Our Staff

Charlene Crump, Executive Director

Charlene is the Founder and Executive Director of the Mary Lee Foundation. Since 1963, Charlene has worked to establish and provide many innovative programs for men, woman and children with disabilities. Seeing her parents help and volunteer with the Marbridge Ranch facility in far South Austin, made Charlene think about what could be done to help women. This experience sparked the vision and mission of the Mary Lee School of Special Education, which of course later became the Mary Lee Foundation. Charlene is a Texas-licensed child care administrator as well as the Mary Lee Foundation Rehabilitation Center’s administrator. Among other many accomplishments, in 2001 Charlene was awarded the Texas Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service to People with Disabilities.

Don Lilljedahl, M.S.W., ACSW  -  Director

Don Lilljedahl is the Director of the Mary Lee Foundation, and has been for almost 40 years. Don supervises the licensed administrators of all the Mary Lee campuses, establishes new programs and services, and handles the day to day business of the foundation. In 1969, Charlene Crump interviewed Don while on a family trip to West Texas. After speaking at a San Angelo State University function, Don drove to El Paso to meet Charlene and interviewed for the position of Director of the Foundation; and as they say, “the rest is history.” Don is a Licensed Certified Social Worker and also a Licensed Child Care Administrator. In 2002, Don was awarded the Martha Arbuckle Meritorious Service Award from the Austin Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities.

Janie Martinez, B.A.  -  Administrator of Operations

Janie joined the Mary Lee Foundation in 1965 after spending two years as a bookkeeper for a local business here in Austin. While working full time for the Mary Lee Foundation, and attending school at St. Edwards University, she received her Bachelors’ degree in Accounting in 1993. Janie has held many positions here at Mary Lee including Secretary, House Parent, Bookkeeper and the Administrative Assistant to the Director. Currently Janie is the supervisor of the accounting and clerical staff as well as being the over-all office manager. Janie has been with the Mary Lee Foundation for over 43 years and is considered to be one of the most important and dedicated employees on staff.

Angelia Hearn Chaney, LBSW, LCCA  -   Administrator - Mary Lee Foundation Sinclair Children’s Center in Woodville, Texas

She is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology, with an emphasis on Social Work. Both a licensed child care administrator and licensed social worker, Angie has extensive knowledge and experience helping and caring for children and adults. Angie has worked for the Mary Lee Foundation for over 6 years.

Leigh R. Dunson, B.A.  -  Administrator - Mary Lee Foundation Southpointe Program

She joined Mary Lee in 2000 working as a QMRP (qualified mental retardation professional) and Case Manager while also volunteering as a Big Sister. Leigh was asked to take on the important role of administrator in 2007 after briefly working for the Department of Aging & Disability Services in Austin.

Chip Howe, M.A.  -  Admissions Coordinator

Chip received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas and attended Incarnate Word College where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Psychology. Chip has served two terms as President of the Brain Injury Association of Texas and was honored by being presented the “Texas Humanitarian Award” by the Association. Chip has worked for the Mary Lee Foundation for over 25 years.

Bhisham K. Paryani, Controller

Bhisham, or as we know him, B.K., has a Masters Degree in manufacturing from Indian Institutes of Technology, Bombay, India. He works out of the Accounting department preparing financial statements, budgets, and reports for the foundation. B.K. has worked for the Mary Lee Foundation for 8 years.