Our Team - The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation

Jacinta M. Behne, M.A.

Executive Director, The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation

In 12+ years with The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF), Mrs. Behne has built a team-driven infrastructure dedicated to curing Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), by: a) funding critical path research, b) connecting global communities of researchers, industries, and patients, and c) launching laser-focused programs. Her specific expertise is in leadership and program development, budget planning and management. She worked with three launch teams at NASA centers for over a decade, including researchers, engineers, and public information officers. There she refined processes and protocols for reaching out to stakeholders through the World Wide Web, national conferences, print materials, and media applications. Prior to joining the foundation, Mrs. Behne serves as senior director of a research and education program at Scripps Research Institute. Mrs. Behne is a member of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). She has co-authored publications on NMO study outcomes as well as the importance of building and delivering effective education and public outreach programs. She received her Bachelor of Arts with licensing in Secondary Education at Washburn University, Topeka, KS; licensing in Gifted Education at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; and Master of Arts in Communication at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

Daniel W. Behne M.ARCH.

Director of Operations

Dan is one of the few who has been involved in every facet of the foundation since its inception in 2008. As a result, Dan continues to have unrelenting love and affection to its cause. Currently, Dan provides operations oversight, grant writing and project management to plan, organize and manage resources from conception to completion.

Brian Coords, M.A.

Senior Manager - New Media

After a diverse background in media, design, writing, and education, Brian began working with the foundation in 2015. In his role as the New Media Manager, Brian provides leadership and project management for media projects including the foundation's website, smartphone app, conference events, and other various print and digital materials.

Megan Kenneally Behne

Director of Research Programs and Contracts

Megan has been with the foundation since 2009. Her administrative background with the foundation and beyond has led to her current role as Director of Research Programs and Contracts. In this role, Megan oversees research projects and contracts, the GJCF International Clinical Consortium (ICC), and CIRCLES repository data and biospecimen requests. In addition to these roles, she also manages foundation-hosted events and communications with the global NMO research community.

Reneé Rodriguez

Senior Project Coordinator

Reneé joined the foundation in 2013. She brings a wealth of experience from previous positions as a Conference Manager at a mid-sized law firm and owner of small couture business. As Senior Project Coordinator, Reneé is a coordinator extraordinaire providing calendar management, conference logistics, administrative support, and the fineness to keep the gears of the foundation moving forward.

Maoloude Toure

Global Ambassador

Born and raised in Senegal, West Africa, Maoloude Fall Touré is a former professional rugby player and swimmer, proud veteran of the United States Army Prior to immigrating to the United States, Mr. Touré studied sociology, philosophy at the University of Dakar and Computer science at Santa Monica College. He speaks five languages, being professionally fluent in English and French. An active health advocate and blood donor since the age of 17, Mr. Touré uses his skills as an orator to inspire others while leading by example.

As Global Ambassador, Maoloude Toure represents the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation in its work to spread awareness and increase international cooperation towards a cure for NMO. He travels the world as formal representative of the foundation to speak with patients and clinicians alike. Over the past two years, he has engaged with the President of Mali and the Ministers of Health in Bamako, Mali, high-level Catholic priests in Rome, Italy, and leading scientists in Berlin, Germany, and Moscow, Russia. Mr. Touré is determined to do his part in finding a cure for NMO.

Cori Woolf

Director of Patient Advocacy

Cori Woolf joined the Advocacy Team in January 2021, bringing over two decades of experience in patient support and a deep personal connection as an NMO caregiver. As the Director of Patient Advocacy, she leads the strategic development and administration of domestic and international programs designed to address critical needs within the NMOSD community. Cori provides essential support and education to patients and caregivers, oversees the volunteer members of the Patient Advocacy Council, and drives collaborative efforts with industry partners and advocacy organizations to expand resources and create lasting impact.

Kim Jackson-Matthews

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Lead

Kim first joined the Patient Advocacy Council in 2021 and shortly thereafter was asked to join our team as Patient Advocacy Coordinator. One of her lifelong missions has been to work with underserved communities to educate in areas of health and fitness. Kim brings over 30 years of communication skills in TV and Radio as well as a 25+ year career as a Personal Fitness Trainer. Kim’s expertise in multiple areas along with her personal patient perspective as a woman living with the challenges of NMO will help to grow advocacy programs to serve our patient and caregiver community.

Jesus Loreto

Spanish Translation Liaison

Jesus Loreto joined the GJCF Advocacy Team in 2023. He is a caregiver to his beautiful wife, Maria, since her NMOSD diagnosis. The journey to understanding NMOSD and the care needed for Maria has taken Jesus from a community member to a deeply passionate advocate. Jesus brings trusted research updates, educational resources, and support to the Spanish speaking community of patients, care partners, and clinicians. “Finding The Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation changed our life, the love, security, hope and knowledge we receive has made our journey a journey with a purpose… A purpose to advocate for others, realizing that by helping and by telling our story we can change people’s lives, making them realize they are not alone in this journey. As a Certified Caregiving Advocate and as part of the Guthy Jackson Charitable Foundation Patient Advocacy Council I am honored to support both English and Spanish speaking patients and caregivers in the US and all over the world thru the GJCF support groups and monthly meets. Let us continue in this journey together, supporting and being there for each other. We are here for you… You are not alone… "We live with NMO but NMO is not our life".