Board of Directors

Lesley McCullough McCallister is the proud sister of Kate McCullough (deletion +), who was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in 1989 at one-year of age. Lesley’s family has been involved with the Angelman Syndrome Foundation since its inception in the early 1990s. She has been a frequent volunteer and speaker on sibling issues and panels at past ASF family conferences, and brings the perspective of a sibling to an adult with AS to the Board.

Lesley graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. While her background is in government relations and communications, she is also very involved in her community in a variety of volunteer roles. Lesley, her husband Drew, and their children reside in Charleston, WV.

Lesley McCullough McCallister is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

John Sugden and his wife Ana Monaldi are parents to three boys, Sebastian, Nicolas, and Matias. Sebastian, their oldest son, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in 2007 when he was almost 3 years old. John and Ana have been actively involved with the ASF since Sebastian’s diagnosis. They helped coordinate ASF Walks in New York City and Orlando and have also participated in various ASF fundraisers such as the Rockville Center St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Chicago Marathon in 2019. John was also a previous Board member from 2010-2014 and member of the ASF Finance Committee.

John graduated from Georgetown University and NYU Stern School of Business and is a Managing Director and Chair of the Investment Committee at Ascent Management Company.

John Sugden is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

Andrew Oberwager, MD, CFA, is the founder and portfolio manager of Machaon Capital, a healthcare therapeutics hedge fund based in New Canaan, CT. As an investor over the last 20 years, he has supported several companies developing treatments for rare genetic diseases.

Andrew received his Medical Doctor degree from Harvard Medical School in 2001 and his A.B. from Princeton University in 1997 and has conducted laboratory research at The University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Human Gene Therapy.

Andrew and his wife Caitlin are parents to their daughters, Charlotte and Emery.

Andrew Oberwager is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

Charles and his wife, Monet reside in Orlando, FL with their two daughters Aniyah and Leilani. Aniyah was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome when she was 15 months old. Since Aniyah’s diagnosis, Charles and Monet have immersed themselves in the ASF community and are committed to advocating for families to ensure that all Angels have the resources to reach their potential.

After graduating Cornell University, Charles joined Goldman Sachs and later joined Educational Development Associates, Inc. dba ACALETICS. He currently serves as a Director in the School Performance division and consults with K-12 schools to improve the math achievement of their students. Monet is a pediatrician.
In their free time, they enjoy visiting all the Disney parks and exploring new places to have fun.

Charles Winslow is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

Kyle Rooney and his wife, Shawna, are proud parents to four young children. Madden was diagnosed with AS at six-months-old and since then, the family has been committed to finding a cure and the best possible care for Madden and other AS families.

In a short but very proactive time, the Rooney’s have done so much to raise AS awareness, help fund research and family support. In 2016, Kyle led a team of climbers to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro on behalf of all people with AS and continues to leverage his love for endurance sports and adventure to bring awareness and fundraising dollars to ASF. #Summit4Angelman

Kyle is a division manager for the largest ophthalmic surgical company in the world and oversees a sales force covering the upper Midwest. He’s been active in multiple charitable organizations for the last 10 years and has been fully committed to the ASF since Madden’s diagnosis.

Kyle Rooney is an independent voting member of the ASF Board. | Term Expiration: 2026

Rebecca Burdine is a faculty member in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University. Her lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms that control left-right patterning and asymmetric organ morphogenesis, and work to develop models to study rare disorders. She was named the 44th Mallinckrodt Scholar for the Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation and received a Scientist Development Career Award from the American Heart Association in 2003. She served as a National Academies Education Fellow (2013-2014) and Mentor (2016-2017) and was elected as fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2018. She is on the Editorial board for Cell Reports and Zebrafish, and regularly serves on grant review panels for the NIH and NSF.

Dr. Burdine is a parent to a child with Angelman syndrome. She first served on the ASF scientific advisory committee in 2007 by invitation from Dr. Joe Wagstaff. She previously served as Chief Scientific Officer for the Pitt-Hopkins Research Foundation and for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics. She also served on the Clinical Trial Steering Committee for the STARS and NEPTUNE studies conducted by Ovid Therapeutics.

