SMG Board of Directors

Doug Eastman, Ph.D.
_President

Dr. Eastman is an Organizational Development consultant with over 16 years of experience managing large-scale change, technology adoption, strategic planning, process redesign, and program development initiatives. He is currently managing the nationwide electronic medical record adoption process for Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Eastman lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and two children, one of which has SM. He became involved in SMG's Board of Directors in 2007 bringing a new strategic direction, workflow design and marketing vision to the organization. Dr. Eastman was elected Board President, leading the organization through a period of tremendous growth and change. He is leading the website redesign effort, responsible for the technological and strategic branding/marketing capabilities that this new website will bring to SMG.

Joleen Fernald, PhC CCC-SLP
_Treasurer

Joleen is a New Hampshire licensed, ASHA and Hanen certified speech-language pathologist. She is the NH, SM Connections Co-Coordinator and was elected to SMG's Board of Directors in 2007. After ten years working within the special education system, Joleen began a private speech and language practice where she focuses her skills on working with children who have autism spectrum disorders and other communication disorders. Joleen enjoys public speaking and has frequently presented on the topics of childhood apraxia of speech and selective mutism. Her interest in selective mutism started when her oldest daughter was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and selective mutism. Disappointed by the lack of resources and information, Joleen independently researched a variety of assessment and treatment materials. She now focuses her "free time" on increasing SLP's awareness of SM and is determined to help parents navigate through the maze of finding appropriate services for their children within the educational system.

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Kristen Eastman, Psy.D.
_Secretary

Dr. Eastman is a clinical psychologist practicing at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. She is on the medical staff of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health, providing psychotherapy to children and their parents, as well as teaching social skills training programs to children with anxiety, depression, developmental disorders, autism, and ADHD. She lives in Cleveland with her husband and two daughters, her eldest of which has struggled with selective mutism. Dr. Eastman became motivated to learn more about SM and treatment options available, becoming familiar with SMG in that process. As both a parent and treating professional, she became involved in the organization in 2006 and was elected to the Board of Directors that same year. Through her involvement in Board activity, she hopes to increase the visibility of the organization and increase awareness of SM among parents, school personnel and treating professionals alike. Dr. Eastman serves as SMG's Professional Relations Co-Chairperson and recently organized SMG's first nationwide fundraising effort, a Bowl-a-thon that took place in Fall, 2007.

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Audrey E. Boggs, Psy.D.

Dr. Boggs earned her Doctor of Psychology degree in 2005 from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Francisco. She is currently completing requirements to obtain licensure as a clinical psychologist and resides and works as a Staff Psychologist in Los Angeles, specializing in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders, selective mutism, and the treatment of trauma. Dr. Boggs is an avid reader and writer and is currently completing her first book, Shouting in Silence: Understanding Selective Mutism Across the Ages, based on her clinical, research and personal experiences. Dr. Boggs researched and developed Selective Mutism Anxiety Reduction Therapy (S.M.A.R.T.), designed to reduce anxiety with family and school involvement and to encourage speaking at the child's own pace. She speaks of overcoming selective mutism using the metaphor of planting a SEED (Self-Esteem and Efficacy Development) to enhance the child's growth by building on a child's strengths and enhancing coping skills. In addition, she has been active in presenting inspirational workshops and trainings to clinicians, educators and parents at schools, conferences and mental health agencies. Dr. Boggs has been an active volunteer with SMG since 2003 and takes great pride in supporting the organization's members in her roles as SM Connections, California Coordinator and as Board Secretary for SMG's Board of Directors since 2005. Her interest in selective mutism and the treatment of this and other childhood difficulties stems from a very intimate experience: Dr. Boggs had Selective Mutism and Social Phobia as a child and adolescent and began to overcome these disorders at the age of 13.

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Gail Kervatt, M.Ed.

Gail Kervatt is a retired educational specialist. She holds a Master of Education Degree and New Jersey Reading Specialist certification. She was a teacher for twenty-nine years and a member of the International Reading Association. She has had articles published in various reading and speech and language journals, advocates at schools for parents and is a frequent speaker at conferences. Gail became interested and involved with selective mutism upon encountering a child in her school who had not spoken outside the home for five years. She researched and implemented a successful school intervention and later wrote The Silence Within: A Teacher/Parent Guide to Helping Selectively Mute and Shy Children and the "Supplement to The Silence Within." These books and her work with SMG are her contribution to educators who appear to be desperate for knowledge and strategies when confronted with a selectively mute child.

Lynn Lunceford, Psy.D.

Dr. Lunceford has been a member of the SMG~CAN Board of Directors since 2005 and is Co-Chairperson of the Professional Relations Committee. She is a clinical psychologist in San Diego, California. Dr. Lunceford is the Chair of the College of Health and Human Services for the University of Phoenix, San Diego campus, where she also teaches child therapy. Treatment of selective mutism was the subject of her doctoral dissertation, and has become the focus of her clinical practice. Additionally, Dr. Lunceford travels extensively and speaks about selective mutism at professional conferences and school trainings.

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Amy Brownrigg, CPA

Amy is a Massachusetts licensed certified public accountant who was elected to SMG’s board of directors in January 2008. After graduating from Babson College in 1996 with a BS degree in accounting, Amy joined one of the big four public accounting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”). While at PwC, Amy earned her CPA license and worked in the audit practice serving a client base of mainly public technology companies. After eight years at PwC, Amy left public accounting and joined Avid Technology as the corporate finance manager. At Avid Technology Amy is responsible for external financial reporting and corporate accounting and she is also a member of the corporate giving committee. Amy lives in Haverhill, MA with her husband and two young daughters. As a member of the SMG board, Amy plans to devote most of her time to providing financial and internal controls guidance in the areas of budgeting, reporting, fundraising and event planning.

Elisa Shipon-Blum, D.O.
_{Director Emeritus}

Dr. Shipon-Blum is the President & Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety Research and Treatment Center (SMART-Center) located in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the Founder and Director Emeritus of the Selective Mutism Group and the Childhood Anxiety Network. In addition, Dr Shipon-Blum is Clinical Assistant Professor of psychology and family medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is a board certified family physician who specializes in selective mutism. Dr Shipon-Blum developed Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (SCAT) from her years studying and researching individuals with selective mutism. She consults worldwide with families, treating professionals and educators and has helped countless children from around the world overcome selective mutism. Dr. Shipon-Blum lectures throughout the country on the topic of selective mutism, performs school evaluations and trainings for treating professionals, educators and parents and is considered one of the world's leading experts in the treatment and understanding of selective mutism. She has been featured on national television shows such as CNN, Inside Edition, Good Morning America as well as other local TV and radio broadcasts. In addition, she has been featured in Time magazine and has interviewed with newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Phila. Inquirer, and Palm Beach Post. Dr. Shipon-Blum is also a featured expert for a variety of international media outlets including radio, TV and newspapers. Dr. Shipon-Blum is presently involved in multiple collaborative research projects with top researchers and clinicians and has written numerous articles and books on selective mutism and anxiety including: Easing School Jitters for the Selectively Mute child, The Ideal Classroom Setting for the Selectively Mute child, Understanding Katie (a book series about a little girl with selective mutism), Supplemental Treatment Guide to Understanding Katie and Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Disorder in School. Dr. Shipon-Blum (or "Dr. E" as her patients refer to her) prides herself on being "down to earth" and "easy to speak to", and resides with her four young children, husband and multiple dogs in the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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