About Aspire
Aspire specializes in helping children, teens and adults on the autism spectrum achieve success.
Meet the Aspire Clinical Team
Scott McLeod, PhD
Executive Director, Aspire
Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School
Scott McLeod has been on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital since 1990. He became Aspire’s executive director in 2003 after acting as associate director for ten years. Scott is a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School. He has been a staff psychologist at MGH and continues to offer therapy part-time at the Lurie Center for Autism. In his work at Aspire, Scott consults in many public and private schools about supporting social and academic success.
Scott received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Boston University. His clinical interests include the development of effective interventions for persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He is a former longtime member of the board of directors of the Asperger's Association of New England (AANE). He is also the co-author of a book on ASD: Take Charge of Treatment for Your Child with Asperger's (ASD): Create a Personalized Guide to Success for Home, School, and the Community. Scott strongly believes that supporting individuals in groups, schools and at work accelerates personal growth.
Clinical staff are listed in alphabetical order.
Stephen DeFilippo, PsyD
Associate Manager, Teen and Adult Services
Stephen DeFilippo began working at Aspire as a part of the explorations summer program in 2021 and joined the teen and adult services team as associate manager in 2022. He develops curricula and facilitates activity-based social groups during the school year. During the summer, Stephen serves as program manager of the explorations program. He also provides individualized college and relationship coaching services throughout the year. Stephen has worked therapeutically supporting teens and young adults and their families in a variety of settings for more than a decade.
Stephen received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College. His research interests include examining how technology and virtual spaces, as well as tabletop role-playing games, can be used to build social skills and facilitate social connections. Stephen is excited to be a part of the important work that happens at Aspire.
Kellsey Donovan, M.S., CAGS
Associate Manager, Teen and Adult Services
Kellsey Donovan has been a part of Aspire’s teen and adult programming since 2013. As associate manager of teen and adult services, Kellsey develops curricula and leads social groups related to gaming, cooking, community-based activities, and more. She also provides individualized college and relationship coaching services throughout the year. During the summer, Kellsey manages the transitions program, which offers supportive work experiences to participants. Additionally, she has extensive experience in the public school system, where she previously worked as a school psychologist. Within that role, she supported a diverse population of students and worked in a special education program designed for students with social and emotional learning needs. She completed comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations for special education eligibility, implemented social-emotional learning curricula, and conducted school-based counseling with students.
Kellsey received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed her master’s and certificate of advanced graduate study in school psychology at Northeastern University. She is passionate about neurodiversity, executive functioning, and social-emotional learning.
Jillian Dyment, MEd, CAGS
Manager, Child and Parent Services
Jill Dyment oversees year-round programming for children. This includes social groups, special events and Aspire’s summer adventure camp. Jill also oversees parent programming and provides parent coaching services. She provides school consultation and professional development for educators, administrators, and clinicians across all grade levels. Jill comes to Aspire with specific expertise in public school special education, first as a special educator and then as a team facilitator for special education programming in a K-8 school. Early in her career, Jill became a resource to her district in implementing inclusion practices for students with ASD and other neurodivergent profiles. As a team facilitator, Jill developed school wide practices, transition supports, staff development and professional partnerships that enriched the education and community inclusion of neurodiverse students and their families.
Jill received her certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from Simmons College, completed her master’s degree in special education at Simmons College and completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at Providence College.
Christa B. Flanagan, MEd
Support Specialist, Coaching Services
Christa Flanagan provides relationship, college, career, and parent coaching at Aspire. Christa has extensive experience working in higher education, counseling prospective college students and their families, supporting enrolled undergraduates and graduate students. She spent 6 years, as a coach, consultation specialist, and group facilitator at the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), supporting transition age individuals (18-22), young and mature adults, pursuing academic and professional objectives. Additionally, Christa has strong expertise working with parents and family members while their loved ones strive toward personal goals.
Christa received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from Connecticut College and her Master of Education from Suffolk University in Boston. Christa strongly encourages her clients to seek optimal academic and professional environments that access personal strengths and offer support to minimize challenges. She believes that making lifestyle adjustments, cultivating skills and strategies, and finding communities to thrive in, lead to greater life balance, meaning, and social connection.
Molly Jagoda, MS, BCBA
Program Coordinator, Child Services
Molly Jagoda has been leading social and activity groups at Aspire since 2015. As program coordinator, she leads social groups at Aspire on weekends and during after-school hours throughout the week. Molly’s groups encourage participants to connect around shared interests, such as LEGO, science, and art, while learning and practicing stress-management skills through mindfulness and storytelling. Molly also serves as a member on the leadership team for Aspire’s summer adventure camp and adventure camp junior.
