Staff Profiles
Every program claims to have professional staff, with good educational backgrounds and experience. When we refer to professional staff we are speaking about not only those qualities, but also staff who are secure and available to the students.
Bloomington Center Staff
Karen Thomas, M.S. Special Education
Program Director
As a special educator, Karen has supported young adults with developmental disabilities including those with autism spectrum disorders in secondary classrooms and community settings in the Bloomington area for the last 15 years. For 6 years she directed and coordinated a post secondary service for Bloomington students 18 to 21 years old. Karen's believes that curriculum and instruction is most effective when it is person centered, student directed, and related to real life experiences.
Through the years Karen has built collaborative partnerships with Bloomington community organizations, adult service agencies, local business leaders, Indiana University, and Ivy Tech Community College. These partnerships have increased student opportunities for social connections, employment options and successful college experiences both academically and socially. Karen also encourages involvement in the arts as a means of personal expression and has worked with local writers, artists, musicians, and university students to develop and promote inclusive media and arts programs.
Digital story telling is one of Karen's interest areas. She has been teaching students with autism, Asperger Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities to use a variety of technology tools (e.g., PowerPoint, video, digital photography, augmentative communication devices) to tell their own personal stories and direct their own planning conferences.
Karen has presented on topics related to transition issues, self-determination, self advocacy and technology at local, statewide and national conferences. She has directed and produced two videos focused on transition and creating family-school partnerships. She has also supported numerous student authored videos and PowerPoint presentations. Karen has co-authored an article that appeared in the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
Admissions Coordinator
Lori was born and raised in North Central Ohio. She and her husband relocated their family to Bloomington 15 years ago. Prior to working at CIP, she was in Healthcare Management, involved in the areas of Operations, Fiscal, Employee Relations, and Human Resource Management. She has recently returned to Indiana University to finish a degree in Healthcare Management.
Lori also enjoyed serving for 6 years as a Physician Extender for psychiatrists in an in-patient residential mental health hospital and out-patient clinic.
She and her husband John, a counseling pastor in a local church, have been involved in mentoring teenagers, college students and adults for many years. Lori especially enjoys interaction with college students. She and her husband have been involved in community outreach programs, event planning, and numerous mission trips through their church.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family. Lori also enjoys writing short stories- fiction and non-fiction. She has published one short story, and her goal is to publish another article in the near future. She also loves music, and has studied piano, voice, trumpet and clarinet. For relaxation, Lori likes listening to music (classical, jazz , Big Band). She also enjoys yoga, watching old movies, making her own greeting cards, and playing with her dog, Noel.
Donald Weller, Ph.D., HSPP
Psychologist
Dr. Weller grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois and received his BA in English Literature (Major) and Special Education (Minor) from Hobart College in Geneva, New York in 1991. He then received his MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York in 1993.
In 2002, Dr. Weller received his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He completed his APA accredited Clinical Internship training at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin in 2001. He received his endorsement as a Health Service Provider in Psychology in the state of Indiana in October 2007.
Dr. Weller has 13 years experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health and behavioral support needs in a variety of residential, employment, community, clinical, and correctional settings. He has worked for supported employment agencies, independent living centers, community mental health centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and community correctional centers.
His general theoretical approach is described as person centered emphasizing the use of cognitive behavioral techniques. Dr. Weller entered the field because of a strong belief that all people should be supported in identifying and maximizing their abilities to reach desired educational, vocational, and social goals.
In addition to Dr. Weller's position at The College Internship Program/The Bloomington Center, he works in a private practice in Bloomington where he works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a broad spectrum of emotional, behavioral, and social concerns. Further, he works for The Mental Health Alliance of Monroe County as the Jail Diversion Coordinator in the Monroe County Correctional Center.
In this position he links non-violent incarcerated individuals with chronic mental health, developmental disability, and co-occurring substance abuse issues with appropriate community/correctional treatment options rather than face incarceration. He also serves as a consulting therapist for Catholic Charities of South Central Indiana.
Dr. Weller is married. His wife, Mary, is a Research Associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Dr. Weller has a service dog named, Luna, who accompanies him everywhere and is a great attention getter. He enjoys spending time with his wife, friends, eating out on Saturday night, and watching NASCAR, the Colts, and IU Basketball "Go Hoosier's!"
Leah Iversen, B.A.
Advisor / Medications Coordinator / Special Therapies
Leah grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. During her high school years, Leah volunteered and worked with learning different and disabled individuals. To continue her interest in classical saxophone and also psychology, Leah attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
She received her B.A. in Psychology and Minor in Music from Lawrence University. Throughout her four years at Lawrence, Leah devoted her free time to working at the Volunteer and Community Service Center, where she gained experience helping a variety of populations. After graduation, Leah moved back to Bloomington where she began her career in social services.
