Chris Selko earned a BA in English from the Pennsylvania State University and a MA in Literature and Women’s Studies from Old Dominion University. As an adjunct professor, Chris has been teaching College Composition, Developmental Reading and Writing, and ESL classes to a diverse population in many different environments for the past 25 years.
Despite her love and commitment for teaching, Chris’s priority has been her total commitment to her family. It was through this commitment that Chris began her advocacy work. In 2002, the youngest of Chris’s four children was diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma. After the initial diagnosis and immediate surgery, Chris’s life and that of her family changed dramatically. In the past 19 years, Chris has learned a lot and made many mistakes in her search for the best possible options for her son to have a fulfilling and happy life while trying to keep her entire family intact as they dealt with the challenges that came with her youngest son’s tumor diagnosis. Chris realizes every family’s journey is different; however, the fear and feelings of desperation that a family feels with a tumor diagnosis are the same. For this reason, Chris has worked to help other families who are facing uncertainty while dealing with a sick child. Chris’s goal is to offer support and provide any assistance she can.
Chris has worked with the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network as a Family Research Specialist and a Parent-to-Parent Outreach coordinator. She continues to help families dealing with the diagnosis of a brain tumor as a peer mentor for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Today Chris is proud and excited to be a part of the Raymond A Wood Foundation. Through the dynamic work of the RAWF community, she believes survivors, like her son, will find the alternatives and solutions that will give them the quality of life that every person deserves.
