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Senior Leadership Team

Office of the President

Carl E. Clark II, M.S.
President and Chief Executive Officer

Carl E. Clark II, M.S., is the president and CEO of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, and only the seventh president in the organization’s history, since founder Helena T. Devereux resigned from the position in 1957.

Prior to joining Devereux as senior vice president and chief operating officer in 2015, Clark developed a national reputation as one of the top operational and leadership experts in the nonprofit arena. For more than 20 years, he served in a variety of leadership roles at NHS Human Services (now Merakey), including regional executive director, senior vice president of program operations and, ultimately, executive vice president. Before his work at NHS/Merakey, Clark was the special assistant to the executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. His early professional years were spent in direct care of children with disabilities and those with juvenile justice involvement.

Clark holds a Bachelor of Arts in administration of justice from Penn State University, and a Master of Science in public administration from Shippensburg University.

He serves on the boards of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership® and QualityHealth Pharmacy.

  

Robert C. Dunne, CPA
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/Operating Vice President

Robert C. Dunne, CPA, has held the role of Devereux’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, treasurer since 2008. Dunne is responsible for the organization’s financial performance, as well as setting and implementing financial strategy and procedures across all centers. He also oversees Devereux’s information technology efforts and all facility-related matters.

Dunne joined Devereux in 1992 and, since that time, has served in roles of increasing responsibility. Before joining the organization, he spent nine years at international accounting firm Ernst & Young, most recently in the role of senior manager.

Dunne holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from La Salle University, and he earned his Certified Public Accountant certificate in 1985. He serves as an officer for substantially all Devereux affiliates, and participates on several nonprofit boards outside of Devereux.

 

Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D.
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

As Devereux’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D., is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the organization’s national network, which spans 11 states. Fernandes joined Devereux in 2016 as executive director of Devereux Pennsylvania’s Children’s Behavioral Health Services center (now Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services), where she was responsible for the care and treatment of approximately 5,000 children and adolescents, annually, with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

Fernandes holds more than 20 years of behavioral health experience in both community-based and residential programming, serving children, adolescents and adults. Before joining Devereux, she was the executive director of children’s services for NHS Human Services (now Merakey), a nonprofit organization based in Pennsylvania, with operations in seven additional states. During her time with NHS, she also held the roles of associate executive director of children’s services and regional director of residential services. She has intern and extern experience in the areas of eating disorders and comprehensive assessments at the Belmont Eating Disorders Unit and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, respectively.

Fernandes has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Mumbai, India; and a Master of Science in counseling psychology and a Doctor of Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. She serves as chair of the Devereux/TCV Community Services board of directors, and is a member of The Forum of Executive Women, a network of women leaders in the greater Philadelphia region, and Chief, a national network of C-suite leaders. Fernandes is a recipient of the 2019 Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader award.

 

Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D.

Yolanda Graham, M.D., FAPA, DFAACAP
Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer

As senior vice president and chief clinical/medical officer, Yolanda Graham, M.D., FAPA, DFAACAP, is responsible for overseeing Devereux’s clinical strategies, treatment and outcomes. Specifically, she works to integrate the latest scientific and medical advancements with time-tested philosophies and compassionate family engagement to provide practical, effective and efficient care for the tens of thousands of children, adolescents and adults served by the organization every year.

Graham is board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, and is an expert in the areas of: mental health, child advocacy, psychotropic medication management, behavioral management, childhood sexual exploitation and trauma, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. She joined Devereux in 2011 as the medical director of Devereux Georgia and, in 2016, was promoted to executive director of mental health services at Devereux. In 2018, she assumed her current position of senior vice president and chief clinical/medical officer. Graham, who is widely recognized across the nation as a leading expert in the treatment of sexually exploited children, developed and launched Devereux’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) program in 2012.

Prior to Devereux, Graham was the medical director at Youth Villages, Inner Harbour campus, in Douglasville, Georgia. She also served as a consultant for STRIVE, LLC, where she helped develop a clinical curriculum for commercially sexually exploited children. In addition, she worked as a clinical psychiatrist for organizations including Positive Impact, the Fulton County Metro Youth Detention Center and DeKalb County Community Service Board, among others. Graham lectures nationally, and has been published widely on issues related to child/adolescent behavioral health and the commercial exploitation of children. She is an adjunct assistant clinical professor at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Graham earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her residency and two fellowships at Emory University. Graham serves as president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s (AACAP) Regional Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, and is a member of the Advisory Board of the National Center on Child Trafficking, the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Leadership Council, Shared Hope International’s JuST Response Council, and the American Medical Association. She is the past president of the Georgia Council on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Georgia Psychiatric Physician’s Association. In 2018, Graham was named Psychiatrist of the Year by the Georgia Psychiatric Physician’s Association. She is recognized as a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, after earning Distinguished Fellow status in 2016. She was awarded Distinguished Fellow status with AACAP in 2023.

