CCSR Staff
Scott Wituk, PhD
Executive Director
As the executive director of the Center for Community Support and Research, Scott oversees all activities and services, budget, and operations. Scott has been with CCSR for nearly 20 years. He is committed to creating thriving and supportive communities and organizations and has background in community leadership, organizational capacity building, and applied research and evaluation methods. He works with a variety of nonprofit organizations, community coalitions, government entities, mental health consumer organizations, and self-help support groups. Scott has played a major role in developing and implementing many of CCSR’s projects, including:
Read more about Scott Wituk
email: scott.wituk@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3327
Adrienne Banta, BA
Research Assistant
Adrienne volunteered at the CCSR as a research intern for six months in 2007 prior to becoming a part time employee. Then she juggled working on her bachelor’s degree in psychology at WSU, part time work at CCSR, and her role as president of Sigma Lambda Gamma Inc. She graduated May 2010 and has worked full time as a research associate since. Her favorite projects to contribute to have been the Russell Child Development Center Learn and Play Initiative, CRO and CPS research, StepStone Needs Assessment, and Vets4Vets Program Evaluation.
email: adrienne.banta@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5567
Amy Becker, BFA
Financial Operations Specialist
Amy is a proud "Tiger" graduate of Fort Hays State University who has successfully transplanted herself into "Shocker" Country. She thinks that WSU is a great University and has a lot to offer! Helping out in the financial department at the Center for Community Support and Research has been a wonderful experience. In her spare time, she does art and enjoys the company of her large family and her "furry boys", Dudleigh and Oscar.
email: amy.becker@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5752
Amy Delamaide, BA
Director of Community and Organizational Development
Amy joined CCSR in 2007. She has helped two nonprofits achieve tax exempt status and more than 40 organizations complete strategic planning processes. She enjoys helping community coalitions identify their purpose and make plans to achieve it. Amy is a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer and a civic leadership coach working towards the Associate Certified Coach credential of the International Coach Federation.
Amy graduated from Wellesley College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and French. She plans to graduate in 2014 with a Master in Public Administration with a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the WSU Hugo Wall School of Public and Urban Affairs.
email: amy.delamaide@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.6773
Angela Gaughan, MA
Support Group Project Specialist
Angela Gaughan is a support group project specialist at CCSR and began her career with the center in 2007. She shares information about support groups and the availability of a support group database with Medicaid providers and members across Kansas. Angela promotes the benefits of attending groups as an effective complement to other professional services.
Angela earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Fort Hays State University and a Master of Arts in communication from WSU. She has a background in marketing nonprofits and university programs and has worked with a variety of audiences including medical professionals, business leaders, social service providers, and university faculty and students.
email: angela.gaughan@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5496
Baily Blair, BA
Research Assistant
Bailey has been a research assistant at the Center for Community Support and Research since August 2011. While employed at CCSR, Bailey has assisted with a variety of projects, including evaluation of early childhood programs and programs for the aging, in addition to research involving Transition Age Youth and youth with mental illness. In her position at CCSR, Bailey has further developed skills in survey development and administration, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and program development for underserved populations. Bailey focuses most of her time and energy on the Mental Health Consumer Initiative, hoping to make navigating the mental health system less daunting for consumers in the future.
Bailey has received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wichita State University and her Kansas Teaching Certificate from Emporia State University. She has just begun the Masters’ of Social Work program at Wichita State. She is actively involved in the group ICT S.O.S., which fights human trafficking, as well as the Young Alumni at WSU.
email: bailey.blair@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5350
Bill D. Fleming
Consultant for Consumer Run Organizations
Bill joined the CCSR staff in November of 2012. He was brought onboard to help with Consumer Run Organizations (CRO).
Bill’s experience as executive director of the CRO P.S. Club since July of 1994. He is a member of the Kansas Mental Health Coalition. His strengths include financial reports, quarterly reports, and public speaking. Bill earned an Associate of Arts degree in accounting from Northern Oklahoma College.
email: billdfleming1956@gmail.com
phone: 620.440.0628
Candy Youle, BA
Operations Coordinator
Candy has been with the Center for Community Support and Research since December 1998. A seasoned professional with thirty years of management, logistics and operations experience in for-profit, nonprofit and educational settings, as the operations coordinator her responsibilities include working with an active CCSR Advisory Committee, facilitating the Operations Team meetings, developing and implementing office procedures and handling office issues. In addition to these activities, Candy works with project facilitators to brainstorm and customize facilitation design. She manages all aspects of logistics, both local and statewide, for trainings including location, catering, procurement, schedule, materials as well as personal and e-mail communication with meeting stakeholders.
