The Linwood Center Inc. Board of Directors announces a new Executive Director and new Educational Director/Assistant Executive Director at its helm.
Frank W. Kirkland started as the new Executive Director on November, 18, 2019. Mr. Kirkland has over 35 years’ experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field in both governmental and private sector operations. He most recently was Director of Operations for the Georgia operations of RHA Health Services, LLC where he oversaw residential and day services for more than 150 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Mr. Kirkland is not new to Maryland, he served as the Executive Director for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration from 2011 through 2013. Mr. Kirkland has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Charleston and attended West Virginia University in the Clinical Masters program.
Brenda J. Thiam, Ph.D started as the Educational Director and Assistant Executive Director on November 11, 2019. Dr. Thiam was previously an autism specialist for Washington County Public Schools from 2007 through 2019 and prior to that was Director of Education at Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Thiam has her B.S. in Physical Education from North Carolina Central University, M Ed. in Education with a concentration in special education from University of Maryland, College Park, a Ph.D. in Education/Special Education Leadership from Capella University as well as a post graduate certificate from Pennsylvania State University in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Since 1955, Linwood Center has been at the forefront of efforts to address the needs of the autism community. Our founder, the late Jeanne M. Simons, was one of the pioneers in the field, and her early breakthrough work remains the basis for our current programs.
Today, Linwood is one of a handful of programs in the United States and one of only three in the state of Maryland that provides comprehensive education and residential programs throughout the lifespan under one service umbrella. We develop lifelong relationships with individuals living with autism and related developmental disabilities from elementary school through retirement and old age.