Jackie Criswell Director of Chapter and Family Relations

Jackie Criswell, Director of Chapter and Family Relations

What brought you to CSN?
My niece, Elena, was diagnosed with DIPG and fought bravely for nine months.  Going through that experience with my family and watching Keith and Brooke turn their grief into drive and determination to find a homerun cure is what made me want to be a part of The Cure Starts Now.  I want to be a part of making sure no other family has to experience that loss.  After all these years, seeing what The Cure Starts Now has become, I know Elena’s legacy lives on through it. 

What I do at CSN
I am the Director of Chapter and Family Relations.  I am the point of contact for all of our chapters and for anyone interested in becoming a chapter at The Cure Starts Now.  I also work closely with our Director of Family Support and Outreach, Heidi Varns, to support the remarkable families that make up our Cure Starts Now family.  

What I like most about my job
What I like most about my job is having the honor of meeting the families and hearing about their children. I love hearing their stories and helping them honor their family member.

What moment have you cherished most at CSN?
My daughter attended the DIPG / DMG Symposium and just hearing her excitement and learning about the progress that is being made through The Cure Starts Now is what is so encouraging.  The Cure Starts now has a plan and is getting results, all while continuing to inspire the next generation to lead the way.

Many people would be surprised if they knew I…
I was a competitive water skier in college.  I attended the University of Alabama and skied for their team.  My husband is also a skier, so during the summer, you can always find us enjoying time on the water!