Throughout Jen’s career, she has focused on guiding people during the most vulnerable and difficult times in their lives. As early as high school, she began volunteering with children, adolescents, and young adults with special needs through social skills groups, peer mentoring, and as a speech-language pathology assistant. Jen always knew that she had a passion for helping others, especially those who could not advocate for themselves.

Jen graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Her areas of focus were autism spectrum disorders, cognitive disorders, and atypical child development.  She completed internship work at clinics, schools, and a local autism resource center.  Jen was a clinical research assistant in the psychology department overseeing student data collection, interpretation, and publication.

Jen went on to graduate summa cum laude with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University.  During her graduate training, she obtained the credentials to become a state licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and worked completing screenings and treatment in many settings.  She led social skills groups, Parkinson’s support groups, Aphasia support groups, and caregiver support groups.

In 2011, Jen began her career as a state and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist. She worked with children and adults in schools, outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She has extensive experience in working with child and adult developmental disorders, cognitive disorders, traumatic brain injury, and typical/atypical brain processes through evaluation and treatment.  She obtained advanced certifications in several assessment and treatment modalities including Modified Barium X-Ray Swallow Studies, and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluations of Swallowing.  For several years she ran Stroke Survivor and caregiver support groups and was a supervisor for graduate level students in their clinical practicums.  Her unique specialty in hospital-based Speech-Language Pathology in the ER, ICU, and SICU provides her with an expertise in working with clients and their families during times of crisis.

In early 2020, when Covid prevented Jen from being in a hospital setting, she temporarily joined the AO team guiding families through the intake process and providing an additional layer of support to families. Jen never imagined that what would start as a temporary move would turn into a realization of how closely the two fields align, finding a new passion, and a decision to make a permanent career change.  Since joining the team, Jen has visited hundreds of programs, regularly attends national consulting conferences, participates in continuing education opportunities, and is a professional member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and the Young Adult Transition Association (YATA).