Our Leadership

Meet our Board of Directors

Julie Scher, J.D.

Chair

Emma Cooksey

Vice Chair

Tracy Christensen

Secretary

Ana Lara

Director

Beverly Lang

Director

Learn more about all Project Sleep Board of Directors members.

Meet our Staff

Julie Flygare, JD
President & CEO

Julie Flygare, JD, serves as President & CEO of Project Sleep. Flygare is an internationally recognized patient-perspective leader, an accomplished advocate, and the award-winning author of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy. On March 22, 2022, she delivered the TEDx Talk, “What Can You Learn from a Professional Dreamer?

Since receiving a diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy in 2007, Flygare advanced her leadership in the sleep and healthcare space through speaking engagements, publications, earned media, collaborations, and advocacy and awareness initiatives. Prior to accepting her current role as President & CEO of Project Sleep, Flygare served as President of Project Sleep’s Board of Directors, while also gaining invaluable experience in marketing and philanthropy at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and City of Hope. Additionally, she served on the National Institutes of Health’s Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board from 2012 – 2015. Flygare received her B.A. from Brown University in 2005 and her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2009, focusing on health law, policy, and rare disease drug development.

Professional photo of Lauren Oglesby, a white woman with blue eyes and brown chin length hair, wearing a blue floral top and blue cardigan.

Lauren Oglesby, MPH
Programs Manager

Lauren is a public health educator and advocate, with a focus on healthcare and resource accessibility for vulnerable and underserved populations. She has implemented programs serving LGBTQ+ youth in rural Virginia, teens at high risk of pregnancy, and people who are incarcerated and living with HIV.

Lauren has personal and family experience with invisible disabilities and chronic conditions, including mental illness and autism spectrum differences. She is thrilled to serve as Programs Manager with Project Sleep, where she leverages her diverse personal and professional experience (and love of spreadsheets) to coordinate advocacy and awareness initiatives with the sleep community. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, reading too many books at a time, and trying to keep up with her large extended family. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and teenaged kiddo.

Rachel Aubrey, a white woman with long brown hair wearing a dark teal dress.

Rachel Aubrey
Digital Media Specialist

Rachel is a content creator and digital communicator, with a passion for working in the non-profit sector. She has worked with a small theater in her hometown of Wausau, WI, and with a dog rescue organization based in Thailand.

Rachel is excited to continue learning about sleep health, sleep equity, and sleep disorders. She believes sleep is indeed a pillar of health and strives to share its benefits with the world, mostly via social media and other digital platforms. In her spare time, she enjoys seeing live music, getting outside to explore the beautiful land and lakes that Wisconsin has to offer, and also traveling far beyond to an ever-growing list of destinations! She finds that spending the summers in Wisconsin and traveling to warmer destinations during the cold winter months is the perfect balance for her.

Meet our Expert Advisory Board

Project Sleep's 30 Expert Advisory Board members.

Project Sleep’s Expert Advisory Board includes cliniciansresearcherspatients, and advocates who are thought leaders and trailblazers in their respective fields. This powerful group works together to accelerate our mission of improving public health by educating individuals and communities about sleep health, sleep equity, and sleep disorders.

Latest News

New! World Narcolepsy Day Trivia

Host A Trivia Night! For World Narcolepsy Day (September 22nd), you’re invited to host a trivia event in your community! This toolkit will guide you with everything you need to host your World Narcolepsy Day Trivia game. Using the provided script, it should take you and your participants about 1-1.5 hours to complete. Difficulty Level:…

World Narcolepsy Day 2023: Get Involved!

Just 3 weeks until the fifth annual World Narcolepsy Day on Sept. 22nd, 2023! This September, let’s raise our awareness to new heights. 7 Easy Ways to Get Involved: 1. Become an Ambassador Be a leader in raising awareness! Project Sleep’s World Narcolepsy Day Ambassadors participate in activities, raise funds, and spread the word about…

World Narcolepsy Day Story Sharing: Chiara in Argentina!

Celebrate World Narcolepsy Day (Sept 22) in Buenos Aires with Project Sleep! Rising Voices speaker Chiara Buzzelli will share her narcolepsy story to raise awareness and fight stigma in Argentina, where there is little understanding or support for people living with this chronic neurological condition. To tune in LIVE, go to Project Sleep’s Facebook page at…

WND in Australia: Remembering Melissa Jose and Story Sharing with Alex Lee

Project Sleep is going to Australia to celebrate World Narcolepsy Day (Sept 22) with a special live broadcast! We will honor the life and work of Melissa Jose, incredible leader of Narcolepsy Australia and champion for World Narcolepsy Day, and continue with an amazing Rising Voices speaker, Aussie Alex Lee’s narcolepsy story. To tune in…

World Narcolepsy Day Story Sharing: Felicia in Thailand!

Travel to Thailand with Project Sleep to celebrate World Narcolepsy Day (Sept 22)! Rising Voices speaker Felicia Elisabeth shared her narcolepsy journey — from experiencing symptoms as a teenager to finding proper diagnosis and raising her voice to fight stigma. Watch Video: About Felicia: Felicia Elisabeth is a graduate student currently living in Thailand. She was…
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