Annual Virtual Event

Dr. Thaddeus L. Johnson, a former law enforcement official in Tennessee, is a Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice. A policing, crime control, and governance equity expert, he has conducted extensive research on police lethality and coercion, street violence, recidivism, algorithmic and predictive bias, and correctional control. Johnson is also an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He is the author or co-author of numerous articles and reports and a book entitled Deviance among Physicians: Fraud, Violence, and the Power to Prescribe. In addition to having his research featured in national media outlets, he has written on police and justice reform issues for the popular press and appeared on numerous broadcast radio and TV news programs in the US, Europe, and Australia. Johnson received his PhD in Criminal Justice & Criminology from Georgia State University and his MS in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga.

Ernesto Lopez joined the Council after serving as a research consultant, analyzing crime trends for CCJ’s National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. During his time at the Council, Lopez has authored more than a dozen reports on crime trends in large U.S. cities and served as research staff for the Violent Crime Working Group, Task Force on Long Sentences, Crime Trends Working Group, and Pushing Toward Parity project.

Earlier in his career, Lopez worked as an office manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs and was a research and teaching assistant at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is also a U.S. Army veteran who deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lopez regularly presents to policy groups, including the White House Domestic Policy Council, the National Governors Association, the National Criminal Justice Association, and The Black Mayors’ Coalition on Crime. He has been quoted in multiple major news outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, and NPR, and by numerous local and specialty news organizations.

Lopez is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in urban management and a BA in political science and public administration from California State University, Fullerton.

Charles Fain Lehman is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior editor of City Journal. He focuses primarily on the public policy of antisocial behavior, including issues of crime, drugs, and public disorder. His work has appeared in outlets including the New York Times, Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, and National Review. He has discussed policy issues before the Senate, House of Representatives, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Prior to joining the Manhattan Institute in 2021, Charles was a staff writer at the Washington Free Beacon. Charles is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives outside Washington, D.C., with his wife and sons.

Emily Owens is the Deans’ Professor of Criminology and Economics and Chair of the Department of Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California, Irvine. She holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Economics. Professor Owens studies a wide range of topics in the economics of crime, including policing, sentencing, and the impact of local public policies on criminal behavior. Her research examines how government policies affect the prevalence of criminal activity as well as how agents within the criminal justice system, particularly police, prosecutors, and judges, respond to policy changes. Professor Owens is engaged in ongoing research projects on police training, alcohol regulation, immigration policy, and local economic development programs. Professor Owens received her PhD in economics from the University of Maryland-College Park.

Adam Gelb has been working for a more just and effective criminal justice system throughout a 38-year career as an award-winning journalist, congressional aide, senior state government official, and nonprofit executive. He currently is founder, president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, an invitational membership organization and nonpartisan think tank dedicated to building consensus for policies and practices that enhance safety and justice for all.

From 2006 to 2018, Gelb led criminal and juvenile justice reform initiatives at the Pew Charitable Trusts, producing groundbreaking national research that documented the high cost and low public safety return of traditional sentencing and corrections policies and helping 35 states develop, adopt, and implement increasingly comprehensive and impactful reforms.

Gelb’s first job out of the University of Virginia was as a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered police and the drug war at its height in the late 1980s. After earning a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, he staffed the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee during negotiations and final passage of the landmark 1994 federal crime bill. From 1995 to 2000, as policy director for the lieutenant governor of Maryland, Gelb established several initiatives that focused comprehensive crime control and prevention efforts toward at-risk people and neighborhoods. He served as executive director of the Georgia Sentencing Commission from 2001 to 2003 and, before joining Pew, as vice president for programs at the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, where he oversaw youth reentry and methamphetamine control programs.

Gelb speaks frequently with the media about national trends and state innovations and advises policymakers on formulation of practical, cost-effective policies that are grounded in facts, evidence, and fundamental principles of justice. His comments have appeared in nearly every major media outlet, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Associated Press, Reuters, TIME, Newsweek, the Economist, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, PBS NewsHour, and C-SPAN.

Gelb serves on the advisory boards of Recidiviz, the Health and Reentry Project, Act Now, and the Cavalier Daily Alumni Association, and has served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (now All Rise) and the Stephanie Roper Committee and Foundation, on the Executive Session on Community Corrections at the Harvard Kennedy School, the Executive Session on Reimaging the Role of the Prosecutor in the Community at John Jay College, and the Reentry Ready Roundtable of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution.

Gelb’s week-long series of articles on drunk driving in 1991 won a National Headliner Award as well as honors from the State Bar of Georgia, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Georgia Nurses Association.

Jennifer Brinkman brings her expertise in working in the field of violence against women to the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP), with over twenty years of professional experience working in the criminal justice field. As the Director of OCJP, she is responsible for over $60 million in federal and state funds for criminal justice initiatives. Director Brinkman has been with the state for over nine years. Jennifer started at OCJP as Governor Haslam’s first Public Safety Action Plan was underway, which focused on violent crime and domestic violence. 

Director Brinkman brings her knowledge of the criminal justice system to the plan through the identification of gaps and available resources to meet those gaps by coordinating local government, state government, and community agencies across the state to leverage available resources to better serve the citizens of Tennessee. In her time at OCJP, Director Brinkman has been responsible for implementing Governor Haslam’s Public Safety initiatives to decrease domestic violence in the state. 

Director Brinkman's work includes: increasing the number of family justice centers from 2 in 2012 to nine in 2018; implementing a statewide lethality assessment program with law enforcement; and coordinating statewide stakeholder meetings on violence against women. Before coming to OCJP, Director Brinkman worked for 2 years for the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole where she implemented evidence based programming for offenders under the supervision of the Board. Director Brinkman's work in multiple levels of the criminal justice system demonstrates her commitment to improving outcomes for offenders and victims. Director Brinkman's past work experience includes the YWCA of Nashville and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Tara Kunkel is the Executive Director of Rulo Strategies, where she provides strategic leadership to advance the organization’s mission of delivering practical, transformative solutions for justice and behavioral health systems. A skilled collaborator and visionary leader, Tara is committed to fostering partnerships and implementing actionable policies that empower justice leaders to build safer, healthier communities.

Tara has directed over 40 projects across local, state, national, and international criminal justice systems, influencing policy and practice improvements nationwide. Her expertise spans criminal justice and drug policy, with a strong focus on supporting community corrections agencies, jails, and courts in enhancing outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs.

Tara holds a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Karhlton joined the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute with more than 20 years of experience in policy development, law enforcement collaboration, and public safety initiatives. Most recently, Karhlton served as the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). In this role, he led federal efforts to support state, local, and tribal justice programs, overseeing grant funding and initiatives aimed at improving public safety and criminal justice systems across the United States. Prior to his tenure at BJA, Karhlton served as the Executive Director of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). Under his leadership, OCJS administered state and federal grants for a wide range of public safety programs and facilitated policy initiatives addressing law enforcement, community-police relations, and criminal justice system improvements. One of his most impactful contributions was leading the Task Force on Community-Police Relations under former Ohio Governor John Kasich, which resulted in the establishment of the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board—a statewide initiative promoting law enforcement accountability and best practices.

