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Brief Biographies for Speakers & Presenters Erin Boyd-Soisson, Ph. D., CFLE, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Messiah College. Dr. Boyd-Soisson teaches classes in child, adolescent, and adult development, as well as foundations of marriage & family and social science research methods. Her research interests include the transition to parenthood, emotional socialization of children, and individual, family, and social issues regarding breastfeeding. Dr. Bowen has extensive experience in working with all branches of the military services, and he has visited more than 100 installations worldwide during the past 30 years in the context of consulting with military policymakers, researchers, and practitioners across a range of mental health and social service issues. His sponsors have included the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Manpower and Data Center, the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center, the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Air Force Office of the Chief of Chaplains, the Air Force Office of Family Matters, the U.S. Air Force Family Advocacy Division, and the U.S. Marine Corps Community Services. Dr. Bowen is currently initiating work with the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Development Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services to contribute to the Division’s efforts to increase its outreach services and support to the civilian spouses of military members currently serving in the North Carolina National Guard, as well as other North Carolina citizens serving in the Reserve Components of the United States Military. The extension of primary and secondary prevention services and supports to this population is an important component of the Division’s expanded response to the mental health service needs of veterans and their families. Dr. Bowen served earlier (1998 to 2004) as senior social work consultant to Colonel John Nelson, Chief, Family Advocacy Office, Office of the Surgeon General, United States Air Force. In 1999, Dr. Bowen conducted a landmark study of community life in the Air Force, Communities in Blue for the 21 st Century, which was anchored in his work with the U.S. Army Research Institute. The results of this study served as the basis for the reorganization of prevention services in the U.S. Air Force. Integrated Delivery Teams (IDS) at all Air Force bases worldwide have received training in community capacity building, which was based on a model developed by Dr. Bowen and colleagues. Dr. Bowen is also co-author of the Families-In-Blue series (1979-1981) that led to the development of Family Support Centers in the U.S. Air Force. In 1998-99, Dr. Bowen served as an expert consultant for the U.S. General Accounting Office on the Quality of Military Life. In 2004, he served as a panel presenter in a Congressional Briefing on Capital Hill: “Military Families: Developing and Sustaining Resilience.” Dr. Bowen currently serves as a senior consultant to the Community Support Division, Airman and Family Readiness Policy, U.S. Air Force. Dr. Bowen is also a member of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Veteran’s Affairs Joint Task Force. Dr. Bowen has published extensively on the nature of the work and family interface in the U.S. Military, including the now classic volume, The Organization Family: Work and Family Linkages in the U.S. Military (Praeger Press), which he co-edited in 1989 with Dr. Dennis Orthner. His military-related publications have appeared in the Journal of Marriage and Family, Family Relations, Armed Forces & Society, Journal of Community Practice, and the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, and he has been a featured guest on National Public Radio (Tavis Smiley Show) discussing the Iraq War, One year later: The view from soldiers’ families. His honors include the National Graduate Student of the Year Award in 1981 from the National Council of Family Relations and an Alumni Pacesetter Award in 1998 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s School of Environmental Sciences “for actively making a difference in the lives of others and the world around them.” In 2001, he was identified as a National Council on Family Relations Fellow for his enduring contributions to the field of family studies through a career of teaching, scholarship, outreach, professional service and leadership; in 1983, he was identified as a Fellow, Armed Forces and Society. Dr. Bowen received the “Most Innovative Professor Award” in 2002 from the Social Work Student Organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; in 2005, 2006 and 2007, he received the Dean’s Recognition of Teaching Excellence, which recognizes faculty members whose student teaching evaluation scores consistently remain among the highest of the faculty. Dr. Bowen serves as a member of the distinguished Research Council for America’s Promise, and he is President-Elect of the National Council on Family Relations. Laura Buck is a licensed clinical social worker presently employed as a therapist at Paoletta Psychological Services, Inc., a rural private practice mental health clinic. She is also a certified addiction counselor. Prior to employment in Pennsylvania, she has worked in New York and West Virginia in capacities such as addictions counselor, psychiatric emergency room social worker, and as a therapist proving services to adults and children. She has worked in outpatient, inpatient, and domestic violence shelter programs with individuals and families experiencing a variety of losses related to abuse, addiction, grief, and mental illness. Personally, she has observed and been a small part of the social changes her family has made