Our Team
Linda Carmona-Bell, M.A.,
President
Mary Beth Morgan, BSW
Board Member
Mary Beth Morgan works as an Independent Living Specialist at Liberty Resources Inc. with the focus of Youth and Young Adult Transition. This role contributes to the theme that PEAC practices by making sure that youth/young adults with different abilities have their needs met in a way that works for them. She also provides resources to parents and teachers to promote this theme as well. Mary Beth has been the Youth Statewide Coordinator for Region 7 that includes Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. She is an Independent Living Specialist who enforces the LRI 5 CORE services: Information and Referral, Peer Support, Skills Training, Advocacy, and Transition. Mary Beth has developed Mentoring/Transitioning/Voices (MTV), a program at the Philadelphia CIL directed toward helping students and young adults with disabilities learn independence, and making your own choice.
William Paz De Melo
Board Member
William is a Transition Consultant for transition consultant, LLC, a title broker service coordinator and a family advisor for Hune. He has been a youth leadership advisor coordinator for the ARC of Philadelphia, a legislative advocate and much, much more. He is on the board of PA APSE and volunteers with the PA Rehab council. His energy and zest to support those who need support is unmet.
Dominic DeFino
Board Member
Mr. Dominic DeFino joined PEAC in 2021. He lives in Philadelphia, works in medical sales full-time, and has a son. He is involved with Parent to Parent as a parent supporter and is looking to help PEAC in any way he can!
Vacant
Board Treasurer
If interested in being a board member and PEAC Treasurer, please email PEAC.
Elizabeth Hemmings
Board Member
Elizabeth Hemmings became passionate about special education when her adult daughter was born with Down syndrome. She had to advocate for her and then started to help other families with a strong focus on the Hispanic community. She helped families navigate and understand special education and their children’s rights. She remains active in supporting and guiding families in schools and the community setting. She began a support group in Berks county called SPELL-Supporting Parents of Exceptional Learners for Life. It is presented in Spanish and English. Elizabeth’s background is in accounting but as you can see life has twists. Elizabeth is and was involved in many community organizations such as co-chair of the Local Right to Education Task Force, Gaskin Advisory Panel, interpretation services, Parent to Parent, CASSP and many others. She is a proud mother of 5 children and a dog with very active schedules. Two of which have graduated from Villanova and LaSalle University and her daughter is working on building her own catering services.
Dr. Marianne Infante, M.Ed., OTD,
Acting Vice President,
Board Member
Dr. Marianne Infante, M.Ed., OTD, as an experienced occupational therapist and health educator, has been a longtime advocate for trauma-informed care, health, and inclusion. She worked at the forefront of integrating students from Pennhurst into the community at the start of the education of all in the 1980’s. She has experience collaborating to empower partnering schools in PA and CA and individuals using individualized evidence-based strategies to promote inclusion of children of all ages. In her passion for successful inclusion, she collaborates with practical ideas and facilitates using the steps necessary to solve implementation barriers in including students in an educational setting. She is on the PA Health Improvement Task Force. Marianne has her Certification for Inclusion Educational Specialist. She is also Board Member to Healthy Community Lifespaces Board Certification for Inclusion Educational Specialist.
She is a parent of three grown adult children, two, were involved in special education. She has 6 young grandchildren.
Dr. Ann Marie Licata
Secretary, Board Member
Dr. Ann Marie Licata is a faculty member of Millersville University and is the Director of the Pennsylvania Inclusive Higher Education Consortium located at Millersville University. She has built a community of 29 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania that align with authentic inclusion for students with intellectual disabilities.
Ann Marie has a background in educational administration and human development, and a breadth of experiences in public and private school, as well as higher education and state level non-profit leadership. Ann Marie’s research interest include leadership, advocacy, disability studies, leadership, and teaching online which fuel her professional efforts. She has successfully presented her research at state, national, and international levels. Inspired by her loving family, she is proud to be mom to six amazing individuals ranging in age from 27 to 12. All of her kids, including the two who have Down Syndrome, plan to go to college or university.
Nithya Narayan
Board Member
Nithya is an avid advocate for her son and other children and adults with disabilities in the schools and community. She is currently mentoring other families with younger children especially from Indian origin. She is a former graduate of Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) which is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She is also a former Family Support Specialist at the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She also helped start a support group for other Asian parents in Cincinnati, Ohio and actively helps families connect with resources on the Think College Facebook group.
Diane Perry
Ex-officio Member
Diane Perry is one of the founding members of PEAC. Her vision for successful inclusion has positively impacted a plethora of lives. She has single-handedly brought many family members to become fierce advocates for their children. Diane has twenty years of education, advocacy and family leadership under her belt. She is the Eastern Region Parent Advisor for the PEAL Center in Philadelphia. In addition to her work at PEAL, Diane serves as on the State Special Education Advisory Panel.
Diane’s son David received special education services; he is currently attending college, working part time, and being mentored with Self Advocates United as 1(SAU1).
Tamia Pettus
PEAC Administrative Assistant
Tamia Pettus is PEAC’s Administrative Assistant. She started with PEAC as a client then became a Parent Consultant and now as our Administrative Assistant since 2016. Ms. Pettus has been on this journey trying to help change the world for her son and so many other children and adults with special needs. With the help of PEAC, Ms. Pettus learned to pay it forward by advocating for the special needs community.
Melissa Ann Suarez Sharpless
Board Member
Melissa Ann Suarez Sharpless is married and mother of exceptional boys who live in Philadelphia. She transitioned from a 20+ year profession as an RN with a Masters (MSN) in leadership and administration and multiple national certifications and honor societies. The pandemic accelerated many problems with her children’s right to education. Realizing she was not alone she engaged in advocacy organizations, systems change, met with politicians, attended conferences, webinars, was a guest speaker at a symposium and continues to gain knowledge and help parents. Melissa feels strongly in the empowerment of parents and their undeniable strength; that together we will continue to change the world starting with our children.
APPLY TO BE ON THE BOARD
PEAC is constantly looking for dedicated parents and professional to be part of our team.