STAFF

Shelly Kirkland

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

The daughter of a veteran Air Force physician, granddaughter of an Army veteran and cousin to a Marine Corps veteran, Shelly has a heart for patriotism and supporting America’s military community. She also has a head for science and the impact of military service on the brain and on veterans’ overall health. In fact, prior to her role as Boot Campaign CEO, Shelly led advocacy, strategic alliances, public relations and branding at The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for BrainHealth. There, she worked side by side with clinicians and researchers who were investigating the effects of novel treatments for brain injury and PTSD.

Before joining the Center for BrainHealth, Shelly worked at advertising and PR giant The Richards Group, and early on, was a producer at the acclaimed crime-solving TV show, America’s Most Wanted where she collaborated with law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to bring justice to families and solve missing children cases.

Shelly has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University.

Lindsey Lott

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” – Winston S. Churchill

Originally from the Dallas area, Lindsey joined Boot Campaign in 2019 and is the organization’s Vice President of Partnerships & Communications. For Lindsey, being part of the Boot Campaign team is an opportunity for her to connect to her family roots and give back to the men and women that have sacrificed so much for our country. Lindsey’s great grandfather was a Captain in the United States Army Air Force in World War II and a Purple Heart recipient. While Lindsey didn’t know her great grandfather, she was extremely close to her great grandmother well into her adult life and remembers the many stories she shared.

Giving is powerful, and Lindsey has a true passion for not only giving back to her community personally, but inspiring others to give. For 18 years, Lindsey worked at The Container Store and was responsible for creating and managing their charitable giving program, along with developing cause marketing partnerships and events. In addition, Lindsey previously had the opportunity to assist at the Waco Chamber of Commerce gaining experience in development working on the premier Junior Golf Tournament, Starburst Junior Golf Classic and other fundraising events.

Someone once said that “in moments of desperation, fear and helplessness, each of us can be a rainbow of hope, doing what we can to extend ourselves in kindness and grace to one another.” Lindsey is honored to be just that for Boot Campaign while encouraging other civilians to lace up for the military community.

Lindsey has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Baylor University.

Jenny Wright Howland

“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.”  ― Ronald Reagan

Dr. Jenny Howland is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychological evaluation and the Director of Boot Campaign’s Health and Wellness program. Prior to joining Boot Campaign, Jenny oversaw the flagship Law Enforcement Mindfulness initiative for the University of Texas at Dallas’ Brain Performance Institute for three years. Jenny also directed implementation and facilitation of a cognitive training program for active duty military, veterans, and first responders, as well as their spouses and caregivers at the UT System entity as well. Jenny has researched the effects of traumatic brain injury to veterans, with a particular emphasis on discovering ways to improve cognitive and emotional functioning in individuals whose injuries are no longer acute. Additionally, Jenny has performed neuropsychological evaluations in private practice and simultaneously at Baylor Scott White Health System, with clinical specialties working with military, geriatric, and visually impaired individuals. As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran Marine and wife of a recently retired Airman, Jenny has directed her passion to serve toward military and first responder populations since 2014.

Jenny graduated from the University of Arkansas and American School of Professional Psychology.

Meg Jones

“In 2012, my husband lost a childhood best friend – a former Marine – to suicide. If through Boot Campaign we are able to save one life, that’s one family who won’t have to hold the title of ‘White Star Family.’ I’m honored to be able to connect the dots for veterans to find the root cause of the issues plaguing them every day and return them to their personal 100%.”

The wife of a Retired Marine Corps Staff Sergeant, and daughter and granddaughter to two military veterans, Meg is no stranger to the role our U.S. service members play and the impact that service can have on their lives. Meg, who serves as Boot Campaign’s Program and Grant Manager, saw firsthand the importance of post-service assistance when her now-husband was severely injured in Afghanistan and they were relocated to Washington D.C. for his lengthy recovery.

With over eight years in the military nonprofit space, Meg laces up as the organization’s “Chief Elf” ensuring military families receive gifts and assistance during the holidays through Boot Campaign’s Santa Boots program, as well as spearheads our grant writing efforts and assists in stewarding corporate partnerships.

Alex Hebert

“There is something special about complete strangers willing to risk everything for me – for my family – for my country. Those sacrifices are something that I will always be grateful for.”

A Dallas-area native, Alex has always had a passion to serve others. From a young age she knew she wanted to make an impact by leaving a footprint of purposeful work in this world. 

