Leadership

Melissa Marotta Houser, M.D. (she/they)

Mel Houser, M.D. (she/they) is an Autistic/PDA/ADHD/dyslexic/dyspraxic/dyscalculic Board Certified Family Physician. Except for the doctor part, she didn’t know any of these things about herself until age 37. “Dr. Mel” is passionate about helping patients of all ages learn about their brains and build connections to overcome society’s broken systems and discover the truth that “there is no one right way to be a person,” (to quote her child at age 5).

Dr. Houser holds a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. They completed residency training in Family Medicine at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut, where they served as Chief Resident. They also completed a Fellowship in Medical Student Education from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and a Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellowship from the University of Vermont.

Dr. Houser provides neurodiversity training to healthcare practices and workplaces around the country about how to create environments where people with all types of brains can get their needs met and thrive.

Connie Beal (she/her) – Chair

Connie Beal is the Director of United Way’s Working Bridges program. Working Bridges partners with employers to support employee retention. She supports a team of Resource Coordinators in workplaces across Northwest, Central, and Northeast Vermont to support employees by addressing access to housing, transportation, healthcare, and so many other fundamental human needs.

Connie believes that neuro-inclusion in the workplace and beyond is a fundamental part of health equity. She believes that all people should be able to show up fully in all the places of their lives — work, healthcare, school.  She is passionate about helping ABB meet the deep, critical need in our community. As the parent of two young children, she believes that conversations about neurodiversity and inclusion should begin early on and extend to everyone. 

Jayson Capobianco (he/him)

Jayson Capobianco is a Family Resources Consultant / Postsecondary Transition Consultant with the Vermont I-Team, part of the University of Vermont’s Center on Disability and Community Inclusion.

Jayson has a passion for promoting self-actualization and self-determination for young people. He believes that the path to thriving involves holistic transition of a person growing up over time. This involves social connection, experiences, and a sense of self. Jayson is excited about the work of All Brains Belong in promoting all of this as a path to individual and community well-being.

Winnie Looby, Ph.D. (she/her)

Winnie Looby, Ph.D. is a lecturer and coordinator of academics for the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (CDCI) at the University of Vermont. Her teaching focuses on disability culture, social justice, and inclusion. What she loves most about her work is the broad network of collaborative relationships that she has formed over the years, with organizations such as the Vermont State Independent Living Council (VTSILC), the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL), Building Flourishing Communities and, of course, All Brains Belong VT.

Winnie has found a holistic synergy in this work in that she is part of a neurodivergent family, and her personal experiences inform her approaches to teaching and advocacy for the rights of disabled people/people with disabilities. She believes that many of our social issues can be solved when people who are often on the margins of the mainstream of society are meaningfully included in interdependent relationships where their strengths are recognized, appreciated, and respected. Nothing about us without us!

Peter J. Anderson, PhD.

Peter J Anderson, PhD. An entrepreneur at heart, Peter has always looked for the next challenge. After two very successful decades in higher ed, Peter left academia to build an independent consulting firm that could integrate his passion for people, adult learning, and evidence-based emotional intelligence development. Through Inner Citadel Consulting, Peter offers executive & leadership coaching and development for individuals and teams, grounded in emotional intelligence and mindfulness approaches. His work with organizations focuses on using mindfulness, emotional intelligence and behavioral dynamics to build team cohesion and effectiveness. Peter holds certifications from the International Coaching Federation, the Center for Executive Coaching, U.N. Habitat, and the NYCenter for Non-Violent Communication. He is a certified Genos International EI practitioner, and a certified Facilitator and Teacher with the Institute for Organizational Science and Mindfulness.

Peter joined the ABB Board in 2025. He has many amazing and talented family and friends who are affected by the confusions and social stigma associated with neurodivergence and by the mental and physical health issues that are woven into these differences. He is eager and proud to serve an organization that values, supports, and champions individual difference, equal dignity, and access to appropriate health care and education. He hopes you will too!

Rachel Lovins, MD (she/her) – Secretary

Rachel Lovins, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine Physician, Certified Physician Executive, educator, and professional coach. She has special interest and training in medical ethics, palliative care, wellness, communication, and equity and inclusion. She studied painting as an undergraduate and is fascinated by the way the right brain and left brain work together and the interplay between science art and music. Dr. Lovins completed her Medical School and Residency training in Internal Medicine at Yale University. She received additional training in Palliative Care at Harvard University. She is the former Chair of Medicine at Middlesex Hospital in Connecticut, where she co-founded a multidisciplinary program to support transgender and gender non-conforming patients. Dr. Lovins serves on the faculty of Yale University and Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. She presently is a Medical Director of a patient education/engagement company which uses microlearning theory to help people with different learning styles. 

Dr. Lovins is dedicated to living and helping others live their most authentic lives. She has neurodivergent family members and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with All Brains Belong on our mission to make the world a safer and more welcoming place for people with every kind of brain. She and her husband have three grown children and enjoy spending time outdoors with their dogs, cat and bees.