in response to grief. Emily Parke Chase is the author of five books for teens on key relationship issues. Those titles include Why Say No When My Hormones Say GO? (Christian Publications, 2003), What Do I Say to a Friend Who is Gay? (Kregel, 2006), and Help! My Life’s Messed Up! (Kregel, 2008). Mrs. Chase has served as Coordinator of Educational Services with the Capital Area Pregnancy Centers for over 20 years. She developed the abstinence education curricular materials called “Waiting, The Smart Choice!” for use in public schools and community groups. That program is presented over 350 times each year in the capital region of Pennsylvania, and her training materials are now being used across the nation and abroad. In addition, Mrs. Chase presents her PACT (Parents and Children Talking) program at conferences and community groups throughout the nation and abroad. Mrs. Chase received her BA at Cornell University and her MA at Penn State University. She is married to Dr. Gene Chase and is the mother of three adult children. Janet R. Cornwell is the Director of the Delaware Early Childhood Center (DECC). She has led DECC since 1999. Before that, Janet worked in New Jersey as the Executive Director of the Southern New Jersey Early Intervention Collaborative. From 1992-1995, Janet was the Director of Early Childhood at Research for Better Schools in Philadelphia. She participated at that time as a member of the National Early Childhood Network, helping develop “Continuity in Early Childhood: A Framework for Home, School, and Community Linkages.” Janet moved to Pennsylvania from North Carolina in 1988 to work on a Ph.D. in Special Education from Temple University, which she completed in 1992. From 1980-1988, Janet worked in various capacities in the Early Intervention System in North Carolina, serving children from birth to age five and their families. Janet was the Coordinator of Community Resources at the Family, Infant and Preschool Program from 1983-1988. Before that, she worked as a Home Visitor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1978. She completed her Masters from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Human Development and Learning in 1983. After working for an elementary school as a resource room teacher and a speech therapist for a couple of years, Janet found her professional home in early intervention. The families she met there and continues to meet inspired a passion that continues after 30 years in the field of early childhood. She is passionate about a number of issues, including family-centered practice, collaboration and team building, inclusion, and celebration of diversity. Janet is the mother of three children: Laura, who works as the Charter Schools Administrator for Baltimore City Schools; John, who is in business in Dallas; and Tina, who is a junior at Cab Calloway School of the Arts. Janet is also the grandmother of five granddaughters, who keep her busy in early childhood endeavors whenever she gets the chance. Jerry Crispino has a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services Education from The Pennsylvania State University and is currently in his last semester of the Master’s degree program in mental health counseling at Shippensburg University. He has worked with children, adolescents and families for the past 12 years and most currently works as a juvenile probation officer in Cumberland County. In addition, Jerry is a trained Family Group Decision Making Conference facilitator. He has worked at the Dunham US Army Health Clinic, Behavioral Health Clinic as a counseling intern for the past 10 months. Jerry resides with his wife and three children in the Carlisle area. Tracy Davenport is the author of two books for families caring for a child with acid reflux, the latest titled, Acid Reflux in Infants & Children (2007). She writes two weekly columns about the psycho/social impact of chronic illness on families for HealthCentral.com. She is also the Founding Director of Summer Days Math and Science Camp for Girls. Ms. Davenport received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology, her M.A. in Psychology from Washington College, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Delaware in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She is currently researching the affordability of caregiving and integrated healthcare. Leslie Delp is the Founder of Olivia’s House – A Grief and Loss Center for Children in York, serving as the Executive Director since 2002. She also owns Grief and Bereavement Services, a consulting practice specializing in mourning and families. Leslie has presented nationally, most recently at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital and the Institute on Violence and Trauma in San Diego, California. Leslie holds a B.S. Ed. in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Towson University. Samtra K. Devard resides in Bear, Delaware with her husband and their three children – ages 7, 5, and 4. Samtra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University. She has extensive years of engineering experience providing technical support and leadership in a manufacturing environment. Samtra is founder of the HOPE Center of Delaware – which has as its mission to impact the world of children and families. Creation of the HOPE Center is a matter of the heart for Samtra, who knows that something more is needed in dealings with families. Families want to be connected with hopeful solutions to the issues that they face; and it is the mission of the HOPE Center of Delaware to identify and obtain those solutions. Families from all across the country want to connect with whatever will help them improve their situation. Samtra believes that the way to do that is by hearing families with openness, passion