Meet the Children First Board
Jeff Miller
Board Chair
Jeff Miller retired from Florida International University in Miami, where he was Director of Distance Learning, in 2006. He and his wife Maureen relocated to Athens in 2007. While at FIU, he represented the university on numerous boards at the local and state level. He was active in scouting as both a Cub Master and Scout Master.
Jeff and Maureen have two adult children that live in Florida. Maureen is a special education teacher at Coile Middle School in Athens Clarke County. They enjoy travel, the local music scene and the life style of living in a college town.
Board Chair
Jeff Miller retired from Florida International University in Miami, where he was Director of Distance Learning, in 2006. He and his wife Maureen relocated to Athens in 2007. While at FIU, he represented the university on numerous boards at the local and state level. He was active in scouting as both a Cub Master and Scout Master.
Jeff and Maureen have two adult children that live in Florida. Maureen is a special education teacher at Coile Middle School in Athens Clarke County. They enjoy travel, the local music scene and the life style of living in a college town.
Sean Healey
Executive Committee Chair
Sean currently teaches fourth grade in Jackson County. He and his wife, Lauren, reside in Watkinsville with their two daughters.
He hails from Haralson County, but has called the Athens area home since graduating from the University of West Georgia in 2009.
Sean is an active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church and Student Center and a volunteer with Georgia 4-H. He also enjoys playing tennis, writing songs, and using his grill and smoker while hanging out with family and friends.
Executive Committee Chair
Sean currently teaches fourth grade in Jackson County. He and his wife, Lauren, reside in Watkinsville with their two daughters.
He hails from Haralson County, but has called the Athens area home since graduating from the University of West Georgia in 2009.
Sean is an active member of Christus Victor Lutheran Church and Student Center and a volunteer with Georgia 4-H. He also enjoys playing tennis, writing songs, and using his grill and smoker while hanging out with family and friends.
Susan Williams
Treasurer
Susan has called Athens home since 2005. Susan earned a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Susan served as an Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocate from 2008 until 2012. In 2009, she was named Athens-Oconee CASA of the Year in recognition for making significant contributions towards promoting the best interests of abused and neglected children in our community. In 2011, Susan was a guest speaker at the National CASA Convention. Recently, Susan became one of 49 professionals in Georgia trained by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia to deliver Mandated Reporter Training to our community.
Susan enjoys tutoring college math students, jogging, Bikram yoga and spending time with her family.
Treasurer
Susan has called Athens home since 2005. Susan earned a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Susan served as an Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocate from 2008 until 2012. In 2009, she was named Athens-Oconee CASA of the Year in recognition for making significant contributions towards promoting the best interests of abused and neglected children in our community. In 2011, Susan was a guest speaker at the National CASA Convention. Recently, Susan became one of 49 professionals in Georgia trained by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia to deliver Mandated Reporter Training to our community.
Susan enjoys tutoring college math students, jogging, Bikram yoga and spending time with her family.
Bonnie Dunn
Bonnie Smith Dunn was born in Athens and lived all of her childhood in Georgia. She actually calls Elberton her home since her parents relocated there in her pre-teen years and then retired there. In 1985, following college, she married her high school/college sweetheart. After a few moves with his military tours they relocated back to the Athens area.
After graduating from the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business with a Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration in Marketing, she went to work for Ford Motor Credit. Bonnie was the acting Operations Manager when the local office was closed and she chose to take early retirement. At that time she was able to pursue her passion for Real Estate. She has been a licensed agent with Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty since 2005 and has earned her Broker license and GRI-Graduate Realtor degree.
Bonnie and her husband, Russ, enjoy peaceful country living in Oglethorpe County. They have no children of their own. However, between their two families, they have 32 nieces/nephews and great nieces/nephews that they take every opportunity to spoil.
Bonnie Smith Dunn was born in Athens and lived all of her childhood in Georgia. She actually calls Elberton her home since her parents relocated there in her pre-teen years and then retired there. In 1985, following college, she married her high school/college sweetheart. After a few moves with his military tours they relocated back to the Athens area.
