Board of Directors
Carrie Waters Schmidt
President
Carrie is a Financial Planner and business owner of Equanimity Wealth Planning and Investing in Madison, WI. She is highly organized and goal-oriented with a history of successfully lifting non-profit Boards off the ground and on to being self-sufficient entities.
As a person diagnosed with anxiety, Carrie understands and empathizes with those who share this experience. Carrie believes in the role YogAutism can play in anxiety reduction, among the many other benefits, which can lead to experiencing a higher quality of life which we all deserve.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafts, riding horses, playing with her young daughter, and yoga.
Diane Sing
Treasurer
Diane is a meditation and yoga practitioner and instructor and is the owner of 8-3-1 Yoga. She is also the founder of Madison Outdoor Yoga and believes yoga should be accessible to all. Specifically, she is passionate about making yoga accessible and available to people of color and those with disabilities.
Mary Kate McQuade
Board Member at large
Mary Kate is currently a Process Development Chemist at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. Originally from Louisville, KY, she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemistry from Western Carolina University. After graduation, Mary Kate relocated to Sandusky, Ohio, where she actively participated in community activities while advancing her career.
Passionate about community involvement and continuous learning, Mary Kate has a strong background in volunteer work and engagement with local organizations. She finds joy in outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and camping, and has practiced yoga since 2018 for mindfulness and well-being.
As a proud and loving aunt to an 8-year-old nephew on the autism spectrum, Mary Kate brings both personal and professional experiences to her role on the board, offering a unique perspective and unwavering commitment to the nonprofit's mission.
David Cunningham, M.A.
Board Member at large
David Cunningham serves as the Assistant Director of Academic Services for the University of Wisconsin athletic department. He currently works with the football, golf, and tennis teams. Cunningham specializes in teaching learning strategies and organizational skills while providing comprehensive academic support to students on his caseload.
Additionally, Cunningham is the Athletic Department’s liaison to the McBurney Disability Resource Center, on campus. In this role, he administers assessments and assists student-athletes in attaining or utilizing academic accommodations.
Before arriving in Wisconsin in 2018, Cunningham spent over twenty years as a varsity football and basketball Coach, Special Olympics coach, Paraprofessional, and Special Education teacher in the Milwaukee and Mequon-Thiensville (Wis.) school districts. During his career, he has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.