Our Board of Directors
Executive Board
April Dinwoodie (Board President) is an accomplished corporate marketing and branding professional turned nationally-recognized voice on adoption, foster care, and multiracial/multicultural families. From creating a mentoring program for youth in foster care to becoming the CEO of the Donaldson Adoption Institute (DAI), April is fiercely dedicated leader helping individuals, systems, and corporations as they address the urgent and age-old questions of identity, values, and differences of race, culture, and class. Dinwoodie hosts “Born in June, Raised in April: What Adoption Can Teach the World!” a podcast to educate and inspire conversation about adoption, identity, and family diversity.
Shannon Quist, (Vice President) is a domestic adoptee from Texas whose adoption came back up during her mid-twenties as something she needed to spend time with and better understand. She studies adoption in multiple ways; she is especially interested in narrative perspectives, but also enjoys rhetorical and legal conversations. She published her debut novel in 2020, Rose’s Locket, which follows the journey of a teen adoptee trying to write her story and find meaning in her life. Shannon graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Literature from Texas Woman’s University in 2018, with a Master’s in English Rhetoric & Writing in 2022, and she works at Alkami Technology as a technical writer. She’s currently theorizing the structure of Ghost Kingdom narratives as an independent scholar. She’s looking forward to helping AKA grow and support all those affected by adoption as she continues on her own personal journey. It probably goes without saying that she enjoys reading, writing, and asking questions. Lots of questions. But when she’s not playing with words, she enjoys going on adventures with her daughter, scrapbooking, and sitting on patios (preferably with margaritas).
Akara Skye, (Treasurer) is a domestic, baby scoop era, closed adoption, late discovery adopted person. She was born, relinquished, and raised in central Texas. Frustrated with the societal politeness of the adoption narrative, she turned to AKA whose invaluable support led her to reclaim her voice. She now writes to help navigate the multi-layered trauma of relinquishment. She is part of the Adoptee Voices Cohort through which several of her writing pieces have been featured and published in the Adoptee Voices Ezine. Her work has also been featured as a short, recorded piece for the Rudd Adoption Research Program Conference.
She is estranged from her adoptive family and unacknowledged by her birth family. Living on the sacred land of Sedona has offered Akara solace and healing; as well as time to reflect and write about her life under a different, more truthful, lens.
Akara has a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas Austin and a MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
She is estranged from her adoptive family and unacknowledged by her birth family. Living on the sacred land of Sedona has offered Akara solace and healing; as well as time to reflect and write about her life under a different, more truthful, lens.
Akara has a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas Austin and a MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Lindsey Kohn (Secretary) is a domestic adoptee, adopted at birth in the early '80s. She was born in NY, raised in NJ, and now living in Florida with her husband and son. She "came out of the fog" in 2020 after unexpectedly finding her biological father's (dad) side of her family through 23andme. She started to search for advice regarding reunion and stumbled upon the fantastic community of adoptee support. She immediately began to immerse herself in everything adoption, and once she heard about "adoption-competent" therapy, she knew it was her calling. She is currently finishing her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialty in trauma with the goal of working with adult adoptees. She is an avid adoptee advocate and supporter of family preservation. She looks forward to serving the adoption community and helping adoptees find their voices and speak their truth. She also hopes to amplify adoptee voices in society and help reauthor the dominant narrative surrounding adoption.
Marci Purcell (Past President) served on the board of AKA as a member-at-large and then board president. In 2019 Marci began working for AKA as Program Administrator, then served as Executive Director during the pandemic to pivot AKA services to virtual and help usher AKA through this tumultuous time. Marci also serves on the advisory board of Support Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR), Marci is a reform advocate for truth and transparency in adoption, foster care, and donor conception. She is also passionate about disability rights, both in the broader community, and as they relate to adoption. Marci has a degree in Psychology from Texas State University, is certified in psychological first aid and peer support, and a trained mediator through The UT School of Law, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution. Marci facilitates AKA's Women Adoptee Meetup Group and cofacilitates the DNA Discoveries Group.
