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Alexis (Lex) Gingell holds a Masters Degree in Applied Developmental Psychology, with a specialization in Behavioral Health in Schools and Communities from the University of Pittsburgh. Her passion and dedication for helping others was founded in her years and experiences in the mental health and child welfare systems. Her past professional experience includes project management and implementation of a statewide project called PA Healthy Transitions Partnership, a federal grant awarded to OMHSAS. Other areas of expertise include providing truancy prevention services on the local level, building a statewide youth and young adult network, and delivering Certified Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid trainings to professionals and communities. Currently, Lex is the Program Coordinator for Autism Services Education Resources and Training (ASERT) Collaborative in the Western Region of Pennsylvania. Her diverse roles within ASERT have included managing the Resource Center, developing content and resources, overseeing projects, PATC planning and personal stories, and local collaborations and training. This year marked a decade working for UPMC! She is a mom of three and thrives off of all things Pittsburgh, family, sunshine and adventure.

Sarah Johnston has a degree in community programming for individuals with disabilities. She has extensive professional experience within children’s mental health and intellectual disability/autism service system. Within her role as a project analyst at ASERT, she strives to support statewide efforts for capacity building and resource development to best meet the needs of others. She enjoys being outside with her family and involved in her community. She loves to have adventures through exploring new places.

Sheena Donovan holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and has spent over 20 years in adult education. Her work with ID/A individuals and creating online learning environments during COVID, led her to the edtech industry where she gained additional knowledge in project management, technical writing, UI/UX, and instructional design. Sheena is a Project Analyst for Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training (ASERT) Collaborative in the Western Region of Pennsylvania where she enjoys designing useful resources, interacting with the community at events, planning and maintaining projects, and collaborating with different populations. She enjoys traveling, reading, and yoga.

Jesse Northridge has been trained as a clinical social worker. He has been a therapist for nearly 20 years, and has spent about half of that time specializing in autism. Jesse has been with ASERT since 2018, and has worked on a wide range of projects since that time. He currently helps with many of the ongoing training projects, but also manages many of the requests for help that come into the ASERT resource center.

Chris DeInnocentiis is a Nurse Practitioner that specializes in care for individuals with Autism. He received a Bachelors in Biology from Albright College, Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University, and a Masters of Science and Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric and Mental Healthcare from Wilkes University. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the community, hanging out with his dog Butterball, and playing trivia on Tuesdays.

Pamela Piscitelli, MSEd works at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University, where she provides project support for the Philadelphia Autism Project and the ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) Collaborative.  In this role, Ms. Piscitelli utilizes her training in school counseling and psychology to conduct trainings and share resources to help educate and raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders. She helps individuals with autism, families, professionals, and community members learn more about autism services, resources, and supports in Pennsylvania through the ASERT Resource Center. Ms. Piscitelli has over 15 years of experience supporting the implementation of research projects and helping to translate research into practice, policy and education for the general community.

Mi-Yeet Wongis a Director of Community Impact at the Policy, Analytics, & Community (PAC) Research Program at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. After graduating with her Master’s in Social Work at Penn, she earned her LCSW as a Case Manager for adults with neurodevelopmental differences. She enjoys blending community engagement with developing innovative programs to make city and statewide impact.

Conner Carlton is a research associate at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. He holds a MSc in Public Policy from Dublin City University and has a background in education. His work focuses on community engagement and translating autism research for broader audiences. His research interests include the social determinants of health and the ways social and structural factors shape access to care and community well‑being.

Marisol Ramos is currently serving as the Latino Services Manager at Vision for Equality, where she collaborates with ASERT to expand their opportunities to the Latino and Spanish-speaking community. She is a dedicated and passionate individual who has devoted over 20 years of her life to advocating for the Latino community. Marisol is at the forefront of initiatives that aim to address the unique needs and challenges faced by the Latino population. Marisol’s commitment to her work is deeply personal, as she is also a devoted mother to two children with Autism. Her firsthand experience in caring for her children has fueled her advocacy efforts, driving her to create positive change not only for her family but for countless others in similar situations.

Marisol Ramos actualmente es la Gerente de Servicios Latinos en Vision for Equality, donde colabora con ASERT para ampliar sus oportunidades a la comunidad latina y de habla hispana. Es una persona dedicada y apasionada que ha dedicado más de 20 años de su vida a defender a la comunidad latina. Marisol está a la vanguardia de iniciativas que buscan abordar las necesidades y los desafíos particulares que enfrenta la población latina. El compromiso de Marisol con su trabajo es profundamente personal, ya que también es una madre devota de dos niños con autismo. Su experiencia personal en el cuidado de sus hijos ha impulsado sus esfuerzos de defensa, impulsándola a crear un cambio positivo no sólo para su familia sino para muchas otras personas en situaciones similares.

Kate Hooven is the Justice System Project Coordinator for ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) where she uses her background as a former juvenile probation officer and juvenile court consultant for the PA Juvenile Court Judges Commission to train justice system personnel. Kate is also the mother of three amazing children, including her 24-year-old son Ryan who was diagnosed with autism when he was four years of age. Ryan graciously allows Kate to share his experiences as an autistic individual to personalize the ASERT justice trainings as well as to raise awareness and promote acceptance for all autistic individuals.