We are delighted to welcome Joanne Lent as our new Board President. Since joining the Board in 2013, Joanne has been a steady and invaluable presence behind the scenes. From serving as Board Secretary and helping shape our communications strategy, to carefully reviewing countless newsletters and messages, to playing a central role in Conference programming and volunteer coordination, her dedication and attention to detail have strengthened the Foundation in meaningful ways. We are grateful for her thoughtful leadership as she steps into this role.
We are also pleased to share that Sara Espanet has joined the Executive Committee as Board Secretary. Sara is a Supervising Practitioner for teachers at Perkins School for the Blind and works with students who are deafblind and multimodal learners. She also brings a personal connection to the mission, as her cousin has CHARGE syndrome. Since joining the Board in 2024, Sara has been a passionate advocate, and we are excited for her continued impact in this new role.
This term, we are proud to welcome two new Board Members, Nehuén Rodríguez Picatto, and Megan Schmittel, both former Davenport Fellows at Conference. We also extend our appreciation to returning Board Members Penni Echols, Vice President; Amrit Mehta, Treasurer; Minnie Lambert; and Ben Daigle.
A heartfelt thank you to Lily Slavin, who is stepping back from the Board to focus on this special season with her newborn son. We are grateful that she will remain involved as a volunteer and hope to welcome her back to the Board in the future.
Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to Neal Stanger for his years of dedicated service as both a Board Member and Board President. His leadership and commitment have played an important role in shaping the Foundation’s growth and impact. We are pleased that Neal will continue to support the organization as an Advisor to the Board, where his experience and insight will remain invaluable.
Click here to learn more about our Board Members.
