ACNJ is governed by a volunteer board of trustees who are diverse in professional, educational and cultural backgrounds. They are united by a deep concern for the well-being of New Jersey’s children.

Board of Trustees Officers    
Chairperson of the Board: Gerard Thiers
Executive Director, ASAH – Serving the Private Special Education Community Since 1974

Vice Chairperson of the Board: Sara D. Thom
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Research, Bedtime Math Foundation

Chair of Finance Committee and Treasurer: Darrin Anderson, Sr., MS, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, NJ Partnership for Healthy Kids

Chair of Program Committee and Secretary: Kendell Sprott, M.D.
President/CEO, Matheny Medical and Educational Center

Sitting Members

Brenda Considine
Considine Communication Strategies

Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee
Training and Consultation Specialist,
Rutgers-UBHC Behavioral Research & Training Institute,
Children’s System of Care Training & Technical Assistance Unit

Maurice Elias, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology & Director, The Collaborative, Rutgers’ Center for
Community-Based Research, Service, and Public Scholarship, Rutgers University

Susan E. Flynn
Account Executive/Benefits Consultant, PeopleStrategy

F. Lee Forrester, J.S.C.
Retired Judge

Laurence E. Fundler, Esq.
Tax Attorney, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis, LLP

Vito Gagliardi, Ed.D.
Educational Consultant

Stuart Grant, LSW ACSW
Senior Vice President, United Way of Central Jersey

Gail L. Houlihan
Emeritus Member, NJ State Child Placement Advisory Council Executive Board

Eileen Leahey
Manager, Regional Public Affairs, PSEG

Reginald Lewis
Executive Director, Newark City of Learning Collaborative,  Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Nicole McGrath, D.D.S.
President & CEO, KinderSmile Foundation, Inc.

Margaret McLeod
Member, Juvenile Justice State Advisory Committee

José Carlos Montes, M.Div.
Chief Executive Officer, PRAB, Inc.

Dr. Jennifer J. Robinson, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Center of Pedagogy, Montclair State University, College of Education and Human Services

Robert Sterling
Volunteer

Richard Trenk, Esq.
McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC

Charles Venti