Connecticut LEND Faculty and Staff

An important part of Connecticut LEND is the team that supports the program. This team collaborates frequently to ensure that planning and implementation of the LEND program meets the LEND objectives. The following list contains the names, roles and contact information of these team members. They are available to support Trainees and answer any questions, comments or concerns

Mary Beth Bruder PhD

Professor, UCEDD Director,
LEND Director

Email: bruder@uchc.edu

Contact for: Research projects, requirements, approval, absences, general questions

Tina Rhodes, MS, OTR/L

LEND Practicum Coordinator,
Clinical Research Associate

Email: tirhodes@uchc.edu

Contact for: Practicum Questions, Requirements and General Questions

Laurie Cantwell

LEND Family Discipline Coordinator

Email: ctpolicymaking@gmail.com

Chris Blake

LEND Family Faculty Self Advocate

Email: chris-r-blake@hotmail.com

Paula DeMichiel

LEND Administrative Program Coordinator

Email: demichiel@uchc.edu

Holly Labrecque, MPH

LEND Graduate Assistant

Email: hlabrecque@uchc.edu

CT LEND Teaching Assistants (TA)

Our LEND Teaching Assistants are previous LEND Trainees and are available to support during the LEND seminar and answer any general questions.

Ajla Ahmetovic
aahmetovic@uchc.edu

Ryan Miela
miela@uchc.edu

Eliza Mulkern
mulkern@uchc.edu

McLaine Rutan
rutan@uchc.edu

Lucas Vander Ploeg
lvanderploeg@uchc.edu

Julie-Ann Williams
julwilliams@uchc.edu

CT LEND Discipline Coordinators

Anton Alerte, MD

Pediatrics

Melissa A. Bray, PhD

School Psychology

Maria E. Gyure, MS, LCGC

Genetic Counseling

Tara Lutz, PhD

Public Health

Inge-Marie Eigsti

Clinical Psychology

Sara Renzulli, PhD

Counselor Education and
Counseling Psychology
 

Brandi Simonsen, PhD

Special Education
Tammie Spaulding, PhD  
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences