MI-LEND 2024-2025 Long-term Trainees

This table contains names, pictures and bios of the current MI-LEND Long-Term Trainees.
Trainee	Trainee Biographical Statement
Marissa Burkman	Marissa is a graduate student in neuroscience at Northern Michigan University, where her research is centered on gene editing technologies utilized in the Ottem Laboratory. Having been diagnosed with epilepsy at age 19—following a misdiagnosis—and having grown up with a father who was also diagnosed with epilepsy, Marissa brings a unique perspective to her work. Through her involvement with LEND, she aims to apply her microbiological and anatomical expertise to a clinical context, with the goal of positively impacting and benefiting individuals and families affected by neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Eliot Carter	Eliot Carter LLMSW (they/he) is an autistic self-advocate and Program Manager at Disability Network Washtenaw Monroe Livingston, a Center for Independent Living in Ann Arbor. In this role, they run the Assistive Technology program and conduct research and evaluation to support the organization’s Strategic Plan and advocacy goals. They are also involved in statewide advocacy through the Self-Advocates of Michigan and the newly formed Michigan Autistic Adult Advisory Committee (MiA3) for the Michigan Autism Council. They obtained a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from Wayne State and a Master of Social Work with a focus on Social Policy and Evaluation from the University of Michigan. Eliot was diagnosed with ASD as a young adult and hopes to learn more about the diagnostic and treatment landscape for younger people on the spectrum to become a more informed advocate for the disability community. They are also looking forward to the opportunity to get involved in research to understand the links between neurodevelopmental disabilities and physical conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Long COVID, as well as opportunities and risks for using internet-based assistive technologies to support independent living and community building.
Elisa Cotter	Elisa Cotter is a licensed clinical social worker currently employed as a counselor at Ferris State University. Her professional career and personal life intersect as she is also a parent of two children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Elisa’s lived experience inspires her steadfast determination to advocate for inclusive and equitable opportunities for all. Her children are her inspiration to further her knowledge and expertise in the field of disability. Elisa values a collaborative approach to care and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the MI-LEND program to partner with other compassionate professionals committed to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Dion DuClos II	Dion DuClos II is a Doctor of Audiology student at Central Michigan University. He obtained his bachelor’s degree at The University of North Texas majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dion loves working with people who experience challenges with their hearing and/or balance. His own personal experience with disability has been through acquiring hearing loss and a physical hand impairment. Dion has learned how to better advocate for himself and how to encourage others to do the same. He would love to learn more about working with the pediatric population with disabilities, especially children with Autism. Dion looks forward to being a part of an interdisciplinary team and wants to teach people with disabilities how to advocate for themselves.
Reeve Olivia Harden	Reeve Olivia Harden, M.A., TLLP, is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Central Michigan University. Her work is focused on children and families, including children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and is informed by her own experiences as a neurodivergent person. She hopes to focus her future work as a clinician on both providing evidence-based interventions to children with co-occurring neurodevelopmental and mental health concerns and assisting in training and dissemination efforts intended to increase access to evidence-based treatments for children with co-occurring conditions. Reeve is excited about the opportunities that MI-LEND provides to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of youth with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families in the healthcare system. Effective care for these families requires multidisciplinary support from a team of providers and she is especially interested in the opportunity to engage with other like-minded professionals, who can share their own unique perspectives and knowledge from their training and clinical experience.
Morgan Hurst	Morgan Hurst (they/them) is currently a M.S. Candidate in Genetic Counseling and a M.P.H Candidate in Health Behavior and Health Equity at the University of Michigan. As someone who is able-bodied and neurodiverse, Morgan experiences the world through unique cognitive processes, sensory experiences, and ways of interacting with my environment. They've spent many years providing tailored movement therapy in partnership with people diagnosed with rare genetic conditions. Working with individuals with disabilities as a neurodiverse person involves specialization and adaptability for and from both participants. Morgan's neurodiversity has made them particularly attuned to creating customized approaches that cater to diverse needs and preferences, which has been exciting to explore in therapeutic settings. Through MI-LEND, Morgan hopes to explore a range of valuable new insights and skills. They look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of various types of neurodevelopmental disabilities and exploring how disabilities are impacted by other intersectional factors such as race, gender, sex, socioeconomic status, and age, and how these intersections affect individuals' experiences and needs. Morgan also hopes to develop skills for advocating for disability rights and leading initiatives that promote inclusivity, and learn how to effectively challenge discrimination and push for change within organizations and communities.
