Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage announce DHS Citizen Advisory Panel appointees

State Senate Democratic Leader Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, announced the following appointees to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Citizen Advisory Panels on Wednesday:

Janice Hendryx - DHS Citizen Advisory Panel for Children and Family Issues
Janice Hendryx is a licensed clinical social worker in Oklahoma City. Her treatment specialization includes depression, trauma and abuse, stress management and anxiety, parenting and family issues, and grief and loss. She previously served as the director of the Oklahoma Commission on Family and Youth. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Sociology from Oklahoma City University.

Thomas Walls, Ph.D. - DHS Citizen Advisory Panel for Disability Issues
Thomas (Tom) Walls began his government service in 1989 as an analyst in the Fiscal Staff Division of the Oklahoma State Senate, later serving as Director of the Fiscal Staff Division and finally becoming Chief of Staff in the State Senate, a position he retired from in 2011. His interest in disability issues comes not only from his work at the Capitol, but from life-long personal experience with the developmentally disabled. Walls earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma.

Sarah Jane Gillett - DHS Citizen Advisory Panel for Administration
Sarah Jane Gillett is an attorney with the Tulsa law firm of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. Gillett has professional expertise in program development and evaluation and board governance. She serves on the Women’s Leadership Council Steering Committee of the Tulsa Area United Way. Gillett holds a J.D. from the Boston College School of Law and a B.A. from Wellesley College.

Sean Voskuhl - DHS Citizen Advisory Panel for Aging Services
Sean Voskuhl serves as the State Director for the AARP in Oklahoma. Voskuhl is a former Oklahoma state representative from Enid and served in the legislature from 1990 to 1998. He is a member of the board of North Central Oklahoma Youth and Family Services. Voskuhl holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University.

“It is often said that a society should be judged by how it cares for its most vulnerable members and the ultimate measure of a good public servant is how strongly they stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves,” Burrage said. “I believe these public servants will all work tirelessly to protect our most vulnerable citizens while prioritizing available resources to do the greatest good possible.”

Panelists can serve in their appointed positions until July 1, 2016.