Meet the Board

Shannon L. Allen began attending Bible study at The Lamb Center in 2016, enjoying the opportunity for community, engagement and encouragement. A year later, she began volunteering in the laundry, kitchen and at the front desk, continuing that work today. Shannon has been a Bible study and fellowship group leader and active lay leader in the church and women’s ministries throughout her adult life since graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary. Shannon is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Trinity Christian School. She and her husband Marc are raising four children in Fairfax, VA after calling Beijing, China and Seattle, WA home as well. When not chauffeuring kids across the DMV region, she enjoys coaching middle school soccer. Shannon and her family worship at Alexandria Presbyterian Church.

Mark has over 16 years of experience as a certified public accountant. He is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ASI Government and has extensive experience as a financial auditor. Mark and his wife volunteer at the Lamb Center along with fellow congregants from St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church. Mark graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005 with a degree in business administration. He lives in Fairfax County with his wife Rita and two children.

Chris came to TLC in 2021 as a front desk volunteer. He is the Managing Director of Thoughtworks Federal, a global technology consulting firm, where he leads strategy and operations for their US public sector group. Originally from Williamsburg, VA, Chris graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a degree in Business Administration. He lives in Fairfax with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children. Chris and his family are members of Fairfax United Methodist Church.

Lisa was introduced to The Lamb Center in March, 2017 when IBC first served breakfast on a Thursday morning and led chapel. She was so impressed with the ministry that she started volunteering regularly in the Clothing Closet. She loves being part of a faith-based mission where volunteers and staff are able to encourage people in their spiritual walk as well as provide them with materiel needs. Lisa is a retired Air Force logistics officer, who has lived (mostly) in Fairfax County since 1996 and is active in music and women’s ministries at Immanuel Bible Church (IBC) in Springfield, VA. She has particular compassion for people who have been made in God’s image but struggle in this world plagued by sin. She and her husband, Dave are enjoying parenting a teenage son.

Karen Kershenstein has been an active Lamb Center volunteer since December 2013. She serves as a regular kitchen volunteer and as the coordinator of the kitchen volunteers. Karen has been an active member of St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church since 1958. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister and coordinates bringing Communion to the sick and homebound members of the parish. In addition, she sings in several parish and diocesan choirs. She also serves as docent for St. Mary’s Historic Church. Karen earned her Ph.D. in physics from Georgetown University. She taught physics at Trinity College (now Trinity Washington University) for several years before becoming a member of the administration at Trinity, first serving as Registrar and Director of Institutional Research and then as Academic Dean. Karen worked at the U.S. Department of Education in higher education accreditation and runs a small consulting business that focuses on helping accrediting agencies improve their effectiveness.

Cathy got involved with The Lamb Center through getting to know the guests at the Hypothermia Prevention Program each winter. She and her husband Andy enjoy time with family, including 3 grandchildren. Cathy is active in social justice-related ministries at St. Stephens United Methodist Church in Burke, Virginia where she has served as lay leader and chair of the ministry council. She helps lead the Grace Ministries efforts and is active on the Church and Society committee. She works at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine as a study director focused on health policy issues.

Alan MacDonald has over 30 years of experience working with global faith-based non-governmental organizations (including Wycliffe and SIL International) on efforts to promote Bible translation and on the role of language and culture in education and development. He spent 15 years in field assignments in Mexico, Philippines and China and served as the director of SIL’s work in China from 1987 to 1995.  He has served on numerous boards including those of Wycliffe USA, Stone Forest Leadership Alliance, All Kids Can Learn International, and Marketplace Development and Enterprises. Alan served for 11 years on the staff of Fairfax Community Church in Fairfax, VA where he served as the pastor of global engagement.  His responsibilities involved reaching out to those “outside the walls,” both locally and globally, in need of compassion, justice and the Good News of the Gospel. Alan lives with his wife, Doris, in Fairfax, Virginia.  They have been married for 41 years and we have three adult children.

Lori was born in Boston, Massachusetts and after graduation from high school, she worked for a couple of years as a telephone operator before attending Salem State College where she majored in goofing off. In 1981 she graduated from Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and the next day moved to Fairfax, Virginia where she began her career at Fairfax Hospital. She subsequently worked at Alexandria Hospital, Fair Oaks Hospital and finally the Health Department where she fell in love with Public Health. After graduate school, with no Nurse Practitioner jobs available at the Health Department, she tried several other venues. However, Public Health remained her one true love, and she joyfully accepted the position of coordinator of the newly formed Homeless Healthcare Program in 2006, remaining there until her retirement in September of 2017.