Creating Smiles, Improving Lives

Renée Hanson Malone has 15 years of management, resource development, and communications experience, raising millions of dollars and community support for underserved populations in Austin, TX. Her greatest strengths are donor development, communications, corporate giving, special events, grant writing, program development, and public relations.

Renée received her M.A. in Latin American Studies and was employed as a Lecturer by the Latin American Studies and Spanish Departments at the University of Kansas. Much of her work in Austin has been dedicated to strengthening and diversifying funding sources in order to expand services to underserved populations.

Before joining Austin Smiles, Renée served as the Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Before that, she was the Director of Development for the Austin Child Guidance Center, the Grants Development Specialist at Easter Seals Central Texas and the Education Program Director/Grant Writer for Manos de Cristo.

She currently serves as the Board President of LOLA-Local Opera Local Artists. In addition, she is a current Board member for Vela and serves on the Non-Profit Advisory Council forI Live Here I Give Here. Renée was a member of Impact Austin from 2015-2017. She volunteered as the international matching grants coordinator for the Rotary Club of Austin Downtown and is a past board member of Austin Cops for Charities.

Making a difference in the world and inspiring others to support humanity is her life’s work. She has always admired Austin Smiles’ work in the community. She is honored to join the team and be a part of our life-changing work for so many children in need.

Renée Hanson Malone has 15 years of management, resource development, and communications experience, raising millions of dollars and community support for underserved populations in Austin, TX. Her greatest strengths are donor development, communications, corporate giving, special events, grant writing, program development, and public relations.

Renée received her M.A. in Latin American Studies and was employed as a Lecturer by the Latin American Studies and Spanish Departments at the University of Kansas. Much of her work in Austin has been dedicated to strengthening and diversifying funding sources in order to expand services to underserved populations.

Before joining Austin Smiles, Renée served as the Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Before that, she was the Director of Development for the Austin Child Guidance Center, the Grants Development Specialist at Easter Seals Central Texas and the Education Program Director/Grant Writer for Manos de Cristo.

She currently serves as the Board President of LOLA-Local Opera Local Artists. In addition, she is a current Board member for Vela and serves on the Non-Profit Advisory Council for I Live Here I Give Here. Renée was a member of Impact Austin from 2015-2017. She volunteered as the international matching grants coordinator for the Rotary Club of Austin Downtown and is a past board member of Austin Cops for Charities.

Making a difference in the world and inspiring others to support humanity is her life’s work. She has always admired Austin Smiles’ work in the community. She is honored to join the team and be a part of our life-changing work for so many children in need.

Ellise Perry is a 2018 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She studied and got her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Speech Pathology. During her college career, Ellise found Austin Smiles while searching for a cleft centered organization to get involved within Austin. She, having been born with a cleft lip and palate herself, fell in love with Austin Smiles, attending events like Camp Amigo and the Spring Picnic for local kids.

Ellise currently owns a family and child photography business in Austin, known as Ellise Nicole Photography LLC. She has been on a mission to El Salvador and Guatemala and loves being able to capture the smiles, tears, and love between patients, their families and Austin Smiles volunteers with her camera.

Ellise has a passion for photography, working with children, and volunteering. She is interested in communications, social media marketing, non-profit management, and bettering the lives of children born just like her!

Ellise Perry is a 2018 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She studied and got her BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Speech Pathology. During her college career, Ellise found Austin Smiles while searching for a cleft centered organization to get involved within Austin. She, having been born with a cleft lip and palate herself, fell in love with Austin Smiles, attending events like Camp Amigo and the Spring Picnic for local kids.

Ellise currently owns a family and child photography business in Austin, known as Ellise Nicole Photography LLC. She has been on a mission to El Salvador and Guatemala and loves being able to capture the smiles, tears, and love between patients, their families and Austin Smiles volunteers with her camera.

Ellise has a passion for photography, working with children, and volunteering. She is interested in communications, social media marketing, non-profit management, and bettering the lives of children born just like her!

Major: Master in Public Health, Epidemiology with Certificates in Health Disparities and Genomics

Favorite Quote: “Your hard work and dedication will ease the troubles of others.”

