Staff

Erik Carter is the Luther Sweet Endowed Chair in Disabilities at Baylor University. His research and writing focus on fostering inclusion and belonging in schools, workplaces, and faith communities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Kristen Padilla is a clinical associate professor in educational psychology. She is a board-certified behavior analyst and school psychologist. Her research focuses on the validity and reliability of assessments based in applied behavior analysis and graduate training in conducting assessments within the field.

Dr. Ragan teaches courses related to practicum and clinical experiences in school psychology as well as multicultural issues with children and families. She supervises school psychology students, conducting psychology assessments and counseling at the Center. Dr. Ragan’s primary research interests include best practices in clinical supervision, family-school collaboration, and a focus on systematic reviews and meta-analytic methods.

Jason Le Shana is Program Director of the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability. His professional and ministry experience include appointments as a university campus minister, adjunct professor, worship pastor, and denominational consultant. He oversees the day-to-day operations and strategic partnerships central to Baylor’s faith and disability work.

Ivette Wilhelm serves as the media and communications manager for the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, where she leads strategic communications, media relations, marketing, and public outreach to advance the Center’s mission. Wilhelm brings more than fifteen years of experience in communications roles spanning the nonprofit, tourism, entertainment, and advocacy sectors.

Mindy Cook directs the Whole Body Project storytelling initiative for the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability within the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing where she is focused on developing and sharing stories that inspire and resources that equip faith congregations to reimagine and pursue faithful life together.

Melody Escobar, Ph. D., is an Associate Research Scientist at Baylor University, Collaborative on Faith and Disability. Her research and publications in Christian spirituality and practical theology focus on families who experience disability, innovative models of ministry, and curricula advancing inclusion and belonging in academic and spiritual life. She lectures in religion and disability, eco-justice, and mysticism. She is the author of Revelations of Divine Care (Baylor University Press, Studies in Religion, Theology, and Disability Series, 2024), which explores the lived experiences of caregivers of disabled children and the writings of Christian mystic Julian of Norwich.

Holly Knott is the Program Coordinator of the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability. Her background includes serving as a secondary school educator, where she served students with and without disabilities, and as a church administrator, where she coordinated Bible study groups for adults with and without disabilities and support groups for parents of children with disabilities. In her current role, she oversees the Collaborative’s events, communications, and operations, advancing Baylor’s work in faith and disability initiatives.

Katie Laubender is the Program Manager for the Youth Transitions Program with the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. Through this program, Katie focuses on equipping youth and young adults with disabilities with the knowledge and skills necessary to flourish in adulthood.  Her experience includes teaching Special Education at the high school level and teaching 18+ Transitions to Adulthood.

Kari Maddox is the Program Manager for the Raising Texas Voices project with the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing and the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. In this role, she leads research on how different generations of Texans with developmental disabilities and their families view disability, share their experiences, engage in advocacy, and prefer to learn effective advocacy skills.

Adrianna Martinez is the administrative assistant for the clinical services and programs for the Center's clinic site located at the Hillcrest-MacArthur Center. She supports faculty and students by screening clients for needed services, scheduling appointments, and tending to the needs of parents who have children recently diagnosed with autism or other developmental disability. She makes sure each client and family are connected to appropriate resources and services.

Elyse McMullen, LMSW, MDiv, is the Program Manager for the Bridges to Belonging project, a collaboration of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing, the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I), and George W. Truett Seminary. Through this project, Elyse focuses on creating spaces of belonging in congregations for youth and young adults, specifically those with disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic illnesses. Her experience includes youth ministry, teaching at the secondary and elementary levels, congregational social work, and school-based social work.

Dalila Ochoa is the Program Manager for Project ADVANCE at the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. Her focus is on developing trainings, resources, and toolkits for educators who serve culturally and linguistically diverse students with and without disabilities, as well as their families.

Madi Snow-Gould is a graduate of Baylor’s Social Work program and a Research Assistant with the Center. Her professional interests are community organizing and policy reform around disability justice issues, as well as the inclusion of people with disabilities in spiritual communities.

René Tilsley serves as the Program Director for School Partnerships and Outreach where she contributes to interdisciplinary training, research, and outreach in evidence-based behavioral interventions and inclusive special education. René provides clinical, instructional, and research support emphasizing applied behavior analysis (ABA) and positive behavior support. She bridges applied practice with the design, implementation, and evaluation of socially valid, evidence-based interventions to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities.