Our staff.
Jennifer Korb
Executive Director | director@autismcolorado.org
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Jennifer is a Colorado native and resides in Jefferson County with her husband and two children. Jennifer's lengthy professional career in public education as a teacher, administrator, and director of instruction has given her a deep understanding of how people learn and how to create opportunities that bring our people's strengths. Her work in the non-profit sector as a founding member of the Internet Safety Foundation, a leadership team member at Night Lights Respite Care and as the Board President at Bal Swan Children's Center has given her a solid foundation to support the Autism community. Jennifer is a connector who builds strong relationships with a focus on inclusivity. She cares deeply about the people in her community, particularly those who are neurodivergent. Her eldest son is on the autism spectrum and has an intellectual disability. From the earliest days of raising a child with a disability, Jennifer has worked to create inclusive spaces where all people are represented and feel a sense of belonging and community.
Shannon Phen
Director of Programs | program@autismcolorado.org
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Shannon is a proud University of Texas alumna (Hook 'Em!) with a Master’s in Public Health, specializing in Community Health. Throughout her career, she has served as a health educator in schools and a program manager for public health nonprofits. Her work has focused on designing, implementing, and evaluating inclusive programs for diverse communities, including BIPOC, disability, and low-income populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shannon worked as an epidemiologist, managing outbreak investigations and advising hospitals and government agencies on health policy and safety protocols. Her passion lies in community-based work, where she thrives in hands-on roles that directly impact the people she serves.
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Shannon is deeply committed to supporting the neurodivergent community by expanding access to resources, fostering connection, and advocating for equity and empowerment. She believes everyone deserves to be represented and supported in their goals, health, and happiness. Shannon's purpose she lives by is creating space for people to explore healing, connection, and self-expression in their most authentic selves.​ Outside of her role with ASC, Shannon teaches yoga and loves spending time with her dog, Porkchop.
Laya Buchanan
Grant Coordinator | grants@autismcolorado.org
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Laya is an alumna of the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelors in Geography and of Columbia University with a Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology. She has served in a variety of nonprofit roles, serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Vermont and Colorado. She is currently the Grant Writer at Spirit of the Sun, an Indigenous led- and serving- nonprofit, where she was formerly the Resource Development and Volunteer Coordinator.
Laya is also autistic and passionate about connecting with the autistic community, and she is thrilled to be doing work to support her own community.
Will Graber
MSU Intern | willgraber@autismcolorado.org
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Will is an alumnus of Wright State University's Acting program as well as a current BSSW student at MSU Denver. Previously he has volunteered with CU Anschutz's Residential Narcotics Recovery program and FosterSource. Will is passionate about empathy, self-examination, and the belief that everyone deserves to be heard and understood. To that end, he is excited to be working with ASC! He hopes to be able to help people navigate the world while learning more about this community so that he can better serve it as counselor or therapist, which is his current goal.
Will also deeply enjoys running games of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends, playing videogames, skiing, hiking, and cooking (although he is Far from a chef).
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Yesenia Cisneros
MSU Intern | yeseniacisneros@autismcolorado.org
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Hi, I'm Yesenia! I'm proudly a senior at Metropolitan State University of Denver, majoring in Social Work with a minor in Spanish.
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My passion for social work began at a young age when I witnessed the incredible impact social workers had on my family. Growing up in a Mexican household with my single mother who was battling breast cancer and my two youngest brothers who were born with cleft lip and palate, I saw firsthand how social workers helped us navigate the healthcare system, assisted with language barriers, and provided support when my mom was working multiple jobs to sustain our family. During these challenging times, I often stepped up as a caregiver for my siblings, which deepened my understanding of the importance of compassionate support.
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I was first introduced to the autism community through volunteer work at an early childhood center, and that experience sparked my desire to expand my knowledge and work with both children and adults with disabilities. I'm excited to learn more and contribute to this meaningful community.
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I'm a very outgoing person who loves spending time outdoors, attending concerts, and creating lasting memories with friends and family. I'm looking forward to bringing my enthusiasm and dedication to ASC and learning alongside this wonderful team!