Mary Baker, PsyD
(Postdoctoral Fellow)
Mary is a postdoctoral fellow in clinical psychology with a focus in child abuse and trauma. She grew up in North Texas and attended Baylor University for her undergraduate degree. During her time in graduate school, Mary received supervised clinical training through a college counseling center, schools, private practices, a child advocacy center and an intensive outpatient program/partial hospitalization program. She graduated from Regent University with her Doctor of Psychology in 2020 and then moved to Tyler to complete her postdoctoral fellowship with the TASK program. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, crafting and spending time with her family and cats.
Beverly J. Bryant, MD, ABPN
(Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist)
Beverly and her husband are native Texans. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Texas at Austin and medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. Her adult residency was completed in New York, and her child and adolescent fellowship was successfully completed at the Yale Child Study Center. Most recently she has served as the Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she also held an appointment as an Associate Professor. She is well-suited for the TASK program since two of her many interests and areas of expertise include child trauma and emotional dysregulation in abused children. She and her husband have two adult sons, five dogs, four cats, and three horses.
Amber Quaranta-Leech, MA, LPC-S
(Licensed Professional Counselor)
Amber is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Supervisor (LPC-S). She is an EMDRIA certified provider, a Certified Career Counselor, trained in TF-CBT, certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) as well as a Natural Lifemanship: Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Therapy practitioner. She graduated from The University of Texas at Tyler in 2009 with her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Her work experiences have included a variety of settings such as adolescent drug rehab, hospitals, and Residential Treatment Centers. In 2013 Amber moved to Killeen, Texas and entered private practice. During her time there she focused on helping clients heal from trauma and abuse. She also helped individuals who needed support in transitions, life changes, and dealing with depression and anxiety. In 2020 Amber moved back to Tyler, Texas to join the TASK program. She especially enjoys education and curriculum development, and supervision of up and coming counselors. Amber is currently a student at Regent University working on her PhD in Counseling Education and Supervision.
Meghan Richardson, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CA-SANE, CP-SANE
(Advanced Nurse Practitioner)
Meghan is a family nurse practitioner (FNP-C) and certified adult/adolescent and pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner (CA-SANE, CP-SANE) through the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG). She started her nursing career in 2002 after graduating from Trinity Valley Community College and began working as a registered nurse in Tyler at UT Health East Texas in the level one trauma center emergency department. In 2005 she obtained her paramedic certification from Tyler Junior College and worked as a flight nurse in addition to continuing to work in the emergency department. She obtained her initial SANE certification in 2008 through the Texas OAG and worked on the UT Health East Texas SANE team. In 2012 she graduated from Texas Tech Health Science Center in Lubbock with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and in 2016 her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with her FNP. She has worked with several SANE teams, including Denver Health in Colorado, and had additional training through the University of Colorado Springs. During her career she has cared for patients of all ages with sexual and physical assault/abuse and domestic violence. She has a passion for educating and mentoring student nurses and any nurses at any stage in their career.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, and many pets.
Stephanie J. Simmons, PsyD
(Psychologist)
Stephanie is a licensed psychologist with a focus on child abuse and trauma. She grew up in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate. Stephanie graduated from Baylor University with her Doctor of Psychology in 2018 after completing rotations in early childhood abuse, assessment, and community mental health. She and her husband moved to Dallas for Stephanie’s postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric psychology at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and then to Tyler to begin work with the TASK program. Stephanie’s interests include PTSD, psychological assessment, parent training, supervision, and education. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and kayaking with her husband and dogs.
Jeffrey N. Wherry, PhD, ABPP
(Director)
Jeff completed his Ph.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi, and he earned the Diplomate in Clinical Psychology awarded by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has worked with residential populations, foster children, and has also seen outpatients in clinic. Jeff was the CEO of Children’s Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, where he also was involved in training, outpatient work with sexually abused children, and research. He has been a tenured professor at four universities. He directed the Research Institute of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. He currently is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. In addition to directing the TASK Program, Jeff also is serving as the PI on a SAMHSA grant which funds the training of clinicians across the country in evidence-based assessment of abused children. Jeff was named as an “Integrated Scholar” at Texas Tech University, and he received the “Outstanding Professional Award” in 2013 from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. His specialties include sexual abuse, PTSD, assessment, and treatment. Jeff has published more than 40 journal articles; has made over 250 presentations; and has received foundation and grant support in excess of $8 million. He and his wife of 42 years are proud parents of a daughter and two marvelous granddaughters.
Corrinne A. Warren
(Program Specialist)
Corrinne is the Project Specialist for TASK. She has lived in Texas her whole life. Born in Lubbock, she moved to East Texas at an early age. She and her husband of 32 years have one adult son. She enjoys spending time with her family while fishing, gardening, and enjoying the family hobby of classic cars. She is excited to be working with the TASK program and is very enthusiastic and eager to assist in any way.