In his role at the Meadows Institute, Karhlton works with staff, partner agencies and stakeholders to further the vision of the Health and Public Safety portfolio as well as developing a strategic and operational plan for the Caruth Police Institute.

Karhlton received his Juris Doctorate from American University’s Washington College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Wright State University. Karhlton lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and their four children.

Barbara Pierce leads ChangeUP Justice, an advisory group that works with law enforcement, corrections agencies, and communities to build practical, durable solutions to justice system challenges. With 25 years of experience across the criminal justice field, Barbara is especially committed to working alongside law enforcement and leaders in high security prison and jail settings. She pushed for investments in justice and behavioral health initiatives in rural states long before it was cool to do so. Today, she is grateful to focus her work in rural communities, where she can champion innovation and bring her creativity to the forefront.

KC Lehr is a small, rural, community Sheriff in Wyoming. The County where he grew up and has served for the past 23 years - Sublette County, is the most rural county in Wyoming. At just under 5,000 square miles, the County’s population is less than 9,000. The majority of those residents live outside the three incorporated towns, of which the Sheriff’s Office contracts with for law enforcement services.

Sheriff Lehr began his law enforcement career in Mohave County Arizona when crystal meth use exploded. A Deputy at that time, he was asked by the current sitting Sheriff in Sublette County to come back and implement and oversee a drug task force that is still active today.

Alongside substance abuse, Sublette County has experienced a drastic increase in mental health crisis calls. We have been exploring options and have had great success utilizing virtual crisis care. We recently implemented an enhanced mental health response program in our jail with the goal of reducing the long-term impact of untreated mental illness within the justice system.

Susie Sher joined the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) in 2007. Prior to joining ODCP, Susie served as a School Resource Officer and DARE Officer at the Norwalk Police Department, and a patrol officer at the Indianola Police Department.

During her tenure at ODCP, Susie has worn many hats including Budget Analyst, Executive Officer, and Bureau Chief. Her work involves collaboration with both private and public sector leaders to coordinate the state's response to drug and alcohol use. She plays a pivotal role in grant administration, data collection and analysis, and the annual Iowa Drug Control Strategy.

Susie is a graduate of Iowa State University. As a married mother of four, she values quality time spent with loved ones. Susie’s dedication to creating a safer and healthier Iowa through her work at ODCP reflects her passion for public service and her love for her family.

Dennis is employed by the Office of Drug Control Policy where he is a grant writer and administers a variety of substance abuse and criminal justice formula & competitive grants for the state of Iowa.

Dennis has worked for the state since 1989 when he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. Dennis started as a researcher for the statistical analysis center, Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, and has been with the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy since 1994.

Dennis partnered with a small group of grant managers in Iowa to implement a state-wide enterprise grant management system (www.iowagrants.gov) which is used by most state agencies to administer pass-through grants to Iowans.

Dennis is an avid woodworker and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities – most especially annual trips to MLB ballparks with his family.

With over two decades in public service, Anthony Vidale has been a driving force in criminal justice policy, finance, and strategic leadership in Arizona. As Executive Director of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC), he leads policy initiatives, engages with key stakeholders, and oversees multimillion-dollar funding for public safety programs. 

Previously, Vidale served as Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer at ACJC, managing the agency’s budget, grants, and compliance. He played a key role in financial oversight and strategic planning, ensuring efficient resource distribution. Before that, as Program Manager, he developed and administered drug enforcement and crime victim services programs, strengthening Arizona’s victim compensation system and influencing state policies. 

His expertise in finance began at the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), where he analyzed criminal justice budgets and legislation, shaping key funding decisions. His budgeting and policy analysis work set the foundation for his grant administration and fiscal management leadership. 

Beyond government, Vidale has been an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Phoenix since 2006, teaching public administration, finance, and criminal justice courses. 

His career began in the U.S. Air Force in 1986 and later in the Air National Guard, where he supervised F-16 and KC-135 aircraft maintenance. His military service instilled in him a strong work ethic, leadership, and commitment to excellence. 

With advanced degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Administration, Vidale remains a respected leader in Arizona’s criminal justice system, committed to fiscal responsibility, policy development, and justice for all. 

Kellie Rabenhorst is the Director for NCJA’s Center for Grants Management. In this position, she provides training and technical assistance to State Administering Agencies on grant management and administration issues. Previously, she was the director of NCJA’s OVC VOCA Center. The VOCA Center became part of the NCJA Center for Grants Management in August 2025. 

Prior to joining NCJA, Kellie was the Federal Grants and Programs Director and the Office of Violence Prevention Director at the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, where she had oversight over multiple grant programs from the U.S. Department of Justice, including VOCA and the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program, as well as a state grant to reduce gang violence. She has worked in human services for over twenty years, providing direct services to diverse populations in both rural and urban communities, specializing in civil rights, juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, substance use, and homeless issues.

Kellie has served on the Board of Directors for the National Criminal Justice Association and as the 2nd Vice President for the National Association for Victim Assistance Administrators.

She has her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bellevue University. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma.

Sue Radcliffe is a mental health therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience working in sexual assault/domestic violence programs, therapeutic foster care, outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric units, partial hospitalization programs, juvenile delinquent facilities, detention centers, law enforcement agencies, and in public health. A graduate of Yeshiva University with a Master’s of Social Work, she currently resides and works on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Sue is employed by the Dorchester County Health Department located in Cambridge, Maryland. She is trained in several evidenced-based treatment modalities such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP), iRest Yoga Nidra level 1, and trauma-informed yoga. She has been qualified as an expert witness in trauma and child and family psychotherapy in several judicial jurisdictions in her area. Additionally, Sue is trained in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). In 2023, Sue was appointed to the Police Training and Standards Commission Board by Governor Moore. Sue has a passion for neuroscience and trauma and breaking down brain science into understandable language. She has presented to law enforcement, FBI, correctional officers, first responders, states attorney’s offices, and is an instructor for the Maryland Judiciary.

In 2019, Sue was awarded the Maryland Department of Health Individual Innovation Award for her development of a wellness program for correctional officers that incorporated the neuroscience of trauma, and the healing benefits of trauma informed yoga. This program was researched and later published in the January 2022 Journal of Offender Rehabilitation. Sue has also published in Corrections Today, American Jail, Daily Business Review, New Jersey Law Journal, Texas Lawyer, The Crime Report and The Maryland Social Worker

Lorrin Freeman was first elected as Wake County District Attorney in 2014 after serving two terms as the elected Clerk of Court. She is the first woman District Attorney for Wake County. As District Attorney she oversees a team of over forty attorneys and forty victim/witness assistants, investigators and others committed to pursuing justice and prosecuting criminal offenses. As Wake County Clerk of Court, she served as the President of the N.C. Conference of Clerks of Superior Court in August of 2013 and was recognized by her peers across the State in 2010 when they presented her with the Conference of Clerks President’s Award.

