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Meet our Team

Our leadership is committed to creating a thoughtful, inclusive platform that supports and celebrates neurodivergent individuals. Together, we are shaping a future where diverse ways of thinking are recognized, respected, and better understood.

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Founder, Executive Director 

Stephanie Tharp

Stephanie is part of the administrative support team at UVA’s Virginia Institute of Government (Weldon Cooper Center). She previously worked as an Education and Outreach Coordinator, commonly referred to as a “Family Navigator” for autism support at UVA, where she helped families with newly diagnosed children and implemented innovative strategies statewide. Her multifaceted career includes teaching, customer service, web design, and entrepreneurial ventures. Stephanie holds a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. As the Founder and Executive Director of Neurodivergence Campus, Stephanie will guide the team in decisions related to website design, research, and grant writing.

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Board Member 

Marian Toledo Candelaria

Dr. Toledo Candelaria is the Head of Special Collections at the University of Missouri Libraries. Previously, she served as the Manager for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the UVA School of Education and Human Development. Her professional experience also includes roles as Program Manager for Rare Book School and Writing and Multimodal Communication Specialist at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Toledo Candelaria is bilingual in Spanish and English and holds a PhD in History and Scottish Studies from the University of Guelph, as well as an MSLIS from Simmons University. Marian's commitment to inclusivity makes her an excellent fit for Neurodivergence Campus.

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Board Member 

Gabriela Garcia Largen

Gabriela is a Senior Director in the Service & Experience Department at the University of Virginia's Department of Human Resources. Her work focuses on improving response times to inquiries, reducing the time required to resolve complex issues, minimizing transaction errors, and enhancing self-service support frameworks. She also has extensive experience in complex, challenging international manufacturing and corporate environments. Gabriela is bilingual in English and Spanish. Her recent professional development in "design thinking" demonstrates her commitment to innovative trends that yield results in large-scale operations, making her well-suited for website development initiatives.

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Board Member 

Kelly Garrett

Kelly is the Program Coordinator for the Virginia Education Science Training (VEST) program at UVA's School of Education and Human Development. She began her career as a high school English teacher, earned an MEd from Penn State University, and continues to be passionate about K-12 education. Before joining UVA, Kelly spent 20 years as an instructional designer and technical writer. Her background in education and her editorial skills will greatly benefit the website.

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Board Member 

Erin Swansiger

​Erin is an attorney (J.D., The Catholic University of America) known for leadership in communications law, including her role as Lead Articles Editor of The COMMLAW Conspectus and awards from the Federal Communications Bar Association. She also holds a Master of Teaching (English Education) from the University of Virginia. Licensed in Virginia for English Language Arts (6–12), she brings regulatory insight from telecommunications and administrative law to policy and education initiatives. Erin is active in community service with extensive volunteer leadership in PTO, school programs, and refugee support.

Open Positions

While we are not currently hiring for any staff positions, we welcome interest from individuals who are passionate about neurodiversity and would like to contribute through volunteer projects or future opportunities. If you’re interested in supporting our mission or getting involved in any capacity, please reach out to us at info@ndcampus.org. We’d love to hear from you. 

© 2026 Neurodivergence Campus

All rights reserved.

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