Our Team
Dr. Collin Diedrich PhD
President and Founder
Dr. Collin Diedrich has a Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a Certificate in Disability Legal Studies from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and is a postdoctoral associate researching how HIV changes immunological responses to tuberculosis. Dr. Diedrich’s research has allowed him to work in Cape Town, South Africa for 3 approximately years. Dr. Diedrich has multiple learning disabilities and is an advocate, speaker and author for students and adults who learn and think differently. He’s spoken across the country about his experiences and teaches people how to embrace neurodiversity.
Dr. Diedrich has volunteered for other wonderful learning disability focused organizations such as Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, Provident Charter School in Pittsburgh, and Learning Disabilities Association of America. Dr. Diedrich is dedicated to providing helpful services to both children and adults with learning and attention issues.
Carrie Gardner
Vice President
Carrie Gardner has a business management degree and has been an advocate for people with dyslexia for more than a decade. She has a child and husband with dyslexia so she has a unique understanding of how learning differences affect all aspects of life. She has been a board member of the Pennsylvania Branch of International Dyslexia Association for a decade and provided funding for their first state-wide conference. Carrie was on the working board of the first free dyslexia charter school (Provident Charter) in Pittsburgh. Carrie is a tireless advocate for those that think differently.
Vicki Mayowski
Treasurer
Vicki Mayowski is a CPA with over 15 years of comprehensive tax experience, including high-net worth individual income tax, gift tax, partnerships, and private foundations.
Vicki is passionate about assisting exempt organizations to grow, thrive, and perform their missions within their communities. She began volunteering at Arcade Comedy Theater, Pittsburgh’s only non-profit theater dedicated to comedy, as the Treasurer of their Board of Directors upon its founding in 2013. As Arcade’s Treasurer, she quickly came to appreciate just how important it is to provide sound advice and guidance to exempt organizations, so they can focus on their charitable mission.
Vicki is also the Treasurer of the Pittsburgh chapter of Ellevate, a women’s networking group whose mission is to help women advance in the workplace, and she is involved in her local community, serving as the Judge of Elections in Ward 8, District 7 of the City of Pittsburgh.
Vicki brings her experience and enthusiasm to LDA of PA as its Treasurer, where she ensures the organization maintains its 501c(3) exemption so that it can carry out its mission of helping individuals by giving them the education and support they need to be successful.
Dr. Polly Mattila PhD
Secretary
Dr. Polly Mattila has a Ph.D. in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences from the University of Minnesota and postdoctoral training in cell biology at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her passion for science, Dr. Mattila has a deep curiosity about how individuals learn. Her interest in learning styles started when she was young. She grew up alongside family members with multiple learning disabilities and observed how her mother had to advocate for her siblings in a school system built for typical learners. Her mother brought an awareness to not only the challenges individuals with learning disabilities must overcome, but also the tremendous learning capacity they have when given the right tools. Dr. Mattila has devoted time to tutoring, teaching, and mentoring people of all ages facing challenges in the classroom. She joins our team to help coordinate services for individuals of all ages with learning and attention issues.
La’Shawna McHenry
Member of the Board, Volunteer
Engagement
My name is La’Shawna McHenry and I am the Program Director of the 21st CCLC after school program at Provident Charter School. Provident is a school designed for students with dyslexia and other reading based learning disabilities, and as the director of the program I have plenty of experience helping students with learning disabilities achieve their highest potential. My job is to handle all internal tasks to keep the program running smoothly, including grant reporting to the state, interfacing with parents, teachers, and administrators, directing staff and parent volunteers, increasing engagement, and planning exciting programs. I strive in a fast paced environment, and I am very detail oriented when it comes to completing many tasks at once. I believe strongly in the work I do behind the scenes, and I know my program is improving the lives of the students and families I serve.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Clarion University, which I believe prepared me to see the areas of society that need to be changed, and gave me the tools to make a difference. In college I was secretary on the board of my local chapter of the NAACP, so I have experience in a leadership role on the board of an important local organization making changes for good. After college, I worked as the secretary for the Door Campaign, whose goal is to increase educational and employment opportunities for inner city youth. My duties included sitting in board meetings and taking meeting notes, so I am familiar with the structure of a nonprofit organization. In my time working in education, I have acquired many teaching accolades such as Wilson training, a leadership certification, a google suite certification, and a certification to teach EBLI. When I am not at work, I enjoy reading, snuggling my two dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
William (Bill) Moorhead
Member of the Board, Legal
Education is one of my life passions. As such, I ran for and was elected to the Mt. Lebanon School District School Board, eventually becoming Vice President. The School District has a $100,000,000 annual budget and its employees are represented by 3 unions. The Board is responsible for making executive decisions regarding among many other things curriculum, programs, budget, contracts, HR issues and union issues. During my time on the Board, I was the Board’s point person on a $115,000,000 construction project that came in on time and on budget (with no litigation). In my last year on he Board, we were able to fund all programs and complete a district wide multi-million dollar installation of HVAC and not raise taxes. I currently sit on the Board of and provide counsel to a privately held tech firm called SynergIT, which provides IT services to mid-size business and governmental entities.
I would very much like to volunteer my time to LDA of Pa. I believe my extensive legal background and varied board service background would add considerable value. I chose not to run for re-election to the Mt. Lebanon School Board and termed out in 2018. Recently, I have had the itch to get back into a public service role and I believe LDA of Pa. would be a perfect fit.
On the personal front, I live in Mt. Lebanon with my wife Sandy. I have 3 adult children all of whom graduated from Pitt and 2 of whom has wonderful experiences working with Polly Mattila in various lab settings.
Quadirah Taylor
Member of the Board, Development and Community Outreach
Quadirah Taylor is an activist, community organizer and political strategist who gets her passion from her mother. The youngest of nine children, Quadirah knows first hand the struggle of inequality and social injustice. She currently serves as VoteRiders' Pittsburgh Organizer. Prior to joining VoteRiders, she spent 25 years working on political campaigns for candidates for U.S. Senate, president, governor and county executive. She has registered 15,000 voters in Pennsylvania and Georgia, raised over $1.9 million, and trained, educated and empowered more than 10,000 people in the political process. Her work is never done.