Rebecca Burdine is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2025

Shannon Moyer and his wife Stephanie reside in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and are parents to three boys, Colin, Trent, and Grant. Their oldest, Colin, was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome when he was 18 months old. Shannon and Stephanie have been involved with ASF for many years, regularly participating in and fundraising for the Philadelphia area ASF Walk.

Shannon stays busy with his sons' various sports and activities, including taking Colin to his favorite activity, swimming. Shannon has coached soccer in the local youth sports association.

Shannon is a graduate of Syracuse University and The George Washington University Law School and is Managing Associate General Counsel with Qurate Retail Group.

Shannon Moyer is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2025

Mindy and her husband, Andy reside in the southern suburbs of Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area with their two children. Maisie was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in 2011 at 20 months old, and has a little sister Elsa that advocates and supports her.

Mindy is a principal in St. Paul Public Schools and has been in education and advocacy for over 20 years. Mindy is active in her community as she serves as treasurer for the St. Paul Principal Association board and on the Rosemount Fastpitch board where she leads concessions and fundraising. In the Angelman community, Mindy and Andy have been engaged in Angelman Syndrome fundraising for a cure since 2011. Andy and Mindy are also advocates in the West Nile Virus community after it directly impacted Andy in 2018 and changed their lives forever.

Mindy McBride is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

David S. Routh is the Vice Chancellor for Development at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. He and his wife, Jenny, are proud parents of three daughters and have six grandchildren. Their 7-year-old granddaughter, Evelyn, was diagnosed with AS at twelve months of age, prompting David to connect with UNC Angelman researchers to learn as much as possible about the syndrome and the current research for a cure and therapeutics.

David is a veteran corporate executive with extensive philanthropic relationships. He acted as managing director for US Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management and, before his current role at UNC, spent 17 years of his career serving individuals, families and their charitable interests, including colleges and universities, private foundations and charitable trusts.

David has volunteered with non-profits and served on numerous boards throughout his career, including the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, North Carolina Humanities Council, UNC Parents Council, and Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. David is a native of Greensboro, NC and is a 1982 UNC graduate, earning Phi Beta Kappa honors with bachelor’s degrees in economics and religious studies.

David Routh is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2026

William A. Rakoczy is one of the founding partners of RAKOCZY MOLINO MAZZOCHI SIWIK LLP, an intellectual property law firm with a particular emphasis in litigation and counseling for the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. Bill has over 25 years of experience serving as trial and appellate counsel in a wide variety of proceedings, including under the Hatch-Waxman Act and the BPCIA, as well as regulatory counsel before the FDA. Bill received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and his A.B. from Wabash College in 1992. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with his partner, Rachel, and her daughter Beatrix.

Bill Rakoczy is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2027

Dan Harvey has been a member of the ASF Board of Directors from 1997 to 2001 and 2012 to 2020. He became involved with the ASF after his son, Matthew, was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in 1996. From 2009 to 2018 Dan was the Chief Operating Officer of Dart NeuroScience LLC, a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative drugs with new mechanisms of action for the treatment of learning and memory disorders. He is currently the Vice President of Operations at Alume Biosciences where he is involved in the design and development of nerve imaging agents. Dan resides in San Diego, California with his wife, Karen, and has three children, Michelle, Jay and Matthew.

Dan Harvey is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2025

Steve and his wife, Mia live in Chatham, NJ with their two children, Tommy and Lia. Tommy was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in May 2020.

After graduating from the Boston College Honors Program with double majors in English and Philosophy and a minor in Marketing, Steve began his career in advertising on Madison Avenue in NYC. Currently, Steve spends his time consulting for advertising agencies, brands and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation as much as possible. He also works as a performance career coach, chips away at the never ending DIY projects in a 103 year old house, practices guitar, and spends as much time as possible with Mia and Tommy and Lia. Steve is also an active member of MENSA and the Boston College Alumni community.

Steve Piluso is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2028

Taylor Geathers and her husband, Kwamé, reside in Charlotte, NC, and are proud parents to three children, Marlee, Nova, and Krew. Marlee was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in 2016 at 19 months. Since Marlee’s diagnosis, Taylor has dedicated herself to researching and advocating for AS, publishing a paper on The Lived Experiences of Typically Developing Siblings of Individuals with AS. Taylor has been the coordinator for the North Carolina ASF Walk since 2020.