In her free time, Leah enjoys being with her family and friends, traveling, music, theater, creative arts, cooking, and outdoor activities. Additionally, she is active as a youth leader in her church.
Diana Reynolds, B.A.
Student Advisor / Career Coordinator
Diana grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. She graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. After graduating, she worked as a substitute teacher in the local school systems until taking a position as Youth Worker with the Tulip Tree Council of Girl Scouts, working with young girls targeted as being “at risk”.
Diana has worked with people with developmental disabilities since 1989. She has worked as an Independent Living Skills Instructor, Supported Employment Specialist, and Team Leader of the Habilitation Program at a Sheltered Workshop. Diana was a case manager for the Medicaid Waiver program for seven years. Her past experience includes developing opportunities for both paid and volunteer work, community involvement, and community connections. She has experience in the development of individualized supports for both employment and community participation.
When not working, Diana enjoys spending time with her two boys who are 11 and 14. She also manages her family's rental properties. Diana enjoys playing music, singing, hiking, camping and traveling. She also enjoys animals and has two dogs and three cats.
Caitlin Owens
Residential Coordinator
Caitlin Owens is originally from Minneapolis, MN (where she cultivated a deep love for natural bodies of water), but did the majority of her growing up in Indianapolis, IN. She attended Indiana University where she earned a degree in Social Work and a minor in Sociology. She was very active in the IU and Bloomington community during her college years.
After graduating in 2007, Caitlin took a job with the YMCA of Northern Michigan serving as the site-coordinator for their Experiential and Environmental Education program, and program director for their summer camping program. During the two wonderful years she spent working and living in the woods she was able to work with people of all ages and abilities, including a unique camping experience specially designed for young people on the autism spectrum. Caitlin is genuinely passionate about working with people, learning, and spending time outdoors.
Caitlin moved back to Bloomington in early 2010 and was extremely excited to join the CIP team. Her combined experience working with young people, coordinating residential programming, and passion for highlighting the strengths in everyone have made the position of Residential Coordinator her dream job!
In her free time Caitlin enjoys running, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Amy Barnhill, B.A.
Social Thinking Instructor
Amy moved to Bloomington in October 2007 from Seattle Washington and joined the CIP staff in December. She received her BA in Psychology from Arizona State University. She has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 1996 and is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis.
Before moving to Bloomington, Amy was employed as a Program Manager at Northwest Behavioral Associates in the state of Washington for 7 years. During this time she provided direct intervention to individuals on the autism spectrum, developed individualized educational programs in the areas of language, academics, functional routines, and social skills, created and implemented behavior plans, and consulted with local school districts.
In 2003, Amy established Northwest Behavioral Associates' Social Skills Training Program. During her time running this program it expanded to include 13 total social skills groups and over 40 students with a variety of skill levels.
In addition to her work at CIP, Amy is employed by the Monroe County School District as an ABA consultant. In her free time she enjoys music, traveling, the outdoors, working on small house projects and spending time with family and friends. She is excited for the opportunity to work with the students of CIP and is looking forward to the learning experiences that this position will bring!
Evelyn Davis
Student Advisor
Evelyn was born in Detroit, MI and has lived all over the eastern half of the country. She has completed a program of study for jazz and jazz arranging at the School for Music Vocations at Southwestern Community College in Creston, IA.
Before moving to Bloomington two years ago, Evelyn was living in Chicago and teaching piano and voice lessons in Northbrook, IL. Having piano students on the autism spectrum first sparked Evelyn’s interest in Aspergers, and consequently, drew her to work at CIP. She is currently studying classical music composition at Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University, and continues to teach piano to CIP students as well as others from the community including individuals on the spectrum.
Evelyn’s interests are wide-ranging. She is interested in gardening, she does yoga everyday, and she is a voracious reader, especially of British literature, historical fiction, and modernist literature. After learning how to use her sewing machine, Evelyn has begun making clothes from period patterns (ranging at the moment from the 40s to the 50s), and has recently embarked upon a Gluten Free Casein Free diet to study its effects and ease of accessibility, and possible applications to her work at CIP.
Wellness and nutritional healing are a central focus of her life, and have been integral in helping Evelyn to achieve and maintain peace and balance, as well as a nimble and focused mindset. These principles are important tenets of her advising philosophy.
James Walsh, B.A.
