Illysa Foster is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) practicing in Central Texas. She owns Sisters MIdwifery, a homebirth midwifery practice serving a diverse population. Her care for mothers and babies includes holistic midwifery services for preconception, pregnancy, birth, the postpartum and the newborn. Illysa has recently founded Madres Midwifery School, a scholarship and skills training program where students are encouraged to publish research and contribute to the growing body of literature in midwifery. Prior to becoming a midwife, Ms. Foster taught for ten years at Austin Community College in departments of Psychology and Human Development. She has also developed early childhood education programs for children. Illysa lives with her two daughters and husband in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Jon Lasser is a Professor and Associate Dean for research for the College of Education. Prior to coming to Texas State he worked as school psychologist for public school system in Texas. At Texas State he has developed and taught graduate level courses for the school psychology program and has also taught the freshman first year experience course and an Honors College course in research ethics.

He has co-authored five books-- three for children and three for adults:

Grow Happy (Magination Press, 2017)

Grow Grateful (Magination Press, 2018)

Grow Kind (Magination Press, 2020)

• School Psychologist as Counselor (National Association of School Psychologists, 2013)

• Professional Ethics in Midwifery Practice (Jones & Bartlett, 2010)

• Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper Connected World (Oxford University Press, 2018)

He has published journal articles and chapters on a variety of subjects including autism, parenting, ethics, sexuality, and graduate preparation. His interest in research and ethics intersected in his role as the chair of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Texas State (2008-2017). Over the course of his career, Dr. Lasser has mentored students, faculty, and colleagues, supporting their growth and development. He has served as a mentor in the School Psychology Program, the IRB, the Bobcat Bond program, and through ongoing professional relationships in the public schools. Additionally, he has served on dissertation and theses committees, mentoring students through their own research and inviting students to present and publish with him.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Plan II Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. He sees children and adolescents in his psychotherapy practice in San Marcos.