CO-FOUNDER/CEO

Lizette Hoffman is the Founder and CEO of the Ascenda Foundation. As a parent of a medically fragile child with autism and epilepsy, she understands the challenges families face when trying to access quality educational and behavioral services. This personal experience ignited her passion to create Ascenda. Lizette is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a certified special education teacher, and an educational consultant. Her educational background includes a Master's in Special Education from George Mason, a Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern, and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Iowa State. She's currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School. Her commitment to supporting underserved communities across the US is deeply personal.

CO-FOUNDER

Sean is the Co-Founder of the Ascenda Foundation. As a parent of a medically fragile child with special needs, he shares Lizette's firsthand understanding of the difficulties families encounter when navigating the public school system and seeking appropriate support. This shared experience inspired him to join Lizette in establishing Ascenda. Sean is also a dedicated Air Force veteran with over 18 years of service.