Growing up, Alex was taught about the important role our military servicemen and women play and the respect they deserve for all that they do. Throughout the years, “all that they do” has taken on a deeper meaning in her life, and in her role at Boot Campaign she enjoys being able to give back to those who have sacrificed so much on her behalf.

Alex is the granddaughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who served in World War II. While she did not know her grandfather, learning about his service has deepened her connection with the military community.

Prior to joining Boot Campaign in 2022, Alex dedicated more than 12 years to serving in various roles for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and most recently, one of the largest healthcare systems in Texas. Seeing staff, participants, sponsors and beneficiaries come together and feeling the collective impacts that have been made are what drive Alex’s passion for her work.

Alex has a bachelor’s degree in English from Texas A&M University.

U.S. Army Veteran Joshua Parker

“It is far easier to find quiet than to find peace. True peace must come from within oneself.” – Major Richard D. Winters

Joshua serves as Boot Campaign’s Partnerships and Donor Manager where he focuses on stewarding relationships and fostering new opportunities.

Upon graduating from Abilene Christian University, where he was a walk-on football player, Joshua enlisted into the U.S. Army.  While serving in the Army, Joshua joined the Infantry where he completed Airborne school and served in Iraq.

Following his years in service, Joshua moved back home to Texas where he has remained actively involved in veteran matters. Prior to joining Boot Campaign, Joshua spent much of his professional career in the nonprofit realm, recently working at the University of Texas – Dallas supporting their research in neuroscience.

Lydia Matula Walker

“Both of my grandfathers served during a time when they, and their families who were left behind while they deployed, were on their own without groups to support them. Now, there is Boot Campaign. Serving those who are risking their lives overseas for us to be free in our homeland and their families through Boot Campaign is the least we can do.”  

Lydia is part of a Gold Star family and her patriotic bloodline runs deep. Her paternal grandfather served as a pilot in the Navy and was KIA in Vietnam. Her maternal grandfather served in the Korean War. This rich heritage of sacrificial service allowed Lydia to pursue her passion to give back to those who served with keen knowledge of the difficulties her own family endured coming home from war.

A native Texan, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from Texas State University and has been laced up with Boot Campaign since 2015.

Lindsay Campbell

“Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.” — Ronald Reagan

Lindsay serves as Boot Campaign’s Program Manager. She coordinates and ensures individualized care, well-being, and all other resources needed for Boot Campaign candidates. Prior to joining Boot Campaign, Lindsay served five years as Program Manager for the Law Enforcement Resilience Initiative and Military and Family Resilience Initiative at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has expertise in case management, budgetary planning, human resources, data collection and analysis, and research coordination and design. Lindsay is a proud sister of a post 9/11 Army Airborne Infantryman and a granddaughter of a Korean War Navy Veteran and Vietnam War Air Force veteran. Her passion is to ensure our veterans are never left behind.

Lindsay has a B.S. in psychology from Indiana University Bloomington. She also holds a certificate of Neuroscience from the Psychology & Brain Sciences School and certificate of Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Amy Geforos

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Amy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. She has been in the field for 20 years now serving in various capacities and populations. 

Growing up in a small coal mining town of West Virginia shaped her earliest desires to pursue a career in the helping profession. Being the first in her family to attend college came with struggle and strife. With a grateful heart, she completed a Bachelors in Social Work at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where the motto: “To Seek to Learn, is to Seek to Serve,” still rings true today, personally and professionally. Prior to graduation, Amy accepted a position working with women and children at a domestic violence shelter.

From there, Amy moved to Los Angeles and began working as case manager with inner city youth and families in the skid row area. She went on to complete a Masters Degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. During graduate school (1st year), She had the opportunity to work with patients in treatment for cancer, as well as survivors, conducting individual sessions and support groups. Additionally, (2nd year) she served at Kaiser Department of Psychiatry, completing individual and group therapies. 

Amy’s professional background includes clinical therapy with DCFS court mandated families in Compton, California, medical social work (with patients struggling with addictions and post suicide attempts), and psychiatric social work on in-patient units. She also had the opportunity to serve as a supervisor of social workers on in-patient psychiatric units in Tacoma, Washington.  Prior to serving as Boot Campaign’s Senior Case Manager, her most recent work included clinical therapy for clients managing depression, anxiety, grief/loss, suicidal ideation, trauma, and insomnia, in Billings, Montana. 

Amy is a devoted wife of a Post-9/11 Air Force Veteran and doting mom of two daughters. She loves the outdoors, fishing, hiking, and time spent with family and friends.

