LEND Class of 2025-26

Lauren Russell

Lauren is currently a second year genetic counseling student at the University of Minnesota and completing her clinical rotations at the Mayo Clinic. Lauren graduated from Florida State University with Bachelor’s degrees in public health and biology. Prior to graduate school, Lauren volunteered as a health ambassador to advocate for students and their health needs. She also volunteered with Crisis Text Line. In her free time, she loves to take care of her plants, reading, and exploring coffee shops in the Twin Cities. Through MNLEND, Lauren hopes to learn strategies and skills to best advocate for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She also hopes to use these skills and evidence-based practices in her counseling to best support her patients.

Anna Larsson

My name is Anna Larsson and I am the pediatric physical therapy resident at Gillette Children’s for the 2025-2026 term. I am originally from Sweden but have also spent many years in Canada and in various states across the US. I came to the US to complete my undergraduate degree at the University of Houston and then obtained my doctorate of physical therapy from the University of North Carolina. I have spent the last year working as a home health pediatric physical therapist in Colorado and volunteering as a sit-ski instructor. I am very passionate about getting kids involved in outdoor activities and making the outdoors accessible and enjoyable for everyone. I am looking forward to learning how I best can support those with neurodevelopment conditions during my physical therapy session from the moment I meet them to when creating home exercise programs. I also want to learn how I can utilize my skills as a physical therapist to increase accessibility in the community for this population.

Boluwatife Lowen

Boluwatife Lowen is a dietetic intern with the Minnesota Department of Health and a graduate student in public health nutrition at the University of Minnesota, and is working toward becoming a Registered Dietitian. She holds a bachelor’s degree in food science and a master’s in food processing and storage technology. She is passionate about advancing equitable nutrition services for individuals with disabilities, her focus areas include food security, health equity, and policy advocacy. She is especially committed to person-centered feeding approaches that uphold safety, autonomy, dignity, and nutritional adequacy such as modified textures, enteral nutrition, adaptive mealtime strategies, and culturally responsive meal planning. As a MNLEND fellow, she aims to strengthen her interdisciplinary skills to better support individuals with disabilities and their families through inclusive, community-centered care.

Connie Chao

Connie Chao joins MNLEND as a Community Fellow. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Wellesley College and is currently a post-baccalaureate pre-health student at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Connie’s brother has Down Syndrome and complex health needs, and she has helped her immigrant parents navigate medical and social support systems and advocate for appropriate resources for her brother. She is passionate about supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families at the clinical, community, and public policy level. She is also interested in the intersection of disability, race, culture, and language. Connie aspires to become a primary care physician and public health practitioner who cares and advocates for individuals with complex health needs. As an MNLEND Fellow, she hopes to gain more skills to become a better family and community advocate and cultivate a broader, interdisciplinary perspective on neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Anna Quinn

Anna Quinn has a special education background and is pursuing her doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She’s passionate about working with young children with disabilities and mental health needs, and is especially driven to support families in getting the services they deserve. Anna believes every child should be seen, heard, and supported, not just in schools and clinics, but in the larger systems that shape their lives. Through the LEND fellowship, she’s excited to grow as a collaborator and advocate, gaining the tools to serve communities better and make a meaningful, lasting impact wherever she goes.

Katharine Alsop

Katharine Alsop serves as the Children’s Mental Health Services Program Manager at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). She holds a B.S. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota and has pursued graduate studies in infant mental health, early childhood education, and developmental psychology. Katharine brings a strong foundation in mental health advocacy, case management, and program development, with experience in direct service, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic leadership across nonprofit, early-stage tech startup, and public systems. As a neurodivergent professional with lived experience, Katharine is passionate about improving care coordination and reducing systems fragmentation. She is deeply committed to youth mental health, neurodiversity, and system navigation, and works to advance inclusive, effective, and family-centered supports that help young people thrive. Through MNLEND, she aims to strengthen her policy and leadership skills and prepare for graduate study focused on systems change for neurodivergent children and families.