In 2018 Mr. Freeman was awarded the Judge Robinson O. Everett Award for Legal Excellence by the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity of Campbell University. Prior to holding elected office, Ms. Freeman worked in the North Carolina Attorney General's Office where she represented the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Ms. Freeman also served as an Assistant District Attorney. Ms. Freeman received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill.

Ms. Freeman has been active in her community. For six years, she served on the City of Raleigh’s Human Relations Commission including serving as Chair and Vice Chair and she previously was on the board of the North Carolina Victims’ Assistance Network. In addition to serving as Wake County District Attorney, Ms. Freeman currently serves on the North Carolina Courts Commission, the North Carolina Conference of District Attorney’s Executive Committee and on the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Joel Lopez is a 15-year veteran of the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) currently assigned to the Performance Division where he serves as the commander of the Wellness Unit. The Wellness Unit is committed to advancing the wellness and resiliency of all member of the LMPD though education, research, resources, communication and professional care, to reduce or remove inference with LMPD member's wellness, whether professionally or personally-induced. Prior to serving as the Wellness Unit Commander Lt. Lopez served as the Inspections and Compliance Commander where he oversaw the development of LMPD's Early Intervention System (EIS).

B.J. Wagner, MS, joined the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in the fall of 2015. In her current role, B.J. works to expand the Meadows Institute’s efforts in health and public safety, managing multifaceted law enforcement and first responder projects focused on mental health emergency response, first responder health and wellness, and more. B.J. possesses a unique blend of first-hand law enforcement experience and deep knowledge of police policy and operating procedures, program evaluation, and technical advising. She has developed curriculum for disciplines across the criminal justice system on mental health awareness, symptom recognition, and verbal de-escalation techniques. Her work has led to the creation of national and international award-winning programs.

B.J. has worked across Meadows Institute projects focused on the intersection of behavioral health and justice systems with a specific focus on emergency response models. Starting with the Dallas County Smart Justice Project, B.J. was the primary architect of the RIGHT Care program in Dallas, Texas’ first Multidisciplinary Response Team. It now has multiple sites across Texas, the U.S., and serves as the foundation for our national work with Pew Charitable Trusts. Through four legislative sessions, B.J. has worked closely with our governmental relations team on related legislation including the creation of the nation’s first state supported first responder peer network to end law enforcement suicide and, in 2023, launched the Texas Blue Chip program; an open access free clinical care network for police officers.

From 2019 to 2021 B.J. served as the Executive Director of the Caruth Police Institute (CPI) at the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) through a unique collaboration with the Meadows Institute and UNTD. Her leadership through this collaboration transformed CPI from a Dallas area police training institute to a nationally recognized leader in police policy, training, and consultation. The CPI, now part of the Meadows Institute, is also home to the Texas Active Bystandership in Law Enforcement or Texas ABLE Center of Excellence.

B.J. serves on the National ABLE Board of Advisors, and the Texas Police Chiefs Association Mental Health Pathways Committee and is the law enforcement lead for the National Co-Responder Consortium.

Lori Pesci is the Director of Public Safety for Summit County (OH), where she provides strategic leadership on criminal justice, homeland security, and emergency management issues. As Director, Lori oversees the Summit County Emergency Management Agency along with the County’s Justice Affairs, Animal Control, and Public Safety Communications Divisions.

Over her career, Lori has directed several major modernization initiatives, including the Virtual Court project, which equipped the Common Pleas and three municipal courts with technology to expand virtual hearings. She also led the implementation of a regional CAD system and the successful consolidation of multiple emergency dispatch centers, significantly improving coordination, efficiency, and service delivery across the county. She assisted in creating the Jail Operations Advisory Commission, established to review jail finances and operations, identify best practices, and recommend improvements for both staff and inmates. She is a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board (the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council), has chaired the Jail Overcrowding Subcommittee and CAD Oversight Committee, served on the Summit County Reentry Network Executive Committee, and participated in the Criminal Justice and Mental Health Forum. In addition, she has managed multimillion-dollar grant programs, served as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, and advised local, regional, and state policymakers on justice and public safety matters.

Lori began her career as a Deputy Sheriff with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, gaining experience in patrol, investigations, and jail operations, and earning certification as an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Instructor.

She currently serves on the National Criminal Justice Association Advisory Council as a Regional Representative and on several volunteer boards for local organizations, where she contributes her expertise to strengthen community resilience and public safety partnerships.

Amy Glasscock is the program director for innovation and emerging issues at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) where she has worked for 11 years. Her two main policy areas of focus are AI and privacy and data protection within state governments. Previously she worked in government relations at the American Public Power Association and spent four years on Capitol Hill, gaining valuable insights into public policy and the legislative process. Amy holds a BA from Berea College and an MA from the University of Kentucky. She is also the co-host and producer of the NASCIO Voices podcast, and a proud returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Amy lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and daughter.

Kyle Schroeder, J.D. Attorney & Consultant | Technology Law & Public Policy

Mr. Schroeder is active in the emerging field of artificial intelligence law and policy, focusing on the implementation of Responsible AI for local governments. He partners with technical experts to help cities, counties, and ports throughout Washington state integrate generative AI to enhance workflows while establishing ethical safeguards and training protocols. A frequent speaker on Responsible AI implementation, he frequently presents to public entities across Washington to help leaders navigate the intersection of innovation and governance. Beyond his focus on AI, he has spent over 8 years navigating complex technology and public policy issues across the United States and internationally, including extensive work in Latin America and Europe. Mr. Schroeder holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Washington and is an active member of the Washington State Bar.

Chris Asplen has served as Executive Director of the NCJA since January, 2016. Chris is a former prosecutor, and a national and international expert on the use of DNA technologies. Previously, he served as Director of the DNA Legal Assistance Unit for the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute and the National District Attorney’s Association, as an Assistant United States Attorney and as the Executive Director of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence for the U.S. Department of Justice. In private practice, Chris has advocated for policy and legislative initiatives integrating DNA technology, including post-conviction DNA, into criminal justice systems around the world. He has worked with governments and law enforcement agencies in 35 countries to implement DNA technology to maximize its ability to identify and convict the guilty while protecting the innocent. 

A noted national and international speaker he has testified before the U.S. Congress, the South African and Philippine Parliaments and has appeared on, and written for, numerous news outlets. He also serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism on the prosecution of nuclear terrorism crimes.