and empathy. Samtra is a devoted advocate for children with special needs and their families. She is particularly interested in advocating for systems change. Samtra is one of the coordinators of the Parent Leadership and Parent-Practitioner Partnership Initiatives in Delaware. This initiative has engaged parents to find the leader within and especially to find and use their voice to make a difference in the life of their child and the systems of which they are consumers. In tandem, this initiative has engaged practitioners who want to find better strategies to improve their relationship with families. Samtra is a parent leader with the Coordinating Council for Children with Disabilities. In addition, Samtra is on the Advisory Boards for the newly formed National Professional Development Center on Inclusion (NPDCI) and the National Early Childhood Professional Development Enhancement Center (NECPDEC) both out of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina. Samtra is a member of Delaware New SCRIPTS, A.I. duPont Hospital for Children Family Advisory Council, and other active committees relating to early intervention and special education in Delaware. Samtra is passionate about the message of HOPE because it empowers parents to be strong and confident advocates for their child(ren). Samtra began speaking to share what she is learning from her journey as a parent and in particular, as a parent of a child with special needs. The list of opportunities that Samtra has been invited to share her perspectives and experiences includes: the National Black Child Development Institute Annual Conference, Division for Early Childhood Annual International Conference, Delaware LIFE Conference, DE’s legislative Joint Finance Committee, Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, Delaware Council for Exceptional Citizens Annual Conference, Delaware Early Childhood Center, Early CHOICES and as a co-instructor for an Infants and Toddlers undergraduate course at the University of Delaware. Glenys DiLissio has been employed for 24 years by Perry Human Services, a non-profit drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and outpatient treatment facility in Perry County. She has been the Executive Director of the agency since 2000. Ms. DiLissio holds a BS in Secondary Education, Biology, and is a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) as well as a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS). Jonathan L. Doty is currently Director of Development and Outreach at Chapel Pointe, a retirement community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Nyack College, NY and Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology at Wheaton College, IL. As a licensed nursing home administrator, he has managed nursing homes in Indiana and nursing and assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania. He is married and has 3 children. Krista Felty earned her B.A. in Family Studies from Messiah College, in 1998. She served as Program Specialist at the American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA, Mechanicsburg, PA) from the time of her college graduation until her relocation to Roanoke, VA, in 2001. While in Roanoke, she was a Community Educator for Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge. Upon her move back to Pennsylvania, she returned to her position at the ATSPA. As Program Specialist, she develops and presents trauma prevention programs on various topics (lightning, bicycle safety, etc.) and also coordinates the ATSPA’s annual golf tournament. Josi Ferreira-Garcia graduated from Messiah College in the Spring of 2004 and went on to work for Kids Peace National Hospital in Orefield, Pennsylvania as a Recreation Counselor. From there, she worked as a bachelors level therapist, specifically, a Therapeutic Support Staff for children with Autism through the Kids Peace Behavioral Health program in Allentown, PA. Here she grew her skills and knowledge on autism and how to develop effective interventions for problem behaviors as well as dealing with common stressors for the whole family. Through learning more about behavioral health and the impact autism is having on our nation’s children and families, she felt led to pursue her graduate studies in Applied Behavior Analysis, an effective therapeutic model for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She graduated with a Masters of Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2006 and went on to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She is now working as a clinical supervisor at Valley Youth House in the Behavioral Health and Rehabilitative Services Program. She is also an independent consultant for families living with children on the Autism Spectrum. She loves working with children and families and educating community members on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Josi lives with her husband, Adam, and dog, Zin, in Northampton, PA. Liz Fisher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Gerontology at Shippensburg University. She has been working with students and community members for the past three years to study rural homelessness to help plan and implement appropriate services. She earned her MSW and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work and is a Licensed Social Worker. In addition to homelessness, Liz focuses her research, teaching and volunteer practice on women’s issues and leadership. Dawn Gearhart is a fulltime teacher at Milton Hershey School and an adjunct instructor at Messiah College in the Human Development & Family Science Department. She was part of the team that developed the Milton Hershey School Healthy Lifestyles K-12 required curriculum which was an integrated program based on the National Council of