The ASCV’s impact grows each year thanks to the help of community members like you. As the need for our programs and services grow, we are grateful for our committed volunteer leadership. The ASCV Junior Board is comprised of talented and generous young professionals from the Richmond area and beyond. Some of them have direct links to our mission as professionals, others are motivated to join us because of their loved ones impacted by autism, and all are excited to support the ASCV and our community.
Keep reading to get to know our newest Junior Board members, who will serve 2023-2025. To see all of our Junior Board and Board of Directors members click here.
Carly Dragan
Dr. Carly Dragan is a speech-language pathologist and board certified behavior analyst who has worked at The Faison Center for the past decade, supervising a team of speech-language pathologists. She has a passion for mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration, with the goal of helping both future clinicians and clients achieve. In January, she will begin a new role as Director of ABA at Spectrum Transformation Group.
Carly is most excited to join the ASCV Junior Board to connect with the greater autism community and volunteer her time to amplify ASCV’s mission and vision to support, empower, and build connections while linking its members with high-quality support and resources.
On the weekends you can find Carly at the farmer’s market, walking her dog Max, or having a cocktail with friends.
Erica Younger
Erica Younger is a board certified assistant behavior analyst and program manager who has worked at the Faison Center for the last six years in their behavioral health clinic in the early education center. Erica is working toward her master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in behavior analysis. Erica devotes her free time to volunteering as an epilepsy awareness ambassador for the Epilepsy Foundation with the goal of spreading awareness of how Epilepsy and seizures affects individuals with a diagnosis and their families.
Erica is excited to do the same for those affected by Autism, as an ASCV junior board member.
When Erica is not working or studying, you can find her at Cameo with a pistachio latte, spending time with her nieces, or relaxing at home with her husband and Portuguese Water Dog, Maisie.
Elizabeth Clutton
Elizabeth Clutton went to both undergraduate and graduate school at Ole Miss. She recently moved to Richmond from Birmingham, Alabama, where she worked at KPMG for three years.
Elizabeth became involved with the ASCV because her mom has taught Special Education for about 10 years. Elizabeth’s admiration for her mom’s hard work has created a passion in her for advocating for diversity and inclusion. Elizabeth says, “autism has always been present in my life.” She looks forward to connecting, networking, and giving back to the ASCV community and its members!
Leanne Petroziello
Leanne Petroziello works for the Community Foundation for Greater Richmond and is also working towards her Master of Public Administration degree at VCU. She previously worked for the ASCV and has volunteered regularly since then. Leanne says she is excited to get involved in a different capacity by joining the Junior Board.
Outside of work, Leanne enjoys doing anything outside, learning a new hobby, or hanging out with her husband and pets.
Amanda Pratt
Amanda Pratt is a BCBA supervisor at Compass Behavior Solutions and has been a BCBA in the area since 2016. Prior to becoming a BCBA, she was a special education teacher in autism classrooms in Hanover County for six years.
Amanda says, “I have loved volunteering with ASCV at many different events since moving to the area. My current passion is helping open doors for families who have had fewer opportunities to access the amazing resources that ASCV and other community organizations have to offer.”
When Amanda is not working with families or volunteering with events, she likes to spend time with her husband and two children exploring Richmond and surrounding areas.
Aaron Houghton
Aaron Houghton is an ordained Presbyterian Minister, currently serving part time at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. Aaron also works for TrueTimber Backyard installing zip-lines.
His involvement in the Autism community began when one of his good friends from the disc golf community, ASCV Program Director Jon Greene, recommended that he might be a good fit for a care attendant position for a young man with Autism. This was a life-changing relationship that led to employment at the Faison School for Autism for three years. Aaron has remained involved in the Autism community volunteering with respite nights, young adult fellowship groups, and helping Jon with his Disc Golf fundraising tournaments. He is excited to get more involved with the ASCV.
Laura Youngquist
Laura Youngquist has moved all over the country and has found a great home here in Richmond, VA. Laura is a University of Richmond law student. She wanted to get involved more deeply in the Richmond community and says, “I lucked into finding ASCV.” Laura began working as a Lead Counselor with ASCV’s summer camp in 2022 and fell in love with the kids, the program, and everyone she has had the pleasure of meeting and working with along the way.
“ASCV is such an important network of support and being a part of it enriches my life,” Laura says.
Michael T. Kammerman
Michael is a Doctor of Microbiology and Immunology. He has spent the better part of his life in the city of Richmond and Central Virginia area. Michael attended VCU for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He met his wife, ASCV Program Manager Kaitlyn Kammerman, during his graduate studies and she was the first to introduce Michael to the autism community.
From volunteering at his first respite night to making his first adult friendships with parents of students Kaitlyn loved so much, Michael says “it has really shown how amazing this community is, and I wish to continue to spread the stories and love of the Autism community through the great work of ASCV.”
Katie Peppers
Katie Peppers is currently teaching Elementary Special Education in Hanover County. Katie says that joining the ASCV Junior Board “is very important to me, as it gives me an opportunity to support families and children with autism outside of the public school setting. I look forward to what this new year will bring!”
Katie is an active volunteer at Respite Nights and is looking forward to being a part of even more events in 2023.
Nick Slentz
Nick Slentz has been the Human Services Program Coordinator at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services for almost five years. He facilitates the Virginia Caregiver Coalition and oversees the Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program both of which assists caregivers across the commonwealth.
Originally a transplant from Upstate New York, Nick graduated from SUNY at Fredonia in 2014 and has been avoiding winter in Richmond for almost six years. He has a background in social services and has spent most of his professional life connecting individuals with the services they need.
View a full list of the ASCV Junior Board and Board of Directors.