Taylor graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at Appalachian State University.
Faith and Family are the guiding principles of the Geathers family, and they always see the glass half full on this AS journey.

Taylor Geathers is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2028

Lia Perryman and her husband, Clint, reside in the Mid-Michigan area, along with their three children, Mira, Lincoln and Preston. Mira was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome in 2020, shortly before her second birthday. Since that time, Lia and Clint have jumped into the Angelman community to help raise awareness and advocate for Mira and all her friends living with AS.
Lia is an attorney and practiced criminal law for the past 10 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan in 2008 and her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in 2012.

Lia Perryman is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2028

Richard Kraker and his wife Stephanie currently reside in Glen Ellyn, IL with their three children Brooklyn, Wesley, and Kate. Wesley, age 7, lives with Angelman syndrome.

Richard has been in the finance and banking industry for the last 16 years. He is currently an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Chicago. He is also a Board Member and Treasurer for FARMZER0, a non-profit urban agricultural and vertical farming venture. Richard is excited to use his financial expertise to serve the Angelman community.

Richard Kraker is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2029

Courtney and her husband Joey are proud parents of two boys, Drew and Aaron. Aaron was diagnosed with the UPD sub-type of Angelman syndrome when he was 18 months old in 2018. Immediately, the family connected with the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF). The ASF has significantly impacted Aaron and the entire Swafford family through their clinics, family support, resources, and community. Courtney is passionate about serving the ASF in a way that helps the organization expand its reach and impact for individuals with Angelman syndrome and their families.

Courtney brings a wealth of experience as a business consultant and executive coach, with a notable tenure at the American Cancer Society spanning over five years. She is a proud Georgia Tech alumna, holding a degree in Industrial Engineering.

Courtney Swafford is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2029

Marcus Thompson is a graduate of Seton Hill University and serves as Director of Corporate Development for Triversity Construction. Marcus is an active community leader. He currently serves on several boards including Great Parks of Hamilton County, NewPath, the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky African American Chamber, and Cincinnati Youth Collaborative.

This year, Marcus was recognized as one of the inaugural “513 Serves” Honorees. In 2023, he was recognized as a 2023 Making Black History honoree by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. In addition, Marcus was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the Forest Hills Local School District. In 2020, Marcus was also given the honor of Distinguished Alumni by his Alma Mater, Seton Hill University. Marcus has also been recognized as a Forty Under 40 Award Recipient (2018) by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

In his free time, Marcus enjoys spending tie with his wife, Ashley and two children Zechariah (deletion positive) and Zoe.

Marcus Thompson is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2029

Christian Pache and his wife Anna Hsu reside in California and are parents to twins Chloe and Aidan. Aidan was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome (del+) in 2007 at age 2.

Christian was born in Germany and moved to the United States in 1996. He is a dual American and German citizen and has a 25+ year career of working in technical and management positions in IT and Financial Services corporations.

In 2019, he moved his family from New York to California, where he retired from his corporate position and became a full-time caregiver to his son Aidan. He is also active in the local special needs community in Ventura County. Christian attended multiple Angelman conferences as well as the ASF Walk in Philadelphia, Long Island, Rye and Los Angeles.

He earned a Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Dortmund, Germany in 1993.

Christian Pache is an independent voting member of the ASF Board | Term Expiration: 2029

April Canter is a federal strategy director for the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP). She works with Congressional Republicans and advocates for the 50+ community. She has extensive experience managing government affairs and protecting rights and has a passion for public service, having served in every level of government – municipal, county, state, and federal – and in every branch – legislative, executive, and judiciary.

April’s experience and advice will strengthen our advocacy efforts and focus on supporting, advocating and changing polices that effect our loved ones with AS and their caregivers.

April was instrumental in getting Angelman syndrome added in the Omnibus which is the document that funded the government during a pivotal time in 2022. The purpose and importance of this was that Angelman syndrome was recognized by Congress and the President.

April received a BS in political science from Northern Arizona University and a master in public administration degree from the University of Colorado at Denver.