Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC)Formerly Kansas Advocacy - Protective Services (KAPS)635 S.W. Harrison Street, Suite 100Topeka, Kansas 66603-3726Voice: 785-273-9661Toll free Voice: 1-877-776-1541Toll free TDD: 1-877-335-3725Fax: 785-273-9414 Home Staff Who We Are Publications Employment This Staff Section is available in readable and downloadable TEXT format   Meet our Staff   Rocky Nichols M.P.A. Executive Director Rocky brings 13 years of experience in non-profit management consulting. Rocky also has 13 years of experience in the Kansas Legislature (11 as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and two as legislative staff), and he is a veteran advocate for disability rights issues. Rocky is also a former member of the Next Generation Leadership Committee of the President's Committee on Mental Retardation PCMR. Rocky received his undergraduate degree from Washburn University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. Rocky was the recipient of more than 20 awards for legislative leadership and advocacy, including many significant awards on behalf of persons with disabilities, including: Elizabeth M. Boggs Award for Outstanding Leadership in the area of Mental Retardation, Presidents Committee on Mental Retardation, 1998 Outstanding Public Official of the Year Award, Kansas Association of Community Mental Health Centers, 1996 and 2002 Kansas NAMI Advocacy Award, 1996 and 2000 Kirk Lowry, J.D. Litigation Director Kirk is a licensed attorney and a 1987 graduate of Washburn University School of Law. He was in private practice from 1987 to 2000 and is a past president of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Lowry was an adjunct professor of law at Washburn Law School and has tried many significant cases for persons with disabilities in state and federal court. In 1999, Kirk represented a plaintiff with a disability in Murphy v. UPS, an ADA case, in the United States Supreme Court. He has argued and won both sovereign immunity and Ex parte Young cases in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. From 2000 to 2003, Kirk was the attorney for the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, where he represented numerous persons with disabilities in legal cases.   Timothy Voth, J.D. Advocacy Director Tim graduated from Bethel College and Washburn University School of Law. He was the former House Manager at the Ronald McDonald House in Topeka. Tim has been employed at DRC since 1988, first as a mental health attorney, then as Intake Coordinator and Interim Executive Director. As Interim Director, Tim worked closely with the new Board of Directors to institute many of the initial reforms prior to Rocky Nichols' arrival as Executive Director. Tim serves on the Intake and Referral Advisory Committee for the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) and the Steering Committee for the Topeka Victim Offender Reconciliation Program. Debbie White, C.P.A. Fiscal Officer Debbie has worked in public accounting, state government and the nonprofit sector. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. For the past three years, Debbie was the Chief Financial Officer of Kansas Legal Services. As CFO of Kansas Legal Services, she managed a budget that is nearly eight times the size of DRC, with 27 cost centers and dozens of grant financial reporting requirements. Debbie is a native Kansan and received her undergraduate degree in accounting from Kansas State University. Summer Duke, J.D. Disability Rights Attorney Summer Duke received her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Missouri Western State College. Summer was a member of the UMKC Law Review and graduated with distinction in the top 10% of her law class at UMKC. During law school she clerked for a civil litigation firm and for the Office of General Counsel for Region VII of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Karen Eager, J.D. Disability Rights Attorney Karen received her law degree from Washburn University School of Law where she graduated with Dean’s Honors, was a member of the Law Review and served as Comments Editor on the Law Review Editorial Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Humanities/Philosophy from Northwest Missouri State University. Karen’s legal career began as a staff attorney with Legal Services for Prisoners where she represented inmates at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility and Larned State Hospital. She has also been a staff attorney for the State Board of Indigent Defense Service’ s Appellate Defender Office where she wrote numerous appellate briefs and presented oral arguments before the Kansas Appellate Courts. After a stint in private practice in Lawrence, Kansas, Karen joined the firm of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman in Kansas City, Missouri where she was involved in complex product liability and medical malpractice litigation. She is a faculty member in Washburn University School of Law’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. Lane Williams, J.D. Disability Rights Attorney Lane received his law degree from the University of Kansas and his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Baker University. For two years during law school, Lane advised and represented inmates of Lansing State and Leavenworth Federal prisons as a member of the Defender Project. Lane is licensed to practice law in Kansas and Washington. He was a staff attorney for Kansas Legal Services in Pittsburg and Topeka for 11.5 years and was in private practice in Aberdeen, Washington, for 9 years before joining DRC. At Kansas Legal Services, Lane specialized in public and private housing law and Social Security and SSI disability law. His areas of emphasis in private practice were land use, consumer and construction law.   