Staff Profiles
National Office Staff
Michael McManmon, Ed.D
Executive Director
Dr. McManmon grew up the youngest son in a family of nine children. He is the father of six children and nine grandchildren. He received his B.A. in English from Mt. St. Mary's College in Maryland and went on for his Masters in Counseling from Shippensburg University.
He attended the University of Kansas for his Masters in Human Development through a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. He obtained his Doctorate in Special Education from the University of Nevada. Subsequently, he was licensed as a Psychologist by the State of Massachusetts. He worked for state, private and non-profit organizations in several states prior to founding The Berkshire Center in 1984.
During his 35 years of experience with students with Learning Differences and Asperger's Syndrome, Dr. McManmon has worked on Curriculum Development, Staff Training, Program Evaluation, and Administering Community Based Programming. He is a member of the International Learning Disabilities Association and the Independent Educational Consultants Association. Dr. McManmon speaks and presents at Professional Conferences nationally and internationally. He has an inside perspective as he himself was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and grew up in a large family with several individuals on the spectrum.
Dr. McManmon has been certified as a family teacher through the Boys Town Center in Nebraska. He has served as a PTA President, School Board Member and Parish Council Member. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Lee Chamber of Commerce, coached in the Community Soccer League and basketball league, and is an avid gardener.
Dr. McManmon's program philosophy is to provide a loving and trusting environment in which personal growth can occur. The process includes honoring each individual's talents and assisting them in using their personal power to develop skills, meet their needs and thus live independently. This process is accomplished by hiring exemplary individuals, giving them the tools to operate and working as a team.
Executive Director's Assistant
Karri Ann Woodard was born and raised in Dalton, Massachusetts. She now lives in Peru, MA with her husband Charlie. She has a sixteen year old son, Zacheri and she spends much of her time watching him play football, basketball and his favorite sport baseball.
Karri attended Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA where she received her A.A. in Business Administration. Some of her hobbies include breeding and raising bulldogs. She also enjoys biking, reading and writing.
Caroline Wheeler, B.A.
National Admissions Director
Caroline Wheeler received her BA from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is a certified high school and middle school teacher.
Caroline has been working with individuals with learning differences for many years, both as a special education teacher and as a case manager supervisor.
She is a Certified Educational Advocate and a Certified MCAS Tutor. Caroline also has taken graduate courses at Assumption College and Fitchburg State College. Caroline began her work at the Berkshire Center as an Advisor and as the Vocational Coordinator.
She then became interested in the admissions process and was Assistant to the Admissions Director for one year, after which she was thrilled to take the position of Director.
Caroline lives in Lee, Massachusetts where she enjoys gardening, hiking, photography, reading, biking, art, music, and traveling. Caroline also loves to spend time with her daughter Jennifer, who lives in central Massachusetts.
National Admissions Assistant
Maggi Sanderson holds a B.A. in English from Smith College and has been involved with admissions and marketing for special needs/therapeutic programs for nearly 15 years.
She assisted Eric M. Plakun, M.D., at the Austen Riggs Center in admissions and in his research and subsequent contributions to the DSM-III in defining diagnostic criteria for narcissistic, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders, and schizophrenia.
For eight years she served as Director of Admissions at The DeSisto School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where she also supervised family casework, coordinated interdepartmental IEP development and implementation, and pursued funding options for students.
Maggi has traveled extensively as Director of Outreach for The King George School in Sutton, Vermont, and as regional representative for referral development for Brown Schools, Inc.
A staunch proponent of the arts and historic preservation, Maggi has also served as dramaturg and assistant to both Managing and Artistic Directors at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and as Director of Marketing and Visitor Services at Hancock Shaker Village.
Her greatest loves are her daughter, Greer, age 24, a freelance writer; her cat; and reading, writing and cooking.
Heather Greene, M.B.A.
National Business Manager
Heather joined the College Internship Program in July 2005. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and her M.B.A. from Sage Graduate School.
For the past five years, she was living and working in the United Kingdom as an accounting contractor in telecommunication and banking industries.
She relocated back to the States in February 2005. Prior to that, Heather worked for ten years as a Financial Controller for NorthEast Health in Cohoes, N.Y. She currently enjoys life in the Berkshires with her son, Jordan and is kept very busy attending his sporting events. Heather also enjoys skiing, horseback riding, running, reading, and traveling.
Sara Siu, B.S.
National HR/Finance Assistant
Sara grew up in Honk Kong and came to America 17 years ago. She lived, worked, and studied in New Hampshire for past 7 years. She has been relocated back to upstate New York to be close with her parents. She was graduated from Granite State College and received B.S. in Human Resources Management.
Sara was an assistant manager for her family's business for many years. Then she has opportunity to be a part-time finance assistant, administrative assistant, and HR assistant while she was completing her college degree. When she was an administrative assistant, she worked in the department of Special Education Teacher Training (SETT) Program. She has developed precious friendships with her colleagues and it was a corner stone for her professional career. Sara feels that it is something special for her to work for CIP now.
Sara loves her church and desire to be a positive influence to her community. She likes Bible study, reading, watch TV and wide range of sports such as hiking, walking, indoor rock claiming, tennis, table tennis, swimming etc.
Dan McManmon, B.A.
National Marketing Coordinator
Dan McManmon was born and raised in western Massachusetts by his parents Michael and Linda. Growing up he enjoyed playing sports and working on various art projects.