Julian Adler is the Center for Justice Innovation’s Managing Director of Innovation, Research, and National Impact. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Julian oversees Action Research, the organization’s research and data analytics division, and Community Justice Solutions, the home for the Center’s national initiatives. Community Justice Solutions also includes the Center’s Studio, an incubator for emerging ideas and innovations. Prior to this role, Julian served as the Center’s Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, guiding the development of policy priorities and new ventures and advancing leading-edge ideas and practices across the organization. 

Julian joined the Center in 2008 as the Clinical Director at the Red Hook Community Justice Center, leading broader organizational efforts to incorporate trauma-informed care and evidence-generating practices. Next, as the Deputy Project Director in Red Hook, Julian served as a member of the small planning team for Newark Community Solutions, the first community court in New Jersey. Then as the Project Director in Red Hook, Julian served as the lead planner for Brooklyn Justice Initiatives, which included the Center’s first foray into pretrial justice, and led the Adolescent Diversion Pilot for Brooklyn, a precursor to Raise the Age in criminal court. 

On the national front, Julian led the Center’s work with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on the planning and launch of the Safety and Justice Challenge, an ambitious initiative to reduce the use of jails and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal legal system. He also led the Center’s work with the Arnold Ventures philanthropy on a broad range of national projects, including the launch of the multi-year project, Advancing Pretrial Policy & Research. Additionally, Julian spearheaded national portfolios on fines and fees reform and right-to-counsel. As the Director of Policy and Research, Julian shepherded the expansion of both the Research-Practice Strategies and the Data Analytics and Applied Research teams. 

Julian is the co-author of Start Here: A Road Map to Reducing Mass Incarceration (The New Press, 2018), along with a range of book chapters and articles examining the intersections of the criminal legal system, social science, mental health, and technology. He is a producer of the Center’s “New Thinking” podcast and serves as an advisor to Wesleyan University’s Center for Prison Education. 

Jennifer Brinkman brings her expertise in working in the field of violence against women to the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP), with over twenty years of professional experience working in the criminal justice field. As the Director of OCJP, she is responsible for over $60 million in federal and state funds for criminal justice initiatives. Director Brinkman has been with the state for over nine years. Jennifer started at OCJP as Governor Haslam’s first Public Safety Action Plan was underway, which focused on violent crime and domestic violence. 

Director Brinkman brings her knowledge of the criminal justice system to the plan through the identification of gaps and available resources to meet those gaps by coordinating local government, state government, and community agencies across the state to leverage available resources to better serve the citizens of Tennessee. In her time at OCJP, Director Brinkman has been responsible for implementing Governor Haslam’s Public Safety initiatives to decrease domestic violence in the state. 

Director Brinkman's work includes: increasing the number of family justice centers from 2 in 2012 to nine in 2018; implementing a statewide lethality assessment program with law enforcement; and coordinating statewide stakeholder meetings on violence against women. Before coming to OCJP, Director Brinkman worked for 2 years for the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole where she implemented evidence based programming for offenders under the supervision of the Board. Director Brinkman's work in multiple levels of the criminal justice system demonstrates her commitment to improving outcomes for offenders and victims. Director Brinkman's past work experience includes the YWCA of Nashville and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Marc currently serves as a Criminal Justice Policy Director for Arnold Ventures, where he leads efforts to improve crime prevention, public safety, and fair and effective policing through scaling evidence-based policies in the United States. Before joining AV, Marc worked for two decades on public safety, security, and justice issues domestically and abroad. This includes work with local and national police agencies on their response to drug use, stop and search powers, and data collection and analysis. He also worked on international security sector reform and governance for the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, where he provided analysis for American and European defense and development agencies.  Marc also moonlighted for Major League Baseball where he combined his love of baseball and statistical analysis 

Dr. Rachel E. Lovell is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Director of the Criminology Research Center at the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. A criminologist and methodologist, she specializes in applied research and evaluation, collaborating closely with criminal justice agencies, community organizations, and public and social service systems. Her work focuses on issues including sexual assault, sexual assault kits, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, lawfully “owed” DNA, and gun violence. An accomplished scholar, Dr. Lovell has secured over $8 million in external funding since 2013, published over 75 articles, book chapters, and reports, and recently served as lead editor of the monograph Sexual Assault Kits and Reforming the Response to Rape.

Misty Marra, M.S., is a Forensic Science Manager at RTI International, where she provides national-level technical guidance on forensic DNA implementation, laboratory modernization, and multidisciplinary approaches to violent crime response. She serves in leadership roles across multiple training and technical assistance programs funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and is the Forensic Services Project Manager for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 

A former forensic DNA analyst and DNA Laboratory Coordinator, Ms. Marra brings more than 24 years of experience in forensic biology casework, including STR and Y-STR analysis, technical review, and laboratory operations. Her work spans a wide range of case types, with deep expertise in CODIS eligibility assessment, kinship analysis, and large-scale DNA testing initiatives. She has hands-on experience with Rapid DNA technology, including instrument operation for forensic and reference samples and validation and implementation within accredited laboratory quality systems. Through the Forensics TTA program, she has also contributed to team-based efforts supporting policy review and performance measurement approaches for Rapid DNA deployment. 

Ms. Marra specializes in forensic DNA applications, laboratory strategy, and effective testing approaches, providing practical, implementation-focused guidance to laboratories, law enforcement agencies, and multidisciplinary teams nationwide. 

Chris Asplen has served as Executive Director of the NCJA since January, 2016. Chris is a former prosecutor, and a national and international expert on the use of DNA technologies. Previously, he served as Director of the DNA Legal Assistance Unit for the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute and the National District Attorney’s Association, as an Assistant United States Attorney and as the Executive Director of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence for the U.S. Department of Justice. In private practice, Chris has advocated for policy and legislative initiatives integrating DNA technology, including post-conviction DNA, into criminal justice systems around the world. He has worked with governments and law enforcement agencies in 35 countries to implement DNA technology to maximize its ability to identify and convict the guilty while protecting the innocent. 

A noted national and international speaker he has testified before the U.S. Congress, the South African and Philippine Parliaments and has appeared on, and written for, numerous news outlets. He also serves as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State and the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism on the prosecution of nuclear terrorism crimes.

Kellie Rabenhorst is the Director for NCJA’s Center for Grants Management. In this position, she provides training and technical assistance to State Administering Agencies on grant management and administration issues. Previously, she was the director of NCJA’s OVC VOCA Center. The VOCA Center became part of the NCJA Center for Grants Management in August 2025. 

Prior to joining NCJA, Kellie was the Federal Grants and Programs Director and the Office of Violence Prevention Director at the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, where she had oversight over multiple grant programs from the U.S. Department of Justice, including VOCA and the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program, as well as a state grant to reduce gang violence. She has worked in human services for over twenty years, providing direct services to diverse populations in both rural and urban communities, specializing in civil rights, juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, substance use, and homeless issues.