Public health is not a linear field, it encompasses an array of diverse fields and individuals with health and well-being as an end goal. Austin smiles works endlessly to bring justice to that statement, they bring together doctors, public health professionals, donors, and volunteers to contribute to the lives of the children with oral clefts and their families. Coming from Brownsville, Texas, a border town, and experiencing some of the effects that lack of financial support and resources brings about to the health of your community, I hope to play a part in Austin Smiles’ mission to serve beyond a border and bring my experience to the table. My goal is to contribute to communities that encounter health disparities beyond their control and serve to mend the bridge that equity has created. I know that I will have the team and support at Austin Smiles to continuously push my goal beyond its limits

Major: Master in Public Health, Epidemiology with Certificates in Health Disparities and Genomics

Favorite Quote: “Your hard work and dedication will ease the troubles of others.”

Public health is not a linear field, it encompasses an array of diverse fields and individuals with health and well-being as an end goal. Austin smiles works endlessly to bring justice to that statement, they bring together doctors, public health professionals, donors, and volunteers to contribute to the lives of the children with oral clefts and their families. Coming from Brownsville, Texas, a border town, and experiencing some of the effects that lack of financial support and resources brings about to the health of your community, I hope to play a part in Austin Smiles’ mission to serve beyond a border and bring my experience to the table. My goal is to contribute to communities that encounter health disparities beyond their control and serve to mend the bridge that equity has created. I know that I will have the team and support at Austin Smiles to continuously push my goal beyond its limits

Allison Janos
Medical Coordinator

Allison Janos joined Austin Smiles as Medical Coordinator following a recent trip with the team to Guatemala, where she developed a love for the organization, and everyone involved. A graduate of Villanova University, she has nursing experience in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Her favorite thing about Austin Smiles is how passionate the staff and volunteers are, and to see first-hand the profound impact this organization can have on the children and families who receive care.

In her spare time, Allison enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and a Boston Terrier named Emma. She loves live music, exploring the outdoors, adventure, and traveling. She believes in exploring every opportunity you are presented in life and is excited to be a part of this amazing crew!

Allison Janos joined Austin Smiles as Medical Coordinator following a recent trip with the team to Guatemala, where she developed a love for the organization, and everyone involved. A graduate of Villanova University, she has nursing experience in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Her favorite thing about Austin Smiles is how passionate the staff and volunteers are, and to see first-hand the profound impact this organization can have on the children and families who receive care.

In her spare time, Allison enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and a Boston Terrier named Emma. She loves live music, exploring the outdoors, adventure, and traveling. She believes in exploring every opportunity you are presented in life and is excited to be a part of this amazing crew!

Sofia Jimenez is our Work-Study from the University of Texas at Austin

Major: Public Health

Favorite Quote: The path is long and there are many twists and turns in the forest. They are intentional, you are not lost.” -V Spehar

Hi everyone! I am a third-year Public Health Major with a Minor in Business at UT Austin from El Paso, TX. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Public Health and a Doctor’s degree in Internal Medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, trying new restaurants in Austin, and kayaking. I am very excited to be part of this team, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Sofia Jimenez is our Work-Study from the University of Texas at Austin

Major: Public Health

Favorite Quote: The path is long and there are many twists and turns in the forest. They are intentional, you are not lost.” -V Spehar

Hi everyone! I am a third-year Public Health Major with a Minor in Business at UT Austin from El Paso, TX. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Public Health and a Doctor’s degree in Internal Medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy painting, trying new restaurants in Austin, and kayaking. I am very excited to be part of this team, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Valentina Salazar is our Work-Study from the University of Texas at Austin

Major: Public Health

Favorite Quote: What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Jane Goodall

I am a 4th year Public Health student with hopes of becoming a doctor one day. I am very excited to be working at Austin Smiles, as they combine my two passions- medicine and global health equity.  I know I will learn a lot from this incredible team and experience, and I am very blessed to be able to help carry their mission forward. 

Valentina Salazar is our Work-Study from the University of Texas at Austin

Major: Public Health

Favorite Quote: What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Jane Goodall

I am a 4th year Public Health student with hopes of becoming a doctor one day. I am very excited to be working at Austin Smiles, as they combine my two passions- medicine and global health equity.  I know I will learn a lot from this incredible team and experience, and I am very blessed to be able to help carry their mission forward.

Major: Communication Disorders
Favorite Quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Ghandi

I look forward to being an intern with Austin Smiles and learning about others. I hope to be challenged and grow from experiences. I want to serve others wholeheartedly and continue to grow in family relations to offer and provide them with my best service.

