We are thrilled to announce the addition of three remarkable individuals to the Hope for HIE Board of Directors: Brady Crandall, MBA, Shaun Venable, MS, and Melissa Akinlawon, MA. Each brings a unique combination of lived experience within the HIE community, professional expertise, and a deep commitment to our mission of awareness, advocacy, education, research, and support for families affected by neonatal and pediatric-acquired hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.
As Hope for HIE continues to grow its impact — now serving more than 15,000 families across 100+ countries — expanding our board with passionate, skilled leaders is essential to the next chapter of our work. We are honored to welcome Brady, Shaun, and Melissa into this role.
Melissa Akinlawon's connection to Hope for HIE is both professional and profoundly personal. Her son was diagnosed with HIE immediately after birth, and Hope for HIE was one of the first resources that gave her clear answers and support. She has navigated delayed milestones, medical advocacy, and academic modifications alongside her son — and she has used that experience to amplify our mission within her professional networks ever since.
Melissa is a public health and health communications leader with a career built on equity-driven, multicultural strategies that move the needle. She currently serves as Senior Director of Community Programs at Sick Cells, where she leads community-focused programs through engagement, outreach, education, and advocacy. Previously, she was a Senior Manager of Health Communications at Westat, serving as Deputy Project Director on an NIH/NHLBI Heart Health Education contract, and as a strategic advisor to the CDC's Division of HIV Prevention. She also held the role of National Social Media Manager at Oak Street Health, where she led the company's digital voice and grew its LinkedIn presence by an average of 800 new followers per month.
Melissa holds a BA in Sociology/Public Health from Spelman College, an MA in Health Communication from DePaul University, and is currently a doctoral student in Public Health at George Washington University. Her honors include the 2025 Arclet NCHCMM Scholarship, the 2020 Spelman Young Alumna of the Year award, and recognition as a "40 Under 40" Leader in Health by the National Minority Quality Forum.
She was also a Hope for HIE HIE Awareness Month Ambassador in 2025 — a reflection of how deeply she believes in this community and its potential to drive change.
"I hold Hope for HIE to a very high regard and always look forward to avenues to share its story with others. It's very exciting to see the organization being intentional about strategic planning to continue its successes." — Melissa Akinlawon
Brady Crandall joined the Hope for HIE community in 2020 when his daughter Gilli was born with severe HIE. That experience became the foundation for everything he has built since.
Brady is the Co-Founder of Youth Crews, a Denver-based company creating specialized products for disabled children and their families. From designing a proprietary product with no prior industry experience to scaling the company quickly and successfully in its first full year, Brady has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to identify a gap in the market — and fill it with purpose. He built an organic social media following of 12,000+ and has been recognized as an invited speaker at Hygienix 2025, the premier nonwovens industry conference.
Prior to launching Youth Crews, Brady served as Director of Performance Marketing at Kate Farms and held senior marketing roles at Visible (Verizon). He holds an MBA from the University of Denver and a BA from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Brady brings entrepreneurial drive, marketing expertise, and an authentic understanding of what it means to raise a child with HIE. His perspective — as both a parent in our community and a builder of businesses that serve disabled kids — is one we know will strengthen our work at every level.
"Hope for HIE has been part of our family's journey since my daughter's diagnosis. I bring a unique perspective to the board: I understand both the parent experience and what it takes to build something that serves this community well." — Brady Crandall
Shaun Venable comes to Hope for HIE as an extended family member personally connected to the HIE community, a grandmother, and as a seasoned corporate leader with more than 25 years of experience in the biopharma industry.
Currently serving as Head of Corporate Communications at Biogen's RTP site — and simultaneously on a Health Equity Development Assignment as Chief of Staff for R&D Health Equity — Shaun brings exceptional depth in organizational communications, community engagement, and health equity strategy. At Biogen, she has helped achieve a 47% reduction in employee turnover through transformative communications initiatives, and is now actively shaping the company's approach to inclusive drug development and community trust-building.
Her career spans leadership roles at GSK and Biogen across communications, regulatory compliance, and technical operations. Shaun holds a Master of Science in Human Services Leadership from Capella University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership in Healthcare Communications at Regent University. She is also a Certified Life Coach and has served in board roles with the East Wake Education Foundation, the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association, and UNC Chapel Hill's graduate program.
Shaun is a self-described visionary and catalyst for change — and her combination of communications acumen, biopharma industry knowledge, and commitment to equity makes her a powerful addition to our board.
"I am a passionate advocate for change, hope, and continued research of HIE to create a better tomorrow for others." — Shaun Venable
The addition of Brady, Shaun, and Melissa reflects the kind of board Hope for HIE is committed to building: individuals who are deeply rooted in the HIE community, professionally accomplished, and motivated by something bigger than themselves.
We are grateful for their willingness to serve and energized by the expertise, networks, and passion they each bring. Please join us in welcoming them to the Hope for HIE family.
To learn more about Hope for HIE and how you can get involved, visit hopeforhie.org/board.
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