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Charlottesville Family Advisory Panel LogoMeet Our CharlottesvilleFamily Community Advisory Panel 

Helping to Build A Strong Parenting Community


It takes a village! CharlottesvilleFamily Advisory Panel members are experts in their professional fields, giving advice, lending their expertise, broadening our editorial perspective and supporting the mission and vision of CharlottesvilleFamily. Charlottesville is a wonderful and diverse community and everyone’s opinion matters. We are so grateful for these experts who lend their skills, guidance and knowledge to help CharlottesvilleFamily achieve its goal of reaching as many area families as possible with well-rounded parenting resources. Please be sure to thank them when you see them around town! These biographies highlight the breadth of educational backgrounds and achievements of each leader, reflecting their dedication to serving the Charlottesville community. Above all, they have each demonstrated a
respect for a diversity of voices and opinions. Together we can all help “Make Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun”!

Marc Boston

Rev. Marc Boston

Children’s Book Author and Chaplain, University of Virginia Medical Center

Marc is a father, husband, children’s book author and ordained interfaith minister. He has three daughters and a beautiful wife who inspire him every day. His academic background is in psychology and theological and ministerial studies. His mission is to create stories that emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion and reflect on topics surrounding definitions of family values and self-empowerment. He also writes about conscious parenting and self-discovery on his website and is currently completing his required Spiritual Education & Enrichment courses in preparation for admission to the Unity Ministry program.

Dr. Rossanna Breau Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech Department of Psychology

Dr. Rossanna Breau

Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech Department of Psychology

Rosanna Breaux is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and director of the Child Study Center, both part of the Virginia Tech College of Science. Her research focuses on the social-emotional and academic functioning of children and adolescents, particularly those with ADHD. Her research also seeks to better understand the role of parents in the development of emotion regulation abilities among children from the preschool years through emerging adulthood. Dr. Breaux’s research focuses on the social, emotional, and academic functioning of children and adolescents, particularly those with ADHD. She is also interested in understanding the role parents play in shaping children and adolescent’s social-emotional development, with a focus on emotion regulation. Additionally, Dr. Breaux is working to evaluate and disseminate the RELAX intervention, which targets emotion dysregulation and interpersonal conflict in adolescents.

Janine Kenna Dozier

Executive Director at Virginia Discovery Museum

Janine Kenna Dozier has been Executive Director of the Virginia Discovery Museum since2015. Under her leadership, the museum has doubled its annual admissions, organized partnerships with 64 area community agencies and renovated 100% of its physical space, including its historic carousel. Prior to moving to Virginia in 2012, Janine worked in financial services and consulting, where her clients ranged from GE to UNICEF. Janine serves in a volunteer capacity at several educational organizations and is a graduate of Yale University. Janine’s innovative approach to community engagement and her commitment to creating meaningful educational experiences have been recognized with the 2022 Charlottesville Community Leadership Award.

Dr. Jay Gillenwater, FAAP of Pediatric Associates

Jay M. Gillenwater, M.D., FAAP

Medical doctor at Pediatric Associates and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Dr. Jay Gillenwater is a Charlottesville native who began his academic journey at the University of Virginia, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He then pursued research in Seattle, Washington, before earning his medical degree at the University of Washington. Following medical school, he completed his pediatric residency at the University of North Carolina. After practicing pediatrics in Raleigh, NC, he transitioned to academia in 2000, joining the faculty at the University of Virginia. In 2016, he brought his expertise to Pediatric Associates. Dr. Gillenwater enjoys working with patients across all age groups, with a particular interest in developmental milestones and cardiology. Outside of medicine, he is a devoted husband and father to four children.

​Frances Greenstein, LPC, LMFT

Frances Greenstein, LPC, LMFT

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), New Beginnings Family Counseling Services

Frances Greenstein has provided therapeutic services for over 30 years in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her background and training are in Structural Family Therapy, and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), and most recently, in Fierce Love/Core Self Therapy (CSRT). She has worked in a variety of settings over the years including outpatient therapeutic work, behavioral supports and counseling with families with children with autism and a wide range of special needs and challenges and intensive in-home counseling program serving multi -problemed families with multi-generational issues with goals to strengthen parenting skills, achieve personal growth for all involved and stabilizing the family unit.

