Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
President
Jackie received her Specialist in School Psychologist graduate degree in 2012, and has been working with individuals with disabilities since 2004 through various capacities, including home and community-based settings, residential placements, and in the public school setting. Jackie never knew that her kno
President
Jackie received her Specialist in School Psychologist graduate degree in 2012, and has been working with individuals with disabilities since 2004 through various capacities, including home and community-based settings, residential placements, and in the public school setting. Jackie never knew that her knowledge and background in psychological assessment and wide range of experiences with individuals with disabilities would become imperative when she became Harvey's mom. Harvey was born with an ultra-rare genetic disorder, DLG4 Synaptopathy. Jackie’s passion for improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities is paramount in her effectiveness as President of the HOPEforHarvey Foundation.
Brenda Foster
Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
Vice President, Treasurer
Brenda is the controller and office manager of a commercial floor covering company in Kansas City. Brenda has been personally impacted by genetic mutations in two ways. Not only is she Harvey’s grandmother, her father was diagnosed with familial ALS in 2016; passing in 2018. Brenda believe
Vice President, Treasurer
Brenda is the controller and office manager of a commercial floor covering company in Kansas City. Brenda has been personally impacted by genetic mutations in two ways. Not only is she Harvey’s grandmother, her father was diagnosed with familial ALS in 2016; passing in 2018. Brenda believes that the science is here to find cures for rare genetic mutations, including DLG4, that will help improve the quality of life for all who are affected. Brenda currently resides in Stilwell, KS.
Desiree Yang, Ph. D.
Jackie Skinner-Foster, SSP
Desiree Yang, Ph. D.
Co-Director of Research
Desiree received her Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Harvard Medical School, where she studied the regulation of enzymes critical for the process of cell division in Escherichia coli. Following her Ph.D. work, she conducted post-doctoral research at the Fred Hutch
Co-Director of Research
Desiree received her Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Harvard Medical School, where she studied the regulation of enzymes critical for the process of cell division in Escherichia coli. Following her Ph.D. work, she conducted post-doctoral research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center looking for genetic determinants of cell shape in the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Currently, Desiree resides in Seattle, WA with her family.
Laura Ferguson, Ph. D.
Laura Ferguson, Ph. D.
Laura Ferguson, Ph. D.
Co-Director of Research
Laura Ferguson, Ph.D., joined the HOPE for Harvey board as co-Director of Research in 2022. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dell Medical School where she is studying the neurogenomic and molecular basis of addiction and other brain disorders. Her ultimate goal is to develop personalized m
Co-Director of Research
Laura Ferguson, Ph.D., joined the HOPE for Harvey board as co-Director of Research in 2022. She is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dell Medical School where she is studying the neurogenomic and molecular basis of addiction and other brain disorders. Her ultimate goal is to develop personalized medicine strategies for patients based on molecular profiles in blood. She is pursuing this through systems biology approaches, artificial intelligence algorithms, and next generation sequencing technologies. Laura and her family have been close friends with the Fosters for over a decade, and she is excited to serve on the HOPEforHarvey board to help find treatments for Harvey and others with DLG4-related synaptopathy.
Amanda Kelly, SSP
Laura Ferguson, Ph. D.
Laura Ferguson, Ph. D.
Secretary
Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Specialist degree in School Psychology. She has a background in psychological assessment. Amanda has worked with children in various capacities over the year and is currently a School Psychologist in the public school system. She has dedicated her lif
Secretary
Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Specialist degree in School Psychology. She has a background in psychological assessment. Amanda has worked with children in various capacities over the year and is currently a School Psychologist in the public school system. She has dedicated her life to advocating for children with disabilities and assuring they receive appropriate services within the school setting. Amanda has close ties to Harvey as she went to graduate school with his mom! As Secretary, she hopes to further the understanding of rare genetic disorders like Harvey’s and discover possible treatments to better his life among countless others.
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