Meet The Volunteer Crew At MSU!
Learn more about our team of amazing volunteers, board members, and advisors, in their own words.
Click the video below to access the entire playlist. Or, visit the playlist on YouTube here.
If you are interested in volunteering, or you have previous nonprofit experience and are interested in joining our board of directors, we welcome you to apply.
Meet Our Volunteer Operations Staff
Stay tuned for more information about each of our volunteers coming soon.
Jerry Williams, Founder & Chief Heart Officer
Jessica Taylor, Director of Operations
Jason Hopfauf, Community Support Coordinator
Financial Assistance Program Volunteers:
Shirley Schnieders, MSU Board Treasurer
Sam Wrede, Financial Assistance Specialist
Elsbeth, Financial Assistance Specialist
Rosemary Badian, Financial Assistance Admin
Member Services and Special Projects Volunteers:
Magda Torres, Administrator Assistant
Karen Beetow, Administrator Assistant
Shannon Saxman, Administrator Assistant
Marketing Team Volunteers:
Angelic Ingram, Marketing Manager
Shelby McCullah, Marketing Projects Manager
Megan Smith, Member & Public Communication Coordinator
Waiyee Hui, Graphic Designer, Content Creator
Cherisse Kirk, Content Writer, Special Projects
Polly Wood, Support Group Scheduler, Special Projects
Nelson Rodriguez, IT Specialist, MSU Store, Content Creator
Corene Canaan, Content Creator
Research & Advocacy Team Volunteers:
Lynn Wilson, President & MSU Board Member
Manuel Lubinus, Chief Science Officer & MSU Board Member
Benita Moyers, MDA5 Project Manager
Stephen Moore, Neuroscientist, CME and DM Projects Coordinator
Karen Cheng, Patient Advocacy Europe
Pai Hu, Research Consultant and Data Specialist
Alisha Lopez, Research & Advocacy
Ali Gutierrez, Administrative Assistant
Izandra Rudolph, Community Outreach Advisor
Renee Gallacher, Projects Coordinator
Empower Walk Volunteers:
Jenna Landman, Director of Empower Walk
Lauren Landman, MSU Board Member
Facebook Administrators & Moderators
Jessica Taylor, All Facebook Groups & Inspire
Jason Hopfauf, All Facebook Groups & Inspire
Bernadette Dulce, Facebook INMN (NAM) Group
Mary Oltmans, Facebook Myositis Support Group
Betsy Fitzmaurice, Facebook Caregivers Group
Blaine Spence, Facebook IBM
Mary Oltmans, Facebook Anti-MDA5 DM Group
Rosemary Badian, Facebook Anti-MDA5 DM Group
Benita Moyers, Facebook Anti-MDA5 DM Group Founder & MSU Board Member
Support Group Moderator Volunteers:
Jessica Taylor, Director of Operations
Jason Hopfauf, Community Support Coordinator
Mary Oltmans, Clubhouse/Zoom Support Group Manager
Mary Lewis, Clubhouse/Zoom Support Group Leader
Polly Wood, Clubhouse/Zoom Support Group Leader
Cindy Crim, Support Group Moderator
Blaine Spence, Support Group Moderator
Bernadette Dolce, Support Group Moderator
Corene Canaan, Support Group Moderator
Angelic Ingram, Support Group Moderator
Nelson Rodriguez, Support Group Moderator
Suzy Jeppesen, Support Group Moderator
Karen Beetow, Support Group Moderator
Heather Reeves, Support Group Moderator
Brittany Lee, Support Group Moderator
Louie Doblado, Support Group Moderator
William Robinson, Support Group Moderator
Other volunteers who work behind the scenes include Varsha Chopra, and Kambiz Roghanchi.
MSU Volunteer of the Month Spotlight!
We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Jason Hopfauf, our incredible Community Support Coordinator, as our January Volunteer of the Month!
Jason plays a pivotal role in overseeing our dedicated volunteer support group moderators and Facebook admins, ensuring our community is well-supported and engaged. As a much-loved support group moderator himself, he brings empathy and understanding to every interaction. His meticulous coordination of shift schedules is essential in keeping our operations running smoothly.
Not only is Jason the right hand of Jessica Taylor, our Director of Operations, but he is also one of our longest-serving volunteers and one of the esteemed “Myositis Musketeers.” His unwavering commitment and passion for our mission truly make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Jason is known for his heartfelt motto, “You are never alone,” reminding everyone that our community is here to support each other every step of the way.
Thank you, Jason, for your incredible contributions and for embodying the spirit of teamwork and compassion. We are so grateful to have you as part of the MSU family!
#VolunteerOfTheMonth #MyositisCommunity #ThankYouJason #YouAreNeverAlone #MSU #SupportStartsHere
