Meet the NNL Staff and Leadership Team

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Project staff directly work towards NNL’s goals by organizing workshops and summer camps, developing opportunities and products that engage neurodiverse individuals, collaborating with high school teachers and postsecondary faculty, and creating resources to promote accessible neuroscience.

Program Operations Specialist Eric Trekell plans events and capacity-building institutes, creating professional development for educators. He also works with students during the NNL summer program. He has past experience working in disability service programs as well as TRiO and queer resource centers. He has a bachelor's degree with dual majors in government and history from Adams State University of Colorado, and a master's degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University, College Station.
PI Scott Bellman currently serves as program manager and project director at the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Center at the University of Washington, where he has worked for over 19 years. He is also serving as associate director of diversity at the Center for Neurotechnology. His interests include diversity in STEM education, the career development of students with disabilities, and equitable access to challenging postsecondary programs and careers. Scott is a vocational rehabilitation counselor by training. He is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State and currently serves on the Washington State Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, where he promotes the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in all aspects of society.
Education Director Dr. Eric Chudler will guide neuroscience and summer study activities. He is the Executive Director/Education Director of the CNT and a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the UW. Dr. Chudler has extensive experience promoting neuroscience to K-12 and postsecondary students through hands-on activities, video production, books, and other.
Co-PI Rajesh P. N. Rao is the CJ and Elizabeth Hwang Professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle. He is also the co-Director of the Center for Neurotechnology (CNT), Adjunct Professor in the Bioengineering department, and faculty member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UW. He directs the Neural Systems Laboratory located in the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering. His research interests span computational neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and artificial intelligence as well as the Indus script and classical Indian paintings.
Counselor and Project Coordinator Tami Tidwell works with high school and college students on topics like college admissions, scholarships, internships, employment, accommodations, and disclosure strategies. She enjoys working closely with students through both the DO-IT Scholars and Neuroscience for Neurodiverse Learners (NNL) programs. She has a degree in psychology from Texas Christian University.