Meet our Team
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.
- Helen Keller
Jennie Wendland
Cofounder & Executive Director
As one of DSI’s founders, I believe that together we all can and must stand against injustice and inequality that exists in our world today. My educational background includes a degree in music therapy and a Master's in Special Education. As I grew up with a brother with multiple disabilities, spent time working with marginalized communities in Cambodia, taught special education in the United States, and worked in culturally diverse situations (including with immigrant and refugee citizens), God continued to cultivate my passion and open my eyes and heart toward those with disabilities, who are all too often unseen and unheard in many parts of the world today. I am proud to be a part of DSI's mission and continuous development, and am passionate about uplifting and amplifying the work of those who dedicate themselves to addressing needs in selfless and loving ways. In my role, I see this lived out every day and it inspires me every day.
Thy Nhip
Cambodia Program Coordinator
I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Development Management from Norton University in Cambodia. During the time of the civil war, I was a refugee living in one of the camps across the border in Thailand, where I was trained and worked as a school teacher and medical nurse between 1989 and 1992. After returning to Cambodia, I continued my career for more than 3 decades now in development and disability, working in NGO leadership and management, policy development, strategic planning, project design and evaluation, management, fundraising and proposal writing, disability and inclusion, gender equity and child safeguarding. I have knowledge and experience in many areas including project planning and implementation such as community-based inclusive development, inclusive education, inclusive daycare centres, creative capacity building for farmers with disabilities, livelihood, and lately Covid-19 awareness-raising. I have also carried out consultancy works in designing and delivering disability trainings and workshops, disability book translations and editions, research studies, project evaluation, and voluntary work nationally and internationally to promote disability inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities. Currently, I live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and I am excited to be part of the DSI family where I continue to learn more from projects and stakeholders.
Morgan Croft-Schornak
Board Chair
I am a social worker with a background in supporting adults with disabilities in residential and day program settings. I earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the College of St Scholastica and a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University. I currently reside in Chicago, IL with my husband and our senior dog, Tolkien. I work as an Implementation Specialist at Collective Medical, a PointClickCare company. My role is in project management of hospital implementations of a medical technology that improves daily patient outcomes and the US healthcare system. I joined the DSI team through the Advisory Working Group as I have a deep and ongoing passion for disability support. I enjoy contributing to the development of DSI programming.
Andrew Singer
Board Treasurer
I am an Engineer and Entrepreneur who is passionate about supporting non-profit organizations in any way I can. I currently reside in Saint Paul, Minnesota with my wife, Kelsey, and son, Jesse. I work as a Program Manager at Medtronic and am also the President and Co-Founder of The Singery Studio, a Twin Cities-based music recording studio. I have considerable experience in Project Management and Business Development, skills that blend well with my enthusiasm for enabling others to be their best self. My skills, interests, and non-profit experience are well-suited to disability support and the ever-important work that DSI is doing, of which I am proud to be a part of.
Alli Strong-Martin
Board Secretary
I am a nonprofit professional, researcher, and disability rights advocate. I have Bachelor’s degrees in Youth & Nonprofit Leadership and International Studies, as well as a Master’s degree in Human Rights. I currently live in Cincinnati, Ohio. My disability support background spans from coordinating inclusive international development programs and international disability rights campaigns, to working in direct support roles in recreational programs for youth with disabilities. I first connected with DSI in 2019 when I joined the Advisory Working Group. I am excited to work with the AWG on programming, and to contribute communications support to the Board.
Mick Wendland
Cofounder & Board Member
I am currently the Flight Path Coordinator for Red Wing Public Schools and also have 11 years of Special Education Teaching Experience. I have a Bachelor's degree in Special Education as well as a Master's degree in Educational Administration. I first traveled to Cambodia in 2009, when I truly began to understand the discrepancy of services available to people with disabilities in various parts of our world, despite the interest and efforts of caring and compassionate people. Through the trainings I have led in Cambodia since that time, I have seen the positive impact they have had and I hope that through our continued efforts with DSI, we can enrich the services available to people with disabilities around the world. Additionally, with a diagnosis of epilepsy, I am thankful for the support and care I have access to which has further driven a personal connection to the work we are doing.
Anna Forbes
Board Member
I’m a speech-language pathologist and I work in early intervention in a local school district. I love my job because I get to help kids and their families. I’ve met so many amazing families and students in my career and I believe that all people with disabilities should have access to services and support, no matter where you live. My husband and I live in Minnesota and have two young children. We are long time friends with Mick and Jennie Wendland, two of DSI’s co-founders. I’ve been cheering on DSI from the beginning! I’m passionate about the work DSI is doing and I’m excited to be on their board as another way to support this important work.
Tabitha Kenlon
Board Member
Tabitha Kenlon has a multi-faceted and international career. After earning a doctorate in English from Northeastern University, she taught at a university in Dubai, published articles and a book on women’s history, and traveled widely. She has recently completed a master’s
in international relations at University College Dublin; her thesis examined the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. Her advocacy efforts began with volunteer work for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, and she is currently employed by the American Council of the Blind. She brings personal experience of vision loss, a global perspective, and knowledge of disability rights, literature, education, and research to the DSI board.
DSI's current structure includes a dedicated group of skilled volunteers that serve on the Board of Directors and committees, that guide and advance DSI's continuous organizational development and program work.
Current Committees:
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Program development, in collaboration with our Advisory Working Group
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Finance
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Fundraising
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Communications