Meet the Board
Martin J. McKeown, JD - President
Marty McKeown is a trial lawyer in Springfield, Oregon. He has been fighting for justice, particularly for workers who are injured on the job, for 37 years. The JAAR team is thrilled to have Marty join our team and look forward to adding more information about his outstanding qualifications soon.
Kira Kamkar, B.A. - Secretary
Kira Kamkar is a Trust Professional at Oregon Pacific Bank. A proud graduate of Western Oregon University, Kira obtained her B.A. in Psychology as a member of the class of 2019. She works with children who have special needs and aspires to continue her education in the field of Occupational Therapy. In her free time, Kira can be found reading books or playing tennis with her husband, Chris, who is a Veteran of the United States Army. Kira has a love for animals, and Loki the Siamese cat is a beloved member of her family.
Kent McIntosh, PhD
Kent McIntosh, PhD, is the Philip H. Knight Chair of Special Education at the University of Oregon and Director of Educational and Community Supports, a research unit in the College of Education. His current research focuses on implementation and sustainability of school-based interventions, reducing racial discipline disparities, and integrated academic and behavior support. He is lead author of over 75 peer reviewed journal articles, presenter of over 50 keynote addresses, and principal or co-investigator of over $50 million in federal grant funding. He is Co-Director of the OSEP National Technical Assistance Center on PBIS and lead of the Center’s Equity Workgroup, as well as a founding member of the PBIS-SCP Canada Network and a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Positive Behavior Support.
Sierra Alvernaz, JD - Social Media
Sierra Alvernaz passed the bar in the summer of 2023 after graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law in Spring 2023. Currently, she practices in Eugene with a focus on workers rights and injury compensation. Sierra has always had a passion for sports and understands that athletics have the power to bring communities
together. She enjoys fast walking, and just returned from a trip around Europe. Sierra typically tries a new sport every summer.
Katie Alvarez, M.S. - Data Analyst
Katie Alvarez (she/they) is a current PhD student in Special Education at the University of Oregon. Her current work involves supporting Hispanic families with children with autism along with neurodiversity-affirming behavior supports for autistic kids. Katie helps organize and create charts based on the data of kids’ skill progression throughout JAAR program.
Meenakshi Kathuria, B.A. - Fundraising
Mini has a B.A. in Education and in Economics. She owns an e-commerce business and is the mother of a child with special needs. Her child participated in JAAR to great success. Mini brings a new perspective to the Board in terms of what the community lacks in resources for children who are neurodiverse. She believes in the inclusion of all children in all aspects of life.
Daniel Mercer, B.S. -
Daniel Merrill is currently a Financial Professional at KeyBank. He is a proud Veteran of the United States Army and graduate of Oregon State University in Business and Financial Planning. Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife Tana, an echocardiographer, and their dog Poe. He actively engages in his community by being member of his local chamber of commerce and assisting in the organization of community events. Daniel can often be found tailgating at Oregon Duck football games, cheering on his favorite team.
Ian Baines, -
Ian Baines worked with our advisor, Dr. Dave Ziegler, for well over a decade. He is a masters swimming who brings a lot of new ideas and enthusiasm to the JAAR Board of Directors. We look forward to updating his information, and adding an image, in the very near future.