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Home : About
LDA Minnesota : Staff
LDA Staff Directory
Executive Director
Kitty Christiansen has provided agency leadership
for Learning Disabilities Association since 1985. Her
professional training and experience are in education,
including elementary, adult, and special education,
as well as nonprofit and business leadership, management,
and resource development. She holds an Executive Masters
Degree in Business Administration from the University
of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education
from the University of Minnesota.
Educational Services Director
Marjorie Cuthbert, Ph.D., is responsible for
overseeing programs for children from preschool through
grade 8 and for parents, supervising evaluation activities,
and building community partnerships to expand services.
She holds a Ph.D. in educational guidance and counseling
from the University of Florida and has served in multiple
educational administration leadership positions, including
K-12 principal.
Youth and Adult Services Director
Miriam Kragness, Ph.D., provides oversight to
programs serving youth and adults as they work toward
completing basic education and transitioning to the
next phase of work or school. She is also responsible
for formal assessment services statewide, to evaluate
possible learning disabilities and other cognitive and
behavioral problems affecting learning. Miriam earned
a Specialist in Education and a Ph.D. in psychology
from the University of Minnesota. She is a licensed
psychologist who completed clinical training in neuropsychology
and rehabilitation at medical centers in New York, Cleveland,
and Rochester, MN. She has eight years of experience
diagnosing a broad range of learning difficulties and
effects of acquired brain injury and previous experience
as a vocational counselor and organizational consultant.
Learning Connections / Capacity
Building Manager
Liz Rey is responsible for managing and coordinating
community-based instructional services K-12 and elementary
teacher training. Liz holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies
from Sonoma State University, and an M.A. in Education
from Mills College. She has years of experience teaching
in multi-ethnic urban elementary schools in California
and Minnesota. Liz has also been a Clinician with Lindamood-Bell
Learning Processes, working with students with learning
disabilities or Down Syndrome and those on the Autism
spectrum.
Parents as Partners Manager
Susan Hallam is responsible for planning, developing,
and managing the Parents as Partners program, which
provides training and support for families with learning
disabilities, ADHD, other learning difficulties, or
at risk for these conditions. She holds a Bachelor of
Science degree from St. Cloud State University.
Transition Coordinator
Valerie Griffin manages and implements LDA's
Transition Program for youth leaving high school for
post-secondary opportunities. Valerie holds a Bachelor's
degree in Social Work from the College of St. Scholastica
and Master of Arts in Gerontology from Bethel University.
Before joining LDA, she ran the transition program at
the Center for Independent Living and was a Center Director
at Choices for Children.
Adult Services Coordinator
Margaret (Marn) Frank is responsible for providing
LDA's adult services to the community. Marn provides
not only adult LD evaluations, but also training to
Adult Basic Education facilitators throughout the state
of Minnesota on effective ways to teach adult learners
with learning disabilities and other learning difficulties.
Marn has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master's
Degree in Special Education from the University of Minnesota,
and a Learning Disabilities Certification from the University
of Wisconsin-Superior. She has extensive experience
in Adult Basic Education and Special Education throughout
the state of Minnesota.
Early Literacy Coordinator
Sandra Ditmarsen is a manager on special assignment
to develop new programming to outreach to and coordinate
services for parents of pre-school children as well
as training childcare workers of this age group. Additionally,
Sandy will provide direct instruction in selected elementary
schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary
Education from North Central University and a Master
of Education degree from Cleveland State University.
She also has post-graduate work in Administration and
Supervision of Reading from Hamline University.
Parents as Partners Program
Coordinator/ADHD Specialist
Gabi Geissler is responsible for LDA's programs
of parent education, services for individuals and families
with ADHD, and reaching out to the Latino community.
She earned her MA in Education at the University of
Hamburg, Germany, and has also trained in Educational
Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Gabi taught
for 12 years in high schools in Germany and the U.S.
She can communicate effectively in German, English,
and Spanish.
Resource Development Director
Susan Freivalds develops and implements LDA's
fund resources, communications, and marketing efforts.
Prior to LDA, Susan served as Development Director for
the Minnesota Council on Economic Education, Policy
Director for the Joint Council on International Children's
Services, and Executive Director of Adoptive Families
of America. She holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in
Economics from the University of California, Davis,
and has completed graduate work in Economics at the
University of Minnesota.
Marketing Specialist
Amanda Wold is responsible for marketing and
promoting the programs and services LDA offers to the
community, while also increasing public awareness of
LDA and its mission. She holds a Bachelor of Business
Administration in marketing and management information
systems from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Before joining LDA, she worked in the private sector
for six years before switching to marketing for non-profits,
both locally and overseas.
Business Manager
Deonna Perez-Evans is responsible for planning,
developing, and managing the financial and human resource
operations of LDA. De has valuable experience providing
these functions in both the nonprofit and for-profit
sectors and will soon complete her Bachelor of Arts
in Business Management from the College of St. Scholastica.
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