Staff

Jennie Hill

Executive Director

405-713-6600

Jennie has been with CASA of Oklahoma County for one year. She has a BA in History from Macalester College and an MSW from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennie is a board member for the University of Oklahoma Women’s Association and Engage Learning and was a featured TedX speaker in 2015 delivering her Ted talk entitled, “The Forgotten Children: Foster Care in America.” When asked why members of the Oklahoma County community should join up with CASA, Jennie says: “Youth in foster care experience a myriad of changes, a myriad of paid professionals in their life during foster care, and a CASA volunteer is the only non-paid community volunteer who truly listens to the child, celebrates successes with the child, and fiercely advocates for their well-being throughout their time in foster care. Our kids in foster care deserve better and deserve to know that they are not forgotten.” Contact Jennie with any questions you might have about collaboration and community partnerships at CASA! She would love to hear from you.

Joy Short

Executive Assistant

405-713-6605

Joy has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over 12 years. She has a BS in Education. Joy previously served as Director of The Learning Tree Preschool for 18 years. Joy came to CASA in 2006! “I love that a CASA can be with a child during the most difficult time in their life and that the CASA volunteer is the only person that speaks only for the child and that child’s best interest,” Joy says, “The volunteers are special!” Contact Joy with any questions you might have about general information regarding CASA! She would love to hear from you.

Ron Scharton

Director of Operations

405-713-6636

Ron has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over eight years. He has a Bachelor’s in Management and an MS in both International Relations and History. Ron’s background is in the military as well as at Boeing. He began his time at CASA as a volunteer, but the organization quickly realized the value Ron could bring to our staff. He’s worked to help us improve our training, data tracking and management, and many other elements of the daily operations at CASA. Contact Ron with any questions you might have about operations at CASA! He would love to hear from you.

Kimberly Vanbebber

Program Director

405-713-6601

Kim has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over six years. She has a Bachelor’s in Social Work. “I love CASA because we are all about the kids,” Kim says, “Our volunteers are some of the most incredible people I have ever met. They give freely of their time and serve some of the most vulnerable children in Oklahoma County. Our CASA volunteers, through tireless effort, are changing lives every day and I am proud to work with them.” Kim encourages people to join up with CASA by becoming a volunteer: “If you want to help a child in need, CASA is the way to do it. Will there be tough days? Probably. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!” Contact Kim with any questions you might have about referrals and program service at CASA! She would love to hear from you.

BC Phillips

Director of Communications and Marketing

405-713-6661

BC has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over four years. He has a BA in Political Science and Government and an MA in Administrative Leadership. BC began his work at CASA as an AmeriCorps Member through a grant program. He loves to paint, play retro video games, and try new foods. His dog, Sam, is a rescue pit named after Oklahoma singer-songwriter Samantha Crain. “As a former foster kid myself, CASA’s mission means a lot to me personally,” says BC, “These are children who so often do not have a voice of their own to speak up with. That volunteer’s extra set of eyes can make all the difference in so many of these cases. I’m proud to tell their stories each and every day.” Contact BC with any questions you might have about marketing and other communications at CASA! He would love to hear from you.

Kathy North

Director of Recruitment

405-713-6602

Kathy has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over nine years. She has a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Contact Kathy with any questions you might have about volunteering at CASA! She would love to hear from you. Kathy is passionate about the mission of child advocacy. Kathy is a lifelong Oklahoman and graduated from Oklahoma City University in 2003. Kathy is an active member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City and Crown Heights United Methodist Church. She is a doting Auntie and enjoys yoga, road trips, scary movies, and her sweet dog, Ginger. “I feel fortunate to spend my days working toward the mission of Child Advocacy,” says Kathy, “The individuals who walk through our doors and are willing to donate their time to advocate for children are the best our community has to offer. CASA is what it looks like when we take responsibility for the welfare of our most vulnerable community members.”

Camila Galeano

Recruitment Specialist

405-713-6659

Camila is a recent graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s in Political Science. Boomer! Camila speaks four languages and has travelled to 28 countries. She enjoys spending quality time with her dog, Bowly. “The CASA program is an outstanding voice for vulnerable children and provides quality training and support for their volunteer advocates, a great place to make a difference,” says Camila, “Working at CASA has reinforced my belief that all children have purpose, every life has value and every family has strengths. I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to help those interested in bettering our community begin their journey to become child advocates.” Contact Camila with any questions you might have about volunteering at CASA! She would love to hear from you. Camila habla español.

Nichole Dewberry

Director of Training

405-713-6699

Nichole has been with CASA of Oklahoma County for nearly a year. She has a BS in Creative Studies. Before joining CASA, Nichole was the Curriculum Developer for The Center for Early Childhood Professional Development, a body of the College of Continuing Education at Oklahoma University. She worked on creating curriculum for child care providers in Oklahoma. She also worked for the Department of Human Services for nearly 8 years with the Child Care Services Department and had longed to come back to working closer with Oklahoma’s children. With her experience in social work and passion for educating adults, CASA is a perfect fit for Nichole. She believes in our mission statement to advocate for those children who have been abused and neglected. “When we put their best interests first,” Nichole says, “I believe we are making a key difference in the lives of a very special population of Oklahoma’s children.” Contact Nichole with any questions you might have about training at CASA! She would love to hear from you.

