Staff Profiles
CIP Berkeley has an experienced, professional staff with strong educational backgrounds and solid experience working with young adults with Asperger's and other learning differences. Our staff members are passionate about their jobs and work to ensure they provide cutting edge curriculum and individualized support for all CIP students.
Bloomington Center Staff
Karen Thomas, M.S. Special Education
Program Director
As a special educator, Karen has supported young adults with developmental disabilities including those with autism spectrum disorders in secondary classrooms and community settings in the Bloomington area for the last 15 years. For 6 years she directed and coordinated a post secondary service for Bloomington students 18 to 21 years old. Karen's believes that curriculum and instruction is most effective when it is person centered, student directed, and related to real life experiences.
Through the years Karen has built collaborative partnerships with Bloomington community organizations, adult service agencies, local business leaders, Indiana University, and Ivy Tech Community College. These partnerships have increased student opportunities for social connections, employment options and successful college experiences both academically and socially. Karen also encourages involvement in the arts as a means of personal expression and has worked with local writers, artists, musicians, and university students to develop and promote inclusive media and arts programs.
Digital story telling is one of Karen's interest areas. She has been teaching students with autism, Asperger Syndrome, and other developmental disabilities to use a variety of technology tools (e.g., PowerPoint, video, digital photography, augmentative communication devices) to tell their own personal stories and direct their own planning conferences.
Karen has presented on topics related to transition issues, self-determination, self advocacy and technology at local, statewide and national conferences. She has directed and produced two videos focused on transition and creating family-school partnerships. She has also supported numerous student authored videos and PowerPoint presentations. Karen has co-authored an article that appeared in the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
Admissions Coordinator
Lori was born and raised in North Central Ohio. She and her husband relocated their family to Bloomington 15 years ago. Prior to working at CIP, she was in Healthcare Management, involved in the areas of Operations, Fiscal, Employee Relations, and Human Resource Management. She has recently returned to Indiana University to finish a degree in Healthcare Management.
Lori also enjoyed serving for 6 years as a Physician Extender for psychiatrists in an in-patient residential mental health hospital and out-patient clinic.
She and her husband John, a counseling pastor in a local church, have been involved in mentoring teenagers, college students and adults for many years. Lori especially enjoys interaction with college students. She and her husband have been involved in community outreach programs, event planning, and numerous missiown trips through their church.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family. Lori also enjoys writing short stories- fiction and non-fiction. She has published one short story, and her goal is to publish another article in the near future. She also loves music, and has studied piano, voice, trumpet and clarinet. For relaxation, Lori likes listening to music (classical, jazz , Big Band). She also enjoys yoga, watching old movies, making her own greeting cards, and playing with her dog, Noel.
Admissions Outreach Coordinator
Tony grew up in Greenwood, IN and moved to Bloomington in 2007. During his time in Bloomington, Tony played in two local bands and spent many weekends locking himself in a studio. In 2011, he recieved his BA in Communication and Culture as well as Telecommunications from Indiana University. After graduation, Tony worked in the insurance industry until an opportunity came to join CIP. In his spare time Tony enjoys playing music, reading, and being an avid boxing fan.
Donald Weller, Ph.D., HSPP
Psychologist
Dr. Weller grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois and received his BA in English Literature (Major) and Special Education (Minor) from Hobart College in Geneva, New York in 1991. He then received his MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York in 1993.
In 2002, Dr. Weller received his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He completed his APA accredited Clinical Internship training at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison, Wisconsin in 2001. He received his endorsement as a Health Service Provider in Psychology in the state of Indiana in October 2007.
Dr. Weller has 13 years experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health and behavioral support needs in a variety of residential, employment, community, clinical, and correctional settings. He has worked for supported employment agencies, independent living centers, community mental health centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and community correctional centers.
His general theoretical approach is described as person centered emphasizing the use of cognitive behavioral techniques. Dr. Weller entered the field because of a strong belief that all people should be supported in identifying and maximizing their abilities to reach desired educational, vocational, and social goals.
