Lifelong Staff Members

Diane Dawson
Chief Executive Officer

ddawson@tclifelong.org

Diane Dawson began work at Lifelong on Monday, June 14, 2010, as the Retirement Services/HIICAP Coordinator.  On Friday, August 19, 2011, the Lifelong Board of Directors appointed Diane as the new Chief Executive Officer.

She will still be overseeing the Medicare Counseling Program also known as HIICAP.

Diane joined the Lifelong staff after working many years at Cornell University, most recently as the Director of Business Services for the Alumni Affairs & Development Office.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has taken a number of graduate courses at Cornell.  She works part-time as a Life Coach and is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, CA.  She serves on the Endowment Committee of the City Federation of Women’s Organizations, serves on the New York State Board of Directors of the National Federation of Music Clubs and is the past president of the Ithaca Music Club.  In the 1980s, she served as Deputy Mayor and Trustee of the Village of Lansing.

Lilly Hartman

RSVP Director

lhartman@tclifelong.org

Lillian has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University where she was a Cornell Tradition Fellow for community service.  She has worked for the Community Coalition for Healthy Youth in Tompkins County, and has held a number of positions at Cornell University.  She has been an active volunteer with the United Way of Tompkins County especially helping agencies develop outcome measures for programs and to navigate a new online funding application and reporting system.  She is also a trained Volunteer Tax Preparer for the program at Alternatives Federal Credit Union and will be able to immediately put those skills to use assisting with the RSVP Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program.

Jillian Pendleton

Program Director

jpendleton@tclifelong.org

On May 19,2008, we welcomed Jillian Pendleton to Lifelong as our Program Director.  In the spring of 2006 Jillian relocated to Ithaca from Southern New Hampshire.  Since arriving in Ithaca, she has worked at the Franziska Racker Center as a residence counselor with individuals who have developmental disabilities. In New England she worked for the Massachusetts Health and Education Services.  There she also worked as a residences counselor but for children with emotional disturbances. 

Originally from the east coast, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire.

Lorraine Hare
Program Assistant

lhare@tclifelong.org

Lifelong is pleased to welcome Lorraine Hare to our staff! Visiting Lifelong this winter, you’ll see Lorraine setting up rooms, working on bulletin boards, sending email updates to participants, and coordinating fun activities behind-the-scenes.

Lorraine started this November as Lifelong’s Program Assistant. Lorraine and her husband moved from Scotland to Varna this August as he began graduate school at Cornell. Lorraine is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and brings five years of educational outreach experience from working at an animal-welfare nonprofit in Scotland. Her excellent communication skills, energy, and helpful attitude make her a valuable member of our team.

Lorraine has loved meeting people at Lifelong and is looking forward to meeting more over the next year!

Sue Capista
Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper

scapista@tclifelong.org

Susan Capista began work as our Bookkeeper in October, 2004, and as Executive Assistant in February, 2006.  Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Ithaca College.  Susan worked at Ithaca College for 22 years. She has also worked as a bookkeeper for Now You're Cooking in Ithaca and Bakers' Acres, Inc., in Lansing.

Susan Hirata/Jean Houghton
Receptionists/Administrative Assistants

frontdesk@tclifelong.org

Joyce Billing

RSVP Office Assistant

jbilling@tclifelong.org

 Joyce Billing is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has most recently worked as a Parent Advocate with the Ithaca City School District.  She has worked with Cornell Catering, the First Congregational Church and the Day Care and Child Development Council.  She is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, has been a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America, has hosted 12 foreign exchange students for the Ithaca Rotary Club and continues to volunteer at the United Church of Christ.