Major: Communication Disorders
Favorite Quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Ghandi

I look forward to being an intern with Austin Smiles and learning about others. I hope to be challenged and grow from experiences. I want to serve others wholeheartedly and continue to grow in family relations to offer and provide them with my best service.

Major: Global Public Health
Favorite Quote: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless”- Mother Teresa.

I want to spend my time with Austin Smiles because I want to be a part of Austin Smile’s mission of helping children born with cleft lip and palate by providing sustainable surgical care. I am excited to work with others and learn new things from Austin Smiles.

Major: Global Public Health

Favorite Quote: “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless”- Mother Teresa.

I want to spend my time with Austin Smiles because I want to be a part of Austin Smile’s mission of helping children born with cleft lip and palate by providing sustainable surgical care. I am excited to work with others and learn new things from Austin Smiles.

Major: Biochemistry Honors with a certificate in Children and Society

Favorite Quote: “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis

Austin Smiles is very focused and committed to bringing needed care to children in underserved areas of the world that brings lasting impact to those children and communities, at no cost to those receiving the care. I want to see firsthand and be a part of how physicians, nurses, and other techs can take time out of their careers and vacations to go and work for those whose lives can be transformed.

Major: Biochemistry Honors with a certificate in Children and Society

Favorite Quote: “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis

Austin Smiles is very focused and committed to bringing needed care to children in underserved areas of the world that brings lasting impact to those children and communities, at no cost to those receiving the care. I want to see firsthand and be a part of how physicians, nurses, and other techs can take time out of their careers and vacations to go and work for those whose lives can be transformed.

Major:  Master of Global Policy Studies/Master of Public Health with a Minor in Biostatistics Dual Degree

Favorite Quote: “You are personally responsible for becoming more ethical than the society you grew up in.” – Eliezer Yudkowsky 

I am thrilled to work with Austin Smiles to help promote health in various ways for children, their families, and the Latin American community here in Austin and abroad. It’s a great opportunity to use my skills and background to support the mission of Austin Smiles, and to bring about smiles and create a long lasting impact beyond what I am capable of doing as an individual. Adelante, soriendo!

Major:  Master of Global Policy Studies/Master of Public Health with a Minor in Biostatistics Dual Degree

Favorite Quote: “You are personally responsible for becoming more ethical than the society you grew up in.” – Eliezer Yudkowsky 

I am thrilled to work with Austin Smiles to help promote health in various ways for children, their families, and the Latin American community here in Austin and abroad. It’s a great opportunity to use my skills and background to support the mission of Austin Smiles, and to bring about smiles and create a long lasting impact beyond what I am capable of doing as an individual. Adelante, soriendo!

Major: Speech Language and Hearing Science

Favorite Quote: “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” – Edgar Allan Poe

I wanted to spend my time with Austin Smiles this spring because I believe that what Austin Smiles does for the children and communities has a life-changing impact. I hope to contribute to seeing more beautiful smiles on children’s faces.

Major: Speech Language and Hearing Science

Favorite Quote: “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” – Edgar Allan Poe

I wanted to spend my time with Austin Smiles this spring because I believe that what Austin Smiles does for the children and communities has a life-changing impact. I hope to contribute to seeing more beautiful smiles on children’s faces.

Major: Masters of Public Health

Favorite Quote: “Intentional days build a life on purpose.” – Adrienne Enns

This is a quote I like to strive for in life because it can be so easy to go through routines. I believe this resonates with Austin Smiles because this organization must work every day with intention regardless of what position you hold to ensure you are purposefully helping these children, families, and communities. I value Austin Smiles’ mission, and it is so inspiring to see all the individuals that make this organization possible work with passion and intention. I hope to add value to this team of intention, so we can bring a ton more smiles on purpose!

Major: Masters of Public Health

Favorite Quote: “Intentional days build a life on purpose.” – Adrienne Enns

This is a quote I like to strive for in life because it can be so easy to go through routines. I believe this resonates with Austin Smiles because this organization must work every day with intention regardless of what position you hold to ensure you are purposefully helping these children, families, and communities. I value Austin Smiles’ mission, and it is so inspiring to see all the individuals that make this organization possible work with passion and intention. I hope to add value to this team of intention, so we can bring a ton more smiles on purpose!