In addition to Dr. Weller's position at The College Internship Program/The Bloomington Center, he works in a private practice in Bloomington where he works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a broad spectrum of emotional, behavioral, and social concerns. Further, he works for The Mental Health Alliance of Monroe County as the Jail Diversion Coordinator in the Monroe County Correctional Center.
In this position he links non-violent incarcerated individuals with chronic mental health, developmental disability, and co-occurring substance abuse issues with appropriate community/correctional treatment options rather than face incarceration. He also serves as a consulting therapist for Catholic Charities of South Central Indiana.
Dr. Weller is married. His wife, Mary, is a Research Associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. Dr. Weller has a service dog named, Luna, who accompanies him everywhere and is a great attention getter. He enjoys spending time with his wife, friends, eating out on Saturday night, and watching NASCAR, the Colts, and IU Basketball "Go Hoosier's!"
Jim Walsh, B.A.
Head Student Advisor
James Walsh graduated from Indiana University in 2005 with his BA in English and East Asian Studies. During college, he published short stories in nearly every campus arts publication and received the Myrtle Armstrong Undergraduate Fiction Prize in 2002, the top award
given each year for an outstanding story written by an undergraduate.
After graduating, James taught English to elementary and high school
students for a year in Beijing, China. He became an active part of the
Chinese underground music scene in his free time and eventually landed a
job with an international record label, for which he currently manages
online album orders and shipping.
James returned to Bloomington in the summer of 2007. Presently, he
tutors for the College Internship Program, works at a local organic food
co-op, writes creative non-fiction for a Christian publishing company
and plays in a rock band.
Kara Lasher
Student Advisor
A native of Akron, Ohio, Kara moved to Bloomington in 1997 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. After graduation, she taught middle school and high school band in Kokomo, Indiana. She returned to Bloomington to teach undergraduate music education courses at IU while completing her master’s coursework.
Pursuing an interest in human/animal interactions, Kara worked as a veterinary technician for four years while conducting research on therapy dogs and teaching therapeutic horseback riding lessons to individuals with disabilities as a NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor at People and Animal Learning Services, Inc. (PALS). While teaching at PALS, she discovered a passion for working with special needs and learning differences populations.
Jennifer Halloran, B.A.
Social Thinking Instructor
Jennifer has spent most of her career in Bloomington, IN joining the CIP staff in June 2010. She received her BA in education from Indiana University. She has worked both as a teacher and in residential settings in Bloomington and in Indianapolis IN.
Jennifer began her career working with elementary students with moderate cognitive impairments. There she developed lesson plans and provided instruction in a self contained classroom environment. She left the school system and worked for Stone Belt Center coordinating services for residents in two group homes.
While at Stone Belt Jennifer was responsible for writing goals, objectives and behavior plans for residents as well as providing training for direct care staff. She worked with both children and adults with a variety of impairments including autism. Jennifer moved from Bloomington up to Indianapolis and was employed by DAMAR Homes also in a coordinator position. She supervised services for teenage boys, again writing goals, objectives, and behavior plans for the students.
In addition to her work at CIP, Jennifer is involved in a variety of volunteer projects at her children’s school and at her church. In her free time she enjoys reading and has recently completed a half marathon. She is very excited to be working with the students at CIP.
Melinda Kossmann
Academic Coordinator
Melinda (Mendy) Kossmann is native to Bloomington, Indiana. She attended Indiana University and later transferred to the University of Wisconsin in Madison completing a degree in Horticulture. Mendy then travelled extensively, lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, New Orleans, LA and Martha’s Vineyard, MA. After 12 years she returned to Bloomington to raise her daughter, Jacquelyn, and be close to her family.
Mendy has always been interested in and involved with community education. She has worked with and written grants for not for profit organizations working with marginalized youth including those with disabilities. Since returning to Bloomington she has been involved with a variety of community projects, owned a business, worked as an organizational coach and most recently worked in an adult service agency supporting individuals with learning differences including individuals on the autism spectrum, as a case manager and supervisor.
