Employee Biographies

	Dr. George P. Bithos Independent Ombudsman Raised in Dallas, Dr. Bithos attended The University of Texas and graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Anthropology. After practicing reconstructive dentistry for 28 years, Dr. Bithos retired to change the direction of his life. He read for a PhD in Theology and History at the University of Durham in Great Britain. After earning his degrees, he returned to the States to work in academia in Boston. In 2004, he returned to Texas to become the Executive Director of the Texas Conference of Churches. Dr. Bithos was appointed the Independent Ombudsman for SSLCs in February 2010 by Governor Perry. George and Ria have been married for over forty years, have two grown and married children and five fabulous grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, cooking entertaining and the arts.
	Candace Jennings Deputy Independent Ombudsman Ms. Jennings was born and raised in Galveston County, Texas, and received her undergraduate education in Social Work at Southwest Texas State University. While attending college in San Marcos, she began serving people with developmental disabilities as a direct-care specialist. She then gained professional experience in Bexar County as an Investigator for Child Protective Services and Service Coordinator and Manager at the Local Authority. She most recently held the positions of Rights Protection Officer and Assistant Ombudsman at the San Antonio State Supported Living Center. In 2008, she earned a Master of Public Administration degree at University of Texas at San Antonio. Ms. Jennings is also a recent graduate of the 2011 inaugural class of the HHSC Leadership Academy. As Deputy Independent Ombudsman, she seeks to support the Independent Ombudsman by leading with compassion and integrity, expecting that the lives of SSLC residents will be positively impacted by the OIO.
	Sharon Nielsen Administrative Assistant to Dr. Bithos Ms. Nielsen joined the Office of the Independent Ombudsman in February 2011. She brings over 20 years of administrative and office management experience to the team, having worked for the federal government in Virginia and private industry in California. In 2002 she received a TWIN award (Tribute to Women and INdustry) from the San Diego County YWCA for her business accomplishments and her volunteer work as a tutor of English as a second language. Ms. Nielsen relocated to Austin in 2004 to assist her employers in establishing company divisions in Texas.
	Ms. Jill Antilley Assistant Independent Ombudsman Abilene Ms. Antilley has worked at the Abilene State School/Abilene State Supported Living Center for 9.5 years. Her career started in the Recreation Department as direct-care, while attending college at Hardin Simmons University (HSU). Ms. Antilley graduated from HSU in 2000 with a degree in Police Administration went on to work at a juvenile correctional facility as a juvenile probation officer following graduation. Ms. Antilley returned to the Abilene State Supported Living Center in 2002 to be a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional for the next five years. Ms. Antilley later accepted a position as the Human Rights Officer in 2008 and then joined the Office of the Ombudsman for State Supported Living Centers in 2010.
	Ms. Phyllis Matthews Assistant Independent Ombudsman Austin Ms. Matthews has a B.A. degree in Psychology from St. Edwards University and has 11 years of experience serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a Contract Oversight and Performance Manager for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services, she monitored contracted programs and provided technical assistance to programs that deliver services to children with developmental delays and disabilities. As a Program Specialist and later as a Program Compliance Coordinator at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), she engaged in improvement efforts for State facilities serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the negotiations and finalization of the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement. She accepted the Assistant Independent Ombudsman position in May 2012.
	Ms. Susan Aguilar Assistant Independent Ombudsman Brenham Ms. Aguilar obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Texas Lutheran University. She worked in the field of early childhood intervention prior to obtaining the position of Qualified Mental Retardation Professional at Brenham State Supported Living Center. Susan has held other positions at the center including Program Facilitator, Person Directed Planning Coordinator, Level of Need Coordinator, and has served as a member of the Human Rights Committee. Prior to being hired as the center's Assistant Independent Ombudsman she served as the Interim Rights Protection Officer.
	Mr. Jerome Young Assistant Independent Ombudsman Denton Born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico, Mr. Young obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Texas Tech University. He began his career at Lubbock State School in 1993 as an Active Treatment Provider. After several years in Lubbock, he moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and served at the Denton SSLC, holding the positions of Direct Support Professional, Building Coordinator, Residential Supervisor and Job Requisition Coordinator. His reputation for client advocacy, fairness and compassion attested that he would be a valuable member of the Office of the Independent Ombudsman. He joined the OIO as the Assistant Independent Ombudsman for the Denton SSLC in February 2013.
	Ms. Isabel Ponce Assistant Independent Ombudsman El Paso Born and raised in the Sun City, Ms. Ponce went from serving the elderly population to working with children. She was employed by the El Paso Headstart Program where she provided social services to children and their families through Community Outreach. Later she came to serve adults with developmental disabilities as a Residential Director in the Private Sector. Once she became a Certified Internal Investigator, she began working as a Case Manager for a Home and Community Service Program. After seven years with the program, Ms. Ponce joined the Office of the Independent Ombudsman in December, 2010 as the representative for the El Paso State Supported Living Center.