Family Relations standards, Pa. Health/PE standards and Pa. Family and Consumer Science Standards. This curriculum has prepared at-risk students for the present Transitional Living program where high school seniors practice independent living skills while living in apartment units supervised by a Transitional Living Mentor. Raeann R. Hamon is Distinguished Professor of Family Science and Gerontology and Chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Dr. Hamon has numerous publications and presentations on topics such as family relationships in later life, intergenerational service learning and relationships, Bahamian family life and various family science pedagogies. Her books include: Mate Selection Across Cultures;International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools; Cultural Diversity and Families: Expanding Perspectives; and Exploring Family Theories (forthcoming). A Certified Family Life Educator, Dr. Hamon teaches such courses as Dynamics of Family Interaction, Strategies of Family Life Education, and Sociology of Aging. Christle Henzel is a member of PEACE, llc., partnering with Equine to Assist in the Counseling Experience. She is also employed full time in Maryland's Harford County Public School System as a school psychologist working with children and adolescents with a variety of learning and emotional disabilities. Christle completed her Masters Degree in Science at the College of Saint Rose, in Albany NY. She is currently pursuing her L.C.P.C and working with PEACE to help families in the bereavement process. Karen Mancini is Program Coordinator for ADA at the University of Delaware and a doctoral student in the Department of Individual and Family Studies. Her master’s degree is in College Counseling from University of Delaware. She has presented workshops and papers in many areas of youth development and leadership and in meeting the requirements of ADA. Dusty McMillen is the Healthy Lifestyles department chair and teacher at Milton Hershey School, a residential school which nurtures and educates financially challenged children to lead productive and fulfilling lives. She earned a Ph.D. from Marywood University College of Education /Human Development in 2006. Dr. McMillen’s research focused on women and leadership in the health care profession, their practices and use of power. Dr. McMillen is a presenter to management classes at PSU on women’s leadership topics. At HS she teaches courses such as transition seminar, human sexuality, addictions and the impact on the family at Milton Hershey School. Currently, she serves on the Pennsylvania NAMI board (National Association of Mental Illness). Her son, Mike (a recovering alcoholic) was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1993. For the past twelve years the family has traveled the road of learning to cope and to access resources to deal with the consequences of mental illness and addiction. Patricia M. Noss has been involved with Family Group Conferencing since 2001. She has been the owner and director of It Takes A Village, Inc. since 2005 partnering with Adams, Bradford, Philadelphia and Dauphin counties and has been a member of each county’s Implementation team since their inception. She is also a member of the Leadership Committee of the Pennsylvania State Family Group Decision Making Implementation Team. She has extensive experience in Family Group Conferencing regarding implementation, facilitation, coordination and training. Patti has a BS in Social Work from Shippensburg University and has a background in criminal justice as a Probation Officer, substance abuse treatment as an In-Patient Addictions Counselor and special education as a Counselor. Patti lives in Dauphin County with her husband Bob and their four children. Amanda Rich is doctoral student research assistant at the Department of Individual and Family Studies at University of Delaware. Her assistantship has offered her the opportunity to provide leadership in launching a new sheltered living facility nearby the university and developing the program and supportive services to young disabled adults. She has worked in a number of programs serving disabled and handicapped youth and adults and their families. Brenda Hess Rich is a 1976 graduate of Messiah College with a BA in Social Welfare. Ms. Rich received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work in 1982. Ms. Rich is currently Manager of Clinical Supervision for the “Kids n’ Kin” program at the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children, serving “informal” relative caregivers and children for over 15 years. Ms. Rich was a panelist at the 2007 CWLA National Conference Supersession on “Making Kinship Care a National Priority.” She also provides training through the Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Family Services’ Education and Professional Development Institute on “Working with Children of Incarcerated Parents.”Barbara Settles is Professor of Individual and Family Studies at University of Delaware. She received the Jan Trost Award for Outstanding Contributions to Comparative Family Studies, International Section of the National Council on Family Relations in 2005 and NCFR Fellow in 2008. Other family organizations include the Committee for Family Research of the International Sociological Association, the Groves Conference on Marriage and Family. She has lectured abroad on globalization, families and intergenerational relationships. Patricia Schlough is the organizer and president of PEACE, llc., partnering with Equine to Assist in the Counseling Experience. She is also employed full time in Maryland's Harford County Public School System as a crisis interventionist and counselor for the emotionally disturbed population. Patti, her husband Werner, and