Nancy E. Woodworth O'Dell received her bachelor of arts degree in English and her master's degree in education from Indiana University. She taught high school for two years and junior high school for two years before earning her Ph.D. from Purdue University, specializing in learning disabilities and child development, and working under the direction of Dr. Miriam Bender. She did school psychological evaluations and then went into private practice before becoming a professor at the University of Indianapolis. There, she taught classes in learning disabilities and child development. She also founded and codirected, with Dr. Patricia Cook, both the Miriam Bender Achievement Center and the Baccalaureate for University of Indianapolis Learning Disabled (B.U.I.L.D.), a support system for learning-disabled college students. She was named to the Warren Central High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002. She has given innumerable presentations about learning disabilities, especially about the symmetric tonic neck reflex and its implications for learning and behavior.

Patricia A. Cook received her bachelor of arts degree from Marian College in Indianapolis, majoring in English and biology. She earned her master's degree in educational psychology from Butler University while teaching high school English. She earned her Ph.D. from Purdue University, specializing in learning disabilities and educational psychology, and working under the guidance of Dr. Bender. She did school psychological testing, and then went into private practice with Dr. O'Dell before becoming a professor at the University of Indianapolis. With Dr. O'Dell, she founded and codirected the B.U.I.L.D. program and the Miriam Bender Achievement Center. She was named Distinguished Alumnus of Marian College in 1986 and the Indianapolis Star's Woman of the Year in 1988.

Now retired from the University of Indianapolis, both Drs. Cook and O'Dell are Professors Emeriti in the School of Education. They continue to promote and implement Dr. Bender's work at their Miriam Bender Achievement Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.