Our Team

Shannon Juengst, PhD

Principal Investigator

Shannon is a Clinical Investigator and Senior Scientist at TIRR Memorial Hermann. She is also the ePST Principal Investigator and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is a researcher, counselor, mom, musician, runner, and care partner, with experience in the chronic consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury, Problem-Solving Interventions, mHealth, and Community Participation.

Senior Leadership

Matthew Schmidt, PhD

Co-Principal Investigator

Matt is a technology expert, learning designer, and a parent of children with disabilities. Matt is also a person with a disability and a traumatic brain injury survivor. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the Learning, Design, and Technology department. His primary research interest includes the design and development of innovative educational courseware and computer software with a particular focus on individuals with disabilities, their families, and their providers. His secondary research interests include learning in extended reality (inclusive of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality) and Learning Experience Design. Matt has experience in participatory and co-design as well as lived experiences as a TBI survivor. He brings the ability to bridge multiple aspects of the project, bringing together domain expertise, content expertise, software development, and learning design.

Stephen Sutter

Co-Investigator

Steve is the founder and president of CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. He is additionally the PI on 37 federal grants from: NIH, NIDILRR and section 8.6 of the USDA that focuses on enhancing life in rural communities. Steve is also the PI on 13 grants with the state of Indiana. He has experience in technical project management and user experience design. He is married to his best friend and has four grown kids, as well as nine grandkids ages 5 to 19.

Kristin Wilmoth, PhD

Co-Investigator

Kristin is faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern, where she is a clinical neuropsychologist and brain injury specialist. She brings her experience with research and interventions for individuals with cognitive disabilities. She is additionally a mother of two amazing children.

Jay A. Bogaards, MA, CCRP

Research Coordinator

Jay is a Clinical Research Specialist with the Brain Injury Research Center (BIRC) at TIRR Memorial Hermann. He has a Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He is also a certified clinical research professional (CCRP). Jay has been active in coordinating and leading research projects with the Brain Injury Research Center since 2008, specializing in a variety of research topics focusing on traumatic brain injury. Jay has extensive experience in study recruitment, data collection, project coordination/management, and clinical interviewing. He is a proud Iowa State Cyclone, researcher, animal lover, and member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Support Team

Yueqi Weng

Research Assistant, PhD Student

Yueqi Weng is currently a PhD student in Learning Design and Technology at University of Georgia. Her research interests include learning experience design, designing and developing advanced learning technologies, specifically in the field of healthcare. In addition, she is interested in using AI techniques such as adaptive machine learning to optimize target users’ learning experience for accessible and equable learning. She brings her expertise in instructional design which aims to create a learner-friendly, effective, and innovative learning context for education and training purposes. In addition, she has expertise in multiple design tools such as Articulate Storyline, Rise, Canva, Adobe XD, etc. which can make designs interactive, accessible and meaningful. Yueqi is a learner, designer, and art lover.

Chen-Yi Cheng

UX/UI Designer

Chen-Yi is an aspiring healthcare designer, advocate, sketch enthusiast, and organizer. She brings her skills and experience in user experience design and conversation flow design to the project.

Alex Holland, LMSW

PST Coach

Alex is a current PhD student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the School of Public and Population Health. She is also a licensed master social worker and has previous experience working in mental health and advocacy. She brings her experience as a PST coach from multiple other studies, and has been an advocate and social worker for most of her professional career. She experienced a mild TBI in 2020.

Novelle Kew, PhD

PST Coach

Novelle is a research analyst and PST Coach. She brings her years of experience in research and rehabilitation counseling, especially related to brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders.

Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is composed of more than twenty-five diverse individuals, including those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, are persons with disabilities, are care partners for individuals with disabilities, and are community advocates. The CAB additionally includes professionals who have worked in the areas of disability and brain injury, such as rehabilitation counselors, occupational therapists, instructional and technology designers, psychologists, social workers, and researchers.