The NODCC is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and part-time staff. Board members are nominated and elected based on their potential to contribute to the board, either as professionals and/or as family representatives. For more information on Board service, visit the ‘Get Involved’ section of our website.
Deona Kalala is a Stay-At-Home Mom and a Senior Attorney at Alston & Bird, where she advises clients on antitrust and unfair competition law in the context of mergers and acquisitions and related compliance counseling. She has a decade of experience in big law. She also currently serves as a Council member for the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section. Deona received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Deona was a Client Executive for IBM. She earned her B.S. in Industrial Engineering and M.S. in Economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Deona lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
Kip Oren, Kip and his wife Kim live in Austin, Texas. The Orens are the parents of two sons with differing neurological conditions. Their eldest son has been diagnosed with c-ACC. Kip hails from Muncie, Indiana, and is a graduate of Hillsdale College and the University of Miami School of Law. He practices commercial real-estate law in Austin, after having practiced in New York City for several years. Kip’s better half, Kim, is also a graduate of the University of Miami, and is a public-school administrator. Kip is an avid reader, a history buff whose primary interest relates to the Nixon Administration, and a diehard Miami Hurricanes fan.
Kevin Hight lives in Columbia, Tennessee with his wife, Paige, and son Max (30 with complete ACC). Max volunteer coaches at Zion Christian Academy and is an avid sports fan of the Tennessee Vols and the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoys playing and watching the game of golf. Kevin and Paige also have a daughter, Gracen (28), who is married and works in the family business. Kevin is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University. He is a part owner of South East Carriers, Living Stone Freight Solutions, Heritage Automotive, Best Western Plus Lawrenceburg and Duke and Gobble Properties. Kevin, Paige, and their immediate families enjoy supporting the NODCC and attending the NODCC conferences.
Heather Bahorich is a passionate talent leader with over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, talent management, and employee engagement. She brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal dedication to her role on the NODCC Board.
Heather’s journey with disorders of the corpus callosum began when her daughter, Lillie, was diagnosed with isolated Complete ACC at 31 weeks pregnant. Despite initial uncertainties, Heather has actively shared Lillie’s journey through her social media platforms to provide hope and support to other families, connecting dozens of families to the NODCC over the past six years. Outside of her advocacy work, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, exploring hidden gems in her hometown of St. Louis, and traveling often to her favorite place, Walt Disney World.
Warren S. Brown, PhD is Professor of Psychology at the Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary and founder of the Travis Research Institute. He received his PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Southern California. He is actively involved in neuropsychological research, particularly related to the consequences of agenesis of the corpus callosum for intellectual and social abilities. Among his more than 100 research publications are 50 articles on the neuropsychology of ACC. Dr. Brown also co-authored over 100 presentations at scientific meetings regarding his research on ACC.
Katherine Claxton, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience working in a healthcare setting. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Baylor University and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin. Katherine currently works in private practice part time, providing psychotherapy to older adults on site at their place of residence. Katherine serves on the Irvine Residents with Disabilities Advisory Board, which serves to advise the city on the needs of disabled residents. She is also on the mental health advisory committee for Sandy Feet Initiative, a surf program designed to meet the unique needs of the siblings of disabled children. Katherine and her husband Dean reside in Southern California with their two children: Charlotte (age 10) and Joshua (age 8). Joshua was diagnosed with hypoplasia of the corpus callosum when he was 19 months old after several delayed developmental milestones, prompting the family to become connected with the NODCC for resources and support. Katherine brings to the board her professional experience in the healthcare system, her passion for the needs of neurotypical siblings, and her unique perspective as a primary caregiver to someone with a disorder of the corpus callosum.
Ilana Davlin is an adult with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum from Virginia. She was diagnosed with ACC prior to birth but never let it stop her. She wears many hats and has accomplished many things like holding a full time job, living independently, and has a General Studies degree from a local university. Her past times include going to sporting events, concerts, and traveling.