 

Yolanda Graham, M.D.

Leah S. Yaw, M.S.
Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

As senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Leah Yaw, M.S., is responsible for developing, communicating, executing and sustaining strategic initiatives across the organization that are aligned with Devereux’s mission and core values. Specifically, this includes: overseeing the strategic planning process; building/sustaining organizational alignment and momentum to achieve set strategic goals; managing the mergers and acquisitions process; directing Devereux’s strategic marketing function; and overseeing the Office of External Affairs. In Yaw’s External Affairs role, she manages all fundraising, crisis management, public policy and advocacy, internal and external communications, brand management and strategic marketing across the organization.

Yaw joined Devereux in 2009 in the role of vice president of development and communications and, in 2012, was promoted to senior vice president of external affairs. In 2018, she was promoted to her current position.

Prior to joining Devereux, Yaw was the vice president of strategic advancement for KidsPeace, a national nonprofit organization serving children with behavioral health needs. She began her career serving the public relations and crisis communications needs of both for- and nonprofit corporations in an agency setting in New York City and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.

Yaw holds a Bachelor of Arts in English writing and journalism (summa cum laude) from the Honors College of the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in communication theory (summa cum laude) from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where she also was a University Honors College Graduate Fellow and undergraduate honors student advisor. Yaw serves on the board of trustees for the following organizations: Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, National Public Policy Advisory Committee; The Swain School, Advancement Committee; and Victory House. In 2022, she was selected as an honoree in Ragan Communications and PR Daily’s “Top Women in Communications Awards,” in the “Crisis Navigator” category. In addition, Yaw was named one of IEra WomenLeaders magazine’s “10 Most Influential Women Leaders” in 2021.

 

Leah Yaw

Mike Ernst, SHRM-SCP
Senior Vice President of People Operations

Mike Ernst, SHRM-SCP, is Devereux’s senior vice president of People Operations. In this role, Ernst develops roadmaps for, and executes, all employee-related initiatives. Specifically, he is responsible for innovation in the following areas: talent acquisition, engagement and retention, employee development, and total rewards, along with further strengthening Devereux’s culture and employment environment.

Prior to joining Devereux, Ernst was the vice president of Human Resources at NHS Human Services (now Merakey). While at NHS, Ernst managed the organization’s people strategies and Human Resources activities, including: professional development and education, Human Resources business management and services, and talent acquisition and labor relations activities for more than 10,000 employees. Before that, he served in the following roles: worldwide director of Human Resources at Drug Information Association in Horsham, Pennsylvania; senior consultant/strategist at CBI Group in Newark, Delaware; director of Human Resources at the Office of the Governor Mitt Romney in Boston, and vice president of Human Resources/operations for CGN Marketing and Creative Services in Boston. Ernst started his career as a residential counselor and acting program manager with Devereux Pennsylvania.

Ernst holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from West Chester University. He earned a Senior Human Resources Certificate from Villanova University.

 

John “Jack” Kane, Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel

John “Jack” Kane, Esq., brings extensive and wide-ranging legal experience to his position as Devereux’s senior vice president and general counsel.

Prior to joining Devereux, he served as principal with the law firm Offit Kurman Attorneys At Law. Based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kane provided counsel to Pennsylvania-based and multi-state behavioral health and developmental disability providers, community health centers, assisted living communities, personal care homes, healthcare consulting organizations and individual healthcare practitioners. Before this, he was a partner with Kelley Partners, Ltd., which joined Offit Kurman in early 2016. In addition, Kane spent 23 years as chief counsel for the Department of Public Welfare, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of General Counsel. While at the Department of Public Welfare, he served as lead counsel or co-counsel in all major federal and state court litigation involving the department's Medical Assistance Program, and was responsible for negotiating/drafting significant legislative and budget-related initiatives.

Kane earned a Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University (cum laude), and a Juris Doctor from the Temple University School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and is admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Kane has received several honors and awards during his illustrious career, including: the Commitment to Equal Justice for all Persons’ Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Award (2007); the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Health Care Law (2006); the American Association of Public Welfare Attorneys’ Award (2005); and the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Government Lawyer of the Year Award (2000).

 

Kelsey Lawson, JD
Senior Vice President and Chief Safety and Risk Officer

As Devereux’s senior vice president and chief safety and risk officer, Kelsey Lawson, JD, brings nearly two decades of senior leadership-level legal and risk management experience in the healthcare industry to this position.

