STATEMENT OF GOALS
AAIDD has been a key part of my professional learning and growth for more than 20 years and I’m committed to supporting this organization to continue to meet the needs of people who are committed to advancing knowledge for improved policy and practice and to advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
My goals for the position are the following:
- Continue to build membership, expanding it among emerging researchers, practitioners, and advocates who bring their lived experience to engaged in AAIDD member activities.
- Assure the financial stability of AAIDD by identifying and supporting opportunities and partnerships which will sustain and expand revenue.
- Ensure that AAIDD retains its role as a national leader in generating and communicating science related to the population with IDD through collaborations with academic institutions, federal agencies, and international organizations.
- Continue to build AAIDD’s relevance in advocacy communities by identifying opportunities to communicate findings in ways that resonate for diverse constituencies.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Current Position:
Vice President – IDD, Aging and Disability Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), working to lead projects and teams across a broad portfolio of federal, state, and local projects.
Assistant Professor - UMass Chan Medical School, contributing to education of LEND Fellows and to medical student education
Previous Positions:
Director at the UMass Medical School’s Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research
I am a clinically trained occupational therapist and worked in home, community, and public-school based settings with children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Education:
MHA – Health Administration, Suffolk University
MS (OT) – Occupational Therapy, Columbia University
BSc – Human Physiology, McGill University
AAIDD Participation:
- National Board Member:2017-2021
- Secretary/Treasurer 2016-2019
- Assistant Editor (IDD Journal)(2018 to present)
- Advisory Committee member for 12th Edition of AAIDD’s Intellectual Disability: Definition, Diagnosis, Classification, and Systems of Supports. (2021)
- Strand leader for AAIDD’s national goals pre-conference in June 2024 and am supporting the drafting of materials from that meeting. (2024-2025)
Activities/Awards: