Staff & Board
The Advocacy Center has a team of hardworking professionals who are dedicated to serving victims of child abuse, their families, our partners, and our community.
Leadership Staff
The Advocacy Center has a team of hardworking professionals who are dedicated to serving victims of child abuse, their families, our partners, and our community.
Kristen Howell, LMSW
Chief Executive Officer
Art Davila
Chief Financial Officer
Suzann Woodard
Director of Development
Suzanne Jolissaint, M.A., LPC-S, ATR
Director of Client Services
Meredith Boren
Director of Partner Relations
Suzy Gange, M.A., LPC-S
Director of Clinical Services & Education
Client Services
The Client Services Department sees children and families in crisis as they walk through the doors of the Advocacy Center for the first time. Forensic Interviewers listen to every child’s story, and Family Advocates meet with each family to support them and provide for their needs. In addition, Child Care specialists provide care during the day and evenings to remove barriers to services.
Clinical Services
The goal of the Clinical Services Department is to provide mental health for child abuses victims and their families to process what has happened and provide effective techniques to reduce the impact of trauma. Our clinical therapists are Licensed Professional Counselors and highly trained in working with trauma, providing evidence-based therapy to children and their non-offending family members free of charge. In addition, the Clinical Services Department oversees and supervises a graduate clinical intern practicum program for Master’s-level students working on obtaining their license.
Education
The Education Department trains children and adults in our community with free education programs in both English and Spanish. From specialized trainings for professional reporters, to community education for parents, to programs for elementary, middle and high school children, Education Specialists provide the most up-to-date information both virtually and in-person when allowed by COVID-19 restrictions.
Partner Relations
The Partner Relations Department coordinates with 55 partner agencies. In addition, this department reads each report of child abuse made to the state to ensure victims do not fall through the cracks. This department also provides trainings and support for partner agencies.
Board Leadership
The Advocacy Center is fortunate to have a passionate and dedicated group of volunteer board members committed to the effective governance of the organization.
Rob Seay
Chair
Partner, Hankins, Eastup, Deaton, Tonn, Seay & Scarborough, LLC
Dr. Jamie Wilson
Vice Chair
Superintendent of Schools, Denton ISD
Jeff Reecer
Treasurer
President, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
Chief Rodney Harrison
Secretary
Chief of Police, Town of Little Elm
Kent Key
Past Chair
President, Key Custom Homes
Board Members
Our Board Members are passionate community members who are experts in their professional fields, respectively. Thanks to these individuals, their resources, and expertise, the Advocacy Center is able to flourish more efficiently and in ways deepen our impact as an organization.
Bentley Ford
Managing Director, Prime Capital Investment Advisors
Bill Patterson
CEO, Denton Record Chronicle
Kelly Jones, LCSW-S, CCISM
Center for Emotional Wellness
Chandra Subramanian
Vice President, Head of M&A and Corporate Strategy, Celanese
David Broughton
Executive Director for Strategic Fundraising Initiatives, University of North Texas
Erin Carter
President, Denton Chamber of Commerce
Erin Rinehart
City Manager, City of Carrolton
Jamell Johnson
Vice President, Citi
Lishawa Jackson
Program Director, Department of Family and Protective Services
Leah Johnson
Owner, LJ Artisan Designs LLC
Lori Walker
President, Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce
Marty Rivers
Denton Market President, American National, Bank & Trust
Matt Brost
Vice President, Lockton
Mitzi Willis
Directory of Community Engagement & Development, Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute
Monya Crow
Executive Director, Lewisville ISD
Paul Johnson
District Attorney, Denton County
Tammi Needham
VP of Client Services, Quad
Terry Everett
Business Development for Wise County, DATCU
Vincent Hughes
Director, HealthTrackRX
Advisory Council
Cheryl Aldridge
Retired
Dr. Ron Aldridge
Retired
JD Clark
County Judge, Wise County
Leah Clark
Frank Dixon
Assistant City Manager, City of Denton
Dianne Edmondson
Denton County Commissioner, Place 4
TJ Gilmore Brian Hayduk
Mayor, City of Lewisville President, 5
Gerard Hudspeth
Mayor, City of Denton
Scott Hensell
Chief Operating & Financial Officer, Blue River Partners, LLC
Bobbie Mitchell
Denton County Commissioner, Place 3
Debi Martin
Owner, Club Pilates
Tan Parker
State Representative, District 63
Andrew Passons Dr. Lisa Pierce Selwyn Razor
Attorney, Lewis, Passons, & Darnell Psychologist
Dr. Lynn Stucky
State Representative, District 64
Michael Talley Melanie Vest Ryan Williams
President, DATCU Denton County Commissioner, Place 1
Internship & Employment
We are proud to offer internship opportunities and employment in the fields of psychology, social work, public administration, communications and similar fields.