Rockville, MD, January 13, 2026   – The Autism Society of America is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished new members to its Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of expertise, lived experience, and a shared passion for supporting Autistic individuals. “We are honored to welcome Jennie Jacoby, Kristen Friel Spitzer, and Andy Stettner to the Autism Society of America’s Board of Directors,” said Joe Joyce, President and CEO of the Autism Society of America. “Each of these leaders brings exceptional professional expertise, lived experience, and a deep personal commitment to the Autism community. Their diverse perspectives across advocacy, law, public policy, and economic security will strengthen our work as we continue to advance equity, inclusion, and meaningful supports for Autistic individuals and their families.”

Meet the New Board Members

Jennie Jacoby

Jennie Jacoby is an attorney and advocate at Invariant, a top bipartisan government relations firm in Washington, D.C. She has deep experience in health equity, financial services, and college athletics issues. Her current clients include top Fortune 500 companies and mission-oriented organizations seeking reform at the federal level. She has an Autistic young son named, Mack, and is very passionate about helping the community, especially the next generation of autistic children and young families. Jennie attended multiple Autism Society events and brought in contacts for the Autism Justice Center. She was also proud to join the Qatar Gala in April. As she states, “the advancements, regressions, tested faith, and ongoing advocacy for Mack have led me to this moment. I view the work the organization is doing as a personal, legal, and government relations imperative.”

Kristen Friel Spitzer

Kristen Friel Spitzer is a senior associate in the corporate finance group at Skadden Arps in NYC. She has focused her pro bono legal practice on non-profit organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and has been volunteering with organizations in the I/DD space for years. As she states, “as I look towards next steps in my career, I am looking to pair my legal experience, which spans corporate finance and private credit, mergers and acquisitions, and non-profit corporate governance and liability management, with my passion for disability advocacy/inclusion, education and programming.” She has two family members on the spectrum.

Andy Stettner

Andrew Stettner is the Senior Director of Economic Security at the National Employment Project. His career as a civic leader spans 25 years of experience modernizing workforce programs through research, policy advocacy, technology, and program administration, including serving as Director of Unemployment Insurance Modernization at the U.S. Department of Labor. He knows the Autism Society of America particularly well; he is the President of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Maryland. He has pushed hard for special education advocacy, including through the COVID-19 pandemic, and has testified regularly before the Maryland Legislature and Howard County Board of Education on disability issues. He is the parent of a daughter on the spectrum.

For more information about the Autism Society of America and its Board of Directors, visit https://autismsociety.org/our-team.

About the Autism Society of America: 

The Autism Society’s mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. As the nation’s oldest leading grassroots Autism organization, the Autism Society and its approximately 70+ local affiliates serve over half a million members of the Autism community each year. It envisions a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it – including education, advocacy efforts, and supports and services throughout the lifespan. For more information, visit the Autism Society at AutismSociety.org, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.