Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Board Chair, Co-Founder
Kathy Hotelling
kathy.hotelling@ncfasdinformed.org
On move in day of Kathy’s freshman year at college, the older students greeted the newbies with “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” Looking back on her life, she realizes that this saying has been a guiding force throughout her life. Originally her plans were to be a social worker, but she realized she could not “save the world,” and that becoming a therapist would an effective way for her to help people. She went on to become a counseling psychologist, primarily working with university students, those with eating disorders, and supervising and teaching graduate students. After having made the decision to stay at home with her then 14-year-old daughter who had a tumultuous move to North Carolina, Kathy founded the Triangle Area Support Group for Parents of those with a diagnosed or suspected FASD in 2008. She realized how isolating life could be when no one seemed to understand much about FASD, to say nothing about what living with someone with an FASD demanded. She started her journey of intense studying about FASD by attending the international conferences in Vancouver and reading. She then provided training workshops about FASD for mental health professionals, social workers, and parents, as well as serving as a consultant to families and others. In 2018, she co-founded the non-profit to propel North Carolinians to become truly FASD Informed.
treasurer
Lisa Davis
Lisa is a mom to two children, an adult son and a teenage daughter, and has been married for 44 years. Lisa and her family live in northwestern North Carolina. Lisa retired in 2019 after having worked for a local community college for over 29 years. For the last nine years, Lisa served as Director of Payroll for the college and Comptroller of a nonprofit affiliated with the college.
Lisa’s FASD journey started in 2019 when FASD was brought to her attention by a psychiatrist. When she started her research, she discovered that many of the FASD symptoms were being exhibited by her then 12 year-old daughter. She spent countless hours researching…trying to find answers. She also experienced great anxiety for what the future might hold for her daughter and family because FASD knowledge is greatly lacking by professionals. After educating herself on the best way to parent her daughter’s brain, enrolling in an FASD coaching program and finding an amazing online FASD support group, Lisa is now hopeful for the future of her daughter and family. Supporting and advocating for her daughter’s needs has been one of the hardest things that she has done, but also one of the most rewarding.
Lisa wants others to know that having an FASD diagnosis is nothing to be ashamed of. With the statistics in the USA being that 1 in 20 people may have FASD, it is likely that we all know someone with the disorder but they may be either misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Lisa’s hope is that the world — especially the USA and specifically North Carolina — will become more informed about FASD which will greatly enrich the lives of those living with FASD as well as their families and caregivers.
media
Susan Barner
susan.barner@ncfasdinformed.org
Susan is the mom of two children. Her son, the youngest of her two children, has low vision and FASD. Susan’s FASD journey started with her determination to find help and support for her son. Seeing first-hand the lack of resources, professional knowledge and support for FASD, Susan became an ardent advocate for her son and the FASD Community, at large. She dreams of a world where all people, including those with invisible disabilities, are accepted and admired for their strengths and contributions. Through her participation on the NCFASD Informed Board of Directors, Susan desires to help build a community that will drive a movement of change for all who are living with FASD. Prior to becoming a mom, Susan received her MBA from Drexel University and worked in Marketing and Communications. Susan is a NC real estate agent and enjoys playing pickleball, hiking and traveling.
secretary
Alison Parker
alison.parker@ncfasdinformed.org
Alison is a developmental psychologist and Research Scientist and is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents and their families. As part of her work as a Research Scientist, Alison has become knowledgeable in the available resources and interventions for youth with FASD and their families. She led the development and evaluation of an online mindfulness-based program for adolescents with FASD, which included feedback from adolescents with FASD as part of the development of the program. Alison has been a practitioner of mindfulness for the past 14 years and strongly believes in the benefits of mindfulness practice for children, adolescents, and adults. Alison was fortunate to be a member of the FASD Collaborative of North Carolina during its tenure and met many parent advocates and professionals all committed to raising awareness about FASD and supporting individuals with FASD and their families. She joined the intervention subcommittee as part of the Collaborative in order to assist with identifying resources and interventions for children and adolescents with FASD. As part of NCFASD Informed, Alison hopes to continue advocating for access to more services and resources for individuals with FASD as well as to increase awareness and understanding of FASD by educating others through webinars and trainings across the state.
member at large
Holly Warren
holly.warren@ncfasdinformed.org
Holly Warren serves as the Medical Director of her county health department in eastern North Carolina, where she leads collaborative efforts to address the substance use disorder crisis. As part of this work, she is helping to establish a Community Recovery Division in partnership with local treatment courts. Holly earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from East Carolina University (ECU) and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University. She has since dedicated her medical career to serving underserved populations through community and public health initiatives. Beyond her professional roles, Holly’s most important vocation is at home with her husband, parents, and two sons—the younger of whom has been diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Her lived experience as a parent of a child with FASD has fueled a deep commitment to learning and advocacy in this area. She is passionate about increasing awareness and understanding of FASDs across all sectors of society, with a particular emphasis on educating healthcare professionals about the urgent need for improved screening, diagnosis, and early intervention.