MEET THE TEAM
DIRECTOR
ABBEY PhD
Hi! I'm Abbey! I'm a teacher, trainer, sister, educator, mother, and advocate - but most importantly - I'm a sibling. I'm the proud sister of Christopher. He's been my muse, my reason, and my motivation for 26 years now! I work as an autism researcher professionally, and while I dabble in a number of different topics, my main goal is to promote the education of first responders about autism.
I founded PACT to share the resources my team and I have come up with, help support the training of first responders, and connect others to the research we have done. I've got a PhD from the University of Kentucky (Go Cats!), was born and raised in Cincinnati (Skyline Chili!), raised my family for 7 years in Melbourne, Australia (G'day mate!), and now find myself in rural Indiana! The education of first responders about autism is now an international topic, and I'm excited to be a part of the growth and eagerness our community has for this topic.
Thanks for stopping by, and please reach out if PACT can support any of your initiatives.
SELF-ADVOCATE
CHRIS
CO-FOUNDER & LEAD ACTIVIST
SUZANNAH PhD
Meet Suzannah and her son George! Suzannah and I cooked up the idea of PACT when we were working together to ensure George and the rest of Kentucky's Autistic Community knew what to do when interacting with law enforcement.
After watching media take over negative interactions between individuals with autism and police officers in other states, we approached our local police department to see if they would be willing to go through a training opportunity aimed at educating the department about autism. The Lexington Police Department was incredibly supportive, joined in, and became our pilot training opportunity. From there, we expanded through the state and world.
We do our best to think through everything with George in mind - how can we improve his quality of life and keep him safe and happy? George loves planes, drawing, and Dora the Explorer.
PACT is better thanks to the influence of Suzannah and George!
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
KIRSTEN PhD
Hi, I’m Kirsten! I first began working with PACT while obtaining my doctoral degree in School Psychology at the University of Kentucky. Currently, I serve as PACT’s Associate Director, where I enjoy collaborating with first responders and members of the autism community, conducting research, and coordinating/leading training efforts. I also specialize in the assessment and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning challenges, and I work in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Lastly, I am an adjunct instructor in the College of Education at Georgetown College, where I teach courses on autism, special education, and child development.
As you can see, PACT team members live (quite literally!) across the world. Our shared goal is to continue educating first responders about autism, supporting the autism community, and conducting research on this topic. We’re so happy you’re here and thrilled to connect with others who are interested in this work!
HEALTH INFORMATICS INTERN
ADENIKE MPH
Hi! I'm Adenike! I'm a graduate student, health informatics analyst, and advocate, but above all, a devoted mother to autistic children whose lives illuminate my path and fuel my purpose. They are my daily inspiration and the foundation of my commitment to advocacy, equity, and meaningful change.
With PACT, I bring a health informatics perspective, using data, technology, and social media to raise awareness, strengthen connections, and reshape how first responders, families, and communities engage with autism. I also work to advance PACT’s mission of education, support, and building bridges between research and practice.
Being part of PACT allows me to unite my professional expertise and personal devotion to create communities that truly see, hear, and value autistic individuals and their families. I am honored to serve alongside this team and look forward to connecting with others who share the vision of building more informed, compassionate communities with PACT.