our team
Our coaches are uniquely qualified to support adults with ASD and other developmental disabilities, helping our clients successfully transition from high school to college or work.
Heather Conroy, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Heather (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who, since 2006, has worked with Autistic and other neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults on their paths towards self-defined success. She is proud of the work Evolve is doing to support not only individuals, but also employers, educators, and the community at large to create more welcoming and accessible spaces for neurodivergent people.
Joe Farrell, Co-Founder and Director of Programs
Since completing his Master's of Science in Education and Community Agency Counseling degree from Duquesne University, Joe (he/him) has been working with Neurodivergent youth and young adults. His main focus is assisting individuals in identifying areas of skill and interest that can be leveraged to provide fulfilling and sustaining employment. Joe incorporates techniques from Cognitive and Behavioral therapies into his Coaching. He also serves as the director of Evolve's 2-week summer camp. Joe enjoys hiking and all manner of outdoor activities. He is a member of the Steel City Beard and Mustache Club, and has traveled all over the U.S. participating in charity beard competitions to support local non-profit organizations.
Kristen Shephard, Program Director - College Coaching
Kristen (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the University of Pittsburgh. A central PA native, she moved to Pittsburgh to finish her bachelors degree in psychology. From there she went on to get a Masters of Social Work while interning with Evolve and has stayed on board ever since. Kristen enjoys assisting individuals in meeting their goals and loves learning from each of her clients that bring very unique backgrounds and experiences to their meetings. When she's not coaching, Kristen also provides outpatient therapy and likes to do yoga, read, and rock climb.
Felisha Guy, Operations Manager
Felisha (she/her) comes to Evolve with a wealth of experience in diverse environments, from higher education operational support to non-profit administrative management and donor relations. Her impact goes beyond execution, Felisha brings passion to everything she does. She deeply believes in Evolve Coaching's mission to empower individuals and communities, and this belief fuels her dedication to creating a supportive and productive environment. Even beyond the office walls, Felisha's passion for empowerment shines through. In her free time, she enjoys activities that nurture the mind and spirit: walking in nature, getting lost in writing, and crafting her own "weekly morning gems'' – personalized messages of inspiration to uplift those around her. Felisha believes in making a positive impact not just in operations but also on the lives of everyone she encounters
Anju Agrawal, Engagement & Advancement Specialist
Anju (she/her) grew up in the UK and has a degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Wales. She worked in accounting for Sheraton, Limited Too and Red Capital among others. She moved to Pittsburgh when she married a native Pittsburgher, with whom she has raised 3 children. She has always had a keen interest in supporting the success and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals and is happy to leverage her interests and experience in her role at Evolve, where she supports the team with development, community engagement, and quality assurance. She enjoys spending time with her family, and learning about holistic health.
Jill Constantin, Intake Coordinator
Jill (she/her) has two degrees in US History, five years of experience as an adjunct instructor at the college level, and four years of experience as a non-profit professional. She enjoys helping people find what motivates them in life and facilitating their successes. Jill is also an avid reader and a dog person.
Lyx Adamaszek, Coach
Lyx (she/they) has always had a passion for working with neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ individuals which is what led her to pursuing a Bachelors and Masters in Social Work and exploring the different avenues of the helping profession. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2021, she found herself focusing on outdoor education and the overlap between intentional time spent outdoors and overall well-being through non-profit work and her own self-guided explorations. She hopes to combine these passions and practices in her work to help youth and young adults grow into the world around them. When she isn’t working, you can find her planning her next trip, indoor rock climbing, or paddling on the local waterways.
Amber Blue, Coach
Amber (she/her) earned her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University in 2021 and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Juniata College. She has experience working in outpatient therapy, schools, and universities with diverse populations. Her favorite population to work with is young adults and college students embarking on life transitions. She believes that each person is unique so the path they take to reach their goals should be too. To help clients reach their goals, Amber takes a client-centered approach. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog and reading.
Greg Del Duca, Coach
Greg (he/him) received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in speech and language pathology (SLP) from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). Greg very recently learned about his own neurodiversity and adverse childhood experiences and began a new chapter, actually more of a section, of his personal growth and development. Greg is both honored and grateful to have the opportunity to serve and support people, colleagues, families, communities, and a self...pointed in the direction of harm reduction, inclusion, and a focus on the impacts of so-called “supportive” inputs on vulnerable populations rather than the stated intentions of those with greater power and influence. Person-centered. Not expert-centered. Empowered and empowering. Coach Greg also fosters cats, sings, writes, runs, reads/performs picture books, and once had a music-infused podcast, in a galaxy far far away, that was removed for copyright infringement.