Kellie has served on the Board of Directors for the National Criminal Justice Association and as the 2nd Vice President for the National Association for Victim Assistance Administrators.

She has her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bellevue University. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma.

Cillian Flavin is a Deputy Commissioner at the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Office of Program Development and Funding. Based in Albany, NY, he focuses on funding initiatives and developing grant programs with a view to keeping New Yorker’s safe and ensuring the justice system works for all. Previously he was a Deputy Director for Operations and Program Development at the Office of Victim Services with previous roles in county government, with the state Division of the Budget, and at the NYS Assembly Ways and Means Committee. He has overseen the administrative, finance, grants, and training/outreach functions and almost twenty years of experience in executive and legislative policy. Prior to joining OVS, Cillian earned his bachelor’s degree from University College Cork (Cork, Ireland), and master’s degree from The College of Saint Rose.

Dan Mistak, MA, MS, JD, is the Acting President and Director of Health Care Initiatives for Justice-Involved Populations at Community Oriented Correctional Health Services. At COCHS, he has led efforts at the federal, state, and local level to improve connections between the health and justice systems. He is a leader in the field in creatively leveraging opportunities to use the strengths of the health system to help people avoid incarceration. His previous experience has focused on legal issues for underprivileged populations including representation of clients in asylum hearings, legal research surrounding the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and campaign finance. He previously worked at Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i where he provided support to map Hawai‘i County’s behavioral health safety net and its interface with the criminal justice system. While there, he was a trial attorney and worked with justice-involved individuals regarding the collateral consequences of their justice involvement. He also served on the board of NAMI Hawaiʻi. He holds Master’s degrees in Genetics/Cell Biology and Philosophy from Washington State University and Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Prior to joining COCHS, Mr. Mistak was a Senior Editor of the California Law Review at UC Berkeley, School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in California and Hawai‘i.

Natalia Bowser was raised in Montana and attended the University of Montana where she received her undergraduate degree in Criminology. She jumped quickly into her career with the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), where she remained for 14 years, working in finance and operations. Upon leaving MHP she became the Director of the Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC), where she remained for 7 years. MBCC is the state administering agency for criminal justice planning, policy development and grant administration working to reduce crime and victimization statewide. She moved into the role of Innovation Chief for the Montana Department of Corrections in 2025, and became Deputy Director this year. Uniting expertise in project management, security technology, research and data, safety science, and capital infrastructure improvements, the Office of Innovation champions continuous improvement and transformative strategies that keep departmental operations agile, effective, and prepared for the future.

She believes that partnership, collaboration, trust, and follow-through are the cornerstones of successfully achieving viable solutions. When critical buy-in is secured and people are supported, meaningful change and improvements can and will occur.

Ms. Bowser serves on the National Criminal Justice Association Board of Directors

Sheriff David Rhodes is a 32-year veteran of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a volunteer, officially joining the force in 1994 and promoting through the ranks in the positions of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Chief Deputy. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #244, he served as Commander in both the Law Enforcement Division and the Detention Division of the agency, as well as serving as the Commander of the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy.

Sheriff Rhodes was appointed in July 2025 to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission where he serves as Vice Chair. In September 2023, he was awarded the Arizona Capitol Times Leaders of the Year Public Policy Award. Among his many accomplishments and awards, Rhodes was appointed by the Arizona Chief Justice to the Committee on Mental Health and the Justice System in August 2018 and to the Committee on Impact of Domestic Violence in January 2011. Rhodes is a developing partner of the “Reach Out” program for Yavapai County and a founding partner of the Yavapai County Post‐Arrest Diversion Program. In February 2017, Rhodes organized the first multi‐agency Yavapai County Crisis Intervention Training. He is also a member of the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and serves on the Board of the National Sheriff’s Association.

Sodiqa Williams is the Senior Vice President for Safer's Reentry Services at the Safer Foundation, overseeing community programs providing wraparound reentry support, behavioral health services, education, employment readiness, training, housing assistance, and linkages to primary care providers. With extensive experience in government relations, public advocacy, and community engagement, she has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, including the Leading the Supportive Reentry Network Healthcare Transformation Collaborative (HTC) funded by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), impacting the health and wellness of individuals transitioning from incarceration. She led comprehensive efforts to draft and advocate for the passage of the "Safer Act," a groundbreaking occupational licensing law in Illinois. This law promotes rehabilitation in licensing decisions and has streamlined procedures for over 100 professions, including social work, healthcare, barbering/cosmetology, funder services, and real estate. 

Ms. Williams also has created career opportunities in healthcare for individuals with arrest and conviction records, placing over 250 people in healthcare jobs. She designed an employer toolkit with JPMorgan Chase to empower healthcare employers in hiring professionals with records and enhance workforce diversity and productivity. She acted as a trusted technical assistance consultant for esteemed organizations like the Chicago Community Trust, Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance (CWFA), and Chicago-area hospitals and healthcare systems, providing expert guidance on hiring processes for individuals with records, and she spearheaded hiring initiatives with JPMorgan Chase within the financial industry, both locally and on a national scale, to champion hiring individuals with records. 

Ms. Williams is known for her strategic leadership, advocacy for policy change, and commitment to creating opportunities for marginalized communities.

Brad Russ is the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) of Fox Valley Technical College. NCJTC has served as one the nation’s leading criminal justice training providers since 1993 and has been entrusted with over $275 million in federal grants to carry out some of the Department of Justice’s highest priority initiatives. NCJTC leverages the expertise of hundreds of experienced subject matter experts who are actively engaged as practitioners in their respective fields to deliver high-quality training and consulting services to communities across America.

NCJTC has trained hundreds of thousands of criminal justice professionals in every state and U.S. Territories through conferences, interactive lab-based and classroom training as well as self-paced and live-instructor-led online programs. Brad provides oversight of all NCJTC federally funded, contract and cost recovery training and technical assistance programs, including the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force, AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance, Child Abuse & Exploitation Training and Technical Assistance, Child Sex Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance, Missing and Exploited Children Program, School Safety and School Resource Officer Training, and National Tribal Training and Technical Assistance. He is responsible for 70 staff members and more than 250 national associates.

Prior to joining Fox Valley Technical College in 2003 and later becoming Executive Director of NCJTC in 2008, Brad had an expansive 45-year career in criminal justice including as Chief of the Portsmouth Police Department, Commander of the Northern New England Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and service on national DOJ and Administration Task Forces & Commissions. He has served as Board President for the National Children’s Alliance, Chairman for the New Hampshire Governor’s Child Protection Commission, among many others. Brad Russ holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire and is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and Law Enforcement Executive Development training programs.

