Community Advisors
We work in partnership with a Community Advisory Council, (CAC) advisers who represent the voice of the disability community, advising and supporting the Center in meeting its responsibilities to the citizens of Maryland in accordance with the DD Act. The Council is led by CAC chair and vice chair:
Elizabeth Benevides
Hussman Foundation
Seeking New Members!
The MCDD Announces a Tremendous Opportunity to Serve your Community:
The CAC brings together people with diverse perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to assist the MCDD in meeting its responsibilities to the citizens of Maryland. Positions are currently open for:
- siblings
- direct care providers, and
- provider agency representatives
The CAC meets quarterly from 3-5 p.m. at the MCDD during the months of January, April, July and October. Stipends are available to cover the expense of meeting attendance.
Please review the position description. You can print the application and send it to us, or complete it online.
Questions? Please contact Eve Lukowski, MCDD Administrative Services Coordinator, at Lukowski@KennedyKrieger.org or 443-923-9555.
Community Advisory Council Members
| Name | Title | Agency |
| Nkenglefe Afangcho | Consumer | Advocate |
| Rene Averitt-Sanzone | Member | Parents Place of Maryland |
| Diane Bark | Consumer | Family Member |
| Beth Benevides | Chair | Hussman Foundation |
| Carmen Brown | Member | Maryland State Department of Education |
| Justine Cerruto | Member | The Harford Center, Inc. |
| Kendall Foster | Member | Disabilities Rights Maryland |
| Jackie Golden | Consumer | Eastern Shore Parent Resource Alliance |
| Kathryn McCloskey | Member | Kinera Foundation |
| Christian Miele | Member | Maryland Department of Disabilities |
| Teresa O'Brien | Member | Penn-Mar |
| Matthew Plantz | Consumer | Self-Advocate |
| Mary Scott | Consumer | Family Member |
| Bernie Simons | Member | Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration |
| Bonnie Smith-May | Consumer | Family Member |
| Christina Spangler | Member | Maryland Coalition of Families |
| Keith Walmsley | Member | Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council |
| William Webster | Consumer | Family Member |
| Tracy Wright | Consumer | Self-Advocate |
Kennedy Krieger Institute Staff
| Name | Title | Department |
| Ken Capone | Self-Advocacy Program Director | People On The Go Maryland |
| Mallory Finn, Esq. | Staff Attorney | MCDD |
| Tami Goldsmith | Self-Advocacy Program Coordinator | People On The Go Maryland |
| Jenny Jones | Resource Finder | MCDD |
| Eve Lukowski | Administrative Coordinator | MCDD |
| Megan Meck, MS | Data Coordinator | MCDD |
| Mirian Ofondedu, PhD | Training Director | MCDD |
| Mat Rice | Public Policy Advocate | People On The Go Maryland |
| Bruce Shapiro, MD | Vice President | LEND |
| Jackie Stone, PhD | Vice President | Clinical Programs and Inpatient Services |
| Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS | Director | MCDD |
| Alyssa Navarrete Thorn, Esq. | Staff Attorney | MCDD |