Staff

Meet the team

Karla Dzienkowski

Karla Dzienkowski, RN, BSN
Executive Director

In January 2014, Karla accepted the position of executive director. Since then she has made a huge impact on the organization. Karla first learned about RLS in her dual roles as a mother and registered nurse when her daughter, then 11 1/2 years old, began to experience symptoms that doctors could not explain. Karla crossed the country looking for answers before finally finding a knowledgeable doctor, and shortly after, the RLS Foundation. Eager for answers, Karla joined the Foundation's Board of Directors in 2004 and served through 2009. As a board member, she encouraged pediatric RLS research, along with programs to increase awareness and education of RLS in the medical and school communities. Karla believes that much work has yet to be done in disseminating information about RLS to the public and the medical community, and that much more research into its cause and treatment is needed. Karla drives the mission of the Foundation with her leadership, and she is passionate about promoting research for better treatments and a cure.

Email Karla

Clara Schlemeyer

Clara Schlemeyer
Program Coordinator

Clara joined the Foundation in 2017, first as an administrative assistant while finishing her degree, then joining the team full time as the program coordinator. Clara manages our volunteer programs, coordinates our webinar series, and is responsible for coordinating our presence on social media. Clara is a Texas Tech University graduate, with a degree in public relations. Clara has extensive experience with volunteering and non-profit organizations. During her six years in National Charity League, Inc., a mother-daughter service organization, she was recognized as the senior with the most volunteer hours worked, over 500! She is a native Austinite, and a proud Texan! She spent most of her childhood summers as a camper and later a counselor at Prude Ranch in West Texas. The only thing she loves more than Texas is her dog, Watson.

Email Clara

Adrianna Colucci

Adrianna Colucci
Administrative Assistant

Adrianna has joined our team as an administrative assistant, after living in Austin only three weeks! When we asked what brought her to Austin, we knew right away we wanted this adventurous woman on our team! She explained that she drove across the country by herself, starting in New Jersey and ending in California, and stopping along the way to decide where she would like to lay down roots. We are so lucky that she chose Austin! Adrianna graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rutgers University with a political science degree and a minor in history. She has years of customer service experience, including a “sweet job” managing a team at an ice cream and chocolate shop! She loves to bake, read (huge Harry Potter fan) and listen to true crime podcasts.

Email Adrianna

Anjana

Anjana Ganesh
Intern

Anjana is a senior neuroscience major at UT Austin interested in pursuing a career in medicine, with a specific interest in the medical humanities. Throughout college, she was involved with research initiatives studying falls and gains through motion capture technology. She also loved volunteering with kids through different organizations like the Ronald McDonald House for Children and Posada Esperanza. In her free time, you can find her dancing with her dance team, UT Nritya Sangam, or reading a new book! As an intern with the RLS foundation, she is eager to learn more about the different facets of non-profit management, research grants, scientific communication and the importance of advocacy in medicine!

Email Anjana