Ponca Pines Academy

The key staff at Ponca Pines Academy shares a love of helping young women and their families. We focus on a combined therapeutic approach, featuring dually credentialed therapists to serve both mental health and substance abuse needs and a longstanding medical director licensed to also provide psychiatric services and medication management. With a wide range of work backgrounds, life experiences and educations, our seasoned group of professionals is uniquely capable of facilitating the treatment and academic work of our students.

Betsy Jacobson-Warren
Executive Director

		Education:
		B.S., Michigan State University
		M.B.A., pursuing degree at Marylhurst University

		Work Experience and Other Related Experiences
		Betsy is formerly the director of The Academy at Sisters in Bend, OR, a private, nonprofit, Emotional Growth Boarding School serving at-risk adolescent girls. She has more than 15 years of experience working with at-risk youth.
		Betsy was directly involved in the development and growth of The Academy at Sisters from its inception in 1995. She was instrumental in the planning and implementation of Sisters Shelter and Transport, a service designed to provide secure transportation and short-term respite for youth enrolled in The Academy at Sisters.
		Nationally, Betsy has served on the Board of Directors of NATSAP (National Association of Schools and Programs) and was a member of the Finance Committee and the Conference Committee. In 2003, she served as chair of the first Pacific Northwest Regional Conference for NATSAP, an organization created to bring affordable education to programs in the region.

David Walker, MD
Medical Director
Audio Interview

Education:

M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin; Residency and Child Fellowship (child/adolescent psychiatric training), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA

Work Experience and Other Related Experiences

Dr. Walker has served as medical director at Mercy Behavioral Care in Sioux City, IA; he has extensive experience in residential adolescent care at Aviva Center (residential for adolescent girls) in Los Angeles and Shandin Hills Adolescent Center in San Bernardino, CA. He also has served high-needs adolescents at the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

Dr. Walker is not only well versed in medication therapies, but also has a strong psychodynamic background.

Christy Roubicek, MSW, PLMHP
Admissions Director

Education:

B.S. in Social Work, University of Nebraska at Kearney

M.S. in Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Christy holds provisional mental health practitioner licensure; she is working toward full licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and Certified Master Social Worker.

Work Experience and Other Related Experiences

Christy’s work experience includes more than 10 years in the social services field.

Christy has several years of experience working with the adolescent population, including working as a direct care staff in a residential setting.

Christy possesses a strong background in working with a whole systems approach including family-centered care and a strength-based approach.

Christy has been with the agency for more than 5 years, beginning at Uta Halee Girls Village and transitioning to Ponca Pines Academy.

Jennifer Radil, MA
Art Therapist

Education:

B.A. in Studio Art, Colorado College

M.A. in Art Therapy, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Jennifer is currently working on accruing hours toward her Provisional LMHP and ATR-BC (registered and board certified art therapist).

Work Experience and Other Related Experiences

Jennifer has facilitated several arts workshops for nonprofit organizations throughout Omaha for a program called Why Arts?

In graduate school, Jennifer interned at an organization that helped formerly incarcerated women, enter or re-enter the work force. Many of the women were former addicts in recovery; this is where she became interested in issues of addiction and compulsive behavior.

Michelle Davis, LMHP, LCSW, PLADC
Therapist

		Education:
		B.A. in Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA
		M.S.W., University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
		Michelle is a credentialed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), a licensed Social Worker (LMSW), and is working toward full licensure as a licensed Chemical Dependency Addictions Counselor

		Work Experience and Other Related Experiences
		Michelle joined our team with 21 years of experience working with youth and families.
		She has worked in a variety of different positions in a residential setting. Michelle returned to offering therapy after spending ten years in senior management and serving as a Clinical Director.
		Michelle possesses a strong background in working with a whole systems approach using components of family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
		Michelle has been actively involved in the development of programming and offering of services center in trauma informed care.

Linda Beckstead, MA
Lead Teacher

		Education:
		B.S. in Secondary Education, Language Arts, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
		MA in Curriculum and Instruction, minor in English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

		Work Experience and Other Related Experiences
		Linda is a twenty-two year journalism teacher who has sponsored award-winning newspaper and yearbook publications.
		She created day and night school English courses for students who struggled with a traditional curriculum. Additionally, she has been a curriculum coordinator for secondary communicative arts.
		Linda has co-facilitated graduate-level writing courses for UNL’s Nebraska Writing Project. She has also been part of the Standards Revision Task Force for the Nebraska Department of Education to review Language Arts Standards.

Carrie Iwen
Program Manager

		Education:
		B.S. in Human Service Counseling, Wayne State College; minor in Psychology and Sociology

		Work Experience and Other Related Experiences
		Carrie has more than 20 years experience in the social services field.
		She worked for the Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children in Fremont, Neb., for 6 years as a houseparent.
		Carrie has extensive work experience in this field, including working for Uta Halee Girls Village Girls Village for 14 years as a direct care staff and as a team leader for eight of those years.

Bailey Wrenn, M.Ed
Teacher

		Education:
		B.S. in History, University of Nebraska at Omaha
		M.A. Education, College of Saint Mary

		Work Experience and Other Related Experiences
		Bailey has been working with middle and high school youth for the past two years through volunteer work at church and in the community
		Bailey recently graduated with her M.A. in Education from College of Saint Mary and has a strong desire to pursue a higher degree in education or special education with an emphasis in behavior disordered youth.
		Bailey also is a Sunday School teacher and youth group leader at Covenant Presbyterian Church.