LEND Alumni Shout-Outs
Regina Escano Zappi, UW LEND Audiology Trainee, 2013
Regina serves as Associate Director at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a frequent contributor to their newsletter. Recent articles include ASHA Provides Hearing-Related Content to Thousands of Families Through Expanded Collaboration and Helping Children with Hearing Loss Succeed in the Classroom.
Alicia Nathan (Schmocker), UW LEND Social Work Trainee, 2014
Alicia is the Founding Executive Director of Summit Community Center (SCC), located in Seattle, which provides young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a space for friendship, connection, personal growth, and skills development. SCC was recently featured on King 5 News.
Jen Chong Jewell, UW LEND Family Trainee, 2018
Jen was elected to the Washington State Board of Education, Western Washington Position 4. Her term begins in January 2025.
Khimberly Schoenacker, UW LEND Public Health Trainee, 2022
Khimberly is a Nutritionist at the Washington State Department of Health, Title V – Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs program. She launched the Empowering Culinary Exploration Course: Tips for Teaching Cooking Skills to Youth with Disabilities, designed to promote cooking independence, healthier eating habits, and employability in the food service industry. Questions? Contact Khimberly Schoenacker.
- Join the Whisk and Wellness Cooking Club for Inclusive Educators listserv: Contact Linda Ramirez.
Thanh Nguyen, UW LEND Psychology Trainee, 2023
Thanh is the Co-Director of CASCADES (Collaborative Autism School Assessments & Development Efforts) at Seattle Children’s Autism Center. CASCADES partners with school districts and the Washington State Center of Excellence to expand autism diagnostic services and reduce inequities in care. Learn more by contacting Thanh Nguyen.
Misty Pruner, UW LEND Occupational Therapy Trainee, 2023
Misty is a Co-Investigator on a recently funded NIH-NIAAA grant to study early interventions for infants with prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD. The study explores how the Families Moving Forward (FMF) Bridges intervention model can support these children. Read more in the UW Medicine highlight.
Nikki Dyer, UW LEND Family Trainee, 2024
Nikki serves as the Family Representative on the AMCHP Board of Directors (2024-2027), advocating for family voices in national maternal and child health initiatives. In 2025, she will chair the AMCHP Family Leadership, Education, and Development Committee.
Ed Lam, UW LEND Self Advocate Trainee, 2024
Ed was appointed to the board of Open Doors for Multicultural Families, which connects individuals with disabilities and their families to vital resources in their native languages.
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LEND Alumni Shout-Out
Want to know what your fellow LEND trainees are doing? We’ve put together a page to share some of their stories and information about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it and this and that and that and this. Have something to share? Please contact us and let us know and we’ll share it here.