their two sons reside at Graywood Farm located in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Having completed her bereavement training at Olivia's House, Patti's work as a consultant began in January 2008 and has since assisted 10 families in the healing of their trauma. Jenna K. Shickley is currently a Director of Social Services at Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth with oversight of Intake, Child Protective Services, Systems of Care and Family Group Conferencing services. She has 7 years of experience serving children and families in the Child Welfare and Mental Health systems. Jenna began her career in Permanency Services including Adoption and Independent Living and then moved into oversight of the in home protective and school based services ultimately leading to intake and Child Protective Services. Jenna is devoted to the strengths and courage within each person and fully believes in the empowerment of families. She is an active participant in the Statewide and County level Family Group Conferencing Implementation Team, Systems of Care Practice Team and Grant Management, the Children’s Resource Center Advisory Board, the Juvenile Leaders Committee, Dauphin County’s Citizens Advisory Board and the Aftercare Models for Change Committee for the Macarthur Foundation.Jenna is the County Liaison for Undergraduate Social Work Interns, and a field instructor for Graduate level interns. She was also on the initial implementation team that brought Family Group Conferencing to Pennsylvania in 2001. Jenna received her Master of Social Work degree from Widener University, Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Helen Spence , MSW,is a Social Work graduate from Temple University where she received both her bachelor and masters degrees. Upon her graduation, she worked as a protective caseworker for Chester County Children & Youth Services for two years. She then worked for the Philadelphia County Juvenile Probation Department as a Juvenile Probation Officer for the Special Offenders unit for twelve years. In 1998 she had the opportunity to continue her career in Juvenile Probation in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Helen became Assistant Supervisor for the Court Intake unit and was selected Assistant Supervisor of the Year for 2003. In September 2004, Helen was selected for the position of “Community Outreach Coordinator,” a specialized Juvenile Probation role that will focus on outreach to implement the Systems of Care Initiative in Dauphin County. This Initiative is using Family Group Conferencing as its foundation.Helen has been an active member of the Implementation Team for Dauphin County’s Family Group Conferencing practice, and with her new role, has also become a valuable and vital member of the Implementation Team that was recently formed to achieve Dauphin County’s vision of the Systems of Care Initiative. In both of these roles, Helen has assisted in the development of the policies and procedures. Helen was a presenter at the 2002 International Round Table on Family Group Conferencing. She currently contracts part time as a Family Group Conferencing facilitator.Helen’s personal achievements include being a dedicated wife and mother to her four biological children and five adopted children. Jessica Vanasdale is a senior Human Development and Family Science major at Messiah College, where she is also minoring in Children and Youth Services. She is looking forward to reaching her goals of helping children and families. Jessica is also a Smith Scholar Intern. Peter E. Vriens began his career in Child Welfare in 1975 upon graduation from Dickinson College. During the next five years he served the agency in a number of capacities, including Protective Services Caseworker, Placement Services Caseworker and Foster Home Coordinator.Peter temporarily left the social services field in 1980 to pursue a career in business and management. For thirteen years he worked in the insurance industry, spending ten of those years as District Manager for the Baltimore Life Insurance Company in Carlisle. Peter returned to social services in 1992 in the position of Program Director for the United Methodist Home for Children. Here he was able to gain the perspective of the private provider involved in providing residential services for children in need.With the goal of returning to public child welfare, Peter was hired for the position of Children and Youth Administrator for Adams County in February 1998. He served in that capacity for ten years before assuming the role of Human Services Director for Dauphin County in 2008.Peter received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Temple University in August 1999. He has taught social work courses part time at the Harrisburg Area Community College and served as a consultant through the PA Child Welfare Training Program. Ann Walker has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Shippensburg University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Marywood College. She has worked in the fields of child advocacy and mental health for the past 14 years and has been employed at the Dunham US Army Health Clinic, Behavioral Health Clinic for the past six years. She is also a Family Advocacy Social Worker, supporting military families in Central Pennsylvania. Ann is the mother of two children and resides with her husband in the Mechanicsburg area. Jia Zhao is a doctoral student research assistant at the Department of Individual and Family Studies at University of Delaware. She received her master’s degree in psychology in China and is presenting papers in Boston, Germany and Portugal based on her research. Click here for the Conference Program and Schedule. |
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