It is her dream to help as many individuals with varying levels of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum as she can. She would like to help them develop their voice just as she did when she attended her first conference. She has been involved in the Board of Directors since 2024 and is looking forward to helping the organization thrive.
Natalie Erb, CPA is a Certified Public Accountant and a financial executive with over 30 years of experience in diverse industries, including government, nonprofit, manufacturing and business services industries. She and her husband, David, live in Dallas, Texas with their oldest daughter, Fiona. Their youngest daughter, Amelia, passed away at the age of 5 in 2015. Amelia was considered medically fragile due to multiple conditions including complete agenesis of the corpus callosum, microcephaly and epilepsy. The Erb family started a foundation called Milly’s Wings, and raised $500,000 to build the first inclusive playground in Anderson County, Tennessee in memory of Amelia. Upon completion of the playground, the Erbs donated the remaining assets to the NODCC to assist in supporting the organization’s mission over the long term.
Thomas Frey is the owner of a construction company in East Moriches, NY and a volunteer firefighter at the East Moriches Fire Department. He and his wife,
Mary, have two children, Audrey and Lila who is an adolescent with complete ACC. Lila attends East Moriches Middle School, and is a very happy, social child but still struggles with many issues. The Frey family loves to travel and Lila gets very excited and starts planning the moment she hears about it. Lila also participates in t-ball, dance, school chorus, and loves to swim all year round.
Mike Molettiere, MDiv is a pastor for Village Northwest Unlimited, an organization that serves adults with disabilities, and he loves every second of it. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary. He lives in Ashton, IA with his wife, Lisa, and their 4 kids: Josiah, Levi, Stella, and Ethan. Josiah, who is in 8th grade, has complete ACC and is severely impacted with his development and functioning. Mike is dedicated to advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. He loves all sports, especially baseball, and eating at a really good hole in the wall Chinese restaurant.
Dax Norton was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana where he graduated from Ball State University with an education focused on History and Political Science. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1995. Dax’s professional life has focused on small business development, not-for-profit board development and management and community development. For the last 20 years, Dax’ has been a leader in the areas of government management and policy development and not-for-profit management and board development. He has worked for multiple not-for-profit boards and has focused on the development and financial strength of the organizations managed by those boards. He was appointed to an Indiana Governor’s cabinet position in 2013 to lead the leader of the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The state agency focused on the provision of financial and strategic direction resources for Indiana’s rural communities. Following his time with the Indiana state government, Dax was the leader of the government of the fastest growing community in Indiana. He has a long history of policy development and lobby at the state level and years of experience with board membership and development, including board member positions with the United Way, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Witham Hospital Foundation, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Association of Engineers, and the Boys and Girls Club. Dax is currently the Director of Economic Development, Grants/Funding and Municipal Board Strategy for a large consulting firm based out of Columbus, Ohio and is the principal owner of Crossroads Management Advisors Innovates (CMA Innovates). Dax is a long-time friend of fellow board member Kip Oren. He lives in Zionsville, Indiana, with his wife Kelly Norton and two daughters Trista and Charlee.
Dave O’Brien and his wife MaryLee are both long-time members of the NODCC. The proud parents of Connor (21), Kathryn (19), and Logan (14), they split their time living in Farragut, TN (suburb of Knoxville) and Lake Forest, CA (Orange County). Connor was diagnosed with complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in utero. After considerable research, Dave and MaryLee discovered the NODCC in early 2012, attending their first conference in San Antonio that same year. Immediately, they recognized the value this organization provides, with researchers, education, and most importantly, community. Dave joined the NODCC Board of Directors in 2015 for 6 years, and is serving again starting in 2024.
Dave is the Sr. Director of Information Technology at CalOptima Health, a publicly funded health insurance entity for low income residents of Orange County, California. Dave has over 25 years of corporate technology leadership experience, with 15 years in healthcare. Originally from Staten Island, New York, Dave received his BS and MBA from Pace University. He has won numerous technology awards and holds multiple certifications in managed care and strategic technology operations. In his spare time Dave is a Scoutmaster for the BSA and enjoys as much golf as he can fit into his schedule.
