46 years and 10 year tennis coach. In 1987 she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching and she represented Kansas in the U.S. Department of Energy Teacher Research Associates Program in 1990 at the Lawrence Berkley lab. She was awarded the Hays High School distinguished service award in 2015 by Hays High School alumni. Her teaching goal was to stimulate students' minds and to tune them in academically.
As an environmental scientist, Donna initiated a school sponsored science club with emphasis on learning about the environment that surrounds us all. Club trips included sandhill crane spring migration to the Platte river in south central Nebraska, and many field trips to become familiar with birds and wildflowers of the Great Plains.
In addition to an outstanding teaching career, Donna was a celebrated girls high school tennis coach. During her 10 years coaching, she increased participation in the sport from 6 -10 athletes to 24-30 athletes. She made the players feel a part of the team no matter what their level of play. She made numerous trips to state championship tournaments with winning two doubles championships, and inspired the first girls state singles championship in 1979.
Donna spends her retirement as an advocate for renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint. Her pursuit to reduce our environmental footprint is vital to a healthy and sustainable environment. However, her inspiration and mentorship in coaching tennis has left indelible footprints of the heart and mind for those of us with the privilege of calling her coach.
Jenna Swain
SECRETARY
Jenna graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising Management, and minor in Public Relations. During her studies, she spent a semester abroad in Italy at the American University of Rome studying International Advertising. She completed an internship with Michigan Community Service Commission where she found her passion for volunteering and giving back to the community. This internship provided opportunity to help her community and be a part pf something greater than herself. Jenna developed a deeper sense of purpose and belonging much like she experienced from participation in sports and being part of a team. Jenna has experience in a broad range of sports including soccer, boxing, baseball, softball, soccer, track, volleyball, and basketball. Basketball became her passion and she felt most at home on the court with a ball in her hands. She credits her competitive nature to growing up with two older brothers where she became aware of the gap between girls and boys sports, especially when she started high school. Both of her brothers also played high school basketball, and were immediately moved up from the freshman team to junior varsity their first year. Jenna was relegated to staying on the freshman and junior varsity per her grade year. “We don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings so we are not moving anyone up.’ They told her. This was devastating for Jenna and she knew immediately that would have never been shared in the boys locker room. For two years, Jenna began to lose her love for the game and confidence in her skills faded. She watched her friends give up on playing basketball because no one supported them or made them feel part of a team. Fortunately, during Jenna’s junior year things changed. Kacee Reid took over the girls basketball program at Lansing Catholic High School along with assistant Joe Wodja. They flipped the program, changed the narrative, and restored respect to girls basketball.
Coach Reid and Coach Wodja challenged her to capitalize on opportunities, inspired confidence and taught her to lead by example. Jenna started on the varsity both her junior and senior years. She was a tremendous role model for younger players, and a large part of the team’s success.
Jenna holds her experience playing for Coach Reid and Wodja close to her heart. It allowed her to grow in many other parts of her life and her successes after high school. To this day, she remembers her friends that gave up on the game and how they missed out on so much.
She believes every young woman deserves the opportunity to work hard, be good at something, and feel encouraged to do so without conditions. Jenna is honored to be a part of In Her Name Foundation in remembrance of her aunt Carla. It is her hope that the Foundation will light the way for the next generation of female athletes to reach their full potential.