Congratulations 2025 LEND Trainees

Congratulations to the 2025 Southern Miss LEND trainees who completed the 2024-2025 program year! LEND, the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program, prepares graduate students, self-advocates, community members, and families to be leaders in the fields of disability education, research, advocacy, and policy. Currently, there are 60 LEND program across the United States and its territories.

This year, five (5) Southern Miss LEND trainees fulfilled the program requirements by completing 300+ hours of direct clinical or didactic services, a leadership project, and a research project. This year’s Mississippi LEND trainees included: Chiquila Dolison, Parent Advocate; Tara Dunleavy, Master Social Work Student; Jaylen Mack, Advocate; Bailey McIlwain, Master Social Work Student; and Riley Thomas, Master Counseling Psychology Student.

In addition, Chiquila Dolison was voted by her peers in Mississippi and Arkansas as the 2025 Eldon Schulz Trainee Award, the most prestigious trainee award given each year. Congratulations to Ms. Dolison on this recognition as a Mississippi LEND trainee and for her exemplary leadership work and research focused on Montessori Approaches for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The Eldon Schulz Trainee Award honors Dr. Eldon Schulz. Dr. Schulz joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics in 1991 and has served as Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Arkansas Children’s Hospital since 2001. Dr. Schulz passed away in June 2018 and his legacy and passion for interdisciplinary care and community advocacy are honored through this service award that recognizes current and future leaders dedicated to providing outstanding service and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Mississippi Leadership education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program is provided through a partnership with the Arkansas LEND Program. For more information on the LEND Southern Miss program, contact Dr. Jerry R. Alliston at jerry.alliston@usm.edu or 601.266.5979.