Board of Directors

Dr. Raquel Peat, MS, MPH, PhD, Chair
Paula Walker, MBA, Vice-Chair
Lori Rheubottom, MS, Treasurer
Sean Byrd, MS

Pnleaarun Le, MSN-BL
Mary Mitchell, LCSW-C
William Pierce, PharmD
Caroline Presbury, LCSW-C

Gail Schumann, LCSW-C
David Schwab, MSIS

Dr. Peat serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Family Service Foundation.  Dr. Peat’s entire professional career has been in service to the United States, in the United States Army and subsequently in the United States Public Health Service- 24-year career dedicated to the advancement of health. She serves in a leadership position and is responsible for providing scientific and regulatory subject matter expertise for advancing, promoting and protecting the public’s health and the improvement of health.

Dr. Peat has served in numerous volunteer positions to include as the Director and Adjunct Professor for the Adult Health and Development Program at the University of Maryland’s College Park Campus.  In this capacity, she supervised staff in the training for 140 participants on health educational aspects of gerontological health which includes developing programs for the elderly, consisting of members within the Maryland community, veterans, foreign born individuals and those with developmentally disabilities. She participates in medical missions with non-profit global public health organization assisting host countries in free vision care.

Dr. Peat participated in multiple deployments to provide healthcare to disadvantaged and underserved populations, and has received numerous citations for her efforts, including but not limited to the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal and the Joseph Garcia Jr. Award for extraordinary excellence, contributions to public health in general, and continuous leadership in multiple roles.

Degrees received from University of Maryland (BS, PhD), Johns Hopkins University (MS) and George Washington University (MPH).

Paula Walker serves FSF as Vice Chair of the Board, Chair of the Nominating Committee, and as a member of the Finance Committee. Ms. Walker has been a public health professional and manager for over 25 years, with comprehensive experience and success in contracting and procurement, grants management, community relations, health promotion and financial management. During her career Paula has established policies and procedures, and instituted process improvements that have created efficiencies, eliminated duplication of effort and saved money.  Her efforts in the public sector have helped to grow and promote numerous community-based organizations and small businesses. She is an effective trainer, facilitator and team builder who is focused on motivating and supporting others to succeed.

In addition to her other work, Paula has a background in real estate and real estate education, as well as event planning and voice over work. She plans and directs special events for her church and serves as an usher.

Ms. Walker is a native Washingtonian, who now resides in Prince Georges County.  She received both her BS and MBA from Mt. St. Mary’s College (now University).

Sylvia serves as the Board of Directors’ Human Resources Chair. She is a Nationally Certified Mental Health Counselor.  Sylvia received a Bachelors  of Science Degree in Biology from Howard University and Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.

Sylvia has extensive experience in both the mental health and human resources fields.  Sylvia  has provided individual, marital, couples, group therapy and crisis interventions to a diverse client populations using a variety of treatment models.  In her current  position, Sylvia oversees  the human resources  operations . She develops organizational strategies by identifying and researching human resources issues; contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to organization strategic thinking and direction.

Mary Mitchell serves on the Board of Directors’ Human Resources, Fund Raising and CEO Search Committees.  She is a Board Certified Diplomat in clinical social work, is licensed at the clinical level in Maryland, and is a registered clinical supervisor with Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  Mary received a Master of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin.

Now retired from a 42 year career in the mental health field, Mary worked in both publically and privately funded human service organizations as an individual, family and group therapist, supervisor and program coordinator, and has expertise in working with people who are dually diagnosed with mental illness and developmental disability.  She was a faculty member in the Bachelor of Social Work programs at two universities/colleges in the Midwest, and also provided graduate social work student supervision throughout much of her career.  She worked in Family Service Foundation’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinics as a therapist and Clinical Supervisor.

Her volunteer roles have included activities in the Prince George’s Public Schools, the former Human Rights Advisory Committee in Prince George’s County, development and coordination of several emergency shelter programs through her church, and teaching in the church’s child and adult programs.