Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. (NAS), The Center for Disability Rights, Law and Advocacy, is governed by a seventeen member Board of Directors. NAS also works with advisory groups to get information to help guide its programs. All of the members of the Board and the advisory groups are volunteers. Most of them are people with disabilities or people with a family member who has a disability.

The people who work at NAS are well qualified. They are dedicated to the ideals of the disability rights movement. Our staff works hard to support and defend the rights of people with disabilities.

Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. (NAS) Board of Directors

Tom Ukinski, Chairperson Lincoln, NE
Jill Flagel, Vice-Chairperson Lincoln, NE
Graciela Sharif, Secretary Omaha, NE
Victoria Rasmussen, Treasurer Lincoln, NE
Mary Angus Omaha, NE
John McClain Blair, NE
Karma Newman Lincoln, NE
Prosper Waukon Winnebago, NE
Carlos Servan Lincoln, NE
Julie Stahla Grand Island, NE
Rosemary Cook Omaha, NE

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council

* indicates not a member of the NAS Board of Directors

Cindy Scott*, Chairperson Juniata, NE
C.J. Zimmer*, Vice-Chair Lincoln, NE
Mary Angus Omaha, NE
Mike Gnirk* Hoskins, NE
Susan Hancock* Lincoln, NE
J. Rock Johnson* Lincoln, NE
A. Jocelyn Ritchie* Lincoln, NE
Shelldon Skelcher Scottsbluff, NE
Terry Wegner* Grand Island, NE

Protection and Advocacy for individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) Advisory Council

* indicates not a member of the NAS Board of Directors

Graciela Sharif, Council Chair Omaha, NE
Glenda Davis* Omaha, NE
Marla Fisher-Lempke* Lincoln, NE
Mary Gordon* Lincoln, NE
Joe Govier* Broken Bow, NE
Mike Leibowitz, Ph.D.* Omaha, NE
Dave Merrill* Lincoln, NE
Karma Newman Lincoln, NE
Carrie O'Brien* Lincoln, NE
Linda Redfern* Scottsbluff, NE
Carla Lasley* Lincoln, NE
Janet Tibbs* Kearney, NE
Julie Stahla Grand Island, NE

Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights / Assistive Technology / Beneficiaries of Social Security / Traumatic Brain Injury / Voting Access (PAIR / PAAT / PABSS / PATBI / PAVA) Advisory Council

* indicates not a member of the NAS Board of Directors

Kathy Hoell*, Chairperson Bellevue, NE
Bob Deaton* Lincoln, NE
Cindy Fisher* Moorefield, NE
Leslie Novacek* Lincoln, NE
Patty Pierson* Lincoln, NE
Vicki Rasmussen* Lincoln, NE
Norm Weverka* Lincoln, NE

Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) Advisory Panel

* indicates not a member of the NAS Board of Directors

Kathy Hoell* Bellevue, NE
Norm Weverka* Lincoln, NE
Linda Schultz* Auburn, NE
Carlos Servan Lincoln, NE

Citizen Advocacy Committee

* indicates not a member of the NAS Board of Directors

Julie Stahla, Committee Chairperson Grand Island, NE
Mickey Creager* Lincoln, NE
Sharon Janzen* Beatrice, NE
Dianne Kelley* Grand Island, NE
John Lakey* Kearney, NE
Karma Newman Lincoln, NE
Ella Ochoa* North Platte, NE
Josie Romero* Grand Island, NE

Meet the Staff

Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. (NAS) Staff

  • Timothy F. Shaw - Chief Executive Officer

  • Eric Evans - Chief Operating Officer

  • Dianne DeLair - Staff Attorney

  • Tania Diaz - Legal Services Director

  • Michael Elsken - Staff Attorney

  • Judy Ganoung - Fiscal and Human Resources Director

  • Tiffany Isley - Administrative Secretary/Receptionist

  • Molly Klocksin - Case Advocate

  • Joan Lofgren - Legal Assistant

  • Bruce Mason - Litigation Director

  • Brad Meurrens - Public Policy Specialist

  • Susan Miller Schoen - Case Advocate

  • Jennifer Monjaras - Public Policy & Consultative Services Secretary

  • John Murphy - Program Consultant

  • Mindy Nepper - Community Outeach Disability Advocate
    - Scottsbluff office

  • Patricia Nichelson - Legal Secretary

  • Sharon Ohmberger - Executive Assistant

  • Dorinda Roland - Information & Data Specialist

  • Sarah Taylor - Case Advocate

  • Jillian Ward - Fiscal & Operations Assistant