Staff

Executive and Administrative Staff

Tom Masseau, Executive Director

Tom Masseau has over 30 years of experience advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities. Prior to arriving at Disability Rights

Susan Pierce, Grants Manager

Susan Pierce is the Grants Manager at Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA) in Little Rock, Arkansas, having previously held the positions of Director

Kerri Michael, Communications and Outreach Manager

Kerri Michael joined DRA as Communications and Outreach Director in May of 2019. Kerri earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology

Mary Forst, Director of Finance and Administration

Mary joined the DRA staff in March of 2020. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Arkansas at

Ashlyn Whelchel, Administrative Assistant

Ashlyn Whelchel joined DRA in July of 2019. A native of Fort Smith, she moved to Little Rock during her senior year of high school. Prior to

Lani Jennings-Hall, Finance & Marketing Specialist

Lani joined the DRA staff in September of 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a focus in statistics from the University of Central

Legal and Advocacy Staff

Thomas Nichols, Director of Legal and Advocacy Services

Thomas Nichols joined DRA in September of 2015. He received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Henderson State

Christian Adcock, Advocate

Christian Adcock has been with DRA since November of 2013 and has worked in a variety of issue areas for the agency. He is currently

Kyla Bishop, Attorney

Kyla Bishop joined DRA in August 2019. A graduate of the University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law, Kyla earned her bachelor’s

Jennifer Goodwin, Attorney

Jennifer Goodwin earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law. Prior to joining DRA in August of

Jacqueline Gorton, Advocate

Jacqueline Gorton joined the staff of Disability Rights Arkansas in October of 2016. She brings decades of experience to her position as

Mollie Hernandez, Advocate

Mollie Hernandez began work at DRA in May of 2019. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a graduate of Arkansas State University,

Rose Lewis, Advocate

Rose Lewis joined DRA in 2018 to work on the Representative Payee program. She has more than 10 years’ experience in case management,

Debbie New, Advocate

Debbie New joined the staff of Disability Rights in March 2020. Debbie has a master’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Applied

Cortney Spangler, Paralegal

Cortney Spangler joined Disability Rights Arkansas in April of 2019. She graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas Pulaski

Reagan Stanford, Staff Attorney

Reagan Stanford joined DRA in April of 2019. Prior to joining DRA she worked directly with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault,

Kris Stewart, Advocate

Kris Stewart joined Disability Rights Arkansas in July of 2016. She holds a bachelors degree in social work and has over 24 years of experience

Michael Thornton, Self-Advocate Coordinator

Michael Thornton joined the DRA staff in December of 2020. A native of North Little Rock, Michael serves as the self-advocate coordinator