Justice Rhonda K. Wood, Chair and Standing Commission Member
Associate Justice, the Supreme Court of Arkansas
B.A., magna cum laude, Hendrix College
J.D., highest honors, William H. Bowen School of Law
Justice Wood has served on the Commission since 2014, and she has been chair since 2015. She was elected to the Supreme Court of Arkansas in 2014. She previously served as a Circuit Judge in the 20th Judicial District and as an appellate judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Her experience as a Circuit Judge gave her a passion for improving court processes for families affected by juvenile justice and child welfare cases. Before her judicial service, Justice Wood was an attorney in private practice, a Hearing Officer for the Conway Housing Authority, and an Assistant Dean for the William H. Bowen School of Law.
Michael Crump, Standing Commission Member
Director, Division of Youth Services
B.A, Arkansas State University
J.D., William H. Bowen School of Law
Michael began as DYS Director in 2018. He previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Criminal Justice Policy Advisor to the Governor, Attorney Specialist for the Department of Human Services, and Assistant Director of the Division of Medical Services. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Secretary Cindy Gillespie, Standing Commission Member
Secretary, Arkansas Department of Human Services
B.A., Trevecca Nazarene University
M.A., Auburn University
Secretary Gillespie has led the Department of Human Services since 2016. She began her career in public service as the Military Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary for Congressman Richard Ray. She served as Director of Federal Relations for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Counselor to the Governor of Massachusetts, and Senior Advisor to the Romney for President campaign. She was Senior Managing Director for McKenna Long & Aldridge and Principal for Dentons before returning to public service in Arkansas. She has served on the Commission since 2016.
Rich Huddleston, Standing Commission Member
Executive Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
B.A., Carroll University
M.A., West Virginia University
Postgraduate Studies, University of Georgia
Rich has been Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families since 2004. He began his career as a public policy analyst for Metroplan. He was later a Research Associate for the Arkansas Institute and a Research Analyst for the Arkansas Department of Health. Before his appointment as Executive Director, he served for nearly a decade as the Research and Fiscal Policy Director for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. He has served on the Commission since 2011.
Secretary Johnny Key, Standing Commission Member
Commissioner and Secretary of Education
B.A., University of Arkansas
Secretary Key has served as Commissioner of Education since 2015 and Secretary of Education since 2019. He began his extensive public service career as a Justice of the Peace in Baxter County. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and Arkansas Senate. Immediately before his appointment as Commissioner of Education, he was Vice President for University Relations for the University of Arkansas System. He has served on the Commission since 2015.
Judge Troy Braswell, Commission Member
Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial District
B.A., University of Central Arkansas
M.P.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
J.D., William H. Bowen School of Law
Judge Braswell was elected to the circuit bench in 2014. He began his career as a law clerk for Circuit Judge Tim Fox in Pulaski County, and he went on to serve as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Pulaski County. Before his judicial service, he was Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 20th Judicial District. He is the current Chair of the Juvenile Judges’ Committee, and he was formerly chair of the Arkansas Youth Justice Reform Board. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Judge Earnest Brown, Commission Member
Circuit Judge, 11th West Judicial District
B.A., University of Arkansas
J.D., University of Arkansas
Judge Brown was first elected to the circuit bench in 2008. Previously, he was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the 11th West Judicial District, an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and managing partner of Brown & McKissic Law Firm. He also served in the legislative branch as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He is a proud and engaged member of the Pine Bluff community. Judge Brown has been actively involved in numerous judicial committees, including as a Commissioner on the Judicial Discipline and Disability Committee and as former chair of the Juvenile Judges’ Committee. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
LeAnne Burch, Commission Member
Attorney
B.A., Hendrix College
J.D., University of Memphis
L.L.M. Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
M.S.S., U.S. Army War College
LeAnne previously served as an attorney for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She also served on active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army, retiring after 30 years from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the rank of Brigadier General. She served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Carol Childs, Commission Member
Chief Juvenile Officer, Saline County
B.S.E., Henderson State University
Carol is the Chief Juvenile Officer for Saline County. She started her career as a high school teacher. She went on to work for the Saline County Sheriff's Office and later transitioned into the Juvenile Division as a juvenile probation officer. She served as Chief Deputy before assuming her current role. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Angela Collier, Commission Member
Director, Walmart Global Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
M.B.A., Harding University
Anglea is Director for the Walmart Global Office of Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She began her career journey with the American Heart Association and later joined the City of Little Rock. She leads racial equity work and serves as the Chief of Staff for the Health and Criminal Justice Shared Value Networks in her current role. She joined the Commission in 2021.
Judge Teresa French, Commission Member
Circuit Judge, 10th Judicial District
B.A., University of Arkansas at Monticello
J.D., University of Arkansas
Judge French has served as a Circuit Judge in 10th District since 2005. Before that, she was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the 10th District for district court and juvenile court cases. She has also worked as an attorney in private practice.
