Meet our board

Sheila A. Schuster, PhD

KVH Board Chairperson

Sheila A. Schuster, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with graduate degrees from Purdue University and the University of Louisville. After twenty-five years of practice as a child psychologist, Dr. Schuster now devotes her full-time work to public policy advocacy on mental health, healthcare and disability issues.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Advocacy Action Network (AAN), an umbrella organization that includes the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, the United 874K Disabilities Coalition and the KY Medicaid Consortium. Dr. Schuster has served on the Board of Directors of a number of mental health, healthcare and civic organizations in the Louisville area and statewide. She recently completed two terms as the Chair of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, having served on the Foundation’s board since its inception.

Jiten Shah, MS

KVH Treasurer

Jiten Shah began his employment as an Environmental Engineer with the Green River Area Development District in 1973. In 1982, he was appointed Assistant Executive Director, and in 1987, he was named Executive Director of GRADD. Mr. Shah earned his B.S. and M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from University of Baroda, India. He continued his education at the University of West Virginia where he earned a M.S. in Environmental Engineering and has completed coursework toward an MBA at Murray State University. Jiten has been recognized for excellence in promoting and implementing regional approaches.

Richard J. Seckel, MSW

Richard J. Seckel is Director of the KY Equal Justice Center, a nonprofit civil legal services program with an extensive history of impact advocacy and coalition partnership. He coordinates statewide legal services task forces in consumer, family, housing and public benefits and often has served as an advocate on poverty law issues before state agencies and the KY General Assembly. He was one of the incorporators launching the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and has served on the Foundation’s Board and Community Advisory Committee. Rich holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MSW from West Virginia University. After college, he volunteered for two years as a boycott organizer for the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO.

David Allgood, MA

David Allgood is a graduate of the University of KY with a Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. David has either led or participated in several major advocacy efforts in the state. David is President of a Spinal Cord Support Group, a member of the National Council for Independent Living, serves on the Board of the KY Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund, is a former chair of the Hart-State Supported Living board, is a member of the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, a member of the Statewide Advisory Council for Vocational Rehabilitation, and serves as vice president for the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities. He is employed by Passport Health Plan.

Col Owens, JD

Col Owens is a Senior Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio LLC. He has worked for Legal Aid since 1985. He specializes in policy advocacy work to support clients pursuing economic self-sufficiency through employment and has worked on healthcare, child care, child support, welfare, and education and training issues. Mr. Owens chairs the Payment Reform Advisory Committee to Gov. Kasich’s Office of Health Transformation, and serves on the Payment Reform Collaborative of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. Col serves on the Board of Directors of Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) of Ohio. He co-chairs the Ohio Family (Healthcare) Coverage Coalition and the Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage Coalition, and serves on the Steering Committees of Advocates for Ohio’s Future and One Ohio Now. He serves on the Public Policy Committee of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.  Col lives in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Harvard College (B.A. 1969) and Boston University School of Law (J.D. 1977). He studied at the Harvard Divinity School (1969-71).

Rollin Tarter

Rollin Tarter is a sixth-generation Kentuckian, educated at Kentucky Wesleyan College, University of Louisville, and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After working for more than 30 years at bluegrass.org, Rollin now serves on their Board of Directors.

Roger Trent, MSW

Roger Trent served as Public Health Director for twelve years for the Boyle County Health Department from 1999 until retirement in July, 2011. During his directorship, Trent successfully lobbied the Danville City Commission to pass an ordinance banning smoking in all enclosed places of employment, including seating areas of all outdoor arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters. Roger said the day the measure went into effect, Aug. 8, 2008, was the proudest of his career. With his extensive training in substance abuse prevention, intervention, and community program development, Roger served as Chairperson for Boyle County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy from 2000 to 2007; currently serving as Fiscal Agent and Treasurer. He has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Centre College.