Announcing DEC's New Executive Board Members

Shameka Brown, MSEd, I/ECMHC, DT - Vice President

Shameka C. Brown, MSEd, is a dedicated early childhood leader, family advocate, professional development specialist, and servant leader with a deep commitment to strengthening children, families, professionals, and communities. With a strong background in special education, early intervention, infant and early childhood mental health, leadership, and family engagement, Shameka has spent her career helping systems become more responsive, relationship-centered, and family-focused.

She currently serves as a Program Manager for Child and Family Connections #21, supporting Illinois Early Intervention services and partnering with families, service coordinators, providers, and community organizations to ensure children and families receive timely, meaningful support. Shameka also brings experience as a Developmental Therapist, Service Coordinator, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, Professional Development Specialist, adjunct instructor, childcare leader, and advocate for inclusive, equitable practices.

As a wife, mother, ministry leader, and community servant, Shameka leads with both professional knowledge and lived experience. Her work is rooted in connection, collaboration, reflection, and the belief that families should not only have access to services, but should feel welcomed, heard, valued, and empowered.

Shameka is honored to continue advancing the mission of DEC by supporting professionals, elevating family voice, strengthening leadership, and helping build spaces where children, families, and practitioners can grow, belong, and thrive.

Cami Stevenson, MS - Secretary

Cami Stevenson is an administrator with the Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MECP) in Portland, Oregon, where she leads a team of specialists providing early intervention services to children birth to five and their families. With more than 22 years in Oregon's EI/ECSE system, she brings deep expertise in family-centered, routines-based practice and a sustained commitment to building the capacity of the professionals who serve young children.

Cami serves as Associate Director of the Routines-Based Model (RBM) Enterprise, where she contributes to training, material development, and consultation designed to promote children's engagement and family empowerment. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at Western Oregon University and has served in that role at Portland State University, where she prepares the next generation of EI/ECSE specialists.

Ms. Stevenson holds a master's degree in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Oregon and an educational administration certificate from Portland State University. Having completed all doctoral coursework, she is preparing to defend her dissertation in Education Leadership with a Social Justice emphasis. She also holds the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation.

Darla Gundler, MA - Treasurer

Darla Gundler is the Associate Director of the Early Childhood Intervention Personnel Center (ECIPC) at the Federation for Children with Special Needs. With more than 30 years of experience in family partnership, leadership development, and systems building, she leads workforce development initiatives that strengthen early childhood intervention systems and elevate family voice in policy and practice. Previously, Darla served on the Massachusetts IDEA Part C Lead Agency team, supporting statewide systems change and policy implementation. As the parent of an adult with a disability, she brings an essential family perspective to state and national efforts to improve outcomes for children, families, and the early childhood workforce.

Kesha Harris - Family Member-At-Large

Kesha Harris is a nationally recognized family leader and early childhood advocate dedicated to advancing equitable, family-centered systems for young children with disabilities and developmental delays. She is the Co-Founder and President of Illinois Families for Early Intervention, Inc. (IFEI, Inc.), a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on empowering families and strengthening Illinois' Early Intervention system. Kesha also serves on the Illinois Interagency Council on Early Intervention (IICEI) and the Illinois Department of Early Childhood's Transition Advisory Committee (TAC), where she helps shape policies and practices that elevate family voice and improve outcomes for children and families. Drawing from both her professional leadership and lived experience as a parent, Kesha is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships that create lasting systems change at the state and national levels.

Morgan Durand Horvath, MEd - Member-At-Large

Morgan Durand Horvath is the Director of Project ACT at Abilities Network, where she leads statewide initiatives that strengthen inclusion, infant and early childhood mental health, coaching, and professional development for early childhood professionals across Maryland. With more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education and early childhood special education, Morgan is passionate about creating systems that ensure all young children and their families have access to high-quality, inclusive early learning experiences.

Morgan earned her master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Johns Hopkins University and has served as an infant and toddler teacher, special educator, inclusion specialist, and organizational leader. Since joining Abilities Network in 2012 and becoming Director of Project ACT in 2017, she has led innovative partnerships spanning early childhood, public education, mental health, disability services, and higher education to translate research into practice and strengthen the early childhood workforce. She is committed to building collaborative systems that improve outcomes for children, families, and the professionals who support them.