Representative Jamie Scott
B.A., Arkansas State University
M.A., Arkansas State University
Rep. Scott is a Director of Youth Services. She graduated from Arkansas State University with a B.A. in criminology and sociology and an M.A. in criminal justice. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Harvard School of Government executive education program.
Senator Missy Irvin
Senator, Arkansas State Senate District 18
B.A., Randolph-Macon Woman's College
Senator Irvin represents District 18 in the Arkansas Senate. She began her career as a News Editor for KATV Channel 7 News. Later, she worked in marketing as Marketing Director of Tipton & Hurst and Director of Marketing, Research and Development for Stone County Ironworks and Calico Rock Ironworks. She has served as an Adjunct Professor and Director of the Department of Dance at Hendrix College. She is currently the Marketing Director at Irvin-Dibrell Clinic in addition to her role as a Senator. She previously served on the Commission from 2012 to 2015, and she began her current term in 2019.
Mischa Martin, Commission Member
Director, Division of Children & Family Services
B.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
M.P.A., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
J.D., William H. Bowen School of Law
Mischa has spent her entire career serving Arkansans through her work with the Department of Human Services. She began her career as an attorney representing DHS in dependency-neglect cases, adult maltreatment cases, and central registry administrative hearings. She later served as Deputy Counsel managing DCFS attorneys, Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, and Adult Protective Services. She was Assistant Director of Compliance and Monitoring for the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Services before she began her current role as Director of DCFS.
Tom Masseau, Commission Member
Executive Director, Disability Rights Arkansas, Inc. and President of National Disability Rights Network Board of Directors
A.A., Lansing Community College
B.A., Michigan State University
Tom has been Executive Director of Disability Rights Arkansas since 2013, and he has been President of the National Disability Rights Network Board of Directors since 2019. He began his career as Director of Government and Media Relations for the Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc. Most recently, he was Executive Director for Disability Rights Wisconsin. He has served on the Commission since 2018.
Drew Shover, Commission Member
Benton County Chief Juvenile Officer
B.A., University of Arkansas
M.S., Sociology, Grand Canyon University
M.S.H.E., Purdue University
Drew has dedicated his entire career to juvenile justice. His experience spans all facets of juvenile justice, from youth detention to court administration. He is currently the Benton County Chief Probation Officer and Site Coordinator for the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. He served on the Commission’s Juvenile Justice Reform Subcommittee from 2016 to 2018, and he has served as a Commissioner since 2018.
Diana Smith, LCSW, Commission Member
Psychotherapist and ASAP Assessment Coordinator
B.A., Rhodes College
M.S.W., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Diana has worked with families for over 25 years to evaluate and treat children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior. Diana emphasizes community safety and recognizes the importance of helping parents develop the skills necessary to support their children in the best possible way. She has served on the Commission since 2018.
Lekita Thomas, Commission Member
Executive Director, United Family Services
B.S.B.A., Fisk University
M.B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
Lekita joined United Family Services in 2015 as Special Program Manager, and she was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2019. Before that, she worked for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as Director of Printing, Mail, Television, and Radio Services, and also as Assistant Director of Technical Services. She also worked as a Corporate Research Assistant to monitor changes affecting investors. She is a certified Girls’ Circle facilitator and a certified Habilitation, Empowerment, Accountability Therapy facilitator.
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Judge Kimberly Boling Bibb, Commission Member, Circuit Judge
B.S., Arkansas State University
J.D., William H. Bowen School of Law
Judge Kimberly Bibb serves as a Circuit Judge in the 2nd Judicial District. Judge Bibb regularly hears juvenile delinquency, FINS, and dependant/neglect cases as a part of her docket. Before her election to the bench, she served as an attorney ad litem in dependent/neglect, domestic relations, and probate cases, a parent counsel in defendant/neglect cases, a deputy public defender, and adjunct instructor of child welfare law at Arkansas State University. Juge Bibb holds a specialist certification in child welfare law from the National Association of Counsel for Children.
Mason Reynolds, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Rogers
B.S.E in Education, University of Central Arkansas
Juris Doctorate, University of Arkansas Fayetteville School of Law
Mason received his undergraduate degree at the University of Central Arkansas in Education in 2014 before spending two years teaching in Little Rock. In 2016 he began law school, and in 2019 he received his law degree from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. Since, then, Mason has served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Benton County.
Clorissa Prince, Commission Administrator
B.S., University of Arkansas
M.L.S., summa cum laude, Trinity Law School
Clorissa joined the Commission in 2022. She began her work with the State of Arkansas at the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2016 as the Judicial Education Specialist.