SSAB Staff Members
Katherine A. Thornton, Staff Director
Katherine Thornton was appointed as the Staff Director for the Social Security Advisory in July 2007. Prior to being named to this position she served as the Deputy Staff Director to the Board. Before coming to the Board in 2005, Ms. Thornton held several senior management positions in the Social Security Administration. From 1995-2002, she was the Director of the Center for Disability Programs in the Philadelphia region before relocating to SSA’s Baltimore headquarters. While in headquarters, she held a leadership position in the development of SSA’s eDib project and had a temporary appointment as a program manager with the International Social Security Association in Geneva Switzerland. During her tenure at the Social Security Administration, Kate was the recipient of several agency awards, including 3 Commissioner’s Citations for her work in the disability programs. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Work from Western Michigan University.
Deborah Sullivan, Deputy Staff Director
Deborah (Debi) Sullivan joined the Social Security Advisory Board staff in September 2007 as the Deputy Staff Director. Before joining the Board staff, she was a participant in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Senior Executive Service Candidate Program and did extensive work on the agency’s most recent disability service improvement initiatives. Ms. Sullivan began working for SSA as a claims representative in Columbus, Indiana in 1978 and has held increasingly more responsible supervisory and managerial positions throughout her career. She worked in a number of SSA field offices and the Regional Offices in both Chicago and Atlanta. In 2002, she relocated to SSA’s headquarters in Baltimore to become the Executive Officer of SSA’s strategic planning component which was responsible for the publication of the agency’s annual planning documents and periodic strategic plans. During her tenure at the Social Security Administration, Ms. Sullivan was the recipient of many awards including 5 Commissioner’s Citations and a National Performance Award. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science from BallStateUniversity and has completed additional graduate work at EmoryUniversity in Atlanta.
Joel A.
Feinleib
Joel Feinleib joined
the Advisory Board as Staff Economist in 2005 focusing on
long-term financing issues, reform proposals, and empirical
research. He previously worked as a research consultant and
policy analyst in Washington D.C. and Chicago specializing
in the economic, demographic and statistical analysis of social
policy issues including welfare policy, drug control policy,
environmental health and HIV/AIDS prevention. He holds a B.S.
in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
and a Masters in Public Policy Studies from the University
of Chicago .
Beverly
Rollins
Beverly Rollins
began her career with the Federal Government as a claims representative
for the Social Security Administration in the Rockville, Maryland
field office. She held a number of jobs with SSA, including
senior executive analyst for both the Associate Commissioner
of Hearings and Appeals and the Deputy Commissioner for Programs.
In 1995, she worked with the National Commission on
Childhood Disability, serving as an executive assistant to
the Staff Director. Prior to working for the Federal Government,
Ms. Rollins worked as a social worker for the Head Start
program and the West Virginia Department of Welfare.
Since joining the Board staff in 1996, she has served as Executive
Officer. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work
from West Virginia University and a Master's degree in
General Administration from the University of Maryland.
George Schuette
Before joining the
Advisory Board staff in 1999, George Schuette worked for the
Kentucky Department for Human Resources and the Social Security
Administration, taught in colleges, and served in the Army.
He began working for SSA as a generalist claims representative
in Cincinnati in 1977. In 1980 he moved to Baltimore to work
in the Office of Training. He worked in staff and management
positions in a variety of areas, including analyst training,
management training, programmatic training, evaluation, and
career development. He was involved in the introduction of
new technologies to the agency, including personal computers,
computer-based training, and interactive video. He has
a Ph.D. in history from Duke University.
David Warner
David Warner began
his career with the Federal Government in 1988 as a budget
and program analyst for the Office of the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C.
He worked principally on the administrative budget for the
Medicare program and the program and administrative budgets
for Medicaid and the Social Security Administration.
Mr. Warner transferred to the Social Security Administration
in 1995. Until 1998, he served as a senior social insurance
specialist and executive officer for the Deputy Commissioner
for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. In 1998,
Mr. Warner completed a developmental assignment as professional
staff to the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Committee
on Ways and Means. Since joining the staff of the Social
Security Advisory Board in 1999, he has served as professional
staff to the Board. He holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology
from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's degree in
public sector and non-profit financial management from the
University of Maryland.
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