Disability Law Center (DLC) is governed by an elected Board of Trustees (“Board”) that supervises the Executive Director, maintains fiduciary responsibility for the successful functioning of the agency, and has ultimate responsibility in setting agency policies and priorities. The Board includes representatives from the PAIMI Advisory Council, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC), and Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD).
The sincere dedication and devotion of our Board members has helped improve our disability advocacy services and expand the presence of our agency. On behalf of our agency and the many Utahns with disabilities, DLC publicly thanks all Board members, both past and present, for their many contributions and commitments.
Our Current Board
Janet Deisley
President
Former Environmental Scientist
Through Janet’s volunteer work over the years with children, seniors, and the visually impaired, she has come to understand some of the challenges of individuals having a physical or mental disability. She is proud to to be a DLC Trustee because of the countless services it provides to people who are disadvantaged and the tireless work its staff does to raise awareness and foster acceptance in the community of people with disabilities. Janet worked as an environmental scientist for the mining industry for over 20 years supporting projects and clients in the U.S, Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile. She loves keeping active by kayaking, biking, skiing, and hiking with family & friends.
Amanda Longwell
President Elect
Advocate
Amanda works tirelessly to ensure her three children have every opportunity for success in school and life in general. Her fight is most critical for her youngest daughter, Tori, who has Down Syndrome. Since birth, Amanda learned Tori would be faced with challenges – especially within the educational system. She has done extensive research and worked with her community leaders to promote equitable and inclusive education for Tori and all other children living with disabilities. She speaks to raise awareness and advocate for change within her school, district, state and legislature. She served on the Utah Education Advisory Panel and is excited to serve as a board member of the DLC to continue pursuing change.
Kevin Brown
Treasurer
Senior Manager, American Express National Bank
Kevin Brown has an MBA from Weber State University and a bachelor’s in business management from Southern Utah University. Kevin is currently a senior manager for American Express National Bank. Prior to joining AMEX, he worked as a business banker for many years and worked frequently with several non-profit organizations, including the DLC. Kevin is inspired by a close family member who has physical disabilities that did not limit or define them. Kevin enjoys working with DLC to provide equal opportunities for others. Kevin and his wife, Kimberly, have 3 children and enjoy spending time as a family.
Leslie Francis
Secretary
Alfred C. Emery Endowed Professor, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah
Leslie P. Francis, Ph.D., J.D., is distinguished Alfred C. Emery professor of law, distinguished professor of philosophy, and director of the Center for Law & Biomedical Sciences at the University of Utah. Her most recent books are the Oxford Handbook of Reproductive Ethics (edited, Oxford, 2017) and Privacy: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford 2017). She has authored many papers on disability law and ethics, privacy, justice, and bioethics. As a member of the Signature Program of the Office of State Courts, she regularly provides pro bono representation for people who are the subject of petitions for guardianship.
Matthew Wappett
Immediate Past President
Executive Director, Center for Persons with Disabilities
Matthew Wappett is the Executive Director of the Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities (UCEDD). Dr. Wappett’s background is in special education and disability studies; most of his research has been focused on creating inclusive environments to accommodate the needs of diverse populations. Dr. Wappett has also been involved in many projects related to Medicaid self-direction, self-advocacy, and person centered planning for people with disabilities and their families. Dr. Wappett also conducts research and training about the effects of laughter and genuinely enjoys teaching people how to laugh! Dr. Wappett has earned his Ph.D. in Special Education, an M.Ed. in Educational Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Utah.
Jan Brock
Certified Public Accountant
Jan Brock is a CPA, MBA, and has previously worked for the Disability Law Center as an advocate in their Abuse and Neglect Division. Jan has professional experience as a Congressional Auditor with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in private accounting, as a business owner, and with the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce. Jan has served on numerous boards including SPLORE of Utah, the Utah Children’s Theatre, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Utah, and the Madeleine Choir School to name a few. She recently served as President of the ELP-IB Parent Organization for West High School. Jan is also involved in Utah legislation that supports people with disabilities as a member of the Utah League of Women Voters and as a member of the Legislative State Women’s Council for Utah. She has personal experience with people living with a disability and she is a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in the state of Utah.
Anthony Bake
Associate General Counsel, Vivint Solar Company
Anthony is Associate General Counsel for Vivint Solar Company. Prior to working with Vivint Solar, Anthony was General Counsel for Mountain America Credit Union (MACU) and Legal Counsel for 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. Anthony is passionate about supporting and defending the rights of individuals with disabilities and feels grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board of the DLC.
Lurena Mead
Advocate
Lurena Mead graduated from the University of Utah with a teaching degree in special education and taught at East High School in Salt Lake City for three years before relocating to Kansas. Once there, she served as the Community Relations Manager of Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS), an agency of the Johnson County Kansas government which coordinated and provided services to folks with developmental disabilities. In this role, Lurena served as a media and legislative liaison, advocating for the protection and advancement of people with disabilities and their providers. Lurena retired from JCDS in May 2016 after an incredible 29 years of service.
Libby Oseguera
Executive Director, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC)
Libby holds a Masters in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and has worked to remove barriers and grow self-advocacy for Utahns with disabilities. Libby started her career as a Special Education Substitute Teacher in Southern Nevada with the Clark County School District while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in pursuit of a degree in Recreation. Upon graduating, Libby worked for the Henderson City Therapeutic Recreation program, providing adaptive recreation programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After working for several years as a job coach in Utah, Libby is now the Executive Director of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, or UDDC.