Kasey Dalke is the Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas (CACKS), where she leads statewide strategy to strengthen and sustain the Children’s Advocacy Center model across Kansas. She oversees systems coordination, training, and infrastructure development that equip multidisciplinary teams to deliver timely, trauma-informed services to child victims of abuse. In addition to organizational leadership, Kasey is actively engaged in policy and legislative initiatives that strengthen child protection systems, improve cross-sector collaboration, and advance sustainable public funding for CAC services. She works alongside state agencies, policymakers, and community leaders to align frontline realities with effective policy solutions. Kasey began her career in child welfare in 2010 and previously served as a program director and lead forensic interviewer, bringing more than 16 years of experience spanning direct service and statewide systems leadership.

Kate McClary has served with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for 26 years. She began her career as a Grant Coordinator in the Criminal Investigations Division, overseeing High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) grants for two years. She later transferred to the Agency Support Division and joined the Crime Victims Services Unit, where she has dedicated the past 24 years. As the Unit’s Administrative Service Manager, Kate leads a team responsible for administering Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance and state-level Victims’ Rights Enforcement funding. She currently represents the western region on the NCJA Advisory Council and previously served as first vice president of the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators.

Gina Carlson is the Co-Founder and Treasurer of Enough DV, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for systemic change related to domestic violence. In 2023, Gina’s sister was murdered by her husband, an event that profoundly shaped her commitment to prevention, education, and community accountability.

Gina holds a degree in Business Management with Accounting and a degree in Paralegal Studies, providing a strong foundation in organizational governance, financial oversight, and legal processes. Her work emphasizes a comprehensive approach to domestic violence, including support for secondary survivors—family members, loved ones, and communities impacted by loss and trauma—as well as prevention strategies, survivor-centered advocacy, and coordinated community response.

Belinda Hagen is the Co-founder and President of ENOUGH DV (EDV), a survivor-led, all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, with a mission to empower victims, support survivors, advance legislative change, and educate communities. She holds a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

After the domestic violence homicide of her stepdaughter in 2025, Belinda confronted firsthand the systemic gaps families must navigate in moments of crisis and long after. She is focused on turning loss into meaningful action, partnering with Gina Carlson who had traveled a similar secondary survivor path a couple of years before. Together, they continue to identify areas of improvement for DV situations, laws and raising awareness of the need for additional community engagement. With others’ volunteer efforts, ENOUGH DV has had several meaningful milestones over the past year-fundraisers, outreach, advocacy, training and more, with much work left to be done for meaningful change.

Kate Bouwkamp is the Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFRB) Coordinator for the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants in the District of Columbia Government since 2021. In this role, Kate is responsible for the tracking, data collection, record requests, coordination of all things with the board including any presentations and trainings for the board members, and to gather the information needed to conduct reviews for her board. She is also responsible for reporting the activities of the board in an annual report. She formerly worked for an incorporated city as the Program Coordinator for Community Services. In this position, she was responsible for researching, creating, implementing, and evaluating programs for at risk populations (from birth to 18 and family units). In addition to local government, she formerly worked for the State of Texas for the Department of Family Protection Services focusing on high-risk cases and specialized in medically complex and childhood fatality cases. In Texas she was a member of the Child Fatality Team for her county. She has also worked in the non-profit realm and has worked in victim services as an educator, presenter, and victim advocate. She worked with San Diego’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team and helped curate tracking of trends for those homicides which was her first exposure to the work of fatality reviews. She has a bachelor’s degree psychology with a minor in public and community health, a Master of Education with a concentration in human development, focused specifically on how trauma impacts development, and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in violence prevention

Amy Bleser is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Ohio and currently serves as Chief Operations Officer at Women Helping Women, a survivor advocacy organization supporting individuals impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking in Southwestern Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2010 and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015. 

Amy has dedicated her career to advancing responses to gender-based violence through survivor-centered advocacy, systems change, and cross-sector collaboration. In her role at Women Helping Women, she has been instrumental in strengthening community responses to domestic and sexual violence, including launching the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT), an initiative that enhances collaboration between advocates and law enforcement to increase survivor access to support and safety. 

Over the course of her tenure at Women Helping Women, Amy has held multiple leadership roles, including Advocate, Director, and Senior Director, before becoming the organization’s inaugural Chief Operations Officer. She currently oversees program development, quality assurance, evaluation, training, and systems-based advocacy across Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, and Hamilton counties. Her work focuses on improving access to services, reducing systemic barriers, and ensuring that responses to gender-based violence are trauma-informed, equitable, and survivor-driven. 

Earlier in her career, Amy gained experience in the criminal legal system and community-based behavioral health, developing a strong foundation in trauma-informed care and the intersection of mental health and violence. She has also held leadership roles focused on program development, staff training, and community education. 

Across all of her work, Amy is committed to advancing policies and practices that center survivors, promote accountability, and create safer, more responsive communities. 

Trish is a Program Manager for the State of Tennessee’s Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP). She served as the Deputy Director of NCJA’s OVC VOCA Center prior to the termination of that funding. Before joining NCJA, she served as a Senior Program Manager at OCJP, leading a team focused on grants to domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and family justice center agencies. Before her work at OCJP, she served as the Director of Client Programs at the Nashville Family Safety Center and Senior Director of Domestic Violence Services at the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Trish has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.

Sarah Brown is the director of the Criminal and Civil Justice Program (CCJ) at NCSL. As the director, she oversees all of NCSL’s criminal and civil justice work, with specific expertise in juvenile justice. Brown has been with NCSL for 20 years working on informing state legislatures on criminal and civil justice issues across the nation. Prior to joining NCSL, Brown worked for five years as a legislative assistant to a United States Senator in Washington, D.C. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado and earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law. Brown has been admitted to practice law in Colorado.

Elizabeth Klc serves as the Director for Criminal Justice Policy.

Elizabeth earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Brigham Young University and prior to her employment for the State of Utah, worked with the Utah Behavioral Healthcare Committee at the Utah Association of Counties.

She loves to travel and enjoy the local cuisine, but as a native Utahn, she loves small town county fairs, snow skiing, and fry sauce.

Delrice Adams is a justice warrior with over 25 years of directing social service and public health reform efforts. On January 4, 2020, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker appointed Delrice to lead the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). ICJIA spearheads and informs on public safety policies, research, and best practices. In this role, Executive Director Adams leverages her expertise in criminal justice, violence prevention, and racial equity to support the agency’s work. Her knowledge informs and enhances public safety priorities, equity grant administration, and evidence-based solutions to violence prevention.   

Executive Director Adams institutes a transparent and straightforward approach to the work. Equity, fairness, and opportunity are the priorities of every grant program and policy administered by ICJIA. 

A visionary leader trained in trauma-informed approaches, Executive Director Adams co-chairs a first-of-its-kind cross-governmental violence prevention advisory group with county and city officials. She also chairs or administers various state boards and commissions, such as the Ad Hoc Victim Service and Prevention Committee, Domestic Violence Pretrial Working Group, and Violent Crime Reduction Taskforce. Nationally, she is the Chair of the National Criminal Justice Association’s Board of Directors Equity in Criminal Justice Funding and Budget Committee.     