Molly holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Muhlenberg College and has been a certified Kripalu yoga instructor for over 10 years. She received her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis and autism studies in 2020 from the University of Massachusetts - Lowell. She completed her master’s practicum project by supporting autistic children to initiate and sustain board-game play with peers. She prides herself on a strengths-based approach to special-needs childcare and believes in empowering Aspire participants to be themselves.
Taylor Levesque, MA
Associate Manager, Child Services
Taylor Levesque (she/her) develops curricula and leads weekly social groups for children and young teens, ages 10 to 13, during the academic year, including cooking group, group gaming, and engineering. Come summer, Taylor serves as co-camp director for Aspire’s summer adventure camp and adventure camp junior where she trains and mentors staff while supporting camper needs on-site and communicating with families. She takes special pride in sharing the Aspire summer camp model with others and presents regularly at local conferences and college classrooms. Prior to working at Aspire, Taylor developed and implemented a social skills curriculum for transition-age youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and participated in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellowship program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Taylor received her undergraduate degrees in child development and psychology and her Master of Arts in child study and human development from Tufts University. Taylor’s passion lies in building strong, therapeutic relationships with participants and leveraging those connections to create inclusive, skill-building communities.
Jack Lewis, MEd
Associate Manager, Employment Services
Jack Lewis has been working at Aspire since 2021. He manages the Aspire works internship program and works directly with neurodiverse adults seeking to develop their job skills through short-term work experience. As a career coach, Jack provides thoughtful support and individualized strategies in helping adults to achieve their professional goals. Jack also works and collaborates with Aspire’s employer partners to facilitate DEI training initiatives focused on neurodiversity.
Jack completed his master’s degree in special education for moderate disabilities from Lesley University and his undergraduate degree in recreation management from Springfield College. Before working at Aspire, Jack worked with individuals on the autism spectrum at Weston high school where he helped to develop a transition planning curriculum for the students in an inclusion program to support their transition to life after high school. He believes by creating an inclusive environment and safe space for participants it will enhance their potential for personal and professional growth.
Brett Mulder, PsyD
Director, Adult Services
Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School
Brett Mulder, director of adult services at Aspire and instructor at Harvard Medical School, oversees year-round services for adults. Brett holds appointments as psychologist in the department of psychiatry and as assistant in pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the principal investigator on three studies evaluating program outcomes for teen and adult programs at Aspire and of innovative treatments for autism and co-occurring conditions. Brett provides consultation to school systems and conducts neurodiversity trainings and workshops throughout the year for employers, clinicians, and educators. At the Lurie Center for Autism, he sees children, teenagers, and adults for individual psychotherapy.
Brett received his undergraduate degree in psychology and philosophy from Hope College, his Master of Arts in philosophy from Tufts University, and his doctorate in clinical psychology from William James College. He completed a two-year advanced fellowship in psychotherapy and psychological assessment at the Danielsen Institute of Boston University. Brett’s training positions included Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital/YouthCare, Boston University, Tufts Medical Center, and McLean Hospital.
Jenn O’Rourke, MS
Associate Manager, Child Services
Jenn O’Rourke (she/her) develops curricula and leads weekly social groups for children ages 5-9 during the academic year. In the summer, she serves as co-camp director for Aspire’s summer adventure camp and adventure camp junior and is part of the leadership team that trains and mentors staff while supporting campers and their families. Jenn also provides consultation to schools, supporting neurodiverse students across grade levels. Before coming to Aspire, Jenn facilitated a K-2 inclusion-based program in the District of Columbia public school system, with a focus on teaching social thinking and executive functioning skills to elementary aged children with high-cognitive autism spectrum disorder.
Jenn received her undergraduate degree in psychology and earned her Master of Science in applied behavior analysis from Northeastern University. Jenn believes in a multidisciplinary approach that values the development of the whole child. She values using the natural teaching environment and a child’s interests to promote connections and social emotional development.
Elise Wulff, MEd
Senior Manager, Consultation Services
Elise Wulff (she/her) has more than 20 years’ experience working with the neurodiverse population in both public and private sectors. With Aspire since 2007, Elise currently manages consultation and professional development services. As a neurodivergent individual herself, Elise applies her extensive experience and unique perspective in collaboration with neurodiverse individuals, caregivers, and providers to customize tools and strategies that enhance success across various life domains including home, school, and work. Elise has written curriculum to promote healthy self-awareness, disclosure, transition planning, and executive functioning. As an international speaker, Elise supports organizations and corporations to implement practical and sustainable inclusion. She has specific expertise in the neurodiversity framework, special education, universal design, social-emotional learning, tools to build independence, and strategies for executive functioning.
Elise received her undergraduate degree in psychology and theater arts from Emory University and her master’s degree in special education from Lesley University. Her clinical interests are in the areas of neurodiversity, executive functioning, parent/caregiver support, and effective and sustainable inclusion practices for individuals, educators, parents/caregivers, and providers.