Amanda Denham, Arts & Film Program Manager
As a fourth generation Pittsburgher, Amanda (she/her) has spent her career between community-centered arts spaces and academia. She holds a BFA in Textiles from Kent State University and MA in Apparel Design with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from Cornell University. She comes to Evolve with a wealth of experience in arts programming and filmmaking and is thrilled to contribute to Evolve’s mission by supporting the self-determination of Pittsburgh’s Autistic and Neurodivergent population. Amanda is a researcher, educator, and an all around enthusiast for art accessibility. Talk with her about film, fashion history, native gardening, and language acquisition!
Anne Funk, Coach
Anne (she/her) comes to Evolve Coaching following more than 3 decades as a public school educator, where she worked with neurotypical and neurodiverse students, ages elementary-college levels. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education, and has always taught in fully inclusive programming. In addition to designing instruction and leading diverse classrooms, Anne’s lived experience includes parenting an autistic son and championing his vocational and avocational interests. She remains a passionate advocate for neurodiverse children and adults, assisting them with self acceptance and self love, embracing the most fundamental parts of who they are. Along with her husband and 2 adult children, Anne’s family includes a Shetland Sheepdog, Poppy, and a Therapy Horse named Boots. In her spare time, she is an avid thrifter, voracious reader, and will travel to any and all beaches for a walk on the sand.
Connor Griffin, Coach
Connor (they/he) earned their MSW from the University of Pittsburgh after serving as a fellow with Evolve Coaching. Prior to that, they earned a B.S. in Commercial Music Technology from California University of Pennsylvania (now Pennsylvania Western University) and spent several years working as a Stagehand, Electrician, and Sound Engineer in the entertainment industry, while performing locally as a Musician during their free time. Having been diagnosed with ADHD since childhood, Connor has firsthand experience with how difficult education and employment settings can be without the proper support. Connor utilizes their own experiences and professional skills to help be a support to those in need while empowering them to develop their own skills and work towards greater levels of independence and self-sufficiency.
Rae Guidry, Video Specialist
Rae (she/her) has worked in film and video editing since 2018. A creative at heart, Rae has years of experience working with video production, digital art, musical performance and production, and writing. Despite being an accomplished performer in her high school marching band, going on to perform at the Rose Parade in her senior year, she always felt as though she didn’t belong. After receiving an Autism diagnosis in 2017, she was introduced to Evolve, and began doing video work for several of their clients the following year. When not chipping away at one of her many creative projects, Rae enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and attending concerts.
Jaclyn Harris, Artist Mentor
Jaclyn (she/her) earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in and has continued her art education at craft schools across the nation including the Pilchuck Glass School, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Penland School of Craft, and the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Jaclyn has enjoyed supporting and coaching Evolve’s passionate community of artists via one on one and group coaching sessions. She also supports the annual gallery show, “An Evening of Arts for Autism”, which comprises at least 20 local neurodivergent artists each year.
Yahne Jackson, Coach
Yahne (she/her) began her career teaching secondary English. Throughout her career she has worked in behavioral health and educational consulting. She earned a M.Ed. from Tennessee State University and an MFA from Point Park University. Yahne’s goal is to encourage and empower young adults to live their best lives.
Alyssa Lisle, Coach
A native Pittsburgher, Alyssa (she/her) is in the last semester of her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a therapist at Western Psychiatric Hospital and obtained her B.S. in Psychology at Allegheny College. Alyssa uses a strengths-based approach to empower clients to achieve their goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, making pottery, and spending time with her dog.
Heather Lucas, Coach
Heather (she/her) is a Pittsburgh native and holds an MEd from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her career as an inclusive learning specialist and program manager, she has developed her passion to share knowledge and build relationships. She feels most content when she is helping people develop self-advocacy, confidence, and connection. Heather believes in helping people investigate, with a gentle curiosity, what makes them come alive and thrive. She enjoys a mixture of relaxing and active pastimes including hiking, biking, watching movies, touring animal sanctuaries, exploring new cities, and visiting art exhibitions.
Johanna Murphy, Inclusion Program Director
A native of Harrisburg, PA, Joey (she/her) moved to Pittsburgh in 1992 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Scranton. While her only plan was to become a rock star, her appetite for learning how to do things led her many places Dividing her time between performing and working for a living, she learned accounting, auto body repair, carpentry, basic machining, early-era web design, sales and marketing. She’s done professional marketing and development work for music distribution companies, outreach work in the region’s workforce development community, produced and promoted concerts, launched a newsletter for Pittsburgh’s western neighborhoods, flipped houses, and rescued pets. Her restlessness and inability to settle on one career finally made sense, when, at the age of 42, she was diagnosed with Aspergers, or ASD level one. Since completing her master’s of fine arts at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, she has worked as a freelance writer and an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh. What she likes best is helping young people make sense of the world as they grow into adults, and using her writing skills to advocate for Autism awareness for older women.
