New Leadership to Enhance Community Impact
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of two exceptional leaders as part of a strategic organizational restructure at Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence. Our agency’s strategic plan is designed to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community effectively while advancing our mission to end domestic and sexual violence.
Lesley Coghill, LMSW-Macro will now serve as the Director of Prevention and Organizational Development. Previously our Prevention & Systems Change Manager, Lesley brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to our cause.
Krystal Diel, LMSW-Clinical will step into the role of Director of Survivor Services. Krystal, previously our Clinical Services Supervisor, is a dedicated advocate for survivors and a skilled clinician.
A Strategic Vision for the Future
In her new role, Lesley will develop and implement an agency-wide strategy for preventing domestic and sexual violence. She will focus on streamlining organizational capacity to enhance service delivery and strengthening our collaborative efforts within the community. Lesley’s innovative approach and dedication to prevention are key to creating lasting change.
Krystal’s new role will see her overseeing all direct service staff and programs. She will ensure adherence to ethical practices, maintain high-quality service delivery, and assist with grant writing to expand funding opportunities for survivor support. Krystal’s expertise and compassionate approach will be instrumental in elevating the support we provide to survivors.
“We are excited to broaden the scope of these roles. Lesley and Krystal’s expertise and dedication will undoubtedly elevate our services and impact over the coming years,” said Megan Hennessey, Executive Director.
Meet Our New Directors
Krystal Diel, LMSW-Clinical (she/her), Director of Survivor Services, brings extensive experience as a trauma therapist. With a Master of Social Work from Grand Valley State University and a Bachelor of Social Work from Central Michigan University, Krystal has worked with survivors since 2013 in various settings, including crisis lines, children’s advocacy centers, emergency rooms, primary care facilities, universities, and domestic violence/sexual assault agencies. An EMDR-certified clinician and 200-hour certified yoga teacher, Krystal takes a trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach to meeting survivors’ needs. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Montana, further showcasing her commitment to educating future advocates.
Lesley Coghill, LMSW-Macro (she/her), Director of Prevention and Organizational Development, joined Resilience as a Hope College BSW intern in 2000. She served as an advocate at Ginny’s Place shelter and volunteered on the Help Line. In 2003, Lesley was hired full-time to coordinate a primary prevention grant focused on providing healthy relationship curricula in local middle and high schools and working with faith communities to prevent domestic violence. As Prevention and Systems Change Manager since 2018, Lesley has coordinated community education, outreach, and prevention programming, supervised the Prevention Team, supported the development of the Champions of Healthy Manhood Program, and conducted program evaluation, grant writing, and reporting. Her active participation in various committees, including the Coaching Boys into Men Advisory Council and the MI State Leadership Team on Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention, underscores her commitment to community engagement. Lesley has received multiple awards, including the MIPERC Outstanding Preceptor Award for Public Health from GVSU in 2018 and 2024, the Wave of Change Award from the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence in 2013, and the Outstanding Agency Professional Award from LAADSV in 2009.
Together, Lesley and Krystal’s expertise and dedication will drive Resilience forward, enhancing our community impact and reinforcing our unwavering commitment to ending domestic and sexual violence.