Bianca Johnson, Community Engagement Coordinator at Charlottesville City Schools

Bianca Johnson

Community Engagement Coordinator at Charlottesville City Schools

Bianca Johnson currently works as the Coordinator of Family Engagement and Restorative Justice in Education at Charlottesville City Schools. In addition to her work at CCS, she is also a Restorative Justice Facilitator for Central Virginia Community Justice. Over the years, she’s earned degrees and certificates in Communications, Human Services Counseling, and most recently, Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership, which have all helped her as she continues in the “heart work” of the community. In her spare time, she enjoys catching up on her favorite tv shows and spending time with her dog, Kona.

Dr. Sarah Knight, FAAP of Pediatric Associates

Sarah E. Knight, M.D., FAAP

Medical doctor at Pediatric Associates and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Dr. Knight grew up in Gainesville, Florida. She attended college and medical school at the University of Florida and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Virginia. She joined Pediatric Associates in 2011. Dr. Knight has special interests in nutrition, obesity and global health. She has spent time volunteering in schools and clinics in the Dominican Republic, Malawi and Uganda. Dr. Knight’s husband is also a physician, and they have 2 sweet daughters. Outside the office, she enjoys practicing yoga, spending time with her daughters, reading, biking and travel.

Megan Smead

Children’s Librarian at JMRL

Megan Smead is the Children’s Services Manager at Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Her role at the library includes collection development, regional program planning, school and community outreach, and supporting early literacy initiatives. She is passionate about helping kids develop a love of reading and learning, and is dedicated to supporting children and families to meet their information needs. Megan has worked in libraries big and small, leading storytime, providing book recommendations, and helping library patrons solve problems and find information. Prior to graduating with her Master of Library Science degree from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, she worked in biopharmaceuticals developing medicines to treat autoimmune diseases. Megan enjoys crosswords, playing and watching soccer, running, dabbling in crafty hobbies like embroidery and calligraphy, spending time with her friends and family, and of course, reading (especially listening to audiobooks!). She lives in Charlottesville with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.

Jessica Taylor, YMCA Executive Director

Jessica Taylor

Chief Executive Officer at Piedmont Family YMCA

Jessica Taylor serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Piedmont Family YMCA in Charlottesville, Virginia. Under her leadership, the YMCA has expanded its youth development and community outreach programs, focusing on inclusive access to fitness, childcare, and after-school activities. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from James Madison University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Virginia. Her commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for all underscores her dedication to building a stronger, healthier community.

Juandiego Wade, Mayor of Charlottesville

Juandiego Wade

Mayor of Charlottesville and Community Advocate

Juandiego Wade is the current Mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, elected to the City Council in November 2021 and unanimously named Mayor on January 2, 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from Norfolk State University and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia. Before his mayoral role, Juandiego served four terms on the Charlottesville School Board, including positions as Chair and Vice Chair. His extensive community involvement includes serving on the boards of ReadyKids, 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, and the United Way of Greater Charlottesville, where he currently serves as Chair. In 2019, he received the Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award from the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce for his outstanding contributions to the community. His goals are centered around bringing people together to address critical issues in the community.

scott williams, founder camp4real

Scotty Williams

Health Advocate and Fitness Educator/Owner Camp4Real

Scotty Williams is the founder/owner of Camp4Real and taught elementary physical education at Meriwether Lewis School for 15 years and high school summer PE for six years. His passion for nutrition, fun fitness and overall wellness drives his work. He was a winner of the 2011 Golden Apple Award, the 2013 Virginia Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, and the 2015-16 Virginia and SHAPE Southern District Dance Teacher of the Year. Scotty was also honored as a National Healthy School Hero by Action for Healthy Kids in 2017 and was named to the 2019 class of Charlottesville’s Finest by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is also a presenter and keynote speaker at physical education conferences across the nation and is the US Coordinator for Omnikin.