FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2017

Governor Mary Fallin Names Three Members, Reappoints Three Others to Board of Juvenile Affairs

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of Michael Sean Burrage, Janet A. Foss and Jason Nelson to the Board of Juvenile Affairs. She also reappointed Scott W. Williams, Warren A. “Tony” Caldwell and Stephen E. Grissom to the seven-member board.

All need Senate confirmation. Caldwell and Williams have been confirmed by the Senate; the others are awaiting confirmation.

Earlier this year, Fallin appointed Karen Youngblood, of Yukon, to the Board of Juvenile Affairs. The Oklahoma Senate has confirmed her appointment to fill an unexpired term that ends July 1, 2018. Youngblood represents the 3rd Congressional District with experience in education.

Michael Sean Burrage replaces Donnie Nero. He will serve as a member representing the 2nd Congressional District. His four-year term begins July 2. Burrage, of Durant, is president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Before being named to that post in July 2014, Burrage was a partner in the Taylor Burrage Law Firm. He also served in the Oklahoma Senate from November 2016 until June 2014. Burrage earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Oklahoma. .

Janet A. Foss replaces Kristin Jarman. She will serve as a member representing the 4th Congressional District. Her four-year term begins July 2. Foss, of Norman, is a retired special district judge. She has worked with juveniles in many capacities during her career, including as a social worker, assistant district attorney and juvenile judge. Before being named a judge, Foss worked as a Cleveland County assistant district attorney and as a social worker in Cleveland County for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Oklahoma.

Jason Nelson replaces Michael Willis, who resigned. Nelson’s term expires in July 2018. Nelson, of Oklahoma City, will serve as an at-large member. Nelson is a senior adviser to the E Foundation for Oklahoma, where he assists in developing long-term policy initiatives, primarily benefitting children, for Oklahoma. Before that he served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and prior to that worked as a consultant for CMA Strategies, Inc. Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree from the Oklahoma State University.

Scott W. Williams is being reappointed to a four-year term that ends in July 2021. He serves as an at-large member with juvenile justice experience. Williams, of Edmond, is chief executive officer of Nxt Level Solutions, which helps global nonprofits, churches, organizations and corporations in areas such as executive coaching, leadership development, diversity, public relations and strategic planning. Before that, he worked as an adjunct professor at Langston University, where he taught criminal justice, corrections and juvenile justice courses, and as campus pastor at LifeChurch.tv. Williams also worked as an assistant to the president at the corporate offices of Avalon Correctional Services and as superintendent of the Avalon Correction Services juvenile center at Union City. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Warren A. “Tony” Caldwell is being reappointed to a four-year term expiring in July 2021. He serves as a member with criminal justice experience who resides in the 5th Congressional District. Caldwell, of Oklahoma City, is managing partner of Oklahoma Business Insurors Agency. Before that he was chief executive officer of Oklahoma Agents Alliance. He attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Stephen E. Grissom is being reappointed to a four-year term expiring in July 2021. He serves as a member from the 1st Congressional District who has experience in justice work. Grissom, of Tulsa, is an instructor teaching courses in psychology and counseling at Northeastern State University. Before that, he was chief psychologist for Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs and for the Rader Treatment Program and for the Diagnostic and Evaluation Program. Grissom earned his bachelor’s degree at Missouri Southern State College and his doctorate at Oklahoma State University.  

About the Board of Juvenile Affairs

The Board of Juvenile Affairs is the rule-making body of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. The board reviews and approves the budget requests of the office; conducts periodic reviews and planning activities related to the goals, objectives, priorities and policies of the office; and provides a public forum for receiving comments and disseminating information to the public regarding goals, objectives, priorities and policies of the office. The board has the authority to adopt nonbinding resolutions requesting action by the Office of Juvenile Affairs in response to comments received or upon the board’s own initiative.

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