After graduating from the University of Georgia's Terry School of Business with a Bachelor's Degree of Business Administration in Marketing, she went to work for Ford Motor Credit. Bonnie was the acting Operations Manager when the local office was closed and she chose to take early retirement. At that time she was able to pursue her passion for Real Estate. She has been a licensed agent with Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty since 2005 and has earned her Broker license and GRI-Graduate Realtor degree.
Bonnie and her husband, Russ, enjoy peaceful country living in Oglethorpe County. They have no children of their own. However, between their two families, they have 32 nieces/nephews and great nieces/nephews that they take every opportunity to spoil.
Kim Griffith
Kim has lived in Athens for more than 30 years and graduated from Athens Academy. She graduated from Salem College with a BS in Sociology and attended Mercer University in Atlanta and received an Elementary Education teaching certificate.
Kim is married to Ben Griffith and together they have four children. Kim serves in numerous roles around the community, including serving as the current President of the Athens First United Methodist Church United Methodist Women and secretary for the Northeast Georgia district UMW. She is also a member of the Athens Garden Club and have served several positions while being a member and previously served on the PSO at Athens Academy, having coordinated Grandparents Day and the Cashback program.
In her spare time, Kim loves to read and make flower arrangements.
Kim has lived in Athens for more than 30 years and graduated from Athens Academy. She graduated from Salem College with a BS in Sociology and attended Mercer University in Atlanta and received an Elementary Education teaching certificate.
Kim is married to Ben Griffith and together they have four children. Kim serves in numerous roles around the community, including serving as the current President of the Athens First United Methodist Church United Methodist Women and secretary for the Northeast Georgia district UMW. She is also a member of the Athens Garden Club and have served several positions while being a member and previously served on the PSO at Athens Academy, having coordinated Grandparents Day and the Cashback program.
In her spare time, Kim loves to read and make flower arrangements.
Sara Holland
Sara Holland is an Assistant Professor of finance in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Originally from Texas, she has a BA in economics from Trinity University in San Antonio. She earned her PhD in finance from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on the role of health and human capital in finance. Prior to her graduate studies, she was a research assistant in the International Finance Division at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son and playing tennis.
Michele Nicholson
Michele Nicholson has years of hands on experience working with children and teens as well as advocating for children who come from difficult backgrounds and are often misunderstood. Michele and her husband, Keith, have been married for 32 years and have 5 children, 3 by birth and 2 through adoption. They have fostered 11 children. Michele has always had a passion for working with children, as well as advocating for their safety and wellbeing. Some organizations she has been actively involved with are: Hope for Children, AAFCA (Athens Area Families of Chinese Adoption), and ACMP (Asian Children's Mentoring Program out of UGA). From 1997-2003, Michele worked as an independent contractor for Metro Music, Art, and Movement in Marietta, GA where she recruited several schools and educated children through music, art, and movement. She and her family moved to Athens, GA in 2004 where she began a small interior design business, From House to Home, which continues to spread through word of mouth today. Michele enjoys tennis, running, and swimming. She has been a swim instructor for the past 13 years and a tennis instructor for the last 2 years. |
Bob Van Schoick
Bob is a seasoned Senior Executive with more than 40 years of success across the veterinary, animal health, medical devices, and pharmaceutical industries. Throughout his career, Bob has held leadership positions at companies including Animal Health Technologies, Cornerstone Animal Health, Med-Pharmex Animal Health, Meriel, and Merck.
Bob holds a BA/MA in Education and History from Austin College and a BS in Animal Science from Texas A&M University.
Bob is a seasoned Senior Executive with more than 40 years of success across the veterinary, animal health, medical devices, and pharmaceutical industries. Throughout his career, Bob has held leadership positions at companies including Animal Health Technologies, Cornerstone Animal Health, Med-Pharmex Animal Health, Meriel, and Merck.
Bob holds a BA/MA in Education and History from Austin College and a BS in Animal Science from Texas A&M University.