Madison Karacson	Madison graduated with her Bachelors from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Health and Human Services (2022) and Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis (2024). Madison currently is working as a Behavior Technician and Practicum Student at an ABA clinic and is finishing up her hours with hopes of sitting for the BCBA Exam early next year. At the clinic Madison works with clients between the ages 2-10 with a ASD diagnosis and training new technicians while providing clinical support to BCBAs. Through the MI-LEND Program Madison hopes to learn more about legislation for individuals with disabilities in the state of Michigan as well as collaborate with other disciplines to meet the community’s needs.
Samantha Leffman	Samantha Leffman, BSN, RN (she/her) works as a nurse case manager at the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. Specifically, she works in the Children’s Special Health Care Services program, where she frequently uses her lived experience to provide support to families. Samantha’s youngest daughter, now 8 years old, was born with a rare brain anomaly that causes neurodevelopmental disabilities, dysphagia, and epilepsy. Her daughter, Winnie, is nonverbal and uses a communication device. She is tube fed, requires a wheelchair for mobility, and is dependent on a caregiver for all activities of daily living. Samantha quickly realized that she wanted to use her nursing degree in a way that would positively impact her own family, as well as other families with similar experiences. She now uses her education and personal experiences to advocate for equity and inclusion, support families through new diagnoses and/or times of turbulence and broaden connections that could benefit the population of those served in her professional role. By participating in the MI-LEND program, she hopes to further expand her network, learn additional advocacy tools, provide a unique perspective for professionals, and gain knowledge that will be utilized to improve health equity and access.
Brianna Marzolf	Dr. Brianna Marzolf is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and the inaugural Disability Health Fellow at Michigan Medicine. Her commitment to improving healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is inspired by her experiences with her cousin William, who has Down Syndrome, and her role as a caregiver for other adults with IDD. These experiences highlighted the significant barriers faced by individuals with IDD in accessing healthcare. Dr. Marzolf aims to enhance equitable healthcare systems for adolescents and adults with IDD by developing and studying innovative care models. She has created a home visit model for 50 adults with IDD and established MI-CARE, Michigan’s first clinic dedicated to specialized care for this population. She looks forward to MI-LEND to deepen her understanding of multi-disciplinary care, family-centered practices, disability cultural competency, and policies affecting individuals with disabilities. Building a network of disability-friendly providers through MI-LEND will support the expansion of MI-CARE and advance comprehensive, equitable care for adolescents and adults with IDD.
Daniella Mata	Andrea "Daniella" Mata (she/her/hers) is a dedicated fourth-year doctoral student in the Counseling, Educational Psychology & Special Education program at Michigan State University (MSU). Her primary research focus is on improving the interpersonal skills of behavior technicians who work with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Through her MI-LEND experience, she aims to refine her clinical skills to better serve her clients, gain insights into various professional fields, and deepen her understanding of the public health disparities.
