Staff

Angela Higgins

Executive Assistant

Angela Higgins has 15 years of Public Relations experience and 10 years experience as the parent of a child with Asperger's Syndrome.  Angela not only serves as assistant to our Executive Director, but also as an enthusiastic resource and liaison for our famlies.  Angela brings a compassionate heart, gentle nature and fun-loving spirit to our team.  Angela's personal experience with Autism is the reason she made the decision to join The Brown Center.  In 2006, when her own child was diagnosed, Angela had the good fortune of crossing paths with Executive Director, Juli Liske, who brought a wealth of information, guidance, and support into her life.  Angela's mission today is to be a part of a dynamic team that positively impacts the lives of other children in the very same way hers has been positively impacted by the philosophies and principles The Brown Center was founded upon.

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Tina Patterson, M.Ed. BCBA

Behavior Analyst

Tina Patterson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has 15 years experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism. She is also the parent of two children, one of whom had a mental health disability. Tina earned her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and her Master's Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Vanderbilt University. She has used her skills as a Behavior Analyst to develop positive behavior support plans for individuals of all ages in private homes, school districts, and residential home programs. Tina also provides behavior technique training to professionals across the state of Tennessee as well as in Northern England.

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Joan Popkin, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Family and Child Therapist

Joan Popkin is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Tennessee and an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tennessee State University. She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist through the National Association of School Psychologists, a Health Service Provider through the National Register, a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology in the state of Texas, and a certified School Psychologist in the state of Tennessee. Joan earned her doctoral degree in 2002 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her post-doctoral experiences include working with the Autism team, counseling families and children, and collaborating with school staff and students. She currently works with graduate students in various courses creating and implementing behavior management/support plans, functional behavioral assessments, and consultation services for children. Joan is also the parent of two energetic young boys. Lastly, Joan is an advocate for positive mental and physical health, as well as overall well-being for all populations ranging from pre-k through seniors. She believes in the integration of diverse services to enhance optimal interventions for children and youth.

Amy Corbin, M.Ed.

Educational Consultant

Amy Corbin has been working with children on the autism spectrum for almost 15 years as a special education teacher, early interventionist, evaluator, and consultant. She served as an early intervention specialist on the Autism Initiative where she provided autism programming consultation to service providers in metro Atlanta.  She worked at the Emory Autism Center for six years as the educational coordinator for the Walden Early Childhood Center, a program that has received international attention for it's inclusive approach to early intervention for children with autism aged 15 months-5 years. Also at Emory, Amy was part of the MONARCH Program, designing inclusive school practices for children with autism throughout the state. Amy has her Master's degree in Behavior Disorders and is currently studying for the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. While Amy has lived in Atlanta for the past 17 years, she grew up here in Nashville. She is delighted to have recently moved back to her hometown and lives in Sylvan Park with her four-year-old daughter. Amy is passionate about quality inclusive treatment programs where children with autism learn and play alongside their typically developing friends.

Jacquelene Mallol, M.A.

Behavioral Consultant & Internship Coordinator

Jacquelene brings to The Brown Center more than 11 years of experience with children.  She has always been very interested in child development as well as atypical development in children.  Throughout her education, Jacquelene has focused much of her research and interest in Autism and the development of children across the early stages of life.  Jacquelene obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from Belmont University; and most recently secured her Masters in Special Education from Lipscomb University. She is now completing her studies to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Jacquelene has worked in the field of Autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis for almost four years; working in clinics and homes, as well as school settings.  Jacquelene believes in the mission of the Brown Center and brings with her a passion to make a true difference in the lives of our children.

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Kelly Durcholz, MOTR/L

Occupational Therapist & Clinical Coordinator

Kelly is a graduate of Tennessee State University, having completed her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy. Prior to completing her OT degree, Kelly earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology with minors in Special Education and Music from Middle Tennessee State University.  She has worked with children with special needs, including children with Autism throughout her educational and professional career.  From 2003-2006, Kelly worked at Project HELP Early Intervention Center in Murfreesboro, an integrated program for children 15 months to 3 years. From 2007-2008, Kelly gained experience with behavioral intervention working as an ABA home tutor.  Also in 2008, Kelly completed an internship at Pediatric Therapy Network in California, a leading center in the development and practice of Sensory Integration therapy.  Kelly feels extremely fortunate to be a member of The Brown Center staff, as she believes that collaborative therapy is the basis for helping children grow and experience the world.  She enjoys the opportunity to connect the ideals and philosophies of occupational therapy with the interdisciplinary approach of The Brown Center.

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Lee Patnaik, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Lee is in her 10th year of practice as a speech language pathologist. She received her undergraduate and Master's degree in speech language pathology from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Lee is a native of Knoxville, but has lived in Nashville for the past 10 years. She currently resides in Brentwood with her husband and two children. Lee has worked in a number of areas within the speech language profession, including public school systems, long-term care facilities and various outpatient clinics. In 2002, while working in the Sumner County School System, Lee became passionate about working in pediatrics, specifically with children with ASD. Since that time, she has had the opportunity to focus her career on working with children and their families. Lee implements ABA-based therapy in her sessions using individualized discrete trial as well as evidence-based incidental teaching methods. She believes this model to be the most effective in improving client's commmunication skills, and believes in the vision of The Brown Center. Lee is excited about sharing her experiences with clients and families.

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Vonda Watford, B.A.

Behavioral Interventionist/Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Vonda is a native of North Carolina who moved to the Nashville area just last year. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Elon University in North Carolina. Vonda is currently completing her Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She has worked directly with children of all ages (typical and atypical) for over eight years. Her career interests include the areas of language development, hearing impairment, and developmental disabilities (especially Autism).  Her experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorders are centered around therapeutic sessions that she has provided in clinics and in school settings.  She understands the importance of early intervention and of focusing on treating children with ASD via an interdisciplinary approach.  She is excited that The Brown Center also shares this philosophy and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge, learning more about Applied Behavioral Analysis from her colleagues, incorporating her skills and talents into the appropriate teaching strategies, and working with all the children and families of The Brown Center.

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Gordon Liske

Behavioral Interventionist

Gordon Liske has almost eight years experience as an intensive ABA therapist working one-on-one with young children with autism. Gordon has a proven track record of working successfully with children in general--but most especially those with autism. Himself a father of a child diagnosed with autism in 2002, Gordon served tirelessly as a primary therapist in his own son's intensive and successful ABA program. As a result of his reputation in the autism community as both a dedicated and involved father, as well as a competent ABA therapist, Gordon became involved in working with other children with autism in the Middle Tennessee area. Gordon brings to The Brown Center a warm-hearted nature and a true love and talent for helping other children with autism reach many of the same milestones he helped his own child reach. Gordon also actively works in the autism community providing a positive example, encouragement, and support to other fathers of children with autism--teaching them about the powerful influence and responsibility of fathers in helping their child realize his or her greatest potential.

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Jessica Haedge, B.A.

Behavioral Interventionist

Little did Jessica know when she took a job as a behavior therapist during her undergraduate years at York College that she had found her career path. She was quickly promoted to senior therapist, and upon completing her BA in Psychology, she worked as a senior behavioral therapist for the Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention in Minneapolis, MN. She moved to Tennessee in 2008, and is pleased to be able to continue her career as a behavior therapist with the Brown Center. She has plans to begin pursuing her Masters degree in the winter of 2010. Jessica is passionate about working with children with developmental disabilities, and is thrilled to be a part of BCA and a fully integrated ABA team.

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