Membership

The Review Board consists of 11 members who are in full communion with the Catholic Church. They were appointed by the archbishop. It was determined that the majority should be lay persons, none of whom were to be in the employ of the archdiocese. Members serve without compensation, except for reimbursement for expenses. At least one member is to be a priest who is an experienced and respected pastor. Members are appointed for a term of five years. This appointment can be renewed after that five year time period. The members of the board have not changed since its inception. Present members of the board are:

Alan Harms, holds a graduate degree in educational administration. He is the Superintendent of the Wisner-Pilger school system in Wisner, Nebraska. He is active in various capacities in his parish and community.

Steven A. Miller, is a police detective on the Bellevue Police Department, and supervises and conducts all child victim crime investigations. He is a founding member of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. He has been recognized with various awards for his professional and community service.

Dr. Stephen Doran, Board chair, is a neurosurgeon with Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists. In his professional practice Dr. Doran has treated victims of child abuse. Dr. Doran was the founding president of the Nebraska Coalition for Ethical Research. He and his wife Sharon are raising five sons.

Rev. Thomas Bauwens, is pastor of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha. Father Bauwens was ordained June 6, 1987. He is a member of the College of Consultors, and has served other boards in service to the priests of the Archdiocese: the former president of Priests' Council, former member of the Priest Personnel Board and a former dean.

Jaqueline Simmons, is a member of St. James Parish, and she has 30 years' experience in human services / child welfare fields. She is currently employed as a case coordinator for Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center. She has served on the Metropolitan Child Advocacy Coalition, Sarpy County Through the Eyes of Child Court Improvement Project, Douglas County Court Collaboration Project, UNO School of Social Work Advisory Committee, and Archdiocese of Omaha Anti-pornography Task Force.

Edward M. Kolb, M.D., is a member of St. Wenceslaus Parish-Omaha. He is the medical director / anesthesiology at Boys Town National Research Hospital and the director of the International Adoption Clinic and Craniofacial Cleft Palate Clinic, Boys Town National Research Hospital.

James Jansen, vice-chair, serves as Creighton University general counsel, where he graduated from law school in 1973. A member of Mary Our Queen Parish in Omaha, he is the former Douglas County Attorney (1991-2003) and serves on the board of directors for Project Harmony Child Advocacy Center.

Dr. Amanda Cervantes, a private medical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. C. Timothy Dickel secretary, is a professor of education and professor of psychiatry at Creighton University. Additionally, Dr. Dickel is the co-director of the University's "Creighton Study of Violence Across the Life Span." Dr. Dickel also serves on the Board of Domestic Violence Coordinating Council of Omaha and formerly served on the Archdiocesan School Board.

Dr. Stephen Lazoritz is the chief medical officer at the Omaha Military Entrance Processing Station. He is the former vice president of medical affairs at Children's Hospital, Omaha. An M.D. with postgraduate training in pediatrics, Dr. Lazoritz is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the Creighton University School of Medicine and an adjunct professor of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He has lectured and presented widely on the topic of child abuse.

Craig V. McGarry holds a law degree from Creighton University and is the former senior vice president of the Wealth Management Group at the First National Bank in Omaha. He has served on numerous boards and councils in his parish and community. He is the father of six children.

Father Michael Fitzpatrick, J.C.L., the promoter of justice, consults with the board on issues covered by canon law, and on other issues that require his professional judgment. Fr. Fitzpatrick is not a voting member of the Review Board.