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Jessica Tschida - President

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Jessica is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University. Jessica enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of internalizing and externalizing concerns and is passionate about working with youth on the autism spectrum and their families. Her research examines how community-engaged approaches can improve use of mental health evidence-based practices for autistic youth in community-based settings. Prior to beginning her doctoral training, Jessica was a clinical research assistant at the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She joined the MMAA Board in 2022. 

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Bri Luginbill - Vice-President

Bri joined the board in February 2023. While her  bachelor's degree is in photography and writing, her passion for autism and those with disabilities started in college when she worked as a Community Living Support/Respite worker for an 8-year old boy with non-speaking autism. She was one of his CLS providers for 3 years and it really opened her eyes to how behaviors could be connected to communication and not feeling heard or understood. She is married and has one son. He was diagnosed with autism through MSU at 3.5. He went through MSU ELI's ABA program for 1 year and he is now in public school 50% in gen ed and 50%in the ASD classroom. Her son is now 7-year old and uses an AAC device as well as several other methods of communication. 

 

Cathy Blatnik -  Treasurer

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Cathy is originally from Maryland but has called Michigan home since December of 2001. She has been a stay-at-home mom/wife since 1996 when her daughter was born. Cathy also has a stepson who is married and lives on the West Coast. Her son Dominic was born in 2004 and has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Epilepsy and Anxiety Disorder. Besides volunteering her time with the Mid-Michigan Autism Association, she is the Coordinator of the Special Needs Ministry in the Diocese of Lansing as well as the Programming Chair of the Michigan Alliance for Cultural Accessibility.

 

Mariah Martinez - Secretary

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Mariah was born and raised in SE Michigan. She moved to Lansing to attend Michigan State University (MSU) and has been living within the city since 2014. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from MSU. Mariah is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Potter Park Zoological Society. She coordinates the FALCONERS program that allows children or adults of all ages with special needs and unique challenges (such as autism or developmental disabilities) and their whole family to have an enriching educational experience in a safe, welcoming and sensory friendly environment.  She is certified in Autism by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). ​Mariah has worked with MMAA for a few years through FALCONERS and became a board member in early 2020.

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Heidi Anderson - Board Member

Heidi grew up in Okemos and graduated from Michigan State University. Her daughter, Gemma, has Arid1b Syndrome and Autism. After attending many MMAA activities over the years, Heidi joined the board in 2023. 

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Alisha Buehrer - Board Member

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Alisha is an Autism Spectrum Disorder Teacher Consultant at Grand Ledge Public Schools. She has taught students with autism and other disabilities for the past 11 years in a variety of classroom settings. Alisha completed her Masters degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Eastern Michigan University in 2015. She also completed her Bachelors degree from Eastern Michigan University in Special Education, with an endorsement in cognitive impairment in 2010. Alisha has always had a passion for teaching and helping to advocate for and support families who have children with disabilities. Alisha is married to her husband, Darren and has three sons, Thomas, Silas and Titus. In her free time Alisha enjoys the outdoors and camping.

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Emma Chasten - Board Member

Emma is a student in the School Psychology Ph.D. program at Michigan State University. She is passionate about increasing access to evidence-based behavioral and mental health practices for autistic youth and youth with other developmental disabilities across schools, families, and communities. She recently moved to Michigan from Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as a research assistant at the Marcus Autism Center.

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Lauren Duvall - Board Member

Lauren Duvall is a first-year student in Michigan State University’s Clinical Science PhD program. She is passionate about supporting neurodivergent children and families. Her research interests center around studying the implementation of parent-mediated interventions. Before starting her graduate studies, she worked as a research assistant and early interventionist at the Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. She has been a board member since 2024.

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Naomi Alvarado - Board Member

Naomi is a current first year Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Student at Michigan State University. Her research interests surround implementing evidence-based autism interventions in community-based settings for autistic children and supporting parents of autistic children. Before starting graduate school, Naomi worked with MSU’s Autism Lab for three years assisting in research projects surrounding parent-mediated interventions. She recently completed an internship at the University of Pennsylvania, where she assisted an autism group-based intervention at a daycare and continued research in parent-mediated interventions. 

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Ali Childs - Board Member

Ali Childs is a mom to an amazing autistic daughter. She wants to bring more inclusive events to the Jackson area and is excited to be a part of such an awesome, neuro-affirming organization!

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Sheila Hartley - Board Member

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Kim Jakubas - Board Member

Hello, my name is Kim Jakubas. I am a grandmother of an autistic teen.  This is my second year on the board. I joined to become a part of a special community that offers sensory friendly experiences, activities and to learn about resources. Bringng activities to Jackson County is my goal.  I am so happy to be here with an amazing group. 
 

Hannah Tokish - Board Member

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Hannah is a clinical psychology doctoral student in the MSU Autism Lab at Michigan State University. She has been an MMAA board member since 2022. Prior to graduate training, she completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and a two-year clinical research fellowship at the Marcus Autism Center (Emory University), where she became passionate about supporting children on the autism spectrum and their families. Her research currently focuses on increasing access to early community-based autism intervention and promoting parent engagement in the intervention process. Clinically, Hannah specializes in diagnostic assessment and strengths-based intervention for autism, ADHD, and related neurodevelopmental disorders. She is also a certified Project ImPACT clinician and trainer.

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Jody Moffett - Board Member

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Julia Olivas - Board Member

Julia has been a board member since November 2022. She is a mom of 3 kids ages 13,11, and 6, and the older two have Autism/ADHD. Julia is also a registered nurse and currently works per diem at a local surgery center in the preoperative and recovery room areas. Julia's husband Marlon is a self-employed automotive mechanic, and she helps him run his automotive repair facility in the Grand Ledge area. Each year they host a few MMAA sponsored "Meet the Mechanic" sensory friendly events at his shop to help and teach kids, teens, and adults with any disability, anxiety, or sensory issues about cars, answer their questions, and help them feel more comfortable around cars, like how to change a tire, check and add fluids, etc.

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Ana Pomales Ramos - Board Member

Ana is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program at Michigan State University. She grew up in Puerto Rico and attended college at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, she completed a two-year postgraduate research fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center, where she studied telehealth-delivered and caregiver-mediated autism interventions. During her doctoral studies, Ana's research has examined how clinicians adapt autism interventions (such as Project ImPACT) to increase access to care and provide culturally and contextually responsive care for linguistically, ethnoculturally, and racially minoritized families. Clinically, Ana specializes in the diagnosis and intervention of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Ana joined the board in 2020 and has served in the role of vice president (2022-2023) and president (2023-2024). 

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Tina Roberts-Hicks - Board Member

After becoming an autism mom in 2014, Tina has become deeply passionate about advocating for children with autism and their families. She shares her experiences, provides support, and works to promote understanding of the unique challenges these families face. Tina believes in creating a strong, connected community where every parent feels empowered to navigate their journey with confidence. She is committed to advocating for essential resources and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Above all, she is dedicated to helping create a more understanding and supportive world for all. 

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​​​Nikki Walker - Board Member

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