Administrative Team

Jocelyn Krebs, PhD

Dr. Jocelyn Krebs is the former president of the Board of Trustees for the Williams Syndrome Association and a researcher who studied a gene in the Williams syndrome deletion region before having a child of her own with Williams syndrome.  Her passion, expertise, determination, and collaboration, combined with a wealth of experience studying Williams syndrome and deep knowledge of the needs of individuals with Williams syndrome, make her the ideal inaugural Director of ACE for WS. 

Dr. Krebs joins ACE for WS from her most recent role as professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the WWAMI School of Medical Education at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her extensive experience spans academia, research, and advocacy, earning her recognition as a respected figure within the Williams syndrome community. Notably, her work in epigenetics, nuclear and mitochondrial genome stability, and Williams syndrome demonstrates her dedication to unraveling the complexities of this condition. Importantly, Dr. Krebs is already familiar with the Center, having served as a member of our Advisory Board and as a consultant since its inception.

Kristen Kouvel, PT, DPT, PCS, CPMT

Senior Clinical Program Director, Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome

Dr. Kristen Kouvel is the Senior Clinical Program Director of the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome. After graduating in 2009 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy she spent her first three years in practice gaining experience in a variety of pediatric and adult care settings which provided a robust experience learning the challenges patients face throughout their care journeys.

Dr. Kouvel joined the Physical Therapy team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2012 where she became an expert in Williams Syndrome. She served as the lead therapist of the Connective Tissue Disorders and Williams Syndrome program from 2013-2023. She has been privileged to lecture at the Williams Syndrome Association Convention since 2018 and attend numerous community events which has afforded her the opportunity to connect with and hear the personal stories of individuals with Williams Syndrome and their families.

During her time at CHOP she has taken on numerous roles and responsibilities focused on transformative leadership, multidisciplinary program development, standardization of practice and quality improvement. These areas of interest in combination with her passion for Williams Syndrome have helped her identify opportunities for ACE-WS to transform the way we provide care for individuals with Williams Syndrome.

Edward S. (Ted) Brodkin, MD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine

Edward (Ted) Brodkin, MD is a psychiatrist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry with tenure at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.  He is the founder and director of the Adult Autism Spectrum Program at Penn Medicine and co-director of the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence.  He has had more than 20 years of experience in working with adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders.  His research and clinical interests have focused on the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders, social behavior development, mental health issues in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, and improving social functioning and quality of life across the transition to adulthood and the entire lifespan.  He has extensive, unique experience in research recruitment of participants with genetically -defined neurodevelopmental disorders and in quantitative behavioral phenotyping, experience that he will apply to the Armellino Williams Center of Excellence.  He has led a team and developed a productive, efficient recruitment and phenotyping platform in the ASPE project, a platform that he will bring to the Armellino Center.  He has also developed treatment and support programs for social functioning and emotion regulation that he will offer to adolescents and adults with Williams syndrome in the Armellino Center.  Ted has been collaborating closely with Dan Rader and Maria Fasolino over the past several years on the ASPE project, and Ted has been working closely with Dan and Maria in organizing the Armellino WS Behavioral Health Team.  Ted will direct and coordinate the ACE for WS Behavioral Health Team.

Daria (Dasha) Fleyshman, PhD

Research Program Manager, Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome

Daria (Dasha) Fleyshman, PhD, is the Research Program Manager for ACE for WS. She obtained her Ph.D. in experimental oncology in 2008 while studying molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression. Dasha did her postdoctoral training at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC) in Buffalo, where she investigated how chromatin remodeling affects tumorigenesis and characterized anti-cancer drug candidates targeting this process. Afterwards she combined research with project management, facilitating clinical development of these drugs. Among programs that Dasha established was a multidisciplinary collaborative study between RPCCC, Cornell School of Veterinary, and University of Haifa, assessing activity of endogenous retroviruses in tumorigenesis, cognitive decline, and aging. Most recently, Dasha served as a project manager at RPCCC and helped developing multiple programs – from innovative medical devices to cell therapies. When Dasha’s younger son was diagnosed with Williams syndrome she decided to find a way to implement her scientific knowledge and organizational skills for the benefit of WS community. This led her to ACE-WS. Dasha was very excited to join ACE-WS and is looking forward to supporting the team the best she can. 

Cindy Tsikalas

Program Coordinator, Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome

Cindy joined the Armellino Center of Excellence for Williams Syndrome in spring of 2023 as a Clinical Research Coordinator/Patient Navigator and now serves as the Program Coordinator. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in child and adolescent mental health studies from New York University. 

Cindy brings a unique blend of clinical and research experience to the team.  She previously served as a Patient Intake Coordinator at a mental health center and as a Program Assistant at the Child Mind Institute in New York City. There, she participated in 1:1 parent-child interaction therapy for children with selective mutism, autism, and ADHD. Before joining ACE-WS, Cindy worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she managed pediatric clinical trials. 

As Program Coordinator, Cindy brings exceptional organizational skills, a strategic mindset, and a collaborative spirit to the team. Her passion for helping others and ability to connect with patient and families, particularly within the Spanish-speaking Williams syndrome community, has been valuable in expanding the center's reach and impact. Cindy's fluency in Spanish ensures that all families receive the support they need, fostering a more inclusive environment. With her diverse skill set, Cindy is dedicated to enhancing the patient experience, improving clinical outcomes, and advancing the program's mission.