Dan attended Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont where he received his B.A. in Multimedia and Graphic Design.
Some of his hobbies include producing music, maintaining his music production website, freelance graphic design, and going out with his friends. He enjoys the outdoors, hiking, biking, and playing with his dogs.
Berkeley Center Staff
Janet Miller, M.A., CET
Program Director
Janet joins the College Internship Program at the new Berkeley Center as she completes her MA in Special Education from San Francisco State University with a thesis on private college transition programs.
She earned her BA from Hunter College in English Language Arts, an MA in Organizational Development and Transformation from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a Certificate in Educational Therapy, also from San Francisco State.
She worked with students with all types of disabilities and was Director of the Academic Success Center at Menlo College for the past seven years where, along with her colleagues, she earned an award for Most Innovative Program of 2006 from CHADD (Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders) for her founding work in developing their transition program.
She has spoken on panels for WACAC, HECA, and AHEAD and values networking to brainstorm about serving college students with “hidden disabilities.” She is particularly interested in students with learning challenges whose college performance is readily improved with executive function coaching, assistance with administrative bureaucracy, and the personalized advocacy of learning specialists.
She loves time with family, feels fortunate to have her son and daughter both living in the Bay Area and don’t get her started on her grandchildren Alec and Ian.
Nicole Knaebel, A.A.
Office Manager
Nicole was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. She moved to the Berkshires upon accepting the position with The College Internship Program. She comes from a family of six, the second of four children.
Nicole attended Oakland Community College where she successfully completed the requirements for an Associates Degree in Business Administration. She spent many years working alongside seasoned professionals in the financial and executive offices within the automotive industry but is very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with her knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues at the College Internship Program.
Nicole spends her leisure time studying the Bible, exercising, enjoying the outdoors, cooking and painting.
Nicole Barter, B.A.
Student Advisor
Nicole was raised in the East San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating from college in Northern California with a double major in Communication Studies and American Studies, she returned to the Bay Area and worked in Human Resources for five years.
As a Communication Studies major, Nicole concentrated on subjects such as conflict management, communication theory and interpersonal communication. While attending college she also volunteered as a classroom aide and volunteer coordinator with an organization on her university's campus.
Nicole is currently attending school to earn a Master's degree in career couseling. In her spare time Nicole enjoys cooking, reading and traveling.
Shawn Corne, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Shawn Corne completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Manitoba. She later went on to receive two Master's degrees, the first in Psychology and the second in Women's Studies. Dr. Corne completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.
Dr. Corne has worked clinically with children, adolescents, and adults with learning and developmental challenges over the last 20 years in a wide range of settings that include a university counseling center, an adolescent residential treatment program, and a mobile crisis unit.
While serving as a Psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) for five years, Dr. Corne worked on a multidisciplinary team that provided comprehensive evaluations of children or adolescents.
Dr. Corne is a licensed psychologist in California. In addition to her clinical work at CIP, she has a private practice where she sees individuals in psychotherapy who are striving to understand themselves, and learning to create positive change in their lives so they can meet their potential.
Yasin Johnson, B.A.
Residential Coordinator
Yasin Johnson who is a native of Los Angeles moved to the Bay Area in 2002 to pursue higher education. He attended Berkeley City College where he received an Associates degree in Liberal Studies.
He then went on to San Francisco State University earning a degree in English Literature.
Yasin has worked with children with learning differences for the past four years. Yasin has worked as an Instructional Assistant in special education classrooms. He has also worked with developmentally challenge children in the Berkeley YMCA childcare department for three years.
Along with working as a Residential Coordinator for CIP, Yasin has also worked for the Berkeley Unified School District as an Assistant Behavioral Therapist. Yasin's hobbies include exercising, reading, and presently learning how to swim.
Admissions Coordinator
Marjorie joined CIP as Admissions Coordinator in February, '08. Her prior experience includes working as an Dean of Students at a local College, Mentor Program Director for High School and Middle School students, and working as an attorney for over 12 years. She loves this type of work, as her personal mission is to ensure that young people have the tools and resources to live their dreams.
Marjorie and her husband live in Emeryville, about three miles from the Berkeley Center. Her interests include: kickboxing, Toastmasters, reading, thinking, cooking, making menopause fun, and helping people reach their dreams.
Academic Coordinator
Julie Shepard received her Bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders, with a minor in Linguistics. She also went on to receive her Masters degree in Educational Technology Leadership from Cal State Hayward.
Julie carries two vocational teaching credentials for grades K-Adult: One in vocational adult education topics, and one in Computer Applications and Multimedia Arts. Her background abilities include creating supplementary multimedia materials for college readiness and workforce entry, helping assess and train employees in business and academic settings, and work with film making and documentary creation.
Julie wrote and directed a television commercial for a training program which aired on late-night television and urged students to seek training to “empower themselves to change their lives.” She has worked promoting training and placement for refugees, immigrants and the under-served, and has networked with community leaders to learn what employers look for, and what industry-standards translate to in the classroom so that students take the classes they need, and get the support they deserve, to be successful.
Julie is a tireless advocate for students with learning differences, and she places special emphasis on preparing plans for students to help them succeed in following their dreams. Her experience with Aspergers, special needs populations, and academic preparedness dates back more than two decades.
In her spare time, Julie enjoys film making, clay sculpting, and running a club for artisans who run small businesses, from which she obtains guest speakers and potential volunteer opportunities!