Mendy’s personable style and genuine passion for community education has allowed her to make many connections and build relationships with not for profit organizations, local business owners as well as faculty and administrators at Ivy Tech and Indiana University.
Mendy is especially interested in the environment and learning more about sustainable living practices. She is an organic gardener and enjoys teaching horticulture, including integrated pest management, seed saving and soil management practices. Mendy is an avid reader and does not often take time to watch television. She looks forward to travelling with her daughter to foreign lands.
Kayle Lewis
Career Coordinator
Kayle Lewis grew up in Jonesboro, IN and moved to Bloomington in 2005. She received a B.S. of Education in Secondary Social Studies from Indiana University in 2010. Prior to working at CIP, Kayle worked to develop the LEAP summer programming at Options for Better Living for youth with disabilities, including those on the Autism Spectrum.
She also works as an AmeriCorps member and Education Coordinator for the Crestmont Boys and Girls Club, where she runs the Mitch’s Kids program. Students in the program range in age from 6 to 16. The program is designed to improve reading and math scores as well as exposing students to new career exploration opportunities. Kayle is also involved with other AmeriCorps members to promote an Anti-Bullying campaign among her students and throughout the Bloomington community.
A recipient of a Journey Fellowship, Kayle had the opportunity to work with young adults throughout the state of Indiana, helping students discover who they are while exploring career options working with youth. She accomplished this by giving presentations at high schools throughout the state, networking with professionals in the field of youth work, making job development connections, and recruiting new Journey Fellows to the program.
In addition, she volunteers her free time at PALS, Inc. working on the PALS Mane Event annual fundraiser committee. Kayle values the importance of civic participation. She believes that students should explore their communities and career options in order to become actively involved citizens. This is done through community outreach, volunteering, and establishing a network of connections and resources in order to increase community awareness and develop meaningful futures for our students.
Meredith Hubbell
Student Advisor
Meredith has lived in Bloomington since 2002. After graduating from Indiana University with a bachelor’s of psychology she has remained an active participant in the Bloomington community working with children and adolescents in many capacities ranging from education, music, art, and mentoring.
Before taking the position as student adviser here at CIP she worked as a lead ABA teacher for Reach High Consulting with young children diagnosed with Autism.
She is currently in her last few classes of graduate school through online classes at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, working towards a master’s of psychology She has played with many musicians in Bloomington and is currently the guitar and back up vocalist for The Vallures, a Motown cover band.
Susy Meacham, BS
Health & Wellness Coordinator
Susy grew up in Danville, Indiana and came to Bloomington to attend Indiana University. She graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education.
She has been working at the Monroe County YMCA for almost 30 years, teaching classes in many departments including Adult Fitness, Primetime Fitness, Aquatic Fitness, Arthritis Aquatics, Pilates, Pre and Post Natal Exercise, weight room instruction and gymnastics as well as working in Member Service, lifeguarding and held the position of YMCA Fitness Coordinator. Susy also teaches exercise classes at Bell Trace Senior Living Center. She is a certified exercise instructor with the American Council on Exercise, YMCA of the USA and National Arthritis Foundation.
Susy is the mom of two amazing daughters, Ellie and Erin, who are involved in many activities that keep her extremely busy. Her husband, Dick, is a self employed general contractor as well as a talented carpenter and golfer.
In addition to her fitness work, Susy volunteers at her daughters’ schools and the YMCA. In her leisure time she enjoys walking outside and spending time with her family.
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
CIP Founder & International Speaker
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
Executive Director
Tom Metzner, M.Ed.
Assistant Executive Director
Dan McManmon, B.A.
Director of Admissions and Marketing
Maggi Sanderson, B.A.
National Admissions Coordinator
Abby Tierney, B.A.
Summer Program Coordinato
Matthew Kosiorek
Site Development
Kim Nestler
Director of Human Resources
Melanie Moran
Quality Control Officer