Meet Your Different Dynamics Board of Directors

Jennifer Kerner, President

Jennifer Kerner is a disability service professional, a stage and festival performer, an advocate for accessibility and inclusion in the performing arts, and a proud resident of the autism spectrum. Ms. Kerner has worked in several roles at multiple disability services agencies since 2009, having been a job coach, pre-vocational trainer, and coordinator of a summer employment program for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently holds an administrative and intake position at Easterseals Midwest. Ms. Kerner has performed in St. Louis area community theatre since 2012 and is a regular festival singer and actor on Main Street in historic St. Charles. She also provides support and consultation to local theatre groups preparing to stage sensory-friendly and accessible performances, and she serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of improv performance group ComedySportz St. Louis. Ms. Kerner holds a degree in mass communication from Lindenwood University.

JONATHAN RALSTON, TREASURER

Since January of 2021, Jonathan has been a Senior Financial Analyst with Hussmann Corporation. He previously spent 7.5 years working extensively in audit and assurance services in the public accounting industry. His former clients included manufacturing, construction, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and employee benefit plans. Jonathan graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia with an undergraduate degree in personal financial planning. He graduated from the University of Missouri - St. Louis with a master’s degree in accounting. 

JESSICA INGRAHAM, member

Founder of Different Dynamics, Jessica Ingraham has proudly served the music education community for more than fifteen years. Currently serving as Director of Education for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jessica began her career in music education as a music teacher in the St. Charles City Schools in St. Charles, MO. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Miami University in Oxford, OH, a master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has completed her Orff Schulwerk certifications. Jessica serves on the board of the Hesse Memorial Fund. In 2017, she was awarded the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association’s Merit Award for her contributions to music education and in 2019 the Spotlight Award from the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement.

Charles Stancil, Member

Charles Stancil has been a Special Education Teacher in the St. Charles School District since 2002. His focus has been working with students with emotional disturbances and cross categorical focuses. He enjoys working with students and building solid relationships that go beyond the classroom. He has been a coach for several different athletic programs throughout his career as an educator, from Varsity Cheer, Girls Basketball, and both Boys and Girls Track and Field. Even Tennis. He is also an avid musician singing and directing since he was a child at Antioch Baptist Church. He is currently a member of the St. Louis Symphony INUNISON Chorus. Charles has earned advanced degrees in Special Education and Educational Administration and is currently in the Doctoral Program at Lindenwood University in Educational Administration. He is married to Monica Stancil (Weik) from St. Charles.

AJ Surrell, Member

Aj Surrell is the current Social Media Specialist for Lindenwood University, where she graduated with her degree in Advertising and Strategic Communications in 2020. Since graduating, she has worked across the St. Louis area to create a variety of accessible experiences for all, specifically in the fields of performing arts and digital communications. She first began working with Different Dynamics as an inaugural member of the Sensory-Friendly Task Force, and is excited to now take on a larger role with this great organization as part of the board of directors. 

Andrew Tubbs, Member

Andrew Tubbs is a university professor who researches disability studies. He has a master’s in musicology from the University of Iowa and is finishing his Ph.D. in musicology at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on musical representations of disability on stage and screen and is currently writing a dissertation on the use of disabled metaphors in Hollywood cinema. He has worked extensively with disabled theatre companies such as Phamaly Theatre Company and Deaf West Theatre as well as other disabled music-making ensembles. He is passionate about creating spaces for disabled people to creatively express themselves as well as providing resources to arts organizations to better serve the disabled community.