Directors
Hannah Andrews (Member-at-Large) was born in Chicago and was adopted as an infant during the Baby Scoop Era. She was raised on a Midwestern farm with two older adoptee brothers. In 2018, a chance meeting with an author birthmother sent Hannah in search of her own history. She found more questions than answers, but found guidance and community from fellow triad members. She joined the AKA board to provide that same support to others. Hannah is a writer, pianist & pet enthusiast . She lives in San Diego, CA with her dog Josie and three Pussycats .
Dr. Abigail Hasberry (Member-at-Large) splits residence in both San Antonio, Texas, and Baltimore, Maryland. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist associate, and holds a B.S. in African American studies and sociology, a M.A.in teaching, K-12, a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction, a school superintendent certification, and a M.Ed. in counseling and development, marriage and family counseling. Abby is a former teacher and principal with experience in private, traditional public, and charter schools. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the experiences of black teachers at private, affluent, and predominantly white private schools. Her research focused on identity development, diversity, and the development of support networks. She has published on identity development and has been on several podcasts and webinars speaking on adoption, identity development, and supporting teens with anxiety. Abby is a domestic transracial adoptee in reunion, and a birth mom, also in reunion. She is publishing her memoir in 2023, Adopting Privilege.
Bruce Porth (Member-at-Large) was born in Chicago near the end of the baby scoop era and adopted at 10 days old into a family that was well-intentioned but lacked critical knowledge and insight in how to raise an adopted child. He started coming out of the fog in the late 90's and eventually reunited with his birth family in 1998 and maintains a relationship that continues to expand and grow. It was in 2020 when Bruce found the broader adoptee community and a deeper level of awareness and healing became available. He discovered how essential the support of the adoptee community is in moving through the stages of healing from adoption grief and loss and came to AKA through attendance of the Male Adoptee Group. Bruce is passionate about promoting truth and transparency in adoption and hopes to give back to the community by raising awareness within the adoption constellation of the complex challenges that come with relinquishment. Bruce has a M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering and has worked in the semiconductor industry for 30 years. He is married with two daughters and lives in Vermont.
Isha Marie Rush, MPA, (Member-at-Large) is a Transracial/International Adoptee. Isha was born in India and adopted at age five. She is extremely excited to not only serve on this board, but be surrounded by so many beautiful hearts. Isha is looking forward to utilizing her skills with aims to best serve this community! She is so grateful to have found her people and ecstatic to connect with everyone through board service!
Dianne Sonnenberg, (Member-at-Large) is an international (First Nations) adoptee who has been active in the AKA community for several years. She values the services that AKA provides, has benefitted greatly from her participation, and has a strong desire to support others in their own journeys. She reunited with her extended biological family and First Nations tribal community in 2013-2014. Dianne holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has been married since 1989, an Austin, TX resident since 1992, and has two grown children. Dianne is an artist, and also serves on the boards of the Austin Mosaic Guild and the Texas Society of Sculptors.
Dirk Uphoff (Member-at-Large) is a transracial adoptee born in the 1960’s during the baby scoop era. He “came out of the fog” in late 2019 and has been immersing himself into the adoption community ever since. Dirk is passionate about educating parents of transracial adoptees and has participated on several panels. He has been active in AKA’s Male Adoptee group and hopes to see more male participation in the adoption constellation. Dirk has served on several boards and looks forward to contributing what he can to AKA and the larger adoption community. He was reunited with several members of his birth family in 2016 and remains in relationship with them. Dirk has a BA in Liberal Arts from Bethel University and holds a certification in Office Ergonomics (CEAS) working in the Contract Furniture Industry. He has been married since 1988, has four grown children, and lives in Phoenix, AZ.
Committee Chairs
Conference: Shannon Quist
Education: Hannah Andrews
Fundraising: April Dinwoodie
Communications: Lindsey Kohn
Peer Support Committee: Dirk Uphoff
Education: Hannah Andrews
Fundraising: April Dinwoodie
Communications: Lindsey Kohn
Peer Support Committee: Dirk Uphoff
*Click here to learn more about our valued team of volunteers