Russha M. Knauer has been hired as the new director of MINDSOURCE – Brain Injury Network. Located within the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services under the Colorado Department of Human Services, this position exists to direct the operations of MINDSOURCE – Brain Injury Network which is the lead state agency on brain injury in Colorado.
As the director of MINDSOURCE, Russha will implement and manage all aspects of the Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund operations including advising the Brain Injury Trust Fund Board on program policy, developing systems to implement policies, overseeing contracts with organizations providing services to program clients, and administering the community and research grant programs. In addition, she will oversee the MINDSOURCE staff and day to day operations.
For the past twelve years, Russha has worked at the State Court Administrator’s office in the Division of Probation Services. Prior to that, she worked as a Client Manager / Parole Officer at the Division of Youth Services, working specifically with youth, their families, and necessary stakeholders.
In addition to her career with the State Court Administrator’s Office, Russha has been a member and past Chair of the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado Board of Directors, a member of the Colorado Brain Injury Trust Fund Board, and a member and past Co-chair of the Colorado Brain Injury Advisory Council. In addition, she has an extensive background in Motivational Interviewing, as well as training, coaching, strategic planning, and program evaluation.
Russha received a Master’s degree in criminal justice administration from University of Colorado at Denver as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Mindy Gates, Deputy Director of the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services stated, “We look forward to welcoming Russha to the MINDSOURCE team. We are so fortunate to have someone with her years of dedicated service to the judicial system and her history partnering with us in the brain injury field.”
Russha will join the team on Monday November 27, 2023.