Catherine Johnson, J.D., M.A Attorney / Special Projects Coordinator Catherine received her law degree from the University of Iowa, College of Law. Catherine is licensed to practice law in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration and English from the University of Iowa, as well as a Masters Degree in Higher Education, specializing in students’ civil rights. Catherine started her legal career as a staff attorney for Muscatine Legal Services, advocating for individuals in civil, criminal and juvenile actions. Catherine’s long standing interest in civil rights in education, led to her unique professional opportunities, as Director of Student Legal Services, University of Iowa, Assistant Dean of Students for Saint Louis University, School of Law for Managing Attorney Civil Justice Clinic, Washington University School of Law. In those capacities she represented, advocated and counseled students in legal, academic and life issues. Catherine has also been a civil commitment and defense staff attorney for the Iowa and Missouri Public Defender Offices, where she represented individuals the state sought to commit under newly enacted civil commitment statutes. Catherine has written numerous appellate briefs and presented oral arguments before the Iowa Appellate Courts. Annett Bynum. MSW Disability Rights Advocate Annett brings over 20 years experience working with a diverse group of people who had mental and/or physical disabilities. Annett graduated from Washburn University with her Bachelor of Art degree in Social Work and graduated from University of Kansas with her Masters in Social Work. Annett volunteered as the disaster mental health coordinator for the American Red Cross for over 8 years. Prior to coming to DRC Annett worked on the Behavioral Health Unit as a nursing assistant for the Colmery O’Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Kansas Television Washburn University (KTWU) as a Ready to Learn Trainer. Annett is a retired member of the Army Reserves.   Lisa Jones, B.A. Disability Rights Advocate Lisa brings 15 years experience in advocating for people with disabilities through volunteer and professional employment. Prior to coming to DRC, Lisa worked in case management for persons with mental illness at Valeo Behavioral Health Care, in Topeka, Ks, and as a staff supervisor of employees serving persons with developmental disabilities at Sheltered Living in Topeka, Ks. Lisa has been with DRC as an Advocate/Investigator since September 2002. Lisa is a graduate of Washburn University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a minor in Psychology, with additional focus on Human Services and Public Administration. While at Washburn, Lisa was a member of the Honor Society Phi Kappa Alpha, and was named to the Dean's List, Honor Roll in Paralegal coursework, and Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Kathleen Wilson, M.S. Disability Rights Advocate Kathleen graduated from Washburn University with a Bachelors Degree in Education and received a Master of Science Degree from the University of Kansas, majoring in Special Education. She taught Special Education classes in Kansas elementary schools for 11 years and was a Supervisor of Special Education for the Allentown, Pennsylvania School District in the mid 1980's. While living in Pennsylvania, she worked as a mental health advocate and as a Training Associate for Matrix Research Institute, a National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. In addition, Kathleen has taught workshops and published materials on the utilization of the Social Security Work Incentives. Most recently, Kathleen was employed as Program Director for a Kansas community residential program for persons with developmental disabilities. Kathleen brings over 30 years of disability service and advocacy experience to her position at DRC.   Nick Cobos Office Assistant Nick is a lifelong Topekan and has received office experience with companies such as Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds and Palmer. He is chairman of the Shawnee County Council of Community Members and had served in the past on the Board of Directors for DRC. Nick is a volunteer at TARC, where he once received services, and has volunteered at the Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy. Nick enjoys playing golf, watching sports, listening to music and working on the computer. He has also written his autobiography about being a self advocate and a person with a developmental disability, “Dreamer’s Don’t Quit.”   Validate this page for accessibility Validation / Accessibility Information