Frist Center for Autism & Innovation Convenes Inaugural NeuroCorps Cohort
The Frist Center for Autism & Innovation (FCAI) at Vanderbilt University is proud to announce the successful convening of the inaugural NeuroCorps cohort on Monday and Tuesday this week. This brand-new program brings together six neurodivergent leaders, entrepreneurs, and business and non-profit leaders, comprising staff and visiting scholars, to advance neuroinclusion in the workplace and support neurodivergent professionals in creating meaningful change.
The NeuroCorps program represents a bold new initiative to build a cadre of neurodivergent consultants and leaders grounded in evidence-based practice. Through this pilot, FCAI aims to serve as an incubator and collaborative platform for talented self-advocates seeking to transform organizations and support neurodivergent entrepreneurs in launching and sustaining their ventures.
FCAI aims to learn how we can best support self-advocates seeking to effect change in organizations and help neurodivergent individuals start their own organizations. This program aims to amplify the incredible work these leaders are already doing, providing them with resources, connections, and a community to maximize their impact.
The inaugural cohort includes:
- Dave Thompson – Strategist, author, and keynote speaker; program manager for engineering education at FCAI, and serves as COO of The Neuroverse Initiative.
- Dr. Dave Caudel – Associate Director of FCAI, neurodivergence advocate, and physicist focused on meaningful employment for autistic adults.
- Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik – Astrophysicist, Director of Communications at FCAI, and CEO of The Neuroverse Initiative.
- Dr. Teresa Vasquez – Award-winning technologist, educator, and CEO of Repped in Tech, advancing tech skills and reputation-building for neurodivergent professionals.
- Haley Moss – Neurodiversity expert, lawyer, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; author of five books on neurodivergent professional and personal success.
- Margaux Joffe – Board Certified Cognitive Specialist, Forbes Accessibility 100 honoree, and founder of Minds of All Kinds.
During their convening, the cohort identified pressing barriers to true entrepreneurial neuroinclusion and neurodivergent thriving, with a particular focus on the unmet need for guidance and support for neurodivergent creators and entrepreneurs. Over the coming year, the group will collaborate to develop tools, supports, and community resources to help neurodivergent individuals initiate, grow, and sustain entrepreneurial ventures, as well as support their own ongoing success.
The NeuroCorps program reflects FCAI’s commitment to centering neurodivergent voices in research, practice, and innovation. By fostering collaboration among leading self-advocates and grounding their work in evidence-based approaches, FCAI aims to create scalable, sustainable change that advances neuroinclusion across sectors.
For more information about the NeuroCorps program and the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation, visit the NeuroCorps webpage. Please send any questions about our new program to Dr. Jessica Schonhut-Stasik, Director of Communications.
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