Stacy Lawrence

Stacy is a second-year master's of social work student at the University of Minnesota with a specialization in health, disability, and aging. Stacy graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor's in special education and a minor in American Sign Language with a focus on transition services. Stacy has a passion for disability justice and advocacy with interests in understanding the impacts and overlap of policy. Through a social work lens, she recognizes the systemic ableism that has been perpetuated nationally and internationally and works to change these structures that continue to create barriers for the disability community. While in the MNLEND program, Stacy plans to foster connections with other professionals in the disability realm in order to better understand where she is most needed in aligning with the disability community. She is excited to begin her work with MNLEND and continue her journey towards a better and brighter world!

Salma Ibrahim

Salma Ibrahim is a second-year doctoral student in the Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science track at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development. She earned her B.S. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. As a MNLEND fellow, she hopes to deepen her understanding of neurodiversity through interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. She is particularly interested in translating research into innovative, practical tools that enhance the lives of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. As a future clinician and scientist, she hopes to advance equitable, evidence-based care by bridging research and practice to improve developmental and mental health outcomes across diverse communities.

Matisse Bolstrom

Matisse Bolstrom is a Master's of Public Health Student in the Epidemiology program and Student worker at the Minnesota Department of Health. She works with people of all backgrounds and has experience serving people with a range of disabilities. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a bachelor's degree in Biology, Society, and Environment and Spanish Studies. Her goal is to gain an understanding of the policy mechanisms and public health programs that have successfully supported people with cognitive disabilities. Matisse is excited to begin the LEND fellowship and hopes to learn more about ways that disability advocacy can be incorporated into public health policy systems.

Kristina Hanks McNulty

Kristina Hanks McNulty has accumulated 17 years of professional experience in the fields of special education and disability services. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Educational Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Her work encompasses supporting children and adults with disabilities across diverse settings, including hospice care, literacy intervention programs, Montessori educational environments, and behavioral support. Currently, she works as an Autism Resource Specialist within the public school system, following five years of teaching in special education. Kristina is committed to principles such as relationship-based support, empowering individuals through education that fosters independence and student driven decision-making, and cultivating inclusive communities of care. Her research interests include crisis response strategies within special education and embodied co-regulation, racial capitalism and its intersection with ableism, and literacy instruction and intervention tailored for gestalt language processors.

Aleksandr Onchanu

Aleksandr Onchanu earned his bachelor's degree in developmental psychology from the University of Minnesota. He is currently a post-baccalaureate scholar and researcher at the Institute of Child Development, working with Dr. Philip Zelazo. His current research, including the "I Spy Study," explores how children develop social understanding. Through observing children’s cooperative play, Aleksandr's research aims to gain deeper insights into the factors contributing to social competencies such as collaborative communication, empathy, perspective-taking, and relationships. He hopes to continue serving his community through translational research that can be both parent accessible and child centered. As a LEND Fellow, he's committed to learning from and listening to the needs of families and acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to best serve his community. As an autistic adult and parent, Aleksandr is excited to contribute his lived experience and learn from his cohort in their collective advocacy for adults, children, and families facing disabilities.

Christina Gonzalez-Castañeda

Christina Gonzalez-Castañeda is a first generation graduate with her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education (Academic Behavioral Strategist K-12), and is currently pursuing a Masters in School Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Christina has worked at a transitional program for 5 years serving those with intellectual disabilities through the BUILD program, which is a 2 year program that gives access to students with disabilities from ages 18-24 to learn necessary independent living skills. She has also been involved in Special Olympics and programs at Gigi’s Playhouse specifically for Latinx families. Her passion to serve students with disabilities roots from her sister, Cynthia Castañeda who has Down-Syndrome, and has been an inspiration in her life. As her sister, Christina saw the lack of support for marginalized students in the education system. As a MNLEND fellow, Christina is committed to advocate and serve marginalized students who have been pushed aside from the education system because of race, ability, ethnicity, etc. She hopes to learn from the educators and fellows of MNLEND to practice this new found knowledge and perspective in her career as a School Psychologist, where she can create an impact within the school staff, families and community in the Twin Cities.

