Amite Dominick, PhD
Founder & President
As a system impacted, woman of color, Dr. Amite Dominick Founded TPCA in July 2021. Dr. Dominick has worked in advocacy since 2015. Although she began her prison advocacy in 2015 when her then-husband was incarcerated, she has been an impacted family member throughout her lifetime. Dr. Dominick has worked with legislators to file all historic bills that requested Humane temperatures within the Texas Prisons, provided expert testimony before the Texas state legislatures, co-authored research reports, conducted various training of advocacy for impacted family members, and organized events to bring awareness events to the community. She has been profiled in various publications, other media sources, and presented at major conferences and events. Prior to Dr. Dominick being both a founding member and vice president of TPAA (May 2018 to June 2021), she was a Board Member of Texas CURE.
Dr. Dominick obtained both her Bachelor's of Clinical and Counseling Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from San Jose State University and a Doctorate degree in Psychology, from Loma Linda University in California. Her major areas of concentration included Experimental, Biological, and Social Psychology.
Dr. Dominick is a former Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Argosy University, Farmers Branch, Texas, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside, Moreno Valley Community College, Riverside Community College, and San Bernardino Community College at Crafton Hills.
Dr. Dominick is a Co-founder Climate and Incarceration Research Collective (CIRCol), Committee Chair for Conditions of Confinement for The National Trauma Education and Policy Institute and Honorary Member of The VOICES Advisory Board.
Dr. Dominick is passionate about seeing changes made to the inhumane conditions in Texas prisons. As President & Founder of TPCA Dr. Dominick is committed in every way to whatever this fight takes.
Jessica Dickerson
Board Member
Director of Law of Parties Campaign
jessica.dickerson@TPCAdvocates.org
Jessica Dickerson became involved in advocacy in 2020 after finding out that most Texas prisons don’t have air conditioning. This was a surprise, and the lack of humanity shown to Texas prisoners spurred her to action. She began by volunteering at Beat the Heat events, which were eye-opening and further cemented her commitment to advocating for AC.
Jessica’s passion is research and community education. She believes that more hasn’t changed within the criminal justice system because the public doesn’t understand that what happens behind prison walls connects and affects their communities. When they understand, they will become part of the movement advocating for positive change in our criminal justice system.
When she is not volunteering with TPCA, Jessica and her writing partner and illustrator, who is incarcerated, write and publish children’s books. Their recent works, Garrison’s Visitation Day and Alex’s Courage, address the trauma that children endure when they have a parent who becomes incarcerated. These books led to the formation of the Garrison and Friends Project. Through the arts, the project’s goal is to affect the statistic that says the children of incarcerated people are six times more likely to become incarcerated themselves.
In her free time, Jessica spends time with her children and with her five grandchildren. They are the light in her life!
O'dell Johnson, PhD
Board Member
O'dell.Johnson@TPCAdvocates.org
O’Dell Johnson, Ph.D., MBM is an associate professor of integrative health studies at Saybrook University and adjunct professor of community psychology and social justice at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. His primary research interests focus on health disparities in marginalized and underserved communities, particularly those who have been impacted by the US carceral system. His experience in cross-cultural professional spaces has contributed greatly to the development of meaningful axiological and epistemological worldviews to advance research and best practices when working with marginalized populations. Dr. Johnson earned his B. S. in Theological Science from St. Louis Christian College, followed by an M.S. in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, and a Ph.D. in Humanistic Psychology from Saybrook University.
TPCA Staff
Kathy Dunbar, MA
Impacted Family and Friends Mediator Specialist - Medical
kathy.dunbar@TPCAdvocates.org
Kathy Dunbar is Impacted Friend and Family Member Mediator Specialist & Incarcerated Support Team Lead - Women's Units & Medical Issues. She works with affected families, incarcerated people, TDCJ officials, lawmakers, and other organizations to promote TPCA's agenda, inform campaigns, and direct and inform policy change. Kathy provides education, support and advocacy to system impacted friends and family members of incarcerated individuals. Kathy is passionate about advocating for changes to the inhumane conditions in Texas prisons, along with reforming the Law of Parties and abolishing the death penalty. She is willing and able to speak up for people who feel they have no voice. Her work in advocacy spans over 6 yrs and her previous volunteer advocacy includes working on a variety of topics. Prior to her work with TPCA she volunteered for other organizations from 2018 to early 2021. Kathy began her efforts with TPCA as a member of the social media team and assisted in a variety of projects and continues to work tirelessly develops resources for currently incarcerated individuals, developing curriculum and training for impacted family and friends. Kathy is instrumental in driving TPCA's policy and program recommendations for TDCJ based on her communication with incarcerated individuals and their family members.
Ms. Dunbar has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Open University and obtained her Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Coventry. Kathy's heart for marginalized individuals is seen in her advocacy and in her work as a healthcare professional in a residential unit for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
In her free time, Kathy spends time with her horse, Buddy.
Janet Delk, MBA
Lead Events & Story telling Coordinator
janet.delk@TPCAdvocates.org
Janet Delk has joined TPCA in the new position of Events coordinator and will be responsible for event planning and development for the group. She brings with her several years of experience in coordinating large-scale events that focus on awareness and engagement and hopes to work with the organization to increase awareness of the injustices that are currently being perpetrated on the incarcerated population at TDCJ.
As a survivor of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Janet’s journey to advocacy began in the areas of health disparities and maternal mortality rates while supporting the Deputy Secretary of Health in Florida. After moving to Texas and experiencing firsthand the injustices of the Texas Department of Justice via an imprisoned loved one, her advocacy focus shifted from Maternal Health to the conditions and treatment of those incarcerated in the Texas Prison System.
Janet holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Flagler College in Florida, as well as a Master's In Business Administration from West Texas A&M. She currently resides in Pearland Texas with her son and has a daughter at Sam Houston State University.