Don Peterson is retired after a 30-year career in the telecom equipment industry, mostly as a finance and general management executive. He lives in Naples, FL and Annapolis MD. He has two grown children and four grandchildren, two of which have disorders of the corpus callosum. Don is on the boards of three financial companies and works hard at his woodworking hobby whenever he can.
Leann Schouten, ClinScD, CCC-SLP, HLA is the co-owner of Jump and Schout Therapy, a multidisciplinary private practice in Brea and Chino California. She has been practicing for over 20 years and specializes in motor disorders. In her practice, she provides speech and language services to toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adults. Dr. Schouten is the founder and CEO of the Jump and Schout Foundation, nonprofit organization providing medical equipment, supplies and trainings to families and children in the surrounding community. Jump and Schout Therapy works closely with nearby universities to provide site supervision for graduate and undergraduate externship students. She has expanded her knowledge and growth in the field of communication disorders and sciences as an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University, and currently serves on the board for the California Speech and Hearing Association.
Layton Shaffner, MBA has worked in software implementation for 20 years and is currently a Client Partner for an HR Consulting Organization. He has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. Layton and his wife Jana live in Dallas where they are doing their best to keep up with their son Logan (14) and daughter Allie (10). Logan was diagnosed with complete agenesis of the corpus callosum a few days after his birth. Layton found the NODCC soon after Logan’s birth, attended his first NODCC Conference in 2010 where he was energized by the network and knowledge of the organization, and he and his family have attended every conference since. Layton is a swimmer, cyclist and avid college football and basketball fan when he isn’t keeping up with his kids’ growth and activities.
Elliott Sherr, MD, PhD is a Professor in Neurology and Pediatrics at UCSF. He directs the Brain Development Research Program, a group that studies the genetics and biology of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) and related disorders. Specific areas of interest include gene discovery and advanced brain imaging to unravel the intricate mechanisms of brain development. For his research, Dr. Sherr was the 2006 recipient of the Philip R. Dodge Young Investigator Award from the Child Neurology Society. Dr. Sherr is a board certified Child Neurologist and directs the Comprehensive Center for Brain Development and is co-director of the Neurometabolic program and clinic at UCSF. In these capacities, he cares for children with autism, epilepsy, developmental delay, and brain development disorders. He obtained his MD and PhD at Columbia University in New York and completed his clinical training in Pediatrics and Neurology at UCSF. Dr. Sherr is a native of California and completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Biology at Stanford University. He lives in San Francisco with his wife (a biotechnology executive) and his three college and graduate school bound children.
Jasmin Turner is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Iowa. She works in the Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, where her research focuses on brain connectivity underlying emotion and social cognition. Her work ultimately aims to better understand social-emotional development and mental health outcomes in individuals with brain malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Prior to her PhD, Jasmin earned her MA in Clinical Psychology at California State University, Northridge. She continued her academic journey as a research coordinator at Caltech, where she worked alongside Dr. Lynn K. Paul, studying behavioral development in infants and children with agenesis of the corpus callosum. In 2018, Jasmin experienced her first NODCC conference which fueled her passion for working with individuals affected by disorders of the corpus callosum. Beyond her research experience, Jasmin actively supports individuals with a DCC and is dedicated to enhancing the mental well-being of those within the NODCC community.
Jennifer Little has been involved with the NODCC since attending the conference in South Carolina in 2005 with her sister and late niece, Abby. Born with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, Abby also battled leukemia most of her life and passed away in May 2021. Jennifer has been a passionate supporter of the organization since 2005 serving as the Board President, head of the communications committee, helping host conferences in Texas, working as a communications consultant and leading the nominating committee. Jennifer has enjoyed a career in public relations for 30 years and is currently an executive vice president at global communications agency, BCW. She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin where she majored in broadcast news, and she earned a master’s degree in Communication Studies from Indiana State University. Jennifer lives in Frisco, Texas with her teen son, Jamison.