MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nancy Claussen, M.A.S  

Board President & Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer

Nancy has a Master of Science in Aeronautics and worked in the airline industry for many years prior to working for Federal Aviation Administration Headquarters in Washington, DC, developing regulations, policy, and guidance regarding air carrier operations. For over 20 years, she served as the FAA’s technical expert regarding the use of child restraint and restraint systems used by people with disabilities on aircraft. During this time, she was also the FAA’s liaison to the Department of Transportation regarding DOT regulations that addressed nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in air travel.    Nancy lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband and her two sons.  Both of her sons are bright, engaged, and talented individuals, one of whom has autism. 

Shanan Villarreal, M.S. CCC-SLP  

Board Secretary 

Shanan is a Speech-Language Pathologist and co-owner of Arizona Advanced Therapy, LLC. Shanan attended Arizona State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She then continued her education at ASU and earned her master’s degree in Communication Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology. Throughout her college years Shanan worked with children with special needs, specifically children with autism. She helped to develop and implement home programs containing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Floortime, and other treatment techniques. As her career progressed she chose feeding therapy as her primary focus. Throughout Shanan’s career she has had the opportunity to attend training seminars related to feeding, teletherapy, Autism, Apraxia, oral placement and many other areas related to her field.

 Susan Voirol, M.S.W 

Board Member 

Susan has her BA In Human Development Family Studies from Indiana University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. She has gained experience in working with individuals who have disabilities in a variety of roles, including her current role at Diverse Ability Incorporated, and past roles for the University of AZ/Sonoran UCEDD, the Arizona Department of Education, Tempe Union HS District, Vocational Rehabilitation, and a local provider agency. She has studied, lectured and trained locally, statewide and nationally on a variety of topics related to disabilities, with a focus on youth in transition. She also has extensive experience in state systems and legislation. She is pleased and willing to be part of any and all efforts focused on improving successful outcomes for people who have disabilities

  Lisa Silva, M.Ed. Director of Education and Programs (Lisas@azpathwaytowork.org) 

Lisa has been working with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities for over 20 years. She began providing in-home habilitation services to children with autism, and then became a lead habilitation trainer for a local agency while attending Arizona State University. She credits one of her psychology professors for instilling in her a passion for working with individuals with autism. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Special Education, and obtained a Masters in Special Education with an emphasis in autism. Lisa has taught special education to students of all grade levels for 14 years, including preschool, elementary, middle school and high school. She has extensive training in applied behavior analysis and transition services. She holds a K-12 teaching certificate from Arizona Department of Education in special education and an endorsement in emotional disorders. For many years Lisa was Director of Special Education Services and a Special Education high school teacher for a private school for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. While in this position, Lisa developed her passion for working with individuals and their families to create transition plans to assist students in achieving greater independence to lead to paid, integrated employment and increased independent living skills.