Anisa Hagi-Mohamed

Anisa Hagi-Mohamed is a linguist, writer, and co-founder of Maangaar Voices, a community-led organization advancing neurodiversity for autistic individuals and their support networks, with a focus on East African communities. As a neurodivergent mother to autistic children, Anisa weaves lived experience with language to build inclusive spaces. She was part of a collective that introduced the Somali term Maangaar—“unique mind”—shifting cultural narratives around autism. Her tools include bilingual books, visual affirmation cards, and events designed with sensory and cultural accessibility in mind. In 2025, she was awarded a Bush Fellowship to deepen her academic and systems change work. Through storytelling and connection, Anisa helps families move from silence to strength.

Lalinne Suon Bell

Lalinne Suon Bell is a special education professional and doctoral student in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. With over a decade of experience supporting children with disabilities and their families, she is focused on improving access to high-quality learning and support services for students with diverse needs. Lalinne’s work examines how disability and cultural background shape educational experiences, with an emphasis on strengthening teaching practices and support systems. Her background includes classroom teaching, family engagement, and developing instructional materials in a range of educational settings. As both an educator and parent, she brings practical insight into the everyday and long-term challenges faced by families. Through the MNLEND Fellowship, she aims to grow as a systems-oriented leader and strengthen collaboration across education, health, and social service sectors. Lalinne looks forward to contributing to effective, research-informed practices that enhance the well-being and life outcomes of children and young adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Gabriella (Ella) Buboltz

Gabriella (Ella) is a second year doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of Minnesota. Previously, Ella received her Bachelors of Science in Developmental Psychology from the University of Minnesota. After completing her degree, she moved to Philadelphia to work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in their Center for Autism Research. Ella’s research and professional interests involve early screening and identification for children with Autism and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disabilities. She is particularly interested in clinical research aimed at developing and implementing representative early screening methods, programs, and interventions. As a MNLEND predoctoral fellow, Ella is excited for the opportunity to connect with professionals from various disciplines to further expand her knowledge and practices in order to best support children and families with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Ashley Walters

Ashley Walters, DO, is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics fellow who joined the University of Minnesota in July. She completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Nebraska in Omaha and earned her medical degree from Kansas City University in Joplin, Missouri. Before medical school, she worked at a special education school in her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, where she had her first experience supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This experience inspired her to pursue developmental pediatrics as a way to serve children and families from a medical perspective. Through the MNLEND program, she hopes to strengthen her skills as an advocate for the disability community and expand her knowledge of research in the field.

Phuong Tran

Phuong Tran is a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology–Special Education with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from North Dakota State University. Over the past decade, Phuong has worked with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in both research and clinical settings. As an MNLEND fellow, Phuong aims to deepen her understanding of the complex needs of NDD communities and to make meaningful differences through collaboration, advocacy, and interdisciplinary work.

Beatrice (Bea) Ojuri

Beatrice (Bea) Ojuri is a second-year Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science PhD student in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on understanding heterogeneity and early predictors in ASD and ADHD through examination of various behavioral and neurobiological traits; she hopes to extend this research to investigate neighborhood effects within these populations. As a clinical scientist trainee, Bea aims to create inclusive clinical and research spaces, particularly for underserved and underrepresented communities. Through MNLEND, Bea hopes to learn more about disability policy and interdisciplinary collaboration to address current inadequate clinical translation and dissemination of research.

Alharith Dameh

Alharith is a rising senior at the University of Minnesota pursuing degrees in Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology. An aspiring physician-scientist, Alharith is interested in using functional magnetic resonance imaging and community-based participatory research to better understand cognitive development and how it might occur differently in neurodevelopmental variations such as autism. He is a research assistant at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain and the Institute of Child Development, where he researches executive function skills and how we can use neuroimaging to better understand neurodevelopmental disorders. Through MNLEND, Alharith hopes to immerse himself in community and self-advocate perspectives on autism, begin applying his work into educational settings, and engage in more autism-related advocacy.