Cabinet Members & Staff

Don Hineman is a western Kansas farmer/rancher who works in partnership with his son Andy. He has served on numerous livestock boards and remains active in both livestock and grain industry organizations. A twelve-year veteran of the Kansas House of Representatives, he served a two-year term as House Majority Leader. His commitment to his local community has included serving on Dighton City Council, Lane County Commission, and Lane County Community Foundation.

Don holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas and master’s degrees in business administration and natural resource management from the University of Michigan. His passion for early childhood education and intervention was ignited by his wife Betsy’s forty-year career in early childhood. Don and Betsy reside in Dighton and have two grown children and five grandchildren.

Dr. LeEtta Felter is a dedicated public servant, champion for children, writer, artist, photographer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and businesswoman from Olathe, Kansas. She has served on the Kansas Children’s Cabinet under 3 different governors. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Education in Administration and Leadership. LeEtta is the Vice President of AAG Investments, and serves as a Councilwoman for the City of Olathe. LeEtta served for 12 years on the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education (2011-2023). She’s the mom of four, and happily married to her husband of 35 years. 

Terri Rice is Senior Marketing Manager for Cox Business and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Master of Business Administration and is a Doctor of Business Administration Candidate—May 2025. She serves on various committees and boards, and is heavily involved in nonprofit work, giving back to the community whenever possible. Terri and her husband live in Wichita, Kansas and are empty nesters, with three adult children. 

Dr. Tara D. Wallace is a licensed clinical social worker and child trauma therapist in private practice. She volunteers on numerous community boards whose missions support the wellbeing of children and families in Kansas. Tara is also the founder of a nonprofit, Lighthouse Therapeutic Community Outreach Foundation, which promotes (W)Holistic Wellness in low-income and low-access communities. As an adjunct professor, best-selling author, and public speaker, Tara promotes awareness of issues related to child welfare and foster care, generational trauma, and parental mental health. Tara lives in Topeka, KS with her husband, son, and their four dogs.

DiAnne Owen Graham is president of Graham Advisors, LLC, a nationally recognized consulting firm. She also serves as co-founder and partner at Strategic Advisors, LLC, a comprehensive public affairs firm. She served as a political appointee in President George W. Bush’s Administration and held various roles with the U.S. Department of State. DiAnne graduated from The University of Mississippi and lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, Chris, and their sons, Owen and Parker, who are students in Andover Public Schools. She was selected as one of the Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awardees in 2017.

Senator Renee Erickson represents District 30 in the Kansas Senate. Her career experience includes working as a teacher, a data and assessment coordinator, a middle school principal, a financial planner, and the director of the USD 259 instructional technology center. She holds undergraduate degrees in both business and education with a master’s degree in public school administration from Baker University, and a master’s degree in family life education and consultation from Kansas State University.

Representative Kristey Williams has served in the Kansas House since 2015. Her professional experiences include teaching secondary science, serving as mayor of Augusta, spearheading and fundraising for three major community projects, and serving as the House K-12 Education Budget Chair. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas.

Monica Murnan is a licensed teacher and administrator who founded the Family Resource Center in Pittsburg, Kansas. She currently serves as director of community supports at Greenbush and has served on many nonprofit boards. She also served two terms in the Kansas Legislature representing House District 3 and four years on the Pittsburg City Commission with one year as Mayor. Monica and her husband, Rob, have three daughters and two grandchildren.

Dinah Sykes is a Kansas State Senator and advocate for public education. Initially skeptical about running for office, she was inspired to take action after hearing the voices of frustrated Kansans who felt their concerns were ignored. As a first-time candidate, she won a State Senate race and in her first term, helped repeal the Brownback tax experiment, restore funding for public education, and invest in early childhood programs. Sykes advocates for affordable healthcare, a strong public education system, and more efficient governance. A wife, mother, and fierce supporter of children and education she is committed to making government work for the people with courage, compassion, and common sense. Dinah is currently serving in her third term in the Kansas Senate and second term as Senate Minority Leader. Prior to her election in 2016, she ran her own business as a personal chef and worked in higher education as a development officer.

Dyogga Adegbore joined the Kansas Children’s Cabinet in 2004 and has worked in state government 38 years. Dyogga handles Accounts Payables, prepares federal financial reports, board minutes, sets up contracts and grants, and makes travel arrangements. She worked with the CEOs of the Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas State Fire Marshal, and Kansas State Bank Commissioner offices. Dyogga is a graduate of Washburn University of Topeka and Platt College. She is married with one son who is in graduate school.

Melissa Schoenberger joined the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund in May 2025. Prior, Melissa worked for 24 years at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. A public health framework and grassroots advocacy are important to Melissa as she was a part of the team who championed the states Clean Indoor Air Act while with the Tobacco  Control Program. Most recently she has served as a director of the Child Care Licensing Program with a field services and early childhood systems lens. Furthering the beauty of rural Kansas is prime to Melissa as a graduate of Fort Hays State University with a social work degree and resident of Ellis County. Through innovative solutions while in child care, including the small center pilot, she ensured child care provider voices were heard…especially those in our frontier counties. In her free time, Melissa is a true foodie traveling Western Kansas looking for unique dining opportunities and experiencing local culture.  

Melissa Rooker was named Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund in February of 2019. Before joining the Cabinet, Melissa served three terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, representing House District 25 between 2012 and 2018. Her work in the legislature focused on children’s issues and public education. Melissa recognized that high quality early childhood interventions led to student success and made funding those programs her priority. She played a lead role in drafting a new school finance formula for K-12 public education that includes an expansion of the preschool program and full funding for all-day kindergarten.

Prior to running for office, Melissa spent 15 years as a development executive at Clint Eastwood’s Malpaso Productions. She retired in 2001 to raise her kids. Over the years, Melissa served in a variety of leadership positions with local, regional and state PTA in Kansas, and as a legislator served on the Johnson County Education Research Triangle Authority Board, Shawnee Indian Mission Advisory Board and the Kansas Forestry Service Advisory Council.

In 1986, Melissa graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in Art History. She and her husband Tom make their home in Fairway. They have two adult children, and one grandson.

Craig Barnes joined the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund in March of 2025. Prior to joining the Cabinet, Craig worked at the Shawnee County Health Department for 12 years working with Child Care Licensing, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Public Relations. Craig is a 2011 graduate of Emporia State University were he now serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. In his free time, Craig enjoys spending time with his family, his wife Katie and their two boys. It is not uncommon to see Craig and his family enjoying the outdoors in one of Shawnee County’s local parks or trails.

Megan Brohaugh joined the Kansas Children’s Cabinet in January 2022. Prior to joining the Cabinet, Megan worked with the Kansas Attorney General’s office for six years working with concealed carry licensing, private detective licensing, and bail enforcement licensing. Megan has worked with the state government for over eight years. She attended Washburn University to study business law. When she isn’t running to a practice or tournament, she enjoys spending time outside with her two boys.

Christie Wyckoff joined the Kansas Children’s Cabinet in May 2023. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2008 with a bachelor’s in management and marketing. Through college, and 10 years after, Christie worked in the custom apparel industry. Just prior to coming to the Cabinet, she worked in School Finance at the Kansas State Department of Education for almost five years. Her family, friends, and their little ones are Christie’s motivation for her professional and community work.