Previously, Executive Director Adams held progressive leadership roles at the Cook County Justice Advisory Council and the City of Chicago's Department of Public Health Office of Violence Prevention and Behavioral Health. In these roles, she was responsible for the restorative justice and violence prevention initiatives. A trained peace circle keeper, Executive Director Adams’ successes are grounded in her love for and strong ties with the community.   

Executive Director Adams received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley and holds a master's degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago. In  July 2022, Adams was selected into the highly competitive National Criminal Justice Association Leadership Academy for Executives where she represented the great state of Illinois. 

Joshua Bromen is the Executive Director of Public Safety Planning for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, where he oversees the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Standards & Training, Mississippi Office of Highway Safety, and the Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging. He has led initiatives in intelligence operations, strategic planning, and statewide program development. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Bromen holds a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego and is a frequent speaker on leadership and innovation in public safety.

On April 7, 2025, Kirsten E. Kenyon was appointed Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). 

Ms. Kenyon previously served as PCCD’s Director of the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Strategic Policy Development (ORESPD) since May 2014.  

During her tenure, ORESPD played a critical role in developing and implementing various public safety grant initiatives, including programs supporting child abuse treatment and investigation, the administration of the School Safety and Security Grant Program, the First Chance Trust Fund Program, the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, the Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Grant Program, and the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Program. Additionally, she provided key support to both the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) and the Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Committee (CACAC). 

Ms. Kenyon also led the agency’s work as the Commonwealth's Statistical Analysis Center, overseeing the collection, analysis, and interpretation of criminal justice and public safety data to guide policy decisions. Under her leadership, PCCD expanded its research initiatives, partnering with institutions such as Indiana University of Pennsylvania to enhance data analysis and program evaluation, ultimately strengthening the agency’s influence on public safety and policy development. 

Beyond her responsibilities as Director, Ms. Kenyon also served as PCCD’s legislative liaison, drawing on a decade of experience as a legislative director in the Pennsylvania State Senate. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Communication from Juniata College and a Master of Public Administration from Pennsylvania State University.

Julie Gomez serves as the Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Wheeling/NAMI in West Virginia. She joined NAMI Greater Wheeling in 2017 as Director of Operations and was appointed Executive Director in March 2020. With the support of NAMI National, NAMI Greater Wheeling began piloting its work as NAMI in West Virginia in 2025 and is now supporting communities across the entire state. In her role, Julie leads the organization’s efforts in mental health outreach, education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families. 

Prior to joining NAMI, Julie spent nearly 15 years working in the healthcare industry. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Xavier University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from The Ohio State University. 

Dr. Matthew Lunn was appointed as the director of the Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety in September 2023. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Lunn was the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Denver Police Department where he focused on public policy, developed short- and long-term strategic goals, drove innovation and evaluation efforts, and maximized organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Prior to his tenure with the Denver Police Department, he worked for the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office and for the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Dr. Lunn earned his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a Master of Science from Regis University, and a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University. Lunn is a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police. Dr. Lunn held leadership roles on local, state, and federal boards and commissions, and held faculty appointments at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and Binghamton University-SUNY.

Ryan Crane is the executive director of NAMI Iowa, a statewide organization which serves as a catalyst around advocacy, education, support and public awareness, so that all Iowans affected by mental illness can lead better lives.

NAMI advocates at the local, state, and national levels for those living with mental health challenges and with serious mental illnesses. NAMI believes in access to quality healthcare, housing, employment, education, and dignity - those with mental health diagnoses and their families can be happy and productive. There is help and hope!

Ryan has more than 15 years of fundraising, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership experience. Prior to joining NAMI Iowa, he successfully led efforts to raise more than $3 million for the renovation of the children’s theatre at Des Moines Playhouse. He has also worked at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, and One Iowa.

Kelli Jensen joined NAMI Indiana in September 2024 as Justice Director. In this role, she oversees the statewide Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) Technical Assistance Center and leads education and outreach initiatives focused on NAMI programs, mental health, and the justice system. She is a trained facilitator in Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) and has facilitated multiple SIM workshops across Indiana, supporting community-level strategic planning and cross-system collaboration.

Kelli has more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field, providing treatment, education, consultation, and systems-level support across the child welfare, juvenile justice, and criminal justice systems. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Marion County Systems of Care Council and on the Executive Policy Committees for both the Indiana Coalition for Youth Justice and NAMI Indiana. Additionally, she is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the New Castle Correctional Facility.

Kelli earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Western Governors University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree.

Karen Irene Kalergis, President of Mani Partners Strategic Communications, is an Organizational Resiliency Consultant. She has had key roles in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, to give organizations exposed to traumatized persons or traumatic material evidence-based tools to mitigate the impact of this work-related exposure.

Karen was Product Coordinator on the team at Northeastern University that created the Vicarious Trauma Toolkit. This web-based resource includes an organizational assessment and 500 resources to address vicarious trauma in victim assistance and first responder agencies. She also served as Project Director for the Resiliency Project, based at The University of Texas at Austin. This project created a model for child abuse organizations to build resiliency in their workers.

Karen has served as a subject-matter expert on these models and provided training and technical assistance to adapt them for various disciplines including health professionals, teachers, criminal justice professionals, and forensic workers from government agencies, nonprofits and tribal communities. Kalergis received her MA in Mass Communications and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Iowa, and her BA in English/Creative Writing at Hollins College, Virginia.

Captain Nevin Long serves as the Field Operations East District Commander for the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department (KPD). Over a 24-year career, Captain Long has served as an officer, sergeant, and lieutenant in patrol, a detective in the Property Crimes and Major Crimes/Homicide Units, and the Unit Commander for the Special Crimes Unit. His diverse operational background is complemented by assignments as KPD’s Mobile Field Force Commander, firearms instructor, and field training officer.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session 290) and the University of Chicago Crime Lab Policing Leadership Academy (Cohort 5), Captain Long is committed to advanced professional development. He has completed the FBI LEEDA Trilogy, the Tennessee LEEDA course, and the South Eastern Command & Leadership Academy.  He has presented at multiple venues to include the 2025 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Denver and the 2025 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Public Safety Symposium in Albany. Captain Long holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Captain Long prioritizes data-driven violence reduction and community-oriented policing and his patrol district pioneered Knoxville's violence reduction strategies showing consistent reductions in violent crime over the last few years since inception.

Captain Neil Cybulski began his career with the Sacramento Police Department in 2003. He currently serves as Captain of North Command. He previously oversaw Internal Affairs, the Homeland Security Unit as the Director of Sacramento Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), as the Executive Lieutenant of East Command, and as Acting Captain over our Training Division.