	Ms. Ramona Rocha-Hughes Assistant Independent Ombudsman Lubbock Ms. Rocha-Hughes is a native of the Lubbock area, and received a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Texas Tech University and is a licensed Social Worker. Ms. Rocha-Hughes has worked for the state of Texas for over 28 years and started her career while attending Texas Tech. Ms. Rocha-Hughes worked as direct-care staff at Lubbock SSLC for five years and San Angelo SSLC for three years. First, as a campus social worker and then as the Diagnostics & Evaluations social worker, she was able to ensure that families and individuals received needed services. Ms. Rocha-Hughes returned to Lubbock SSLC to work in the community services department for one and a half years providing continuity services, placement, and supervised a group home. Ms. Rocha-Hughes was also hired as part of the survey team and worked as a surveyor for 15 years. Ms. Rocha-Hughes was hired as the Human Rights Officer for Lubbock SSLC and served in that position for two years. top of page
	Marvin Stewart Assistant Independent Ombudsman Lufkin Mr. Marvin Stewart received his Bachelors Degree in Psychology and his Master of Arts Degree in Community Counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Mr. Stewart has worked at the Lufkin State Supported Living Center for 19.5 years and has lived in the Lufkin, Texas area all of his life. He spent his first sixteen years of employment at the Lufkin State Supported Living Center as a Unit Psychologist followed by two years as a Supervising Unit Psychologist. Mr. Stewart then transferred to the Quality Assurance Department and worked 18 months as a Program Compliance Monitor prior to accepting his current role as the facility’s Assistant Independent Ombudsman. Mr. Stewart has served as a standing member of the Behavioral Intervention/Human Rights Committee and while working as a Program Compliance Monitor, served as the deputy Human Rights Officer.
	Ms. Lynda Mitchell Assistant Independent Ombudsman Mexia Ms. Mitchell has more than 30 years experience working with and advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. For the past eight years, she has served as the Human Rights Officer for Mexia State Supported Living Center. Prior to that, she was in unit administration and continuity of care services. Ms Mitchell also worked for Child Protective Services in Navarro County, where she investigated abuse and neglect and provided case management services. Ms. Mitchell is a licensed social worker and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and her Masters in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. Ms. Mitchell has served as Chair of the Limestone County Child Welfare Board and as an officer for the Central Texas Council of Child Protection Boards.
	Ms. Deatrice Potlow Assistant Independent Ombudsman Richmond Born and raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, Ms. Potlow earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Office Administration in 1997. Shortly after graduating she began working at a local hospital as a Medical Transcriptionist. She relocated to Houston, Texas for career advancement, and began a career with the State of Texas. During her tenure of employment, she served as an Investigator for children, adults and persons with disabilities. Prior to being hired as an Assistant Independent Ombudsman, she worked as a Facility Investigator who was responsible for investigating allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation at the Richmond SSLC.
	Mr. James Arnold Assistant Independent Ombudsman Rio Grande Mr. James Arnold hails from Pearsall, Texas, and attended University of Texas (UT) at Austin and Texas A & I (now Texas A & M) in Kingsville to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. While attending UT Austin, Mr. Arnold auditioned for the Lackland Air Force Band and joined the Air Force. Mr. Arnold was stationed in the Philippines with the 600th Air Force Band, and traveled to Thailand, Guam, and Formosa. Following his military career, Mr. Arnold completed two Master's degrees; one in Educational Psychology from East Texas State University and the other in Counseling Psychology. Mr. Arnold became a Police Officer, then Sergeant for the Commerce Police Department. Mr. Arnold considered a new career and accepted a Psychologist's position at the Rio Grande State Center in Harlingen. Later, Mr. Arnold took a position at the Harlingen Independent School District. Mr. Arnold returned to the Rio Grande State Center and worked in Client Rights serving as the Human Rights Officer. Mr. Arnold also currently teaches psychology at South Texas College.
	Ms. Melissa Deere Assistant Independent Ombudsman San Angelo Ms. Deere has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and comes to the Independent Ombudsman's office from the Department of Family and Protective Services in Adult Protective Services (APS)where she served as a facility investigator for four and a half years. While working with APS, Ms. Deere received the “Sherlock Holmes Award” in 2008, which is an award given by the department to an investigator that is nominated by their peers. Ms. Deere has over ten years experience in working with persons with Mental Retardation and other developmental disabilities. Other work experiences include five years with Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services for the Concho Valley, two years with The Bair Foundation (a foster care agency) and two years for Shannon Hospital.
	Ms. Jane Dahlke Assistant Independent Ombudsman San Antonio Ms. Dahlke has been working with people who have developmental disabilities for the past 30 years, and graduated from Texas State University San Marcos with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration. Ms. Dahlke furthered her career as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional, Program Director and a Licensed Social Worker. Ms. Dahlke progressed in the field by becoming an Administrator for a 200 bed Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation/RC facility for ten years. Ms. Dahlke then moved into Education Services for the Department of Aging and Disability Services in 1995 and served as a Joint Trainer in ICF. Regulatory caught her eye in 2007 and she became an ICF and Geriatrics Surveyor. Full circle Ms. Dahlke taught in the Geri Academy and later transferred to the San Antonio State Supported Living Center. Although not commissioned at this time, Ms. Dahlke is a State of Texas Peace Officer.

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Updated: May 10, 2013