Karen
Dydek- President
Most of Karen's professional work has been in administrative
positions working with programs serving “at-risk”
teens and young adults. She is a licensed professional
counselor and a licensed chemical dependency counselor. As
the parent of 21 year old Megan, a daughter with autism, Karen
realized the need in North Texas for a community to serve cognitive/physically
impaired adults. With teachers, parents, and other
community advocates, Megan's Crossing is now developing into
a reality.
Robert (Bob) W. Fullbright - Member
As President and Chairman of the Board at The Marbridge Foundation
near Austin, Bob has offered Megan's Crossing his knowledge
and years of experience in administering a residential and training
program for over 200 adults with developmental disabilities.
Lloyd Kinnison, Ed.D. - Member
Lloyd is a professor of special education at Texas Women's University. Highlights
of his work experience include the development of a sheltered
work program in Western Nebraska, whose clients were responsible
for electronic equipment for the first mission to the moon. Lloyd
also chaired special education departments at three universities. His
current assignment at Texas Women's includes acting as co-sponsor
of the Student Council for Exceptional Children, Texas Student
Education Association and serving as coordinator of admissions
to the doctoral program in special education. Lloyd's
wife, sons, and their wives and grandchildren are the most important
parts of his life.
Joseph H. Burkett, M.D. - Member
Dr. Joseph Burkett is a Fort Worth native and graduate of the
University of Texas at Arlington. He received his Medical Degree
from the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine
in Galveston, Texas, and completed a residency in Psychiatry
at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Dr. Burkett was in private practice in the Fort Worth area for
ten years before coming to Mental Health Mental Retardation
of Tarrant County (MHMRTC) in 1995 as a clinic psychiatrist.
In 2000, he moved into his current position as Medical Director
of MHMRTC. In addition, he is also a clinic psychiatrist in
the MHMRTC Mental Retardation clinic and Medical Administrative
consultant to neighboring community mental health centers and
Physician Reviewer for a managed behavioral health company.
Dr. Burkett has been board certified for general adult psychiatry,
adolescent psychiatry, and addiction.
Dr. Burkett was voted by his peers to be featured in "Top Docs",
Fort Worth Magazine in 2002 and 2003 and also received NAMI
Exemplary Psychiatrist award in 2003.
Amelia Dye (McDowell)- Member
An experienced teacher of special education students, Amelia
has taught all grade levels for 25 years. It has
shown her that it is never too late to learn. This
dedicated teacher has herself learned when the school bus stops
coming to the door, parents are devastated because they have
no place to go. After Amelia took a field trip to
Marbridge, a residential community serving adults with various
cognitive challenges, the discussion of the need for something
similar in North Texas. With her knowledge and experience,
Megan's Crossing will be an exemplary community for lifelong
learning.
Charles Geoffrion — Member and Management
Consultant
Charles specializes in consulting with Non-Profit Organizations in the areas of management, fund-raising and strategic planning, and also in the start-up phase of new community groups. He has served on the staff of several major education-related capital campaigns and was the Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Arizona. Charles now serves as the Vice President for Advancement of the Marbridge Foundation. He is eager to see the success of the Marbridge model applied to appropriate aspects of planning for Megan’s Crossing.