Academic Tutor
James Walsh graduated from Indiana University in 2005 with his BA in English and East Asian Studies. During college, he published short stories in nearly every campus arts publication and received the Myrtle Armstrong Undergraduate Fiction Prize in 2002, the top award
given each year for an outstanding story written by an undergraduate.
After graduating, James taught English to elementary and high school
students for a year in Beijing, China. He became an active part of the
Chinese underground music scene in his free time and eventually landed a
job with an international record label, for which he currently manages
online album orders and shipping.
James returned to Bloomington in the summer of 2007. Presently, he
tutors for the College Internship Program, works at a local organic food
co-op, writes creative non-fiction for a Christian publishing company
and plays in a rock band.
Melinda Kossmann
Academic Coordinator
Melinda (Mendy) Kossmann is native to Bloomington, Indiana. She attended Indiana University and later transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison completing a degree in Horticulture. Mendy then travelled extensively, lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, New Orleans, LA and Martha’s Vineyard, MA. After 12 years she returned to Bloomington to raise her daughter, Jacquelyn, and be close to her family.
Mendy has always been interested in and involved with community education. She has worked with and written grants for not for profit organizations working with marginalized youth including those with disabilities. Since returning to Bloomington she has been involved with a variety of community projects, owned a business, worked as an organizational coach and most recently worked in an adult service agency supporting individuals with learning differences including individuals on the autism spectrum, as a case manager and supervisor.
Mendy’s personable style and genuine passion for community education has allowed her to make many connections and build relationships with not for profit organizations, local business owners as well as faculty and administrators at Ivy Tech and Indiana University.
Mendy is especially interested in the environment and learning more about sustainable living practices. She is an organic gardener and enjoys teaching horticulture, including integrated pest management, seed saving and soil management practices. Mendy is an avid reader and does not often take time to watch television. She looks forward to travelling with her daughter to foreign lands.
Karita Musgrave
Administrative Assistant
Karita was born and raised in the small town of Everton, Indiana, where her father owned the local grocery store. Her first job was as a grocery sacker at the age of 6. A few years later she was promoted to cashier (with the help of a coke crate so she could reach the cash register keys). She worked in the family business until her late teens and then worked in a number of different positions in the area, usually in sales or bookkeeping.
In 1982 she moved to Bloomington and continued working in retail and bookkeeping. She spent 5 years operating her own used bookstore and loved everything but the expense! Her greatest joy was the birth of her daughter, Kari. Karita lives with her husband, Dave, 2 cats, 1 guinea pig and 100+ rabbits in Unionville, IN. They both love the visits from their daughter, who is a junior at Franklin College in the pre-veterinarian program with a biology and chemistry double major (yes, her mother is proud of her!). Karita and Dave are currently in their 11th year as 4-H Volunteer Adult Leaders.
Karita’s favorite past-times include gardening, reading - especially British mysteries - Jazzercise and DIY projects (sometimes).
Cynthia Bretheim, B.A., C.M.T., NCTMB
Health and Wellness Coordinator
Cynthia Bretheim has lived in Bloomington, IN for 26 years, and considers herself an intermediate Hoosier. She is in the process of getting a master of science degree in health promotion through the Indiana University School of Public Health.
She has been a nationally certified massage therapist since 1994. Formal study of health regimes began with four years of study and residency at the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga, Science and Philosophy in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University, focusing on psychology, physiology of psychology, and neurology. These studies set the foundation for her current academic research and study.
Motivated to improve her own health at a young age, she has cultivated skills and techniques to reduce stress, break addictions, and promote healthy lifestyle choices. She has led workshops in breathing, joints-and-glands exercises, the nasal wash, systematic relaxation, healthy cooking, and concentration techniques.
She has persistence in intellectual matters, and an enduring passion for healthy and joyful practical living. She likes to garden, weave, and play with her cat.
Caleb Mangrum
Admissions Outreach
Caleb was born in Warsaw Indiana, and has spent most of his life living in Bloomington. Prior to working at CIP, Caleb was the General Manager at Lake Monroe Jellystone Resort. Caleb attended Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana and Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wane.
He and his wife, Jessica, are both finishing up degrees and plan on working in the education field. In his spare time Caleb enjoys reading military history, attending sporting events, hiking, camping, fishing, listening to music, watching movies, and playing with his dog, Lucy.
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
CIP Founder & International Speaker
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Gary Shaw, M.Ed.
National Admissions Director
Maggi Sanderson, B.A.
National Admissions Coordinator
Abby Tierney, B.A.
National Admissions Assistant
Dan McManmon, B.A.
National Marketing Coordinator
Karri Ann Woodard, A.A.
National AR Specialist
Melanie Moran
National Human Resources Specialist
Andrea Wadsworth
National Business Manager