Staff
| AFTD is hiring — click here to learn more. |
Susan L-J Dickinson, MSGC | Chief Executive Officer
Susan Dickinson, MSGC, AFTD Chief Executive Officer (CEO), joined AFTD in February 2008. A genetic counselor, she brings more than four decades of experience facilitating communications among lay, scientific, and medical communities. Under her leadership, AFTD has expanded dramatically in scale and impact, from a $400,000 organization with a part-time staff of three to a $14 million+ organization with 56 full-time staff. During her tenure, AFTD has expanded programs to meet and advocate for the care and support needs of FTD families, and invested in specific strategies to advance FTD research and drug development, including five multi-year, multi-million dollar research initiatives targeting FTD diagnosis and treatment. She holds an MS in genetic counseling from Arcadia University and a BA in biology and psychology from Swarthmore College.
Mitch Appleson, CPA, MBA | Chief Operating Officer
Mitch Appleson, CPA, MBA, joined AFTD in March 2022 as Chief Operating Officer. He earned an MBA from St. Joseph’s University and a B.S. in Accounting from Yeshiva University. Mitch has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare and research administration, building teams and driving growth while serving in leadership roles at Columbia University, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel University. Most recently, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Alliance Cancer Specialists, a multi-site oncology practice serving patients in the Greater Philadelphia area. Mitch began his career in public accounting at Ernst & Young and has a CPA license.
Penny Dacks, Ph.D. | Senior Director of Scientific Initiatives
Penny Dacks, Ph.D., became AFTD’s Senior Director of Scientific Initiatives in September 2020. Previously, she worked at the American Epilepsy Society, overseeing all mission-related programs in research, medical education, and clinical activities. Before that she spent five years at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, where she led development of CognitiveVitality.org and the Aging & Alzheimer’s Prevention Program to source and evaluate potential therapies. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Arizona. As AFTD’s Senior Director of Scientific Initiatives, Dr. Dacks leads strategy for AFTD’s research programs and serves as President of the FTD Disorders Registry.
Sharon S. Denny, MA | Senior Director of Programs
Sharon S. Denny, MA, Senior Director of Programs, joined AFTD in September 2008 where she directs strategic development of support, education, and advocacy for people with FTD, their care partners and families, and healthcare professionals. An advocate for high-quality, responsive services, she has expanded support services for families facing FTD and led efforts to include people living with FTD in fulfilling AFTD’s mission. Under her leadership, AFTD has implemented robust education initiatives for healthcare professionals and an advocacy agenda to address public policy affecting people with FTD. She serves on national committees and work groups addressing the development and delivery of dementia care and services. Ms. Denny has an MA in clinical psychology from West Chester University and a BA in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross.
Phillip Weichel, MSW | Senior Director of Advancement
Phillip Weichel, MSW, became AFTD’s Senior Director of Advancement in January 2024. He has held numerous leadership positions in disease-focused organizations throughout the last 30 years, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and the Arthritis Foundation. Most recently, Phillip was a vice president at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As AFTD Senior Director of Advancement, Phillip will work to boost FTD’s national and global visibility while generating resources to sustain and advance AFTD’s mission. Phillip earned his MSW at Boston University.
Nicole Bjorklund, PhD
Director of Research & Grants
Cynthia Brown-Smith, MSHRD, PHR
Director of Human Resources
Meghan Buzby, MBA
Director of Advocacy and Volunteer Engagement
Shana Dodge, Ph.D.
Director of Research Engagement
Bridget Graham
Events Director
Esther Kane, MSN, RN-CDP
Support & Education Director
Amanda Knight
Development Director
PJ Lepp
Director of Marketing & Communications
Michelle Thompson, MBA
Director of Finance
Peter Witzleb, MBA
Director of IT
Jackie DiFerdinando, MS
Development Operations Manager
Amanda Gleixner, Ph.D.
Research Projects Manager
Elizabeth Graham, MA
Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager
Kim Jenny, MS, LCGC
Manager of Genetic Initiatives
Sarah Lopata, MS
Support Services Manager
Michael Mullan, MA
Volunteer Services Manager
Matthew Ozga
Content & Media Relations Manager
Stephanie Quigley, MSW, LSW, CDP
HelpLine Manager
William Reiter, MA
Education Program Manager
Matthew Sharp, MSS
Advocacy Manager
Jillian Shellenberger, MS
Events Manager
Omair Siddiqui
Digital Marketing Manager
Kate Still, PhD
Research Outreach Manager
Jeff Thompson
Office Manager
Abby Addvensky, MPA
Development Coordinator
Hilary Boucher
Support Services Coordinator
Jeni Cardosi
Human Resources Specialist
Erin Ficca, MA
Support Services Coordinator
Alyssa Fikaris, MSW, LSW
HelpLine Advisor
Ed Foley
Marketing Copy Writer
Raymond Frattone
Education Coordinator
Samantha Garner
Research Coordinator
Danielle Gershkoff, MM
Development Operations Assistant
Hannah Gruen
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Olivia Klenn
Administrative Assistant, Support and Education
Carrie Johnson
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Michael Mignone, MS
Administrative Assistant, Advocacy and Volunteer Engagement
Mike Mooney, MA
Content Writer
Lauren Pelaia
Advocacy Coordinator
Cameron Reid
Development Writer
Wendy Rollins
Events Coordinator
Ann Schoonover, MSW, LSW
HelpLine Specialist
Sandy Sosa, MS
Social Media Specialist
Ashlyn Stienstra
Fundraising Coordinator
English 
Spanish (Mexico) 
French 
German 
Swedish 
Portuguese 
Italian 
Dutch 
Danish 
Polish 
Spanish (Spain)