Who We Are

In 2017, the CDC ranked Arkansas as 10th in the nation for deaths by suicide per population. In 2015, Arkansas had 577 reported deaths by suicide—this is more than double the rate of homicides in the state. In Arkansas, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with an average of one person committing suicide every 15 hours.

Core Staff

Our core staff are passionate and dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention. Many of our staff started at the Arkansas Crisis Center as volunteers! We feel that once you start at the ACC, the honor of serving others and helping them through difficult times becomes a part of your heart, making it almost impossible to walk away.
Rebecca
Executive Director

Rebecca
Illeah
Crisis Services Program Manager

Illeah
Rebecca

Executive Director

Rebecca

I joined the Arkansas Crisis Center in 2020 as the Executive Director bringing with me 14 years of experience as an Executive Director for an out-of-state domestic violence agency as well as numerous years working in the social services field. My family has been touched by both domestic violence and suicide, and I am passionate about the agency providing quality hotline services to callers across the state of Arkansas.

Illeah

Crisis Services Program Manager

Illeah

I studied social work at the University of Arkansas and have been with the Arkansas Crisis Center since February 2019. My journey with the ACC began as a Crisis Call Specialist answering our 24-hour crisis line.  I have served as the Crisis Services Program Manager since March 2020. I am a certified instructor for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Safe TALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone.)

Board of Directors

The Arkansas Crisis Center Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders, key stakeholders, and concerned citizens focused on preventing suicide and helping Arkansans in crisis. Furthermore, our Board is diverse and representative of the people we serve. With their guidance and support, the operations of the Arkansas Crisis Center have been sustained for 33 years and will continue forward until our vision of Zero Suicides in Arkansas is achieved.

We are always looking to expand our Board, both through membership and through our advisory committees. If you are interested in learning more about joining the Arkansas Crisis Center Board of Directors, please click here to download our application.

President

Dennis Thurman
Vice-President

Nichole Gutierrez
Treasurer

Steve Linton
Secretary

Kristen McAllister

Presley Turner

Joshua Gonzales

Kimberly Stauss

President

Dennis Thurman

Board Participation: 5 years

Profession: Captain/Paramedic at Rogers Arkansas Fire Department, 24 years

I am a board member of ACC to help guide an extremely necessary service. I have a strong desire to see services available and lives saved and changed in moments of crisis.
I have a very personal connection to suicide, in that a very close family member chose to end his life. He had sought services and was under a doctor’s care, but in a moment of crisis chose to end his life. It is my hope that mental health care will be normalized and seeking help is seen as strength and not weakness.

Vice-President

Nichole Gutierrez

Board Participation: 5 years

Profession: Chief Operating Officer, Pillar Clinical Research

I serve on the board to give back to my community and help provide support to those workers and volunteers who are on the front lines with the ACC. I have worked my entire adult career in the mental health field and have always had a strong connection to those I have served. Prior to going into the
mental health field, I personally had my own struggles, and I wish that I had known about the ACC as a possible resource during that time. The ACC is there to provide support and hope to those most vulnerable within our community.

Treasurer

Steve Linton

Board Participation: 5 years

Profession: Sergeant, Rogers Police Department

I have been serving as the Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator for the Rogers Police Department for six years. This position has allowed me to receive
specialized training and experience interacting with citizens who are in a mental health crisis. This has led to numerous interactions with citizens that have
suicidal ideations and has given my team of Officers the chance to intervene and provide much needed resources. One of most important resources in suicide prevention are the Crisis Call Specialists at the Arkansas Crisis Center. They provide crisis intervention and have saved countless lives with their dedication and compassion to this noble task. I joined the Arkansas Crisis Center Board to provide a Law Enforcement perspective to suicide prevention and to provide any assistance I can.

Secretary

Kristen McAllister

Board Participation: 2 years

Profession: Director of the Northwest Crisis Stabilization Unit with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Serving on the Board allows me the opportunity to be a part of and witness change within the behavioral health landscape and within our growing community. I have worked in the behavioral health field,
specifically in crisis intervention, for nearly 15 years as a licensed social worker. This field has offered me the opportunity to recognize vulnerability in others, to recognize the vulnerabilities of our communities, and an
opportunity to initiate change. The impact of losing someone to suicide is deep – and having the opportunity to instill hope is an important part of my personal call to action.

Presley Turner

Board Participation: 1 year

Profession: Attorney

I am Presley Turner, an attorney in the State of Arkansas, representing families and serving as a dedicated member on the board of the Arkansas Crisis Center since April 2023. With a master’s degree in social work and public administration, my commitment to mental health advocacy is deeply rooted in my personal and professional experiences. I founded the Center for Advocacy and Awareness, driven by my passion to educate attorneys and professionals about trauma, while also raising mental health awareness within my role as an attorney. My dedication to supporting families and promoting mental well-being is what fuels my work on the board, ensuring a compassionate and informed approach to suicide prevention.

 

Joshua Gonzales

Board Participation: 1 year

Profession: Real Estate and Law

I am Joshua Gonzales, a dedicated member of the Arkansas Crisis Center, where I currently serve as a Board Member. My background is in real estate and law. Having spent two years as a call specialist at the Crisis Center, I have firsthand knowledge of the critical importance of mental health. I’m driven by my desire to reach more individuals and expand our agency’s vision. I’ve witnessed the impact of suicide firsthand and it has fueled my passion for suicide prevention. I strongly believe that raising awareness is crucial. My dedication to serving my community and unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy make me a valuable member of the board.

 

Kimberly Stauss

Board Participation: 6 years

Profession: Professor University of Arkansas, School of Social Work

I have served as the President and Vice President of the Arkansas Crisis Center and have been a member of the board since 2018. Currently, I am a professor at the University of Arkansas School of Social Work and have my own private practice. I have completed several research projects focusing on non-profit organizations around developing knowledge management systems and evaluation processes. I, also, co-developed a letter-writing program for incarcerated parents to reconnect with their children. Along with my research teams, I have been awarded over $1,000,000 in grants through foundations and federal funding and subsequently written over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles.

Want More Information?

If you are interested in learning more about employment opportunities, board membership, or other ways to get involved in suicide prevention and crisis intervention at the Arkansas Crisis Center, please contact:

Rebecca Brubaker
Executive Director
479-365-2140
rbrubaker@arcrisis.org

Helpline:
988
If you are in immediate danger, please dial 9-1-1.