Year in Review

Lindsey Taveren, MBA – Interim Executive Director

With over 13 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, Ms. Lindsey Taveren is a seasoned leader at CNF, renowned for her ability to leverage financial strategies and emerging technologies to drive us toward our vision of a world in which all children affected by neurologic disorders reach their full potential.

Her impressive track record includes working at American Academy of Neurology where she drove major investments in finance technology systems and provided fiscal management to the American Brain Foundation, the Child Neurology Foundation, and the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. With a strong academic foundation, Ms. Taveren holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business where she specialized in finance and entrepreneurship.

Diagnosed with autism as an adult, Ms. Taveren has an exceptional way of problem solving and organizing information to achieve results. Her personal experience as an individual with a neurologic condition combined with her impressive skillset in nonprofit leadership makes Ms. Taveren uniquely suited for leading CNF into the next chapter of growth.

In her role as Interim Executive Director at the Child Neurology Foundation, Ms. Taveren is responsible for leading a cross-functional team to grow the Neurology Social Servies Network (NSSN), a virtual database and referral system of organizations in the neurology community that connects individuals to social services and emotional supports as they navigate their neurology journey, and the newly launched CNF Learning Portal, which has the potential to disrupt the status quo and position CNF as an education trailblazer through its easily navigable and centralized online system. Ms. Taveren’s expertise in technology, finance, and process improvement will drive efforts to deliver more user-friendly and effective CNF programming in Child and Family Support, Education, and Care Advancement.

We encourage you to stay connected and be part of the transformative conversations and projects that lie ahead at the Child Neurology Foundation.

Allyson Eyermann – Deputy Director

Allyson Eyermann’s journey with Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) began in February 2017, during which time she has grown into a leadership role that reflects her unwavering commitment to our mission and CNF’s organizational values of professionalism, integrity, collaboration and stewardship. Allyson first joined CNF as an Executive Administrative Assistant, where her passion for service and her innovative approach to problem-solving quickly became evident, distinguishing her as a leader. Throughout her tenure, Allyson has held various roles, each with increasing responsibility, culminating in her position as Deputy Director.

In this role, she continues to build on our strong foundation, guiding our team with a focus on sustainability, growth, and enhanced community engagement. Her operational expertise has been instrumental in navigating challenges and seizing new opportunities for our organization.

Allyson holds a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University and is an advocate for continuous learning and professional development. She is known for her compassionate approach and unwavering commitment to the child neurology community. She believes in the power of community and works tirelessly to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Her journey from Executive Administrative Assistant to Deputy Director is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and the values that drive our organization. Allyson is thrilled to play a crucial role in shaping the future of CNF, ensuring that we remain true to our core values while adapting to the evolving needs of our community.

Jessica Nickrand, PhD – Director of Programs

Jessica was drawn to CNF because of her passion for patient advocacy, and her belief that health care can be at its best when patients are empowered to be their own advocate. As the Director of Programs, she leads strategy for the development of CNF’s programs in Child and Family Support, Education, and Care Advancement, leveraging her previous roles at CNF as Senior Programs Manager and Programs Manager, which focused mostly on programs related to Transition of Care, federal advocacy, and health equity.

Before joining CNF, she worked in health policy education at the American Academy of Neurology and as Research Director at the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at the University of Notre Dame. In 2015, she was selected as a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow at the National Academies of Science, Technology, and Medicine where she supported the work of the National Roundtable for Population Health Improvement. She holds a BA in Social Relations and Health Policy from Michigan State University and a PhD in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine from the University of Minnesota with her dissertation research focused on the intersection of urban renewal and health provision. She still enjoys collaborating with her colleagues in academia and is a frequent guest lecturer in both undergraduate and health professional school courses in the medical humanities.

Outside of work, Jessica volunteers her time to work for healthier communities where she lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She currently serves as a Mayoral-appointed member of the Saint Paul Neighborhood STAR Board, which provides grant funding and forgivable loans through a competitive process to small businesses, and from 2021-2023, served as a City Council-appointed member of Saint Paul’s Legislative Advisory Committee on Reparations. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Minnesota Community Care, the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in the state, and as a member of The Arc Minnesota’s Regional Advisory Committee which supports programming related to increasing the civic participation of adults with IDD.

Jessica and her husband, Nick, call themselves “bi-coastal…if you consider the Great Lakes to be a coast,” splitting up their time between Saint Paul and where her family still resides in the Downriver community of Detroit. They have 8 niblings and many more who have been inherited from their friends who have become family, and enjoy their role as “professional aunt and uncle” more than almost anything else in life.

