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




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

Kathleen Cienkowski, PhD
Audiology

Maria E. Gyure, MS, LCGC
Genetic Counseling

Tara Lutz, PhD
Public Health

Inge-Marie Eigsti
Clinical Psychology

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
