Board of Directors 

Henry Clarke, Chair
Maureen Hanson, Vice Chair
Levi Brandriss, Treas.
Rachel Chung, Sec.
Dr. Joette James
Melika Al-Kawas
​Seth Duncan
Raj Rajagopal
Meghan Jones 
Sylvia Jones  
Jenn Lynn E.D.

Henry Clarke, Chair
Mr. Clarke is an attorney in private practice, who has practiced for 38 years.  His practice, Henry C. Clarke, Jr., P.A. is located in Gaithersburg, but he practices throughout Maryland.  His practice focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, special needs trusts, Advance Medical Directives, and, additionally, small business creation, contractual, sale and succession matters.  Mr. Clarke is active on various boards including the non-profit Rockville Nursing Home and the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund.  He is the sibling of a special needs adult.

Maureen Hanson, Vice Chair
Ms. Hanson comes to us from National Institutes of Health / Fine Arts Collection program where she specializes in producing programs for the Center’s fine art collection, creates signage and tour programs.
She used her multiple degrees in Communications and experience from an internationally acclaimed public relations company, to create her own freelance marketing design and communications firm serving several national clients in addition to Montgomery County Schools.
With a degree in journalism we look forward to her insight and experience as UCR grows into its own and develops a more recognizable brand.
She resides in Rockville.  

Levi Brandriss, Treasurer
Mr. Brandriss is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Bethesda, MD, in practice since 2004. He focuses on helping individuals and small businesses with comprehensive and holistic financial planning advice and services. He has served on various corporate, industry and non profit councils and boards locally and nationally. He is committed to helping all in the community where he lives and works.

Rachel Chung, Secretary
Ms. Chung has been working for nearly 20 years supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of ways. This support has included job placement for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, developing new initiatives such as retirement options for adults with developmental disabilities, and training for special education teachers in a Cambodian orphanage. She is currently the Disabilities Coordinator for the Department of Special Needs Ministries with the Archdiocese of Washington. Rachel has a BA in Social Work from the University Maryland Baltimore County. She is married and has two children.

Melika Al-Kawas 
Ms. Al-Kawas is the mother of 3 daughters, and a grandmother of two children.  After raising her children, she went back to school and earned her degree from the University of Maryland.  She has been with The Arc, Montgomery County  for nearly a decade, focusing on Vocational and Day Services. Ms. Al-Kawas has a heart for volunteerism and believes deeply in giving back to the community.  She was a Girl Scout Leader for 8 years, held every position on the PTA, including President of the elementary and middle school PTA’s.  She also has been involved with SAWA, the Syrian American Women’s Charitable Association, since 1995, holding seats as Vice President and President for several years.

Seth Duncan
Mr. Duncan currently serves as the Program Director of Potomac Community Resources, a position he has held for 12 years.  He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, holding an undergraduate degree in Organizational Sociology, a Masters of Nonprofit and Association Management, and an MBA.  He is the father of three girls; MacKenna, Siobhan, and Ainsleigh.

Sylvia Jones, Social Activities Coordinator 
Ms. Jones is an active contributor to community outreach & support for parents of children with Down Syndrome.  She was a PTA volunteer and fundraiser. She has worked in science / technology field for over 30 years, as well as marketing & sales.  She is the parent of young adult with Down Syndrome. 

UCR is a Maryland non-profit, 501(c)(3). We offer innovative programs, events, and social opportunities for adults with developmental and intellectual differences. 

UCR’s program leaders are experienced professionals who work with our staff to ensure each member's experience is a success. Some programs run as drop-in and some run for several-sessions over consecutive months. Some activities are perfect for anyone; others require a particular interest or skill.

Dr. Joette James 
​Dr. Joette James completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, her internship at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, DC. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. James was employed at CNMC as a staff neuropsychologist for seven years.  She served as the chief inpatient and outpatient neuropsychologist at HSC Pediatric Center, a sub-acute rehabilitation facility in Washington, DC that is affiliated with CNMC. Dr. James held an appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University and is board-certified in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Her research interests have included executive-functioning in individuals with high-functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, and the development of psychosocial interventions for this population.  
​Dr. James also has expertise in forensic neuropsychological consultation and evaluations. Over the past 10 years, she has testified as an expert on a variety of cases, in numerous states. In her free time she enjoys travelling, collecting art, studying Italian, singing at her church, and learning as much as she can about coffee and wine. She is currently a mentor to an extremely cute 7-year-old boy, and she is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Art History.

Raj Rajagopal
Mr. Rajagopal has worked in the Information Technology (IT) field, with different organizations including IBM, MITRE, IITRI, and others, for 35 years. He has an M.B.A in Finance and IT from G.W.U and an M.S. in Computer Science in addition to Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Electronics. He is currently a Chief IT Architect at MITRE Corporation, a nonprofit, Federally Funded Research and Development Center. He represents his company at IT Industry standards organizations. He is the author of a number of books published by McGraw-Hill, CRC Press, etc. He has authored a number of patents and has published several IT related articles in professional publications.  
Raj is a very active member of the Indian community in the Washington metro area (WMA). He has been the President / Chairman of different Hindu Temples in the WMA. He is on the Board of Hindu American Community Services Inc.  He is also on the Board of OASIS, a group founded by of parents with special needs children to promote the advancement of special needs individuals. His wife is a well-known Oncologist in Montgomery County. They have a son with special needs and have purchased a farm in Gaithersburg to provide work opportunities for members of the population.

Meghan Jones
Ms. Jones is a strong, independent woman who happens to have Down Syndrome.  She works two jobs, serves as a lecturer, usher and altar server in her church and is also a member of leadership council for the Church Youth Group. She is an active volunteer for Upcounty Community Resources helping to coordinate social events.  Meghan attended Magruder High School, is a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Corps earning the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Presidential Award for community Service through volunteering over 500 hours. She is a graduate of the Transition Training for Independence Program at Montgomery College.  Meghan completed  internships with Project Search at the National Institute of Health as well as an internship at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.   While working at Target, she met several customers with hearing issues who struggled to be understood and she resolved to make a difference so she taught herself American Sign Language.   Meghan has testified before Maryland legislators, and the US Dept. of Labor Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Competitive Integrated Employment of Individuals with Disabilities and has been a presenter at the Techniques for Success Conference.

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Jenn Lynn, UCR Executive Director

• Jenn Lynn is passionate about helping all families dealing with Autism.  She is mother of a teenage son, Jake, with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety Disorder, Mood Disorder NOS, and Executive Function Disorder.   Lynn serves on the Montgomery County Policing Advisory Commission, formerly on the Commission for People with Disabilities, the Lt. Governor Rutherford's Commission to Study Behavioral and Mental Health for Maryland, and collaborates with I/DD professionals and doctors.  Ms. Lynn strives to educate, enrich, and empower parents and community members by sharing what she's learned from certifications in Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Exposed Workplaces, completion of Montgomery County Police Citizen's Academy, 4 years training Law Enforcement, 2 years as an ABA technician, experience with PBIS training, first-hand behavior management training at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, as well as her work in special education (public/private schools). ​The former TV news producer speaks and writes uplifting and encouraging stories of living on the spectrum at theworldaccordingtojake.com, is a published author, adoption advocate, is a Director on the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild for Sainthood and performs professionally as a flute/piccolo player.​

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 Emeritus Board members & advisors 

Dan Finn, founding Chair
Mark Waldman, executive advisor
​Mary McGinnity, executive advisor
Steve Riley, founding member 
Teresa Perez, founding member
Paula Kearney, founding member
Jim Nalls, founding member 
Mary O'Meara, founding member