Hannah Micheau	Hannah Micheau is a Social Work graduate student at Western Michigan University. She completed her Bachelors in Social Work in 2020 at Hope College. Hannah worked as home and case manager at a residential facility for adults with developmental disabilities servicing individuals with ASD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and various other behavioral support needs. She is an advocate for access to communication for all in whatever form works for the individual. She hopes to be able to integrate advocacy for equitable medical care for disabled individuals starting at diagnosis in her future practice. She is excited to be participating in MI LEND to learn more about specific services for youth with disabilities and their families, and to gain a network of other professionals passionate about improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Gwen Murray	Gwendaline Murray is a second-year Master's of Education in Instruction student at Northern Michigan University. Her research interests involve students with disabilities in higher education to create policy change for their betterment. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Higher Education Policy after completing her master's degree. Gwen understands disability intimately as she is Autistic herself and has an Autism Signal Dog named Sheru. She credits Sheru for helping her accomplish her BS in Mathematics, her work as a McNair Scholar, and continuing towards her graduate studies. She hopes to gain a better understanding of the various facets of developmental disability while moving through the MI-LEND program. Also, she hopes to use this opportunity to develop her teamwork and advocacy skills further.
Deanna Pennewitt	Deanna is currently a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she works with children with autism, developmental delays, and other neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Her fellowship research is focusing on school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder and their use of digital media. She is excited to participate in MI-LEND to learn more about collaborating with other professionals who work with individuals with disabiities and their families and how to best support them.
Kaylee Shute Knowles	Kaylee Shute Knowles, B.A., is a doctoral student at Central Michigan University studying audiology. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of Maine, Orono majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Interdisciplinary Disability Studies. She has two younger sisters, one of which is on the Autism Spectrum. Kaylee's interest in supporting individuals and their families with neurodevelopmental disabilities stems largely in part from her. Her motivation is further sparked by having seen the obstacles and difficulties associated with growing up in a neurodiverse family. Following graduation, she would like to become a pediatric audiologist. Through the MI-LEND program, Kaylee hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the clinical presentation of other neurodevelopmental disorders, and how these disorders can impact patients and families. With her new knowledge and education, she hopes to optimize her ability to advocate for her patients.
Liberty Turner	Liberty Turner is a third-year law student at Michigan State University College of Law. Growing up with a younger brother with autism, Liberty developed a passion for advocating for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities from a young age. This passion for advocacy inspired Liberty to attend law school. However, after struggling with the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Liberty was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities, including dyslexia. Although with the proper accommodations, Liberty received a scholarship to attend MSU Law School. In grad school, Liberty co-founded Michigan State University’s Graduate Students Accessibility & Support Network and Michigan State College of Law’s Disabled Law Student Association, where she serves as president. Liberty also works part-time as a caregiver for a nonverbal autistic adult. During the Fall 2024 semester, Liberty will be externing at Mall, Malisow, & Cooney, PC, taking a holistic approach to long-term care planning for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families. After graduating from MSU Law and MI-LEND, Liberty hopes to use her law degree to better advocate in an official capacity for individuals with disabilities and influence policy.
Shawn Wilson	Shawn Y. Wilson, Ed.D., is the Director of Accessibility Resources & Accommodations at Saginaw Valley State University. He earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University, where his dissertation focused on the relationship between higher education student support services and student success. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies & Community Inclusion from Central Michigan University. Shawn’s professional work is driven by a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. His presentations and publications on Universal Design for Learning and student retention strategies highlight his dedication to fostering environments that support the educational success of all students. As a parent of children with cognitive and learning disabilities, Shawn brings personal insight into his advocacy for individuals with disabilities. He is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that value and celebrate diverse abilities, ensuring all individuals can thrive. Shawn looks forward to continuing his growth as an advocate within the MI-LEND community, where he aims to deepen his knowledge of neurodevelopmental disabilities and expand his advocacy network.
Kathleen Young	Kathleen Young is a 4th year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine with a longstanding dedication to supporting children with disabilities. Beginning in college, she worked in school settings to assist children with disabilities in transitional kindergarten, which eventually led to her role as a care coordinator at a mental health clinic for children with neurodevelopmental challenges. In this position, Kat was involved in social skills therapy for children with autism and helped create inclusive curricula to meet their diverse needs. As a MI-LEND trainee, she hopes to deepen her understanding of healthcare delivery for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and strengthen her skills as an advocate. Kat aims to provide comprehensive, compassionate care as a physician, helping families navigate the complex care systems and ensuring children with disabilities receive the support they need.