The NADSP team is growing, and we’re thrilled to introduce our newest members! Jen Muller has joined us as our Quality Assurance Specialist, Dr. Jennifer Cohen as Senior Research Consultant, and Nick Smith as the newest member of our Board of Directors. We are delighted to welcome them to the NADSP, where they will each bring invaluable expertise to our mission.

• Nick Smith, with over two decades of experience as a direct support professional, will lend his voice to advocacy and public policy as our newest board member. Having been involved with NADSP for several years, Nick recently represented our workforce before the United States Senate Committee on Aging, where he testified about the complexities of direct support roles and the critical need to invest in long-term care and supports.
• Jen Muller, our new Quality Assurance Specialist, will ensure that our E-Badge Academy not only meets but exceeds national certification standards and industry benchmarks. With her extensive experience in quality assurance, Jen will drive process improvements and propose measures to enhance all NADSP operations.
• Dr. Jennifer Cohen, a highly regarded workforce economist with 15 years of experience in teaching and research, joins us as Senior Research Consultant. Specializing in the health/care sector, with a focus on healthcare workers and social determinants of health, Dr. Cohen will continue and expand her work with stakeholders across the country to study the direct support workforce and provide insights into long-term solutions.

As our team continues to grow, we are thrilled to advance our mission of elevating the role of direct support professionals. Get to know our newest team members below.

Nick Smith

Board Member

Learn More about Our New Team Members

About Dr. Jennifer Cohen

Dr. Jennifer Cohen holds a PhD in economics and has a diverse academic background encompassing political science, sociology, and geography. With 15 years of experience in teaching and research, her expertise lies in the health/care sector, focusing on healthcare workers and social determinants of health. Her research explores how worker well-being is influenced by working conditions and household dynamics. Recently, she conducted a survey-based study involving 4,500 direct support professionals (DSPs) in New York State, generating a unique dataset enriched with thousands of comments detailing DSPs’ experiences in both work and household settings. Dr. Cohen employs a combination of econometric/statistical techniques and qualitative research methods to analyze the lived experiences of these workers. She holds affiliations with Miami University, where she is an Associate Professor, the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers University, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals and the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand.

 About Jen Muller

Jen Muller is thrilled to introduce herself as the NADSP Quality Assurance Specialist. She is excited to contribute to the positively impactful E-Badge academy and NADSP as a whole. She started her career with NADSP in July of 2024.

Jen grew up in Iowa. She began her career in the world of Human Services in 2004. She started as an associate at River Hills School in Cedar Falls, and in 2008 moved to Des Moines, Iowa. This was the start of her 15-year career with Link Associates, holding many titles from direct support professional to Quality Assurance Administrator. She has been surrounded by many exceptional leaders at each career stage. Jen has a tenacious work ethic and possesses the professional poise that is critical to be successful.

Jen served on the board of the Polk County Positive Behavior Support Network (PBSN) for 6 years (2017-2022), it was during this time that a partnership developed with NADSP. She was one of the many champions responsible for bringing the Frontline Supervisor Train the Trainer curriculum to the Polk County region in Iowa. Jen has seen firsthand the positive and lasting impact it made and continues to make on each agency, the supervisory team and persons served. Jen became an E-Badge reviewer in 2022.

As the NADSP Quality Assurance Specialist, Jen values building relationships with partnering agencies. As well as seeing the professional development of each DSP and Supervisor taking in their journey with the E-badge Academy.

About Nick Smith

Nicholas Smith is an award-winning and certified direct support professional with over 20 years in the field. During his last 17 years at SPIN in Philadelphia, Nicholas has earned a reputation for providing excellent, individualized supports to people with extensive medical and behavioral needs. From opening new homes for adults transitioning out of institutions to creating innovative community activities for youth in SPIN’s summer autism program, he and his team have helped countless people enjoy meaningful, self-directed lives.

Nicholas’s leadership can be felt across his organization. He has served as a well-respected member of his union’s negotiation committee and has led numerous orientation experiences for new staff.  He encourages adults with disability to exercise their voting rights, and most recently, has worked with media and policy advocates to address an ongoing DSP workforce crisis. Nick has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Frontline Initiative, and most recently testified before the United States Senate.