Ken Gourdin
PAIMI Council Chair
Ken Gourdin is the current Chair of the PAIMI Council. Supporting disadvantaged populations is very important to him. Ken is a strong proponent of psychosocial rehabilitation, i.e. the “Clubhouse Model.” Ken was a member of New Reflection House, Tooele’s psychosocial rehabilitation program, for nearly ten years. He was a member of the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) from 2012 to 2018. Ken also previously served on Valley Behavioral Health’s Board of Directors and the Disability Law Center’s PAIMI Council. Ken rejoined the Council in 2016, and served briefly as Vice Chair before becoming Chair of the Council. He is excited to continue to support the Disability Law Center in its mission of protecting the rights of disabled individuals, particularly those with behavioral health challenges.
Jodie Palmer
Property Manager, Caregiver and Advocate
Jodie holds a degree in Public Relations/Mass Communications from the University of Utah. In 1986, her fiancé experienced a horrific automobile accident, leaving him in a coma for six weeks and resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Jodie’s life was changed as she and her fiancé experienced first-hand the lack of information available to TBI survivors and families. Determined to remedy this lack, Jodie became the first Executive Director of the Brain Injury Alliance (formerly The Utah Head Injury Association) in Utah, and opened the first TBI Resource Center. She traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Utah representatives and rallied to get the TBI Act passed. Today, Jodie manages several properties and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. She is an outdoor activist, and “the mountains are calling, I must go”, is the motto she lives by.
Kathleen Jaques
Advocate
Kathleen Jaques has been an advocate since a young age, growing up with an uncle diagnosed with cerebral palsy. While in school, she volunteered in classes for students with disabilities, sharing her joy of art. When her oldest son was diagnosed with autism in the late 80’s, it was an unusual diagnosis affecting only 2-3 out of every 10,000 children. She resumed her advocacy efforts, obtaining a BS in Psychology, working in group homes for disabled children, and eventually becoming a QIDP. Kathleen hopes to offer her voice for those in need.
Stacy Stanford
Policy Analyst, Utah Health Policy Project
Stacy Stanford is the policy analyst for the Utah Health Policy Project, a non-profit, non-partisan organization committed to advancing sustainable healthcare solutions.
In 2010, a car accident caused disabling health issues, which led her to discover the disability rights movement. Since that time, she has been an activist for expanded healthcare access, and has organized more than two dozen healthcare-defense events. She received a BA from Westminster College in Disability Justice, a customized degree program combining political science, sociology & justice studies.
Joey Hanna
Executive Director, Utah Parent Center
Joey is currently the executive director or the Utah Parent Center. Joey’s educational background is in social work and behavioral health, and professional experience has primarily been in social services. Joey is passionate about serving individuals with disabilities and their families and is the mother of a young man with autism.
John Curtis
Certified Public Accountant, Rocky Mountain Advisory
John Curtis is a financial advisor and CPA engaged in forensic accounting and related services. John worked for over 10 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers until 2010, when he helped found Rocky Mountain Advisory. He has served on the board of the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center and is engaged in community service. John has family and friends who have lived with physical disabilities and mental illness and is grateful to serve on the DLC Board.
Marion “Mike” Menning
Former Legislator
Marion “Mike” Menning earned a master’s degree from Azuza Pacific University in leadership development. His research was in the area of the church’s responsibility in serving individuals with disabilities and their families. Mr. Menning professionally has spent most of his life serving others. He has served as a State Representative and Senator and worked to establish ministries for disadvantaged and people with disabilities in Romania and other parts of Eastern Europe. Mike and his wife Dawn are blessed with two children, Michael, their youngest has severe disabilities. In his book, Us Four, a Senator, His Family, Their Brain-Injured Child, shares their family’s devotion helping Michael develop. Mike serves on the Board of the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, served as chair for the international ministry of Joni and Friends, and is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees of the DLC. He has worked tirelessly to promote the rights and services of people with disabilities in the Utah legislature and around the world.
Hannah Andrews
Associate, Foley & Lardner, LLP
Hannah is an associate attorney at Foley & Lardner, LLP, where she focuses on intellectual property and general commercial litigation. Hannah received her law degree and undergraduate degrees from the University of Arkansas. Hannah’s experience with her sister Rachel, who has intellectual disabilities, has motivated her to vigorously defend the rights of others with disabilities. Hannah is proud to be a DLC Trustee because of the meaningful work the DLC does to positively impact Utahns with disabilities.
Meghann Mills
Attorney Advocate, Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office
Meghann Mills is a Utah native, and an attorney of nearly 15 years in Salt Lake County. Meghann currently works at the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office and takes great pride in representing the people of Utah, seeking justice and helping victims through the criminal process. Prior to joining the D.A.’s office, Meghann represented abused and neglected children in child welfare proceedings as a Guardian ad Litem Attorney. Many of her clients struggled with disabilities, and through her advocacy, Meghann became well acquainted with the DLC and the amazing work they do for “the underdog”. Meghann’s joining of the DLC board is also inspired by personal experiences with family members who have developmental disabilities and chronic mental health issues. Meghann has tremendous respect and gratitude for the work of the DLC and is honored to be a part of it.