Read more about Candy Youle
email: candace.youle@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3653
Carissa K. Coleman
, PhD
Research Associate
Carissa has been a member of CCSR staff since 2013. Carissa is a community researcher and works with community partners on various research/evaluations projects. She is working on the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita’s Community Transformation Grant and the KANCARE I/DD pilot project evaluations. She is also continuing her work on the National Institute of Health funded Changing Talk (CHAT) Intervention Project with the University of Kansas School of Nursing.
Carissa earned a doctoral degree and a master’s degree in community psychology from Wichita State University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas. Her research interests have been developing and evaluating interventions to promote the quality of care for older adults through relationship building and effective communication strategies. She also has experience in assessment, research/evaluation, and direct services with children, families, and persons living with HIV/AIDS.
email: carissa.coleman@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3468
Christine Young, CPS
Peer Educator
Christine previously worked in a big box retail bookstore as a manager for the last 12 years. Among other duties, she enjoyed training and developing staff. Facing a corporate restructure and potential layoffs Christine left her position to return to school and focus on her simple goal of helping others. After attending the August 2009 CPS 5 day basic training Christine worked for the MHASCK as a peer specialist. She truly enjoyed working one on one with her peers on their journeys of recovery. Christine was soon drawn to working for, CCSR, when she realized that she could impact a greater number of people. Christine still believes that one person can make a difference.
Outside of her job, Christine volunteers as a parent helper for the Young Champions of America Elite Cheer Squad. She has a high school age over-achieving daughter that is hard to keep up with. Christine has three cats: Henry, Blue and Poe. Her hobbies include cooking, reading books and knitting fabulous fingerless gloves for her friends.
email: christine.young@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3224
Diann Brosch, RN
Consultant for Consumer Run Organizations
Diann was hired by CCSR in November of 2012. She will help with our work related to Consumer Run Organizations (CRO).
Diann is a member of Dodge City Peaceful Tribe in Dodge City. She volunteers as their wellness initiative nurse. One of the things that Diann enjoys the most is working with the members and helping them to find ways to overcome their overall physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
email: dbvillagenurse@yahoo.com
phone: 620.623.2034
Gina C. Maree, LSCSW
Project Associate
Gina C. Mareer, LSCSW, is an associate at the Center for Community Support and Resources. She is the president of Innovative Leadership Strategies, LLC; a leadership and strategy development firm that assists individuals, organizations, and communities build capacity and make progress on adaptive challenges to create systemic change. Gina trained and was a guest faculty member at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, executive education program on the art and practice of leadership development. She is a coach and affiliate faculty member for the Kansas Leadership Center and has extensive training and facilitation experience.
Read more about Gina C. Maree
email: gmaree@inleadership.com
phone: 913.653.6562
Heather Perkins, MA, SPHR
Director of Operations & Finance
Heather Perkins joined CCSR in 2008 in the newly-created role of staff development coordinator. In this position, Heather focuses on expanding the capacity of CCSR staff around human resource issues and facilitates opportunities for the personal and professional development of CCSR staff. In early 2009, Heather responsibilities grew to include budgeting, accounts receivable, and other financial responsibilities for the organization.
Read more about Heather Perkins
email: heather.perkins@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5568
Jeremiah Raymo, CPS
Project Specialist
Jeremiah works part-time at CCSR while he is finishing his bachelor’s degree in Social Work. He started at CCSR in August of 2012 when he began his social work practicum.
During his practicum he completed the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) training and became a CPS. Currently Jeremiah works on the CPS team as a certified peer specialist trainer and he works with the Leadership Initiatives team assisting with facilitations. He plans to graduate from WSU with a master’s degree in Social Work in 2014.
