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.
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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.
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