Ja’Kee Rivers

Training Specialist

405-713-6653

Ja’Kee has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over two years. He has a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design. Ja’Kee loves to rodeo and ride horses. He spends a lot of free time at home binge watching Frasier, Parks and Rec, and The Office. The Office is a big favorite amongst the staff at CASA! “When doing this kind of work it’s important to check your personal biases at the door. It’s no longer about you and what you want, but what’s in the best interest of that child,” says Ja’Kee, “It’s about whether you can set aside your personal differences to work together in ensuring the permanency, well-being, and overall safety of the child you’re serving.” Contact Ja’Kee with any questions you might have about training at CASA! He would love to hear from you.

Shamekka Marion-Johns

Advocacy Team Leader

405-713-6446

Shamekka has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over five years. She has a BA in Sociology. Mekka supervises volunteers as well as leading part of our Advocacy Supervisor team at CASA! Before joining CASA, Mekka says she “may have briefly been a stay at home mother,” but she joined our organization with a previous child welfare background. Mekka says she was drawn to CASA by her appreciation for its mission to be the eyes and ears of the court and to be the voice of a child in OKDHS custody. To those on the fence about volunteering with CASA, Mekka says: “Just do it.”

Nikki Kinsler

Advocacy Team Leader

405-713-6733

Nikki has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over one year. She has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Social Work (MSW). Previously she was in Child Welfare with DHS and served in the military. She supervises volunteers as well as leading part of our Advocacy Supervisor team at CASA! “I love that with CASA, our volunteers have the ability to advocate strictly for the best interest of the kiddos, without having to worry about conflicting agendas,” says Nikki, “The volunteer can simply get to know the child and those who are important in that child’s life, and work to ensure that child has someone in the courtroom who is there just for them.”

Lola Hall

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6742

Lola has been with CASA of Oklahoma County over 21 years. She has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. She supervises many of our amazing volunteers at CASA! Lola began working at KWTV (Channel 9) in Oklahoma City in 1956. Often called “the Channel 9 Weather Girl,” she was the first woman in the Southwest in that field of broadcasting. She also worked for other television and radio stations in the Oklahoma City area, including WKY-TV, KOKH-TV, OETA-TV, KOMA-Radio, and KTOK-Radio.

Madison Ivy

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6687

Madison has a Bachelor’s in Social Work. She supervises many of our amazing volunteers at CASA! In her spare time, Madison loves to watch movies, play tennis, go on walks, hang out with her friends, and cook delicious meals. She has a twin sister named Megan, who is 45 minutes younger than her! Madison believes CASA’s mission is unique: “We get to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect and advocate for safe and permanent forever homes for children,” she said. “This will have a lasting impact on a child’s life.”

Michelle Johnson

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6637

Michelle has a BS in Management and a MS in Criminology. She supervises many of our incredible volunteers at CASA! “I have always been drawn to community service and giving back,” said Michelle, “So when I learned about CASA, I knew immediately I wanted to get involved. Once I heard the statistics of how many children are in foster care and how many of them need someone to look out for them, I could not walk away without doing something.” Michelle is a movie buff and owns over 5,000 movies – she worked at Blockbuster in college and her collection has only continued to grow since then!

Maddie McNeil

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6669

Maddie has a BA in Social Work. She supervises many of our incredible volunteers at CASA! Maddie says one of her core values is standing up for the voiceless and advocating on the behalf of those individuals. “I believe children are the most vulnerable in our society today and to stand up for those who have been a victim of injustice is a way to truly love our neighbor as our self,” she says. For fun, Maddie loves to read, write, dance, and go to coffee shops with friends.

Lauren Norcom

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6464

Lauren has a BS in Psychology. She supervises many of our incredible volunteers at CASA! For fun, Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors – especially during the summer with her daughter. They spend a lot of time in the water and at parks. “CASA is uniquely wonderful because it truly focuses on the child’s best interest, fiercely advocating for safe, permanent homes,” Lauren says.

Kerry Stark

Advocacy Supervisor

405-713-6650

Kerry has been with CASA of Oklahoma County for over a year. She has a BS in Human Development and Family Science. She supervises many of our amazing volunteers at CASA! In her free time, Kerry enjoys baking, reading, and catching up on shows on Netflix. Her favorite author is Jodi Picoult – Kerry highly recommends her books! “I’ve known that I wanted to work in Child Welfare since a mission trip I went on when I was just 14 years old,” says Kerry. “The work our CASA volunteers do is unlike any other volunteer experience! A lot of the kids that we work with don’t have that consistent adult figure to follow them between various foster homes and schools. I think that consistency one of the most important aspects of what we do here. I feel so blessed to work with the volunteers who dedicate so much time and love towards these kids!”

Ross Martin

Program Assistant

405-713-6719

Ross has been with CASA of Oklahoma County for nearly a year. He has a BS in Leisure Management. Contact Ross with any questions you might have about using the case tracking database “Optima” as a volunteer at CASA! He would love to hear from you. Before CASA, Ross worked in oil and gas for nearly nine years, but he jumped at the opportunity to work for an organization that makes a positive impact on the community around him. Ross says CASA’s mission is one of the most important aspects of the juvenile justice system because “it provides not only a voice for the children we represent but also a positive and stable adult relationship to help support them through a very difficult time in their lives.”

Front Desk

405-713-6456