Charged with leading DDI’s fundraising efforts, Jean brings more than twenty years of domestic and international nonprofit experience to this role.
Jean’s most recent role was with the Institute of Physics, based in London, where she held the role of Head of Development for three years. While at the Institute of Physics, she was responsible for designing and implementing a $15 million development campaign strategy predominantly to strengthen the quality of high school physics education in economically deprived school districts.
Prior to working there she held the role of Director of Development at Brooklyn Law School. She partnered with philanthropists, corporations, faculty members and disability organizations to raise the funding to establish a pro bono Legal Clinic for Adults with Developmental Disabilities; and a Centre for Urban Business Entrepreneurship.
Jean also held the role of Director of Development at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding and was a Board member of GallopNYC. These programs offer therapeutic horsemanship activities to children and adults with disabilities and special needs, including veterans and at-risk youth.
“Jean was drawn to DDI because of our mission and is extremely excited about taking on this role since it is so closely aligned with her passion and expertise,” John Lessard, Executive Director of DDI said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Jean added, “DDI has a sixty-year history of providing life-changing support and therapies to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities; I feel truly honored to take on this role.
Jean is an avid horseback rider and an enthusiastic baseball fan.