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Our Leadership Team
President:
Dr. Kristina Neely Stehouwer
Dr. Kristina Neely is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology, and the Director of the Brain and Behavior Lab at Auburn University. Dr. Neely's area of expertise is the neural control of movement in adults. She is particularly interested in how movement is influenced by cognitive functions, such as inhibitory control and working memory. She has been personally impacted by Parkinson's as a care partner to her mother and her father-in-law, both living with the condition.
Treasurer:
Jeff Neely
Jeff Neely brings a world of financial experience and corporate senior management leadership to the team with his past career roles. He was the senior corporate merchandising executive for a national chain of over 300 stores, a corporate Division's senior executive as a Division SVP/General Manager for a chain of over 350 stores and the Executive V.P. for a chain of over 400 stores. Jeff is very involved in local community activities having served as a Town Commissioner, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Town Planning Board member and a representative on numerous Boards of Directors. Jeff is personally committed to Parkinson's as a care giver partner to his wife.
Secretary:
Anders Skaar
Anders grew up in suburban Chicago. He attended the University of Illinois majoring in engineering. Fascinated early on by technology and global cultures, Anders taught English for seven years in Mexico City. Upon returning to the U.S., Anders began a successful career in executive recruiting in Silicon Valley and then Raleigh, NC. In 1995, Anders and his wife Kathleen adopted two older children and soon co-founded a Christian book and Bible ministry serving prison inmates nationwide. For 25 years, they distributed hundreds of Christian books annually. He served as the Missions Director while Kathleen led the organization. They retired in 2021 with a team of 10 staff and hundreds of volunteers and donors. Today, their ministry is called Prison Alliance which continues work globally. Anders was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2021 and now co-leads a smaller digital discipleship effort called In Jesus Steps, serving as Director of Technology. He and his wife reside in Opelika, AL, attend Church of the Highlands, play Pickleball and stay active with friends and nine grandchildren.
Board Member:
Lydia Allison
Lydia Allison is a speech-language pathologist and assistant clinical professor at Auburn University. Her clinical experience has primarily been working with adults and neurogenic communication disorders, including brain injury, stroke, and progressive diseases. She has experience in the hospital and inpatient rehabilitation settings. Currently, she teaches in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at AU. Lydia received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Auburn. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages to meet their communication goals. She has seen first-hand the importance and impact of compassionate, competent care through her late grandfather's experience with stroke and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
We are always seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join our Board of Directors. Ideal candidates will have a personal or professional connection to Parkinson's disease and share our commitment to empowering individuals and families affected by Parkinson's through education, advocacy, and community support. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Communication Co-Directors
Ellie Bolio
Ellie Bolio is a senior at Auburn University studying Exercise Science with aspirations of becoming a physical therapist. She is also minoring in English Professional Writing to support her interest in research and documentation for her future career. As a military child, she moved 18 times and loves adventuring and meeting new people. In her free time, Ellie is often reading or running, and she recently competed in her first Marathon in Aspen. Ellie has enjoyed serving as co-director of communications for the Auburn-Opelika Parkinson's Disease Support Group with peer and friend Emily Hunter and looks forward to continuing to be an advocate for PWP!
Emily Hunter
Emily Hunter is a student at Auburn University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with plans to continue her education in Physical Therapy after graduation. Emily is very passionate about working with older adults and aspires to do so in her career. Originally from Woodstock, GA, she relocated to Auburn to further her education. She has gained connections to others through her role as a barista and thoroughly enjoys getting involved in the community. Beyond her academic pursuits, Emily finds joy in cooking, thrifting, and taking film photography, as well as spending time with her friends and family.
Paityn Roode
Paityn Rood is a Junior at Auburn University pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a minor in Communications with aspirations to become a Digital Marketing Consultant. She has gained connections through her part-time job as a barista as well as her involvement at Auburn and enjoys being interactive within her community. Outside of her academics, Paityn enjoys running, cooking, designing, and spending time with her friends and family. Paityn is excited to continue serving as a Director of Communications for the Auburn-Opelika Parkinson's Disease Support Group and looks forward to forming new relationships with its members and growing in knowledge within the area of communications and design.