Jeremiah is a proud Iraq War combat veteran who served five years in United States Army.
email: jeremiah.raymo@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.6751
Joyce McEwen Crane, PhD
Project Facillitator
Joyce McEwen Crane, PhD is the owner of Webb PhD Associates and works as a professional consultant and coach. After completing her bachelor's degree in psychology at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, Joyce attended Southern Methodist University where she earned a master's degree in psychology and a doctoral degree in psychology. Her current work in Kansas includes providing organizational capacity-building and leadership training and coaching for businesses including the Kansas Leadership Center and the Center for Community Support and Research at WSU. Joyce also provides training and coaching on rural community development projects. Joyce has owned two successful businesses, managed two counseling centers, provided corporate training and developed curriculum for several relationship-based programs in Kansas. She also teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels in organizational development/leadership and marriage and family counseling. Joyce is very proud to be a fourth generation Kansan.
email: webbphd@yahoo.com
phone: 316.371.5914
Judy Frick, MEd
Executive Transition & Succession Planning Specialist
Judy Frick spent 17 years as a “career volunteer child advocate” before becoming the founding executive director of Communities In Schools of Wichita/Sedgwick County, Inc. in 1990. Highlights from her experience include serving as president of Kansas Action for Children, Inc. and CASA, Inc. and as a member of the board of directors of the Junior League, the United Way, along with numerous child-serving organizations and coalitions. In 1997, she was chosen as a delegate to the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future and served as a member of the steering committee of Wichita’s Promise for several years.
Judy retired from CIS in 2007 and returned to CIS as an interim director for five months in 2009. As the result of this experience, she successfully pursued a 2009-10 Communities In Schools National Robert H.B. Baldwin Fellowship during which she developed a paper and a toolkit to address Succession Planning & Leadership Transition. She currently serves as a CIS National consultant to local CIS affiliates and state offices on these topics. She also serves in this capacity for for the Wichita State University Center for Community Support and Research. In addition, she is the board chair for Communities In Schools of Kansas.
email: Judith.Frick@wichita.edu
phone: 316.733-4155
Kevin Bomhoff, LMSW
Director of Strategic Development
Kevin Bomhoff has been with CCSR since 1999. He brings 30 years of experience serving Kansans in a variety of management and leadership roles including Community Support Services Director and Community Developmental Disabilities Director at COMCARE of Sedgwick County.
Kevin graduated from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare with a Masters in Administration and Planning, has been named a Kansas Health Foundation Fellow and serves on the Kansas Leadership Center faculty. He has designed and facilitated many collaborative planning efforts and is a leadership and executive succession planning trainer, consultant and coach. Kevin is Myers-Briggs certified and recently completed “Art and Practice of Civic Leadership Development” course work at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He’s an avid cyclist and loves the outdoors.
email: kevin.bomhoff@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3592
Lael Ewy, CPS
Peer Educator
Lael Ewy brings experience as a teacher, writer, and consumer to the position of peer educator at CCSR. He has been active in higher education since 1996, mainly at Hesston College and Wichita State, teaching composition, creative writing, literature, and film; developing curriculum; and serving on various committees with a modicum of wakefulness. While focusing on training and curriculum for the CPS program, Lael also continues to teach part time through WSU’s English Department.
A combination of indecision and unbridled interest in just about everything led him to WSU and a BGS emphasizing creative writing, philosophy, and anthropology. He stayed on to study creative writing under Albert Goldbarth, Janine Hathaway, Phillip Schneider, and Bruce Bond. This led fortuitously to a poetry fellowship and incidentally to an MFA in creative writing. His thesis, Smash and Grab, uses poetry to explore the intersections between mental illness, metaphysics, social (dys)function, baroque music, and auto mechanics.
Read more about Lael Ewy
email: lael.ewy@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.7352
Lynn Schrepferman, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Lynn Schrepferman, PhD, has over 16 years of experience in research, implementation of evidence based prevention and evaluation. Lynn recently began full-time as a community and organizational researcher at CCSR. Previously Lynn coordinated numerous research projects focused on prevention, positive youth development, substance abuse, bullying and other problem behaviors. Lynn was also was the coordinator of WSU’s substance abuse counselor certification program. Lynn has extensive experience assisting community agencies and schools with the translation of promising and model evidence based prevention/interventions to best practice. She has worked on the implementation of several projects including the Incredible Years, Second Step, and the Family Checkup.
