ATP STAFF CONTACTS

Director of Brain Resources and Data: Jane Pickett, Ph.D. Jane has over 10 years experience serving as coordinator of Developmental Disability services in Oregon where she participated on the Early Intervention team, developed/monitored state funded programs for all age groups, provided crisis management and facilitated parent support groups. Clinically, she has been a community coordinator for services to the chronically mentally ill and held the post of Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Counseling and Testing at Oregon Institute of Technology where she taught biopsychology, assisted students with disabilities who required physical and academic accommodations and coordinated the Institute's first Technology Fair in 1993, encouraging mechanical engineering and computer science students to address the varied technological needs of disabled persons. Her research background includes published studies in molecular and behavioral genetics, neuropeptide biosynthesis, cellular and developmental processes and, before joining the Autism Tissue Program, the role of stress, gender and hormones at Princeton University. Jane can be reached at 1-877-333-0999; her email is atp@brainbank.org.  Back to Top

Outreach Coordinators: Working on communication with the community and providing information to the general public, outreach coordinators Connie Frenzel, M.S., R.N. and Denise Soto., bring strong parent-advocacy and professional health backgrounds to the Autism Tissue Program.

Connie worked for 9 years as a facilitator of Parents Helping Parents in the San Francisco Bay area and continues an affiliation with the parent and professional education support group in northern California. During her nursing career, she helps integrate public health nursing services with county departments and private agencies and worked closely with community groups in implementing health education programs and now coordinates educational outreach for the Autism Tissue Program in the Western U.S. Connie is married and has two teenage children, a son with autism and a daughter. Connie can be reached through the 1-877-333-0999 number; her email is csfrenzel@gmail.com

Denise works as the community outreach coordinator for Autism Speaks and works closely with the ATP Ambassadors Program. She ensures that these ambassadors receive the staff support they need to educate the public about the importance of the Autism Tissue Program. She also provides information to those calling to request ATP materials, and answers general questions. She has worked with Autism Speaks for two years and works closely with WALK NOW leadership, volunteers and key staff within the program. Denise can be reached at 1-877-333-0999 or by email at dsoto@autismspeaks.org. Back to Top

Family Clinical Coordinator: Carolyn Komich Hare, M.S., serves as a Family Clinical Coordinator to the Autism Tissue Program, arranging a visit with the family after a donation to learn more about the individual. She feels honored to meet the families who have made this special contribution and finds serving as a consultant complimentary to her work as founder and director of AHEADD, a program developed (in cooperation with Equal Opportunity Services of Carnegie Mellon University) to assist students with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome in higher education. AHEADD (Achieving in Higher Education with Autism/Developmental Disabilities) was established for the purpose of bridging the gap between public school services and the traditional college accommodations structure and was highlighted in the Chronicles of Higher Education in 2004 as an outstanding program. Carolyn lives with her husband in Pittsburgh, PA and can be reached at 1-877-333-0999 or by email: chare@autismspeaks.org     Back to Top

Data Coordinator: Ellen Xiu serves as Data Coordinator for the Autism Tissue Program. Ellen maintains donor charts, reviews reports and documents for accuracy, manages and enters project data, organizes and enters test data, prepares data reports as necessary and data analysis as needed. Ellen came to the United States 12 years ago. She previously worked with a group investigating imported nutritional formulas and vaccines, has a lovely 8 year old daughter, and graduated from UMDNJ with a Masters degree in Bioinformatics. Ellen can be reached at 1-877-333-0999 or by email at exiu@autismspeaks.org.   Back to Top