About Hippo Campus

A non-profit social campus to enrich the lives of neurodivergent youth

Hippo Campus of Chapel Hill is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization seeking to build a first-of-it's-kind recreational center that will enrich the lives of neurodivergent youth and their families.

By building the optimal environment for neurodivergent kids, we can facilitate friendships, build community, offer enrichment through learning and play, provide access to support services, and improve life outcomes.

Hippo Campus is based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Our story

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Board members

Ben Alschuler

Founder, Executive Director, Parent

Ben is a parent of an autistic child and a graduate of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also serves as co-chair of the Special Needs Advisory Council for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Previously, Ben worked in marketing and communications for a variety of industries, including technology, architecture, finance, and non-profit. One decade of his experience was focused on aiding the growth of diverse and minority-owned businesses.

Sam Brandsen, Ph.D.

Self-advocate, Parent

Sam is an autistic parent of an autistic child. He completed his Ph.D. in physics at Duke University with a focus on quantum information theory.

After developing multiple recreational programs to neurodivergent chidren in Raleigh-Durham, Sam now lives in Ontario, Canada and collaborates with several different universities and organisations on autism research and disability advocacy. Much of his work is focused on understanding how healthcare and therapy can be made more accessible to autistic individuals.

Dr. Brenna Maddox

Clinical Psychiatrist, Autism & Mental Health Researcher

Dr. Maddox most recently served as a clinical researcher and implementation scientist at TEACCH, and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC.

Her research focuses on improving community services for people on the autism spectrum across the lifespan. She is particularly interested in training and supporting community mental health clinicians, modifying evidence-based practices for people on the autism spectrum with anxiety or depression, and preventing suicide in this population.

Jon Mitchell

Financial Lawyer, Town Planning

Jon is a lawyer specializing in financial regulation, a part-time stay-at-home parent, and is a current member and former Chair of the Chapel Hill Planning Commission.

He worked as a federal banking regulator in Washington D.C. before transitioning to private practice, where he now provides regulatory consulting to clients. Jon is the parent of two children in the CHCCS system, and is actively involved in several aspects of local government.

Lauren Turner Brown, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Turner Brown is a licensed psychologist with extensive expertise in autism spectrum disorders. She specializes in early diagnosis and intervention, but also supports patients across the lifespan and with co-occurring conditions including anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviors.

Prior to opening her private practice, she served as the Assistant Director for the UNC TEACCH Autism Program, directed numerous research projects, and trained professionals around the world.

About Hippo Campus

Our story

Board members

Community support