Who We Are

Leadership

Ali Kowitz, M.Ed., T/P

Ali originally joined HDC as a Facilitator for the LSUHSC Human Development Center’s LASARD Project. She received her Bachelor of Science – Elementary Education degree from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!) in 2007. In 2012, she received a Master of Education – Special Education (grades 1-12) from Northwestern State University. Prior to joining the HDC, Ali worked as a Special Education Teacher (inclusive and resource settings), Special Education Coordinator, Section 504 Coordinator, PBIS Chair, SBLC Chair, and IEP Facilitator in St. Tammany Parish. Additionally, Ali is an Educational Therapist and focuses on helping children and adults with ADHD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning skills. Ali is an advocate for inclusive practices and is passionate about working with schools to build inclusive and accessible environments for all learners. When she’s not at work, you can find Ali out on the water (boating or paddle boarding); doing other outdoorsy stuff; and, hanging out with her family, two dogs (Louie and Echo), and Cactus – the Bearded Dragon.

Business Office

Mitze Bruce Jones, Business Manager

Lynn Lallier, Associate Business Manager

Angelica Bruno, Assistant Business Manager

Angelica is driven by supporting others in common goal. She takes pride in providing the best possible outcome with mindfulness, multitasking and processes geared to streamline tasks efficiently as a team. Before coming to LSU, she worked in the private sector for nearly two decades and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama. She is excited to work for programs that do so much good for the community.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, who is a New Orleans firefighter, and three grown daughters and granddaughter. Her hobbies include renovating their historical home and working in garden with Saints dog, cat and the occasional cruise or camping trip in the popup camper.

Wilbert "Will" Johnson, Administrative Coordinator

Wilbert Johnson serves on the CAC as a self-advocate. Wilbert strives to be the best version of himself everyday through humility, humor, and a zest for life. His biggest passion is seeing other people overcome their disability, and strives to show others that a disability won’t stop you from being who you are.

After proudly graduating from high school in 2016, Wilbert is now working on a certification in business management. He strives to one day own his own business. Wilbert also works with a Family Advocacy Group at Families Helping Families GNO and is involved with Partners in Policymaking. Wilbert’s first affiliation with HDC is through the PAY Check program’s pilot in 2017.

Outreach and Web

Laura Stazio, MS, CESP, Head of Outreach Team

Laura Stazio is a Certified Employment Support Professional. She has been working at HDC since 2012 on Employment Initiatives to increase the capacity of Supported Employment Agencies in Louisiana through training and mentoring. At HDC, she also works on Web and Graphics Design, and is the Data Coordinator for the National Information Reporting System (NIRS). She is currently the President of the Louisiana Association for Persons Supporting Employment First (LA APSE). Laura completed the HDC training program in Leadership Education on Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) in 2013. Prior to living in New Orleans, Laura lived in Montreal Canada where she was an Assistive Technology Specialist for Canada’s Eastern Provinces. She was called upon to teach, implement, program and adapt assistive technology devices and was involved in the development of French products. Prior to working in Assistive Technology, Laura Stazio worked in the telecommunications industry as a Senior Systems Engineer. Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Tulane University in Biomedical Engineering, and from Columbia University in New York City with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Stuart Simon, MM, MLIS, Digital Technology Specialist

Stuart, whose father is a photographer, was born in St. Louis but grew up in New Orleans. Stuart holds a BS in Music from Millsaps College from 2007, and two Master’s Degrees, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and both from 2012. One is in Music History, and the other is in Library and Information Science. After that, Stuart returned to New Orleans and pursued a post-baccalaureate certificate in applied computing with an emphasis on Integrated Application Development, receiving it in May 2016. In 2018, Stuart received a Certificate in Web Accessibility from the University of South Australia in Adelaide and the Centre for Inclusive Design in Sydney, Australia. Stuart began working at HDC in February, 2016. His duties are varied and include: graphics specialist, webmaster, database specialist, and photographer. Outside of work, he enjoys music, New Orleans cultural life, and singing in the choir at Touro Synagogue. Stuart can be reached at ssimo3@lsuhsc.edu or you can visit him in his office in the Human Development Center building in room 468.

Jolie Robichaux, Coordinator of Outreach and eLearning

Jolie Robichaux is the outreach coordinator for the Human Development Center. After receiving her Bachelor’s in Public Relations from the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, she gained experience in digital marketing, event production, and outreach initiatives that support individuals with developmental disabilities.

Jolie is driven by outcomes that connect the community with services and resources that enhance quality of life and wellbeing, and so, she works hard to create accessible outreach campaigns targeting those who need it most. Her highest priority at the HDC is to strengthen its influence across Louisiana and within the UCEDD network by highlighting the HDC’s unique regional characteristics that shape its excellent services and success stories. She is also eager to nurture an identity within HDC to better bind its initiative areas together.

You can find Jolie bopping around HDC’s halls to learn about the initiatives’ latest developments or managing HDC’s social media pages in her office at room 473 - please visit! When she’s off the clock, you can find Jolie eating Cajun boiled crabs when they're in season or dancing in a crowd when it's safe to do so (bio was written during COVID-19 lockdown). Otherwise, Jolie is happily at home with her partner and two cats in Bayou St. John.

Leadership

Maria Blanco, M.Ed.

Maria Blanco is an experienced early childhood specialist. Driven by a desire to help all children reach their potential, she takes pride in building the capacity of systems to provide quality early learning experiences. As an early childhood advocate, her goals include working with communities to increase access to high quality, inclusive early childhood programs and supporting professionals and families to identify developmental concerns as early as possible. In addition to developing, implementing and evaluating early childhood programs, she provides training and technical assistance in early intervention, inclusive practices, and developmental screening and surveillance. Maria represents the interests of children and families with disabilities on numerous state and local boards and commissions. Maria and her husband enjoy entertaining friends, and spending time with their three daughters (the youngest of whom has autism), four grandchildren, and two Australian shepherds.

Staff

Early Head Start Who We Are page

IPEC Who We Are Page

Early Learning Center Who We Are page

Landix Alcorn (EHS)

Clarissa Carmouche (ELC)

Chantol Cochran (ELC)

Ritu Dua (EHS)

Asia Edwards (EHS)

Ture'ssa Higgenbotham (ELC)

Crystal Fernandez (EHS)

Susie Jones (ELC)

Krystie Magee (ELC)

Kisha Petty (ELC)

Katie Rambeau (EHS, IPEC)

Jhane Varnado (EHS)

Molly Walter (ELC)

Leadership

Ali Kowitz, M.Ed., T/P

Ali originally joined HDC as a Facilitator for the LSUHSC Human Development Center’s LASARD Project. She received her Bachelor of Science – Elementary Education degree from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!) in 2007. In 2012, she received a Master of Education – Special Education (grades 1-12) from Northwestern State University. Prior to joining the HDC, Ali worked as a Special Education Teacher (inclusive and resource settings), Special Education Coordinator, Section 504 Coordinator, PBIS Chair, SBLC Chair, and IEP Facilitator in St. Tammany Parish. Additionally, Ali is an Educational Therapist and focuses on helping children and adults with ADHD, learning disabilities, and executive functioning skills. Ali is an advocate for inclusive practices and is passionate about working with schools to build inclusive and accessible environments for all learners. When she’s not at work, you can find Ali out on the water (boating or paddle boarding); doing other outdoorsy stuff; and, hanging out with her family, two dogs (Louie and Echo), and Cactus – the Bearded Dragon.

Ali is currently the Interim Director of HDC, but she will continue to serve as the director of Education, Transition, and Careers until an interim is chosen.