Leadership & Board of Directors

The Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center is guided by a dedicated team of professionals and community leaders committed to protecting children and supporting families. Our staff and Board of Directors work together to ensure accountability, integrity, and excellence in service.

Leadership Team

Smiling woman with glasses wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, standing in front of a blue and white quilt and a wooden bench.

Denise Merriman

Executive Director
A young woman with long wavy hair smiling, wearing a royal blue sleeveless dress, sitting on a blue patterned chair with a wooden panel background and a blue and white abstract painting on the wall.

Anna Register

Program Director / Forensic Interviewer
A woman with purple hair, smiling, wearing a black and white striped cardigan with gold buttons, standing in front of a blue and white geometric painting.

Jessica Landaverde

Clinical Supervisor
A woman with shoulder-length dark purple hair, smiling and wearing a blue denim shirt with white embroidery, standing in front of a wall art with a geometric blue and white pattern.

JaDe Miller

San Augustine County Coordinator
A woman with long dark hair and a white blouse standing in front of a patterned artwork, smiling with her arms crossed, wearing jewelry.

Marlene Hernandez

Family Advocate
A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a white eyelet blouse, with arms crossed, standing in front of a blue and white geometric patterned wall.

Juana Valdez

Forensic Interviewer / Family Advocate
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a smile, wearing a blue patterned dress, standing in front of a blue and white geometric painting.

Courtney O’Rear

Program Services Specialist | MDT Coordinator
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue sweater, standing with her arms crossed, smiling, in front of a blue and white patterned artwork on the wall.

Sarah Shires 

Director of Operations
A smiling elderly woman with short white hair, wearing a light blue top, standing with crossed arms in front of a blue and white patterned abstract artwork on a beige wall.

Valerie Warren

Administrative Assitant
Close-up of a woman with long dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a bright smile, standing outdoors in front of green leafy trees, wearing a blue button-up shirt.

Jenny Bartlett

Mental Health Provider
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a navy blazer and pink blouse, smiling softly in an indoor setting with windows and greenery in the background.

Deborah Kirkland

Mental Health Provider
A golden retriever wearing a blue vest with the text "Canine Companions" sitting in front of a blue and white patterned chair and a beige wall.

yowser

Facility Dog through Canine Companions

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors provides oversight, governance, and community leadership to support the mission of the Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Executive Officers

A man with a bald head, beard, and mustache sitting in front of a beige wall with a blue and white patterned painting in the background. He is wearing a light-colored, short-sleeved, button-up shirt with small geometric patterns.

Collin Mathews

President | Mathews Realty

A man with short dark hair, wearing glasses and a light pink and white striped polo shirt, standing in front of a beige wall with a blue and white geometric painting.

Matt Snider

Vice President | Tomlin Insurance

A young woman with long dark brown hair styled in loose waves, wearing a white dress with feather and sequin details, standing outdoors in a sunlit park with trees and greenery in the background, smiling softly.

Sharisse McAdams

Secretary | Community Member

Smiling woman with brown hair, wearing blue glasses and a light blue checkered shirt, standing indoors near a wall and a blue and white abstract quilt pattern.

Board Members

Denise Merriman

Executive Director

A smiling man wearing a white cap, gray Nike jacket, and blue patterned shirt, standing in front of a colorful blue circular art installation.

Tanner Peace

NexGen

A woman with gray hair and glasses sitting on a blue patterned armchair, smiling, in front of abstract blue and white artwork.

Karren Price

Shelby County District Attorney

A woman with long brown hair and glasses on her head, wearing a patterned navy blue, white, and pink blouse, and beige pants, standing against a plain beige wall.

Jennifer Claude

DFPS CPI INV PD Supervisor III

Close-up photo of a smiling middle-aged man with glasses, a red shirt, and a blue and white patterned textile in the background.

Dr. Keith Miller

HOPE Community Medicine

A woman with curly dark hair, smiling, wearing a black blazer and blue blouse, standing against a dark gray background.

Anabell Emmons

SSBTX

A smiling middle-aged woman with shoulder-length red hair, wearing glasses, a pearl necklace, pearl earrings, and a pinkish sweater, posed against a gray background.

Ann Grant

Community Member

Man with a bald head and a light gray shirt standing with arms crossed in front of a blue and white geometric patterned art piece.

Mike Hanson

Shelby County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy

A middle-aged man with gray hair, beard, and mustache smiling at camera, wearing a blue patterned dress shirt with glasses hanging from the pocket, in a room with shelves of bottles and jars.

Mike Jackson

San Augustine Community Representative