DBHDS State Board

KARNES, Daniel E. (Chair)

Forty years after his first tour of duty in Vietnam, Dan Karnes of Roanoke recently returned to Southeast Asia. He found a much different country….free of hostility, and not at all what he expected. It’s experiences like this that help Dan serve other vets at the Roanoke Vet Center. He works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, assisting former servicemen deal with everything from getting benefits to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dan first went to work for the VA Hospital in Salem in 1979. Since that time, he’s been active in the community, serving on the board at Blue Ridge Behavioral Health and also the Virginia Veterans Care Center, including a term as chairman. He is a mediation volunteer, and a site visitor for the Council on Social Work Education. He recently retired as a Lt. Colonel after 33 years in the Army and Army Reserve. Dan and his wife Nancy travel extensively, and plan to do even more so after her upcoming retirement.

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JARVIS, Ruth G. (Vice Chair)

When Ruth Jarvis retired from Norfolk State University after 34 years of service, she had no idea her life would become busier than ever. The former Dean for Student Development was recently named Community Services Worker of the Year for her many efforts, including tutoring at Lindenwood Elementary School in Norfolk, and mentoring teenage girls through the program Top Ladies of Distinction. She also continues to work with the NSU Retirees group, assisting with registration and sponsoring programs for students.

Ruth’s interest in mental health and developmental issues began when she started seeking information about services for her autistic son, Rodney. She volunteered for the Norfolk Community Services Board, first as a member of the Health Services Committee, later as a board member, including two years as chair. Ruth and her husband Rueben (also a Norfolk State retiree) have 4 children. In their limited spare time, they enjoy camping in their motor home and visiting their 6 grandchildren.

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After a 20 year career in international humanitarian relief and development, working and living in a number of developing countries, Andrew moved to Virginia in January 2007 when his wife was appointed President of Christian Children’s Fund, headquartered in Richmond. His interest in mental health issues, as well as gun safety, came about as a result of his son’s injuries sustained in the Virginia Tech tragedy of 4/16/2007. Andrew is the President of the Richmond Chapter of the Million Mom March against gun violence and a board member of the Virginia Center for Public Safety.

Born in England, Andrew received a degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for 8 years in North Carolina and Georgia as a Design Engineer and Project Manager.

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GREEN, Cheryl Ivey

After 20 years in banking and technology, Cheryl Ivey Green made a career move that forever altered her life. Five years ago, Reverend Green accepted the calling to become the Minister of Discipleship at the First Baptist Church of South Richmond. Now she oversees the educational arm of this 2,500-member ministry, and directs the congregation’s spiritual growth and development.

Reverend Green is a Newport News native and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. She obtained a Master of Divinity from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Working in some of Richmond’s toughest neighborhoods, she has a passion for the recovery ministry. Substance abusers and their families come to count on the nurture and care from Reverend Green as they work to put their lives back in order. In addition to her church ministry, she also works as a Legislative Assistant to Delegate Dwight Jones of Richmond.

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HENDRICKSON, Robert

Bob has been a pastor of an inner city church, an associate professor and chair of Department of Social Work and a department chair and therapist at a non-profit psychiatric hospital. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary, an M.S.W. from the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD from Virginia Tech. Bob is on the boards of directors of Mental Health America of the New River Valley, Mental Health America of Virginia, Mental Health America (National), is on the Professional Advisory Council of Radford University School of Social Work and the New River Community Action. He also serves as Pastoral Associate of the Presbyterian Church of Radford and as a member of the New River Valley Task Force on the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

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HESTER, Patricia

Ms. Hester’s moved from Florida to Virginia after graduating from Florida Southern College. Her interest in mental health became very personal when her youngest son was diagnosed with Dyspraxia when he was 18 months old. It was then that she involved herself in organizations related to mental health and children’s care. She served on the Frederick County Social Services Board, the Family Assessment Planning Team (FAPT), the Henry and William Evan’s Home for Children Board and on the Winchester City Schools Special Education Advisory Council.

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HUDGINS, Catherine M.

Catherine M. Hudgins is currently serving her second term on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. As a member of the Board, she is the Chairman of the Human Services and the Housing and Community Development Committees, the Vice-Chair of Information Technology and Transportation Committees and is a member of the Economic Advisory Committee.

Supervisor Hudgins finds her greatest satisfaction assisting constituents and organizations to obtained services critical for individuals and families to maintain more sustainable lives. She was honored by the ARC of Northern Virginia with its Human Rights Award for her support of the mental retardation and by the Housing Association of Non-profit Developers (HAND) for her commitment to affordable housing.

Additionally, Supervisor Hudgins represents the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on several regional and state boards including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Community and Criminal Justice Board, and the Virginia Association of Counties Board of Directors.

A graduate of George Mason University with Master of Public Administration, Supervisor Hudgins is also a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Education.

Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Supervisor Hudgins and her husband Willie L. Hudgins, Jr. have lived in Reston, Virginia for more than 37 years. They are the parents of two adult sons.

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LITTLE, Jennifer M.

Ms. Little is the marketing director for Courthouse Construction Company, Inc., a Middle Peninsula based General Contracting and Design Build firm. In 2007, she was elected to the Mathews County School Board, and elected as Chairman in 2009. Little represents Mathews County on the Middle Peninsula Regional Special Education Board and serves on the First Congressional District Education Advisory Council.  

Little is an active member of her community including the Mathews Rotary Club and the Mathews High School PTA.

Professionally, Little is a member of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Road Association of Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) and serves on the steering committee for the Peninsula Water For People campaign. Little was recognized in 2006 for her professional and civic successes with the Inside Business Women in Business Achievement Award.

Little, her husband Tripp, and daughter Nicole, live on the Middle Peninsula in Mathews County. Raised in Gloucester, Little has spent most of her life on Virginia’s beautiful Middle Peninsula.

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PANDURANGI, Anand K., MD

Dr. Pandurangi has been a faculty member of VCU for 23 years and is a tenured Professor of Psychiatry, and adjunct Professor of Radiology. He is dedicated to understanding brain-behavior relations in schizophrenia and mood disorders and in translating research to clinical care. He currently directs the 50-bed inpatient psychiatry service at VCUHS with 7 subspecialty programs, facilitates public-academic collaborations in mental health, maintains inpatient and outpatient specialty practice and teaches at all levels of medical education.

Dr. Pandurangi received the MBBS degree from JIPMER, Pondicherry, University of Madras, India, in 1975 and the MD degree in Psychiatry from Bangalore University, India in 1979. He completed two residencies in Psychiatry – first at the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore, India, and second at Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York.

Dr. P as he is popularly called is a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship in India, the Young Investigator Award in Schizophrenia Research (USA), and the Distinguished Academician Award from Indo-American Psychiatrists Association. In recognition of his contributions to the clinical care, teaching and scholarly activities in schizophrenia, the Virginia and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill have bestowed awards on him in 1988 and 1992, respectively. He has been listed multiple times in the "Best Doctors in USA" from the Southeast region. The award he cherishes most was given in 2006 by the graduate trainees in psychiatry who honored him with “ The Hippocampal Award” – Given to “the faculty member whose words or actions we will take with us to the Grave”. He is married to Rama and they have two sons Abhinav and Ashvin.

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Staff Contacts

Kli Kinzie
Phone: (804) 786-7945
Email:kli.kinzie@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
Meghan McGuire
Phone: (804) 786-9048
Email:meghan.mcguire@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
Ruth Anne Walker
Phone: (804) 786-1332
Email:ruthanne.walker@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov