2022 Speaker Bios
Jennifer Lynn Robinson, JD
Fighting for Life: How I Moved on Following a Traumatic Brain
Injury
Jennifer Lynn Robinson, JD, is the CEO of Purposeful Networking in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. She provides
consulting and moderating services, as well as the ability to serve as an emcee and keynote speaker. Her
expertise is in strategic networking, communications, public speaking, and workplace relations. Jennifer is also
a motivational speaker, centered on the themes of storytelling and resilience, following her own recovery and
reinvention after a near-death accident. She gave a TEDx talk on change and disruption in June 2020. She is a
media contributor and has been featured locally and nationally. Some of her media coverage includes: Cheddar,
CBS, NBC, PHL17, FOX, Forbes, HuffPost, Thrive Global, Chicago Tribune,
and Philadelphia magazine. Jennifer is also a contributor for Entrepreneur magazine.
Malinda Kragh, BS
Customized Employment Promise of Discovery
Malinda Kragh, research associate, currently serves as a customized employment consultant at the North Dakota
Center for Persons with Disabilities in Minot, North Dakota. A North Dakota native, she received a bachelor of
science in athletic training from the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, and a bachelor of science
in nursing from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. Malinda is passionate about North Dakota Customizing
Integrated Employment Available to Everyone (ND CREATE), which focuses on creating integrated employment
available to everyone. In her spare time, Malinda enjoys spending time with family and friends and watching her
children's activities.
Zoey Winkler, BA
Customized Employment Promise of Discovery
Zoey Winkler, research associate, currently serves as a customized employment consultant at the North Dakota
Center for Persons with Disabilities in Minot, North Dakota. A North Dakota native, she received a bachelor of
arts in addiction studies and criminal justice from Minot State University. Zoey is excited to be involved with
ND CREATE, which is bringing customized employment to the state of North Dakota. Zoey’s hobbies include running,
bird watching, and spending time with her two almost-adult children and her husband.
Andjela Kaur, PhD, CRC, LPC
Introduction to Disability Bioethics
NOTE: Counts towards Social Work Ethics CEU hours
Andjela Kaur, PhD, CRC, LPC, is an assistant professor and the director of the Rehabilitation and Human Services
Program at UND in Grand Forks. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in vocational and psychological
rehabilitation and disability studies. Andjela’s research focuses on disability unemployment and employment,
professionalism, and oppression, as well as disability bioethics.
Amy Meidinger, PhD
Transition to Adulthood
Amy Meidinger, PhD, obtained a master’s degree from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, with an
emphasis in applied behavior analysis and completed a PhD in medical (clinical) psychology with an emphasis in
neuropsychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral
fellowship were completed at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Health/Medical Psychology and
Neuropsychology, respectively. In her free time, Dr. Meidinger enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and yoga.
Marie Brekken, PA-C, CBIS
Anoxia: A Nontraumatic Brain Injury
COVID-19 Brain Injury: A Clinical Perspective
Marie Brekken, PA-C, CBIS, is a physician assistant at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota. After
caring for patients as a registered nurse for 25 years, Marie entered medical school in 1995 at UND in Grand
Forks, where she earned her physician assistant degree. She is currently a physical medicine and rehabilitation
provider who cares for patients, participating in the comprehensive, acute inpatient rehabilitation program at
Sanford South University Medical Center. Marie also provides care in the clinical setting, following patients
after discharge in both the Physical Medicine Clinic and Coordinated Treatment Center (Adult Brain Injury and
Spinal Cord Injury Clinics). In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and hiking. She is married and
lives on a farm in Crookston, Minnesota. Her philosophy of care is that she was raised to live by the Golden
Rule – treat others as you would wish to be treated. Her goal is to deliver exceptional, individualized
service to every patient she treats in a compassionate and truly caring manner.