Prior to joining Devereux, Lawson was the chief compliance and risk officer at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, where she oversaw the development and implementation of the health system’s corporate compliance program, internal audit and enterprise risk management. She also served as chief compliance officer at North Memorial Health in Robbinsdale, Minnesota; associate general counsel for the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis; attorney and consultant for Halleland Habicht, PA and Consulting in Minneapolis; and patient safety and risk officer at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, Montana.

Lawson has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, and a Master of Science in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota Graduate School of Public Health. She is a licensed attorney in Minnesota and Montana. Lawson is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Health Law Section Council and the Health Care Compliance Association. She has presented nationally on healthcare compliance issues and topics.

 

Corporate Officers

Jacalyn Auris, Ed.D.
Vice President of Educational Services

As Vice President of Educational Services, Jacalyn Auris, Ed.D., brings more than 25 years of special education experience to this position.

Prior to joining Devereux, Auris spent 28 years at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), most recently as director of student services (merged divisions), where she provided leadership for the merger of multiple educational divisions and all specialized educational services. During her tenure, she designed and implemented a successful reorganization plan, and provided leadership for special education, alternative education, related services, nonpublic education, family-based services, behavioral health services, partial hospitalization, community-based instruction and federal grant programs. Before this, Auris held roles of increasing responsibility at CCIU, including director of student services (single division); supervisor of special education; assistant principal at the CCIU’s Child and Career Development Center; professional mentor; and teacher. She also served as an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College from 2006 to 2010.

Auris earned a Bachelor of Science in education from West Chester University; a Master of Education from Chestnut Hill College; and a Doctor of Education from Immaculata College. She has received several awards, including the CCIU Outstanding Service Award; Annie Sullivan Award; Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units’ Gary L. Miller Distinguished Service Award; Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Award of Appreciation; and the National Association of Counties Employment and Training Award. In addition, Auris has served as a member of numerous community groups and associations, including the Pennsylvania School Boards Association; the Council for Exceptional Children; the Pennsylvania Association of School Administration; the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units’ (PAIU) Public Policy Committee and Statewide Lead for New Preschool Funding Models: the CCIU Policy Committee; and West Chester University’s Special Education Program Advisory Committee.

 

Melanie Beidler, M.S.
Vice President of Operations - Children’s Services

Melanie Beidler, M.S., serves as Devereux’s vice president of operations - children's services. In this role, Beidler oversees the organization’s Connecticut, Massachusetts/Rhode Island and Pennsylvania operations, focusing on the care, education and treatment of children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. She also manages Devereux’s Unaccompanied Children’s Services program.

Beidler joined Devereux in 1982 as a group counselor for children with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since that time, she has taken on positions of increasing responsibility, serving in multiple direct care and supervisory roles at three Devereux centers. From 2011 to June 2018, she held her most recent position as executive director of Devereux Pennsylvania’s Children's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services center (now Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services).

Beidler earned both a Bachelor of Science in Individual and Family Studies and Master of Science in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University. She is a graduate of the Leadership Main Line Program, an intensive leadership program. Beidler sits on the boards of the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services (PCCYFS), and co-chairs the PCCYFS Behavioral Health Committee. She also serves as a board member of TCV Community Services, an affiliate of Devereux. In addition, Beidler participates on the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association Pediatric Care Work Group and Residential Treatment Center Work Group, and was a former board member of Safe Harbor, a shelter providing housing and services for Chester County’s homeless population.

 

Stephen Bruce, M.Ed., BCBA
Vice President of Operations - Adult Services

As Vice President of Operations - Adult Services, Stephen Bruce, M.Ed., BCBA, manages the care, treatment and outcomes of Devereux’s adult population throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Most recently, he served as executive director of Devereux Pennsylvania’s Adult Services center, where he oversaw the care and treatment of nearly 400 adults served by the center’s day habilitation and employment programs, and residences throughout southeast Pennsylvania.

Bruce brings more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership and behavioral healthcare experience to his role. Before joining Devereux in 2015, he was president and CEO of Midland, a provider of educational, residential and day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey. Prior to that, he served a significant part of his career at Bancroft, a nonprofit provider of services for individuals with brain injuries, autism and intellectual disabilities. During his 25-year tenure at Bancroft, Bruce held early roles such as director of pediatric and adolescent services, and more recent positions including: vice president of planning/marketing/admissions, vice president of clinical operations and vice president of strategic planning.

Bruce holds a master’s degree in special education, with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis, from Temple University. In addition, he is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and has served as an adjunct professor at Temple University, where he has taught courses in Applied Behavior Analysis.