Luke Sumpter, Coach
Luke (he/him) moved to Pittsburgh in 2005 after receiving his master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is an experienced mental health professional who is passionate about helping people of all ages. Through the Steel City Beard and Mustache Club he became involved with Evolve's Arts for Autism program and later joined the team as a college coach. In his free time he enjoys hiking, traveling and running a small BBQ company.
Sarah Tiffany-Appleton, Coach
Sarah (she/her) came to Evolve in August 2022 as a Social Work Intern pursuing her MSW at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating in April 2023, she was thrilled to join Evolve's staff. As a full-time Coach, Sarah enjoys supporting learners and job-seekers to realize their self-defined goals. She is especially passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ and transition-age individuals. Sarah brings an eclectic background to her coaching: she holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Reed College, previously worked as a home rehabilitation project manager/program lead for a Pittsburgh-based non-profit, and has experience in community-partnered design, fabrication, and qualitative research. A West Coast native, Sarah now considers Pittsburgh home.
Vaishnavi Umalkar, Coach
Vaishnavi (she/her) got introduced to Evolve through a management consulting project, which sparked her passion for working with neurodiverse students. She firmly believes in the uniqueness of every individual and their potential contribution to the world, seeing each person as an opportunity for mutual learning. With dual master's degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Innovation Management from Carnegie Mellon University, she has a strong foundation in both technical and strategic fields. Vaishnavi enjoys guiding students through their career and professional growth journeys. Her knowledge and skills empower her to support others effectively, drawing from her experiences as a Kathak and Bhangra dancer. She leverages her diverse background to provide helpful assistance, nurturing the development of skills and self-assurance in those she mentors. She visits a dog park and listens to music in her free time.
Doug Wampler, Coach
Doug (he/him) moved to Pittsburgh in 2015 to pursue his bachelor's degree in Urban Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. After completing his degree, he joined PULSE, and committed to a year of service with Evolve Coaching as a Job Coach. Doug empowers clients who are seeking work, or are already employed, to meet self-defined goals for workplace success. He enjoys thrift shopping, traveling, and eating at new places around the city.
Skukura Woods, Senior Coach
Skukura (she/her) explores work at the intersection of spirituality, culture/identity and psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Intercultural Communication from Juniata College, and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chatham University. This role with Evolve allows her to passionately to nurture community-building, authenticity, and support others in their unique life’s development. In her free-time, she enjoys yoga, watching movies, coloring and being around water.
Taryn Wright, Coach
Taryn (she/her) is pursuing her Master's in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and earned her Bachelor’s in Bachelor’s is in Social Work and Psychology from La Salle University. Taryn is passionate about working with people to support their individual aspirations and goals. Having recently experienced college with her own neurodivergence, she is acutely familiar with the unique strengths and challenges involved. Taryn loves to connect with people and is happy to work in a field where she is able to connect with others and bolster them in their journeys. In her free time, Taryn enjoys reading, watching movies, being outdoors, and meeting new people.
Erin Zacher, Coach
After graduating with her bachelor's from the University of Pittsburgh, Erin (she/her) has provided counseling to a variety of populations. Erin earned both an M.S. in Professional Counseling and an M.A. in Student Affairs from Carlow University to combine her interests in helping others learn to cope and supporting adults through transitional phases in their lives. Erin often incorporates mindfulness techniques and a strengths-based approach into her coaching to help clients develop practical skills in their daily lives. In her free time, you can find her spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, or watching a new movie or tv show.
Annie Leonardi, Social Work Fellow
Annie (she/her) is a second-year Master’s in Social Work fellow from the University of Pittsburgh. She is an explorer of sorts. While she grew up in Villanova, Pennsylvania, she decided to go to college in a part of the country in which she had never been and knew no one. She attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, worked as a student success coach in Memphis and later as a middle school paraprofessional in Nashville, Tennessee. Annie knows from personal experience how complex getting assessments, accommodations, services and support can be for people with neurodiversity. She knows how important high-quality coaching and support are for LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse people to thrive. In her free time, Annie enjoys reading, watching sci-fi/fantasy shows, Dobra Tea, hiking and spending time with family and friends.