Meet Our Board

Eiko Akagi Roberti is the founder of Inclusive Movement and Dance, Inc.  Eiko has Masters Degrees in both law and education, and has worked as a teacher in Bethesda.  She founded the organization to provide opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have dance education.

Jenifer Dobbins (she/her), LCCA (Ms. Jen) is a professional dance educator, choreographer, and performer with more than 24 years of experience and is qualified to teach ballet, modern, jazz, and musical theater dance. She has taught students of all ages and abilities, from ages 1 to 80 and from preschool dance to the advanced levels. She is a graduate of UMBC Department of Dance, Jen performed with Baltimore Dance Project, Maryland Regional Ballet, TAWA Dance Company, Equinox Dance Company, and Searls Puppetry.

Katie Weed is a Senior Consultant in the SEC & Accounting Advisory practice of FTI Consulting. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. Weed spent 4 years in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche in the audit & assurance practice in McLean, VA. As a Senior Auditor, she developed her knowledge base of technical accounting skills in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).  Katie has a strong interest in public service and particularly serving people with special needs.

John Roberti is a partner with Cohen & Gresser LLP in Washington, DC, where he practices antitrust law.  In addition to his service on the Inclusive Movement and Dance Board, John serves on two other non-profit boards: he chairs the board of a non-profit that provides speech and language services to indigent children in Chicago, and is a board member for an organization that offers sports and recreational services to children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder in Montgomery County.

Jenni Biggs is an experienced theater instructor, and has taught all ages from pre-school to senior adults.  Jenni currently teaches theater classes at Imagination Stage.  She has a particular interest in working with people with mental and emotional challenges.

Melissa H Maxman is the Managing Partner of Cohen & Gresser’s Washington, D.C. office.  Melissa has a bachelor’s degree in music and is is the immediate past chair of the Dean’s National Advisory Council for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at the George Washington University. She has worked on cases and policy issues supporting people with disabilities.

Ryan Mullin is a Special Education teacher at Walt Whitman High School.  He co-teaches the Learning for Independence program at Whitman, which are designed for students with complex learning and cognitive needs, including mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.  Mr. Mullin is the faculty advisor to the Best Buddies program, and also coaches the JV Basketball and Bacci teams at Whitman.  He obtained his Bachelor of Science in secondary education from the Pennsylvania State University and his Masters in Special Education from Arizona State University.

Clara Roberti is a student at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC.  Clara has been dancing for more than 10 years, and is a leader of the National Dance Honor Society at Unity Dance Studio.  Clara helped to form Inclusive Movement and Dance after spending time during the pandemic helping her older brother with his exercise classes, when she realized that he might enjoy dance as much as she does.