Read more about Lynn Schrepferman
email: lynn.schrepferman@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.6772
Nancy Jensen, CPS
Peer Educator
Nancy has worked at CCSR since 2007. She earned her Certified Peer Specialist certificate and is a member of the Peer Specialists Training Team. She is also a member of the Mental Health Consumer Initiatives and Trauma Informed Care teams. Nancy is an advocate for the rights of consumers of mental health services. She worked diligently to get a law passed in the State of Kansas in 2006. The Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Unit in the Attorney General’s office, is a direct result of Nancy and others attention to the rights of all consumers. Nancy facilitates Common Ground workshops at CROs around Kansas. She enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, Jeff, and her cat, Moses.
email: nancyjensen35@gmail.com
phone: 316.978.6776
Randy Johnson, MA, CPS
Director of Mental Health Initiatives
Randy Johnson brings his personal experience in the mental health system to his work providing technical support on the implementation of peer services. Prior to his appointment, Randy developed a relationship with CCSR through his position as the senior director of Advocacy and Recovery Services at Mental Health America of the Heartland and as a Program Director for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
email: randy.johnson@wichita.edu
phone: 316.765.2426
Ron Alexander
Project Facilitator
Ron Alexander is president of R.E. Alexander and Associates, LLC. He serves on the faculty of the Kansas Leadership Center. Ron directs and facilitates a range of leadership and community development projects and initiatives. His work is focused on promoting the healthy development of children, families and communities and the expansion of civic leadership.
For more than 30 years Ron taught and consulted in the areas of leadership development, youth development, prevention, community mobilization and change. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kansas State University and completed “Art and Practice of Leadership Development” course work at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. In addition to his work, Ron is passionate about his faith, his family and riding his bike.
email: realexander55@gmail.com
phone: 316.978.3843
Sam Demel, BBA
Community and Organizational Specialist
Sam Demel Sam Demel started working at the WSU Center for Community Support and Research in May of 2004 as a community support specialist. He serves on the Mental Health Consumer Initiative, Consumer Run Organizations, Community and Organizational Development and Youth Leadership in Kansas teams. Sam is experienced in nonprofit start-up, strategic planning, succession planning, leadership development, board training and development, policies and procedures, collaboration, conflict resolution, grant writing, and learning thinking working styles.
Sam is currently pursuing a Master in Public Administration degree from the WSU Hugo Wall School of Public and Urban Affairs. He graduated from the College of Santa, Santa Fe, NM, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in public administration, at the College of Santa Fe. Upon completing his degree he taught for two years at an agricultural College in Lesotho, Africa, with the United States Peace Corps. He brings nine years of nonprofit management and two years of economic development experience to CCSR.
When he is not working, Sam enjoys spending time with his two daughters, son, foster children and wife, Lynda. His spare time is spent on outdoor activities and home improvement projects.
email: samuel.demel@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.6474
Samantha Phouangpanith
Research Assistant
Samantha started as an intern at CCSR during the spring semester of 2012 and came back in the fall as a part time employee.
Samantha is a senior at WSU and will be graduating in May 2013 with honors with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in Chemistry and Biology and a minor in dance. During her college career she has been involved with the School of Performing Arts Dance Program, Emory Lindquist Honors Program, Dean’s Scholars, Premedical Student Association, Asian Cultural Organization, Office of Multicultural Affairs, and Asian Student Conference.
In her free time she enjoys dancing with organizations such as Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center (where she began dancing at a young age) and Ballet Wichita. Samantha also volunteers, working with SUCCESS in the Middle and Communities in School, at Curtis Middle School.
email: samantha.phouangpanith@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3570
Sarah Jolley, MA
Senior Research Associate
Sarah joined the CCSR in February of 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in behavioral science from Sterling College in 2001 and a Master of Arts in community psychology from Wichita State University in 2008. Sarah has experience designing, facilitating, and researching capacity building for nonprofits and other faith-based and community organizations. She has also been involved in the development and implementation of several mini-grant processes and has experience with various research-related activities, including surveys, focus groups, and grant writing.