 

Kathy Marks, SPHR
Vice President of Talent and Organizational Development

Kathy Marks, SPHR, brings more than 20 years of talent acquisition/management and organizational development experience to her role as Devereux’s vice president of talent and organizational development.

Marks most recently served as vice president of talent management at Penn National Gaming in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for the company’s talent development/acquisition strategy, including executive recruitment; organization design; succession planning; performance management; and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She also served as director of Human Resources at Argosy Casino Alton in Aton, Illinois; manager of training and development/human resources at Hollywood Casino and Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania; and training and development consultant at Ajilon Consulting in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Marks earned a Master of Education in training and development from Penn State University and a Bachelor of Music in music education from James Madison University. She also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

 

Philip Putnam, JD
Vice President of Quality Improvement

As vice president of quality improvement, Philip Putnam, JD, brings nearly 25 years of risk and safety leadership expertise in the behavioral healthcare field to his role.

Philip joined Devereux Florida in 1998 as a corporate compliance specialist and, in 2000, was promoted to director of risk management and contracts where, among other things, he helped develop Devereux’s first incident report tracking and management system (RADAR) and a system to ensure accreditation/regulatory compliance (IIS). In 2009, Philip was promoted to his most recent position at Devereux Florida - director of legal, risk and quality - in which he provided counsel on all quality, legal, risk and safety matters impacting the center’s operations. He also oversaw Devereux Florida’s risk and safety management functions; was responsible for quality management and accreditation; collaborated with government agencies; and ensured compliance with regulatory requirements.

Philip has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and a Master of Science in healthcare administration from the University of Central Florida; and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law. He holds a certificate in Quality and Safety from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Philip is an adjunct professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Global Health Management and Informatics.

 

Tom Shurer, M.A., M.S.
Vice President of Information Resources

As vice president of information resources, Tom Shurer, M.A., M.S., is responsible for Devereux’s information technology (IT) function, including maintaining the organization’s IT infrastructure and applications, and implementing future strategies to enable innovation.

Shurer joined Devereux in 1984 as a speech language pathologist at Devereux Pennsylvania’s Leo Kanner Center and health services units. During his tenure at Devereux, Shurer has held various management and administrative positions, including: residential program supervisor, director of quality improvement/regulatory affairs, program director - information resources, director of clinical technologies and national director of information resources. He has served in his current role since 2013.

Before joining Devereux, Shurer was a speech language pathologist at Elwyn, a human services organization serving individuals with disabilities.

Shurer has earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in communications disorders from Pennsylvania State University; a Master of Arts in speech language pathology from George Washington University; and a Master of Science in information science from Pennsylvania State University. He has presented on a variety of topics, including clinical technology best practices, business continuity, technology planning, data analysis and reporting, and system implementation strategies during national/regional conferences.

He is a former board member of the Arc of Chester County.

 

Gwendolyn B. Skinner, Ed.S., LMFT
Vice President of Operations

Gwendolyn B. Skinner, Ed.S., LMFT, is Devereux’s vice president of operations. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, including all programs and services for children and adults at the organization’s Florida, Georgia and Texas centers. She has served in this role since May 2017.

Skinner, who has more than 30 years of behavioral healthcare experience, joined Devereux in 2009 as executive director of Devereux Georgia. Along with her team, she helped transform the center into a highly successful campus with significant clinical and operational expertise. Prior to Devereux, she served as the director for the Georgia Department of Human Resources' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases and the Deputy Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

Skinner has earned the following degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in sociology, a Master of Education in guidance and counseling and a Master of Education in school psychometry from the State University of West Georgia; and Education Specialist in Counseling Psychology and Education Specialist in School Psychology from Georgia State University.

She is a nationally certified school psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. Skinner also has presented at the state and national levels, focusing on the areas of juvenile justice, mental illness, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases. In addition, she and her husband have served as foster parents to more than 40 children.

 

Gwen Skinner

David A. Griffith, CPA
Controller

David Griffith, CPA, serves as Devereux’s controller. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the organization’s accounting, payroll, accounts payable and budgeting functions. Griffith has held this position since he joined the organization in 2012.

Prior to joining Devereux, Griffith was the controller for Crozer-Keystone Health System, a regional health system located outside of Philadelphia. He launched his career with the international accounting firm Ernst & Young, specializing in the healthcare industry. During his 11-year tenure with Ernst & Young, he held positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as senior manager.

Griffith holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from King’s College, and he earned the certified public accountant designation in 2001. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association, where he serves as a sponsorship committee member of the Philadelphia Chapter.