Neil has also worked in Patrol, Field Training, and Problem Oriented Policing. He completed the Executive Development Course in Aug 2020.

Neil served five years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to Satellite Communications and was a Marine Security Guard at American Embassies in London, England and Cairo, Egypt.

Neil was instrumental in the Sacramento UASI’s recent purchase of portable vehicle barriers which are used to protect citizens from vehicle attacks at public events. He also completed a project that brought “Stop the Bleed” training and tourniquets to 72 high schools in the Sacramento region. The training and equipment will be used by school staff and first responders in the event of a mass casualty incident.

Neil was drawn to a career in law enforcement because it related to his job in the military, and he wanted to continue to serve his community.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Neil moved to Sacramento to be with his wife as she began her teaching career.

Major Danita Canton is a law enforcement leader currently serving as the Commanding Officer of the Special Investigations Section. She oversees specialized investigative units focused on crimes against vulnerable populations, ensuring cases are handled with urgency, professionalism, and a victim-centered approach. With a strong commitment to accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Danita works to strengthen investigative practices, support personnel development, and build partnerships that enhance public safety outcomes. She is dedicated to leading with integrity, clarity, and purpose. 

Sandy Jo MacArthur is the Director of Curriculum Design, Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Crime Lab. As the former Assistant Chief Dr. Sandy Jo MacArthur served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 35 years. During her LAPD tenure, MacArthur oversaw implementation of the 2001 Department of Justice Consent Decree requirements, all entrance level and in-service training, the 9-1-1 center, recruitment and hiring, internal behavioral sciences services, and the internal dispute resolutions program. MacArthur’s expertise revolves around curriculum design, employee wellness, police tactics, and conflict management.

Jeffrey Seaman is a Levy Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania and a researcher, writer, and speaker on the criminal justice system. He is a co-author of Confronting Failures of Justice: Getting Away with Murder and Rape (Rowman & Littlefield) and numerous law review articles on topics including criminal justice system effectiveness, mass incarceration, electronic monitoring, and criminal law theory. He also writes for general audiences with op-eds and articles appearing in outlets like USA Today, Quillette, and National Review. 

Jeffrey is the Editor of the Independent Law Journal, a new faculty-led legal journal. He holds a master’s in behavioral and decision sciences from the University of Pennsylvania and is dedicated to applying an interdisciplinary perspective to questions of criminal law and criminal justice reform.

Roman Rivera is a labor economist studying policing and crime. He is an Assistant Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. His research examines the roles of race, gender, peers, and oversight in policing, as well as the effects of electronic monitoring in the pretrial system.

Greg Newburn is director of criminal justice at the Niskanen Center. His previous positions include state policy director and Florida director for FAMM; chair of the Florida-based “Yes on 11” political committee; and director of student programs at the Cato Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. His work focuses on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems with the goal of reducing crime and punishment.

Joseph J. (Joe) Popcun serves as Executive Deputy Commissioner, which is the number two position at the agency. Prior to joining the DCJS, he served as Director of Policy and Practice at the Rockefeller Institute of Government and Executive Director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium. At the same time, in partnership with the Department of State, Joe was the Executive Director of the New York State Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration. During 2020 and 2021, he advised the New York Governor's COVID-19 response and recovery operations. Joe has also served as Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning at DCJS, as well as Assistant Secretary and Policy Advisor for Public Safety in the New York State Governor's Office. He joined state service in 2013 as an Excelsior Fellow in the Governor's Office. He lives in Albany with his wife and their two children.

David Carabin serves as Managing Director of Threat Management and Information Sharing at the Secure Community Network (SCN), where he leads intelligence-sharing partnerships with U.S. and international law enforcement, intelligence, and private sector security organizations, and oversees field-based intelligence programs. SCN is the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. 

Previously, Mr. Carabin served as Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). In this Senior Executive Service role, he led enterprise-wide intelligence partnership efforts across federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, private sector, and international stakeholders, overseeing approximately 300 personnel across field intelligence operations, a 24/7 national security watch center, and strategic engagement and outreach programs.  

Earlier in his career, Mr. Carabin served as Assistant Chief of the Boston Police Department’s Bureau of Intelligence & Analysis and Director of the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC). He led intelligence operations during the 2013 Boston Marathon terrorist attack, supporting multi-agency response, investigation, and recovery efforts. Under his leadership, the BRIC was recognized as “Fusion Center of the Year” for demonstrating best practices. 

Mr. Carabin brings more than two decades of leadership in law enforcement and homeland security, with deep expertise in intelligence integration, counterterrorism, and interagency collaboration. His career includes key roles with the Utah Department of Public Safety, where he established the state’s fusion center, and the Newport News Police Department. 

He is the recipient of the National Fusion Center Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) “40 Under 40” Award. Mr. Carabin holds a Master’s degree in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University. He has completed executive programs at Harvard University and the Police Executive Research Forum, and a senior fellowship with George Washington University. 

Brandy Flack, MBA, is Executive Director of Margolin Hebrew Academy–Cooper Yeshiva of the South in Memphis, Tennessee, where she has served since 2018 overseeing school operations, finance, safety, and community relations. She has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, campus security planning, and emergency preparedness, including implementation of school safety initiatives and security grant programs. Flack is also a PhD candidate in History, with research interests in leadership, culture, and religious identity.

Alberto Martinez is employed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Southern California. Mr. Martinez is assigned to the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (fusion center) and has experience supporting criminal and terrorism cases through his career. Mr. Martinez has been involved with the National Network of Fusion Centers for 15+ years.

Mr. Martinez also serves as the Vice President of the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) where he is responsible for facilitating partnerships between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, the intelligence community, and private sector partners. Alberto also supports the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Intelligence Commanders Group – led by Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. Mr. Martinez is an advocate of federal partnerships and enjoys highlighting success stories between state, local and federal agencies.

Prior to her tenure with IJIS, Maria Cardiellos served in an executive level position as Chief of Staff (COS) of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI). In this role she directed executive staff, consultants and resources provided by sponsor partners to include DOJ, DHS, FBI, ODNI and the White House. The overarching budget responsibilities for the design, development, implementation and oversight of solution delivery to the 78 fusion centers nationwide represented an estimated $50 million (not including in-kind donations/resources, nor direct funding to the centers that were provided over the program history). Maria was previously Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (LPS) within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the largest state department in NJ. Her office supported the Information Technology (IT) needs of more than a dozen divisions / in-but-not-off offices, ranging in scope from the Division of State Police to the Division of Consumer Affairs. In addition to supporting these efforts, she led all programmatic and information technology related aspects of the State’s homeland defense solution Emergency Preparedness Information Network (EPINet). Ms. Cardiellos led cutting edge integration jobs for the public sector community including an Integrated Justice Project for the Province of Ontario, Canada, as well as the first privatized/functionally outsourced emergency communication operation in North America for Northampton County, Pennsylvania.