RFK National Resource Center Staff

John A. Tuell, Executive Director
Jodi Martin, Deputy Executive Director
Sorrel Lewis, Director of Operations
JJ Messier, Staff Consultant and Innovation Center for Youth Justice at JMU Liaison

Independent Consultants

Robert “Bob” Bermingham
Lisa Jacobs
Peg Murray Robertson
Ivy Tillman

Learn about our Alumni Consultants.

RFK National Resource Center Staff

John A. Tuell, BSW, MA

Executive Director

John A. Tuell currently serves as the Executive Director for the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice at RFK Community Alliance. The RFK National Resource Center focuses on practice and policy reform through an active commitment to partnerships with state, local and federal agencies dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s youth.

Mr. Tuell has devoted his entire professional career to practice within and reform on behalf of the juvenile justice and related youth serving systems. Mr. Tuell began his career in the Fairfax County, Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court by working as a probation officer, intake and residential group care worker, and Administrator for twenty two bed, residential facility for chronically delinquent boys, covering the period from 1979-1996. Mr. Tuell has also served in the U.S. Department of Justice within the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1996-2001), within the   Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) where he directed the newly created Juvenile Justice Division (2001-2009), and finally with RFK Community Alliance (formerly Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps) where he founded and launched the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice in December 2013. 

Mr. Tuell has been an author and contributing author to numerous publications that support the work of the National Resource Center’s Dual Status Youth, Probation System Reform, and Youth Justice System Reform and Enhancement initiatives. Mr. Tuell was the primary author for the Developmental Reform in Juvenile Justice: Translating the Science of Adolescent Development to Sustainable Best Practice Brief (2017) and for the newly released innovation brief entitled Keys to Youth Justice Improvement: Demonstration of Practical, Sustainable, Measurable, and Replicable Solutions (February 2023) which highlights the process, challenges, and achievement of six jurisdictions that undertook a comprehensive review of their youth justice system and implemented positive reforms to produce improved youth outcomes.

Mr. Tuell earned his Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University and his Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from George Washington University. He is the proud father of two sons, Austin (age 33) and Zachary (age 28).

Jodi Martin

Deputy Executive Director

Jodi Martin serves as the Deputy Executive Director for the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice at Robert F. Kennedy Community Alliance. In her current role, she provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to local, state, and national leaders, practitioners, and youth-serving agencies seeking to enhance system performance and improve outcomes for youth involved with the juvenile justice system. In partnership with the Executive Director, she supports development and implementation of innovative communication and outreach strategies to grow the National Resource Center’s positive impact on youth in state and local jurisdictions across the country.

Jodi has over 30 years of experience working in juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Prior to joining RFK, Jodi served in many different capacities within the youth justice system in Clark County, Washington. She began her career working as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and a youth counselor in a community-based residential program. At Clark County Juvenile Court, she served as a Juvenile Probation Counselor, Program Coordinator, and Program Manager. Jodi has extensive experience reforming truancy processes, developing detention alternatives, implementing information and data sharing initiatives, and training schools, courts and community-based organizations on implementing restorative practices. In 2008, Jodi assisted in creation of the Truancy Workshop, an alternative to formal court process for status offenders in Clark County.  In 2012, Jodi co-authored the Clark County Information Sharing Guide: Guidelines for Agencies Serving Youth & Families. In 2013, she assisted in development of the county’s first ever detention alternatives, the Weekend and Evening Reporting Programs and Community Support Program. Jodi has served on numerous local and statewide committees and is currently a board member for Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington. She received her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies from Washington State University in 1992.

Sorrel Lewis, MA

Director of Operations

Sorrel Lewis, MA, serves as the Director of Operations for the RFK National Resource Center. In both her current position and prior role as Director of Program Administration, Sorrel has supported all aspects of the RFK National Resource Center’s work since its inception in 2013. In addition to managing the program’s operations, she also contributes toward the development of publications and resources, oversees event planning, and supports the RFK National Resource Center’s training and technical assistance initiatives.

Since 2007, Sorrel’s work has focused on improving outcomes for dual status youth and advancing child welfare and juvenile justice system reform. A decade of her career was largely dedicated toward supporting the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice initiative, which fostered her knowledge and professional interests. She previously served as a Program Manager to Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and as Program Coordinator of the Child Welfare League of America’s Juvenile Justice Division. In these roles, Sorrel contributed to the authorship and development of numerous publications, planned and supported various events and conferences, and served as staff lead to several networks and advisory groups, including CJJR’s Juvenile Prosecutor Leadership Network and CWLA’s National Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice.

Sorrel earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and received her Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University. She served as a Graduate Intern to CWLA’s Mental Health Division and assisted in the revision of assessment guidelines used by mental health and substance abuse practitioners working with children in the foster care system. As an undergraduate student, Sorrel volunteered at women’s domestic violence shelters by tutoring and mentoring children, and taught health and wellness classes.

JJ Messier, MSW

Independent Consultant

JJ Messier began her career as an elementary school teacher in Chicago, Illinois, where her passion for advocacy and equity was ignited, leading her to take on various roles in community organizations.

For the past 11 years, JJ has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in DuPage County, a role she intends to continue. Her commitment to supporting dually involved youth led to her role as an Independent DSY Consultant for the RFK National Resource Center and as a liaison between the NRC and James Madison University’s Innovation Center for Youth Justice (ICYJ). In this role, she draws upon her extensive experience in education, child welfare, and youth justice to support the next generation of youth justice practitioners.