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sarah Lucas

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Sarah Lucas served 18 months in the Army Reserves and 16 years of active duty as a combat medic, hospital medic, instructor and flight medic on a UH-60A Blackhawk helicopter. 

After attending the University of Arizona in her hometown of Tucson, she enlisted as a combat medic in 1992 and was first stationed on active duty in Korea in 1993. During the next 13 years, Sarah served both stateside and overseas and was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005. 

SSG Lucas came back to America in 2006 and was stationed at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion’s Troop Medical Clinic on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where the Staff Sergeant finished her active duty before medically retiring in 2009 from back injuries sustained in a training accident in early 2002.  

Her distinguished career in the Army netted two Joint Service Commendation medals, two Army Commendation medals, two Army Achievement medals and five Good Conduct medals. 

After retirement, she returned to school at George Mason University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2013. In that same year, while deployed, her husband sustained a non-combat related injury and Lucas spent approximately 27 days by his side during his recovery at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington D.C. 

Once SSG Lucas’ husband retired from the Marine Corps in 2018, they traveled the country full-time in their RV to determine where they would like to live long-term as well as the next steps in their careers. Sarah’s experience being on both sides of the healthcare system propelled her to dedicate her time and effort in becoming an advocate for veterans and their families with Boot Campaign. 

Sarah then pursued her education as a Rehabilitation Counselor in the Graduate program at University of Northern Colorado. She received her Master’s degree and became a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor in 2021. As a Case Manager for Boot Campaign’s Health & Wellness program, SSG Lucas states it is exactly where she needs to be to have the best impact in helping other veterans.

In 2021, they traded in the RV for a ranch in East Texas which they share with their 3 dogs, Gunner, Cheyenne and Scarlet. The Lucas’ have four children, Kyle, a Coast Guard Veteran, Micah, Bryanna married to Josh Smith, and Quentin. They have 3 grandchildren: Rebecca, Mya and Quille. 

She enjoys volunteering with the military community in Wood County, Texas, continues her love of RVing, riding her motorcycle, hunting on her property, kayak fishing, hiking, cooking, geocaching, movie watching, everything on the Hallmark Channel and being the best Grandma on the planet.

Danny Galvan

“Mens sana in copre sano” (a sound mind in a sound body) – Roman poet Juvenal

Danny joined the Boot Campaign team in July 2022. He has had the pleasure of working in the veteran nonprofit world for almost 10 years helping veterans heal through holistic approaches. 

He began his journey of serving veterans first by developing physical health and wellness programs for service members and families in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas. He then became a facilitator of mental health retreats, empowering veterans living with PTSD and other invisible wounds to push beyond their known limits and develop resiliency skills to help them live productive and fulfilling lives. He later moved on to develop a complex care program that served veterans with urgent issues such as substance abuse, severe mental illness, and homelessness.

Additionally, Danny has been working in the fitness industry for over 15 years and is a co-creator of two fitness businesses in San Antonio, Texas. He has worked with athletes, physically disabled, children and teens, and has helped them make changes that improve their quality of life. Danny’s passion for creative approaches to overall health and wellness and bettering the lives of everyone he meets makes him a great addition to Boot Campaign’s Health & Wellness team. 

Danny earned his Master’s degree from Texas State University in Professional Counseling and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Danny earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Exercise Sports Science from Texas Wesleyan University. 

His spare time is spent enjoying the great outdoors with his wife, daughter, and dog.

Nina Miller

“Losing both my father and uncle to suicide understandably changed my life. It’s driven me to use my career to support those – especially military and their families – who deserve to have access to the individualized treatment needed to heal from the trauma they have experienced.”

Though she did not grow up in a military family, Nina was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas, birthplace of World War II Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and home to the National Museum of the Pacific War. The small town and its historical influences contributed to her deep respect for all who have served, her sense of patriotism and her awareness of the sacrifices made that allow her the freedoms she has in this great country. 

Nina joined Boot Campaign in 2021 as Digital Marketing Manager after spending 10 years in public relations for a national retailer and global architecture firm. Communications, storytelling and retail have been passions of hers since an early age, and she is excited to expand on her experience to help amplify Boot Campaign’s mission and message.  

Personally, she is no stranger to unexpected loss, having lost her father in 2012 and uncle in 2016 to suicide. These experiences have driven her to use her career for a greater purpose and are why she is wholly dedicated to spreading the important message of “YOU MATTER” to veterans and civilians, alike. 

Nina has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University.