Kathy O’Connell, LMHC, CRC
How to Support Social and Emotional Growth for Healthy
Relationships In People with Disabilities
Kathy O’Connell, LMHC, CRC, founder of Radiant Abilities, is one of the country’s leading advocates for helping
people with disabilities create healthy romantic relationships and sexual identities. Leading the charge against
what she calls "sexual ableism" that makes individuals with disabilities falsely believe they are not worthy of
a beautiful, healthy romantic relationship. Kathy has two master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling and
inclusive education from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. She has been acknowledged by the Cerebral
Palsy Association of New York, Syracuse University, and by the New York State Developmental Disabilities
Planning Council. Kathy is the author of the book Firewalk: Embracing Different Abilities, published by
Balboa Press, a Division of Hay House. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Syracuse, she created
Radiant Abilities, a counseling and consulting practice, for people with and without disabilities. Kathy has an
extensive background in counseling people with brain injuries.
Tom Cariveau, MD
Stroke and Aphasia
Brain Injury Survivor Panelist
Tom Cariveau, MD, was a family practice physician. He graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston,
Texas, and did his family practice residency at the Mayo Clinic. Tom had his stroke while at work, which has
left him with aphasia.
Danae Koep, MHA
PART OF POWER HOUR – Community Health Workers: Bridging the
Gap Between Healthcare and the Community
Danae Koep, MHA, is a senior learning and development specialist in the healthcare field with a background in
community education, including experience integrating evidence-based health promotion programming and
implementing a community health worker program in Fargo, North Dakota. She holds a master’s degree in healthcare
administration and is a master trainer for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
Monica Haugen
PART OF POWER HOUR – 1915i and Brain Injury for North
Dakotans
Monica Haugen is a program administrator for North Dakota’s 1915(i) Medicaid State Plan Amendment. She works for
the Department of Human Services in the Behavioral Health Division. Monica has over 20 years of experience
working in human services, much of which was spent working in various roles within the intellectual disabilities
and developmental disabilities system.
Brooke Campbell, BSN, RN
PART OF POWER HOUR – Coordinated Treatment Centers &
Brain Injury Clinics: What’s Available in North Dakota
Brooke Campbell, BSN, RN, graduated in 2012 from NDSU in Fargo, with a bachelor's of science in nursing and a
minor in psychology. She worked in the Bismarck-Mandan area at Vibra Hospital, St. Gabriel's nursing home and
rehab, and Pride, Inc. After moving to Fargo in 2016, she became the clinic coordinator at the Sanford
Coordinated Treatment Center for multiple different clinics, including the adult and pediatric brain injury
clinics. Brooke is in the process of obtaining her doctor of nursing at NDSU.
Lexie Gallagher, OTD-S
Community Reintegration
Brain Injury Survivor Panel Facilitator
Lexie Gallagher, OTD-S, is currently in her final semester of UND’s occupational therapy doctorate program in
Grand Forks. Lexie grew up in Colorado and completed her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in
Fort Collins. Lexie is working with Megan Dooley at Innovative Therapy Solutions & Consulting in Mandan,
North Dakota, to develop a community reintegration program for individuals after they have experienced a brain
injury. Lexie was passionate about pursuing her capstone in this topic after working with several individuals
who have experienced a brain injury, and she quickly realized how rewarding working with this population can be
and the large gap in resources that exist. After graduation, Lexie hopes to pursue a career in an inpatient
rehabilitation hospital, where she can have the opportunity to continue working with this population.
Leslee Williams
Brain Injury Survivor Panelist
Leslee Williams sustained her first brain injury at the age of 44. Since then, she has suffered several
additional brain injuries. Leslee enjoys sharing her story, how her perspective on life has changed, and how she
has been inspired to help others.
Landa Davis-Twete
Brain Injury Survivor Panelist
Landa Davis-Twete has dealt with multiple brain injuries. The importance of finding the right care team,
treatment, and never giving up, are some messages she hopes to convey to others. She hopes to provide
inspiration to others who may be struggling with finding providers and finding the "new" you with this
population.