JJ earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Northern Colorado and her Masters of Social Work (Leadership and Social Change) from the University of Illinois. She lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband of 22 years, Matt, and their four children, Ben, Harper, Cameron, and Ellis.

Independent Consultants

Robert “Bob” Bermingham, MPA

Independent Consultant

Bob Bermingham began his career in juvenile justice in 1986 as child care specialist in the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center. During the past 30 plus years Bob has served in many different capacities within the juvenile justice system in Fairfax County. He has worked in both community based residential programs and as a field probation officer. During his tenure Bob has held management positions with probation services, served as the County’s first Gang Prevention Coordinator and since 2009 has served as the Court Service Unit Director of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest Court Service Unit. Bob has lead the 300 person unit through significant transformation in practices to include the re-design of juvenile intake services, the implementation of assessment tools at major decision points within the system, enhanced diversion alternatives, deployment of evidence-based interventions along with a focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities and family engagement. Bob is dedicated to providing juvenile justice services that build on individual and family strengths to improve client outcomes while remaining focused on public safety and promoting equitable and effective justice. Bob has been married to his grade school sweetheart for 30 years and has four adult children.

Lisa Jacobs, JD

Independent Consultant

Lisa Jacobs serves as Associate Director of the Legislation and Policy Clinic at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where, under the supervision of Clinic faculty, students study the legislative process and participate in policy and legislative development, analysis, advocacy, and implementation.  She serves as an affiliated faculty member with Loyola’s Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy and Practice, which seeks to advance fair, humane, and effective criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice. Lisa also provides subject matter expertise and technical assistance to jurisdictions working to improve the outcomes of youth and young adults “dually involved” in child welfare and juvenile justice systems, in collaboration with the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice. Previously, she served as Program Manager for the Illinois Models for Change Initiative, which was funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to promote effective juvenile justice policy, practice, and programming in diverse jurisdictions across the state and nation. Before coming to Loyola, Lisa was Director of Judicial Education for the Illinois Supreme Court, with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. During her tenure with the AOIC, she assisted in implementing the Supreme Court’s Evidence-Based Practice initiatives in criminal and juvenile cases.

Lisa serves as Vice Chair of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, which is charged with advising the Governor, General Assembly, and other stakeholders on matters of juvenile justice law and policy. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, which champions the safety, health, and success of Illinois’ children, youth, and families by acting as a policy advocate and by connecting and strengthening the organizations that serve them. She is also a member of the Illinois Court Improvement Project Advisory Committee, convened by the Illinois Supreme Court to promote the continuous quality improvement of court proceedings in child welfare proceedings and is a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Juvenile Courts.  In January 2024, Lisa was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Judicial Conference, which is convened pursuant to the Illinois Constitution “to consider the work of the courts, to suggest improvements in the administration of justice, and to make recommendations for the improvement of the courts.”

Peg Murray Robertson

Independent Consultant

Peg Robertson has over thirty-five years of juvenile justice experience at both the state and local government level in Illinois. She began her career in direct service with youth on probation and in juvenile detention and served as a program supervisor and assistant director of detention operations for Sangamon County.

As the juvenile program coordinator for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), Peg was instrumental in development of the first risk assessment and supervision standards for Illinois juvenile probation cases, and later responsible for implementation of the current assessment and case management protocols involving the Youth Assessment and Screening Inventory (YASI). She was responsible for the development and implementation of standards related to juvenile detention screening, and coordinated numerous projects related to the improvement of services for youth in custody.

Peg has extensive experience in planning, delivery, and evaluation of training for community corrections professionals, particularly in the areas of evidence-based practices and organizational development. At the time of her retirement from the AOIC, she was serving as the training manager for the Division of Probation Services as well as the Juvenile Program Manager.

Peg has continued her work in juvenile justice as an independent consultant. She continues to be committed to improving outcomes for justice-involved youth as well as their families and communities.

Ivy D. Tillman, LCSW

Independent Consultant

Ivy D. Tillman recently retired from the Fairfax County Juvenile Domestic Relations District Court as the Deputy Director of Residential Services. She has administrative oversight of the Juvenile Detention Center, Shelter Care, two residential treatment programs and a probation unit that serves as an alternative to incarceration. As Deputy Director, Ms. Tillman has helped to champion the efforts of Juvenile Justice Reform across the entire child service system to include the residential services within JDRDC, ensuring that staff are trained in the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model and other evidenced-based practices such as Anger Replacement Training (ART). She is also the chairman of the Court Service Unit’s Family Engagement Committee. As the Chairman, Ms. Tillman guided the committee in creation of “A Family Guide to Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. She, along with the committee, has trained the JDRDC staff in the principle and practices of family engagement.

Ms. Tillman has 27 years of varied work experiences. She has worked in and managed community based residential programs and worked as a field probation officer in the Juvenile Justice System. She has also worked as a Court Liaison and Family Intervention Resource and Engagement (F.I.R.E) social worker in the Child Welfare system and worked in the private sector as a home-based therapist.

Ms. Tillman earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from James Madison University and received her Master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She obtained her clinical license in 2012. Ivy is very passionate about providing equitable services to adolescents and families in crisis.

Alumni Consultants

We want to recognize the significant contributions of our former independent consultants. Their experience, expertise, commitment, innovation, and dedication to the mission and vision of the RFK National Resource Center resulted in the positive transformation of youth justice systems in multiple state and local jurisdictions that we have partnered with throughout the country. We extend our gratitude to the following individuals:

  • Christine M. Berbelis
  • Marcus Graves
  • Keith Snyder