Amanda Bockelman – Operations Coordinator

Amanda Bockelman joins us from Frontier Nursing University where she was Executive Assistant to the President for over 4 years. For 5 years prior to this role, Amanda credentialed students at clinical sites, making it possible for them to complete their degrees. Amanda received her bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Kentucky, after also completing courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. More recently, Amanda completed her PACE certification (Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence), which increased her knowledge, expertise, and skill set in the evolving business environment, while expanding her aptitude for administrative work. Amanda found her calling of wanting to make a difference in children’s lives who are battling diseases when a teammate of her son was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. She raised money for the family so they could take the time off work they needed to care for him. Accepting a position at CNF continues Amanda’s drive to help children achieve their best lives.

Amanda is a proud mom to a daughter, Adrianna, and son, Vincent. In Amanda’s own words, her kids “drive me to work hard to make their lives better each day.”

Hilary Pellegrin – Staff Accountant

Hilary has a long and diverse history of non-profit work – spanning from her volunteer work at a local food bank in high school, to serving as a Team Leader for the AmeriCorps NCCC program, to her recent work at the library consortium Amigos Library Services. She brings with her to CNF a deep passion for assisting communities on the local and national levels, believing strongly in the power of connections and in working together to find solutions to the challenges facing the child neurology community. Hilary currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri with her partner Robert and their three cats. While away from home, you’ll find Hilary swing dancing around town or training for her next 5k.

Jane Baldwin – Development Manager

Jane joins CNF with a background in higher education, having worked in international development, student programming, and academic advising at Indiana University and the University of Kentucky. She moved to Lexington after two years in Singapore, where she volunteered on a helpline with the Association of Women for Action and Research, the country’s leading NGO focused on women’s rights and gender equity. Jane holds an MPA from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs with concentrations in Public Financial Administration and Policy Analysis. Outside of work, she is an avid runner, baker, and traveler.

Kim Hindery – Senior Program Manager

Kim Hindery is a seasoned advocate with over 18 years of experience supporting children with special healthcare needs and their families. She has a proven track record of building relationships that foster positive, long-term impacts within her community. Kim’s personal journey of raising children with unique needs fuels her passion and commitment to her work.

In her current role at the Child Neurology Foundation (CNF), Kim oversees a network of more than 80 advocacy organizations. These groups collaborate to offer essential social and emotional support to families. Kim also designs educational programs for families and healthcare professionals, fostering comprehensive care and promoting knowledge-sharing.

Kim holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Saint Louis University, as well as a Master’s in Administration from Xavier University. Before joining CNF, she worked as an intervention specialist, helping children and their families reach their fullest potential. She is also SAFe6 POPM certified.

In 2019, Kim was instrumental in establishing the parent council for the I-ACQUIRE phase 3 clinical trial, where she continues to collaborate with clinicians and researchers. Her work focuses on enhancing family-centered care, creating sensitive and respectful material, and supporting recruitment and retention strategies. Additionally, Kim contributes to clinical trials addressing healthcare accessibility in rural areas, aiming to improve service delivery.

Kim serves on both the FDA’s Patient Engagement Collaborative and Patient Engagement Advisory Committee, providing valuable insights into the patient experience. She is also a member of the AACPDM Community Council, where she shares her expertise in caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Most recently, the council was featured in the AAP’s journal Pediatrics for publishing a paper titled ‘Parent Council for a Pediatric Stroke Rehabilitation Clinical Trial.

Kim believes in making every moment count by leaving a positive impact on the lives of others. Outside of work, Kim enjoys reading for both education and leisure, volunteering for her daughters’ schools, and spending quality time with family and friends. She resides near Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters, one of whom has cerebral palsy.

Nyechi Oleka – Community Engagement Manager

Nyechi Oleka is a recent addition to the Child Neurology Foundation as a Program Coordinator. She has over ten years of experience in relationship management and community engagement. Her prior experience includes working for Disability Determination Services as a disability adjudicator, and before that, a mental health community support professional with Seven Counties Services. Nyechi holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kentucky State University, and a Master of Science degree in Conflict Management from Sullivan University.

Nyechi is also the Creative and Event Chair of Sneaker Ball Lex: A KOTD Affair, a fundraising event in Lexington, and Founder of the Sneakers With Everything Project non-profit organization.