In addition to her work at the CCSR, Sarah is also working on completing her doctoral dissertation and anticipates receiving her PhD in community psychology from Wichita State University this year. Sarah lives in Wichita with her husband, Kris.
email: sarah.jolley@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5487
Sarah Thompson
Research Assistant
Sarah Thompson is working part-time at CCSR as a member of the research team. She is attending WSU and working on a Bachelor of Art in Psychology with plans to graduate in May of 2014.
Some of Sarah’s activities include participating in events with her sorority, Delta Gamma, and contributing to the leadership of the WSU Student Ambassadors. Sarah’s hobbies include reading and watching sitcoms whenever she is not studying.
email: sarah.thompson@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3570
Seth Bate
Director of Leadership Development
Seth Bate joined CCSR in 2006. He is the facilitator of the Leadership Initiatives Team and has been deeply involved in the design and delivery of leadership development experiences to a variety of audiences.
In support of leadership developmet projects, Seth works closely with the Kansas Leadership Center as a member of the coaching team, the Kansas Community Leadership Initiative consulting team and an associate faculty member.
The International Coach Federation has awarded Seth the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. Of the estimated 30,000 professional coaches worldwide, only about 8,000 have an ICF credential. Seth coordinates CCSR’s individual and team coaching services.
Read more about Seth Bate
email: seth.bate@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.5423
Steve Williams
Project Facilitator
Steve Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (English) from Emporia State University (ESU) in 1964 and a master’s degree in school administration from ESU in 1969. As a professional educator, he spent six years as a classroom teacher and 24 years as a high school building administrator in Newton, Salina, and Brookville, Kansas.
During his tenure as an educator, Steve left the profession and worked in corporate business serving in various marketing positions for eight years. But, his love for education and working with “kids” called him to return to this profession.
Following retirement from public education, Steve became a consultant for the Kansas Health Foundation and assisted in developing materials and facilitating school teams with the “Take a Second. Make a Difference. Goes to School” initiative. At the end of the grant, he became a project facilitator with the Self-Help Network now the Wichita State University Center for Community Support and Research (CCSR). During this time, he received training as a master facilitator.
Steve currently serves as a community and organizational specialist at CCSR working with nonprofits in strategic planning, board development, and succession planning.
email: stephen.williams@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3843
Tara Gregory, PhD
Director of Research & Evaluation
Tara has been a member of CCSR staff since 2005. Tara coordinates CCSR’s research and evaluation activities and supervises the community and organizational researchers, and research associates and assistants. Tara has coordinated or assisted with notable research/evaluation projects such as the Kansas Afterschool Leadership Development Initiative evaluation, Wichita Youth Empowerment Partnership community assessment and Photovoice project, “Our Voices” youth participatory arts-based community assessment, DELTA youth relationship violence prevention empowerment evaluation, and various needs assessments and outcome evaluations for non-profits and community-based organizations across Kansas.
Tara has a doctorate and master's degree in community psychology and a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in German, all from Wichita State. Tara has 20 years of experience working in nonprofits related to youth leadership/empowerment development, community assessment and mobilization, substance abuse prevention and treatment, grant writing, and nonprofit management. She was a certified substance abuse prevention specialist, taught the drugs and human behavior class at WSU from 1990-2005, and has previously worked as the WSU orientation coordinator.
email: tara.gregory@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.3714
Teresa Strausz, MSOD, LMSW
Community and Organizational Specialist
Teresa Strausz, LMSW, has been on staff with the WSU Center for Community Support and Research since April 2007 as a community and organizational specialist. Teresa is involved in many projects related to organizational change, development, and leadership, and completed the Kansas Leadership Center’s Faculty Development Program in 2010 which included the development of expertise in Case Facilitation, Case-in-Point, Leadership Coaching and KLC Leadership Theory. Teresa is fluent in the language and understanding of Adaptive Leadership as it is applied to organization and leadership efforts. With nearly 15 years of experience in facilitation, training and capacity-building that spans mental health, education, early childhood, leadership development, youth development, community development and organizational development, Teresa contributes a wealth of skills, knowledge and expertise to her teams.
In order to strengthen her contributions to the Mental Health Consumer Initiatives, Support Group Services, Leadership Initiatives, Community and Organizational Development and Trauma-Informed Care teams she serves, Teresa recently earned a Master of Science in organization development through Friends University.
email: teresa.strausz@wichita.edu
phone: 316.978.6778