Magellan obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Memphis in 2011. She went on to receive a Master's degree in Human Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis in child life, from The University of Missouri in 2013. She completed her child life internship at Seattle Children's Hospital, then moved to South Carolina where she began her child life career working in pediatric hospice for Hands of Hope/Hospice Care of South Carolina. After a year and a half, Magellan moved to Texas and spent the next five years working as a Palliative Care Child Life Specialist for Baylor Scott & White Health in Fort Worth. In this role, she provided child life support to well children of seriously ill adults. When the opportunity presented itself, Magellan transitioned to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and spent three years developing their child life program for children of adult patients (amidst a global pandemic!). She is now the Hematology/Oncology Family Care Coordinator at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. In this position, she is utilizing her child life skills to recreate and oversee the H/O bereavement program. Magellan is passionate about serving grieving families, and has dedicated her 10+ year career to companioning families experiencing the death of a loved one.

Additionally, Magellan holds both a Grief Counseling Certification and Child and Adolescent Grief Counseling Certification from the American Institute of Healthcare Professionals, which lend well to her focus on grief and loss. She has published multiple professional articles for the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) Bulletin, and co-authored a chapter on child life in palliative care and hospice settings for both pediatrics and adults in the book The Role of Child LIfe Specialists in Community Settings. Magellan also co-presented at the 2020 and 2023 ACLP national conferences, and has co-presented webinars on grief-related topics for the ACLP and the National Alliance for Children's Grief. She currently teaches an online graduate level course on Grief, Loss, and Bereavement at Texas Woman's University and loves helping future professionals feel more confident in their ability to engage with those who are experiencing loss.

Magellan believes in continued professional growth not only within herself, but empowering others to do so as well. She was previously on the ACLP Mentor Program Committee and also served as a mentor during that time. Within SACLP, she has served as President-Elect (2021-2023), Secretary (2019-2021), and on the Professional Development Committee (2017-2018). Outside of work, Magellan is actively involved with her sorority, the Junior League of Fort Worth, and is the Vice President/Director of Fundraising for Love and Paws Rescue. Magellan is married to Chase and they have four fur babies- Sophie, Bumblebee, Windy, and Elsa.

Linsey holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and child development and a master's degree in adult learning. Linsey completed her child life internship in 1998 at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (Dallas) followed by a twenty-two year career at Cook Children's Health Care System (Fort Worth), launching child life in the ER and establishing the role of Clinical Education Coordinator. In 2021, Linsey made the brave decision to leave the clinical setting and opened Lighthouse of Hope, a child life private practice in Dallas-Fort Worth with a focus on supporting youth impacted by illness, injury, trauma, or loss. Linsey is Certified Child Life Specialist, Certified Grief Counselor, Registered Wonders & Worries Provider, TBRI Practitioner, educator, and speaker. In addition, Linsey is the founder of the Student Educator and Coordinator Think Tank and a founding board member of the SACLP.

Linsey likes wit, hilarity, and pretty things. She believes in not taking yourself too seriously and that no idea is a bad idea for ten minutes.

Leah discovered the field of child life as a junior volunteer at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in the 1980’s. Choosing her educational path with child life in mind, Leah received a BS in Psychology from Texas Christian University in 1993, completing both a practicum and internship at Cook Children’s, followed by an MS in Child Development from UT Austin in 1995. When life events led to areas of the US where child life positions were not available, Leah spent the next 15 years working in the field of early childhood where she taught children, parents and professionals through several non-profit organizations and the Head Start/Early Head Start program. In 2010, Leah found her way back to Temple, Texas, where she grew up, and back to the field of child life. Leah completed a second internship and fellowship at McLane Children’s Hospital, and has been there ever since. Leah has worked in various areas throughout the hospital and currently works in day surgery, special procedures, radiology and hem/onc.

At McLane Children’s, Leah is co-chair of the student committee and a member of shared governance and the bereavement committee. She is co-founder of Pawsitive Pals facility dog program and her greatest joy comes from working with facility dog Lorenzo by her side. Leah has served on the professional develop committees for both ACLP and SACLP, as well as the SACLP student committee. Leah is excited to serve as student committee chair and looks forward to continuing to support students entering the field of child life.

In her free time, Leah enjoys spending time with family and friends, singing, crafting, cooking, traveling and spending time outside.

Catie Reed is a Certified Child Life Specialist and Facility Dog Handler for Savannah at Dell Children's Blood and Cancer Center in Austin, TX. Originally from Austin, Catie moved to Memphis for her child life clinical internship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and then to Fort Myers Florida for her first job at Golisano Children's Hospital. While in Florida Catie worked with the Conference Planning Committee as part of the Florida Association of Child Life Professionals (FACLP), and decided to do the same for SACLP after moving back to Texas in 2018. Catie enjoys planning events and watching as all the little details come together to create a unified theme. She strives to help make the annual SACLP conference one that professionals look forward to for both the educational sessions AND the fun they have in connecting with one another and making friends.

Eli was born and raised in Houston, TX where they completed their undergraduate degree at the University of Houston in 2018, originally studying to become an educator. After teaching in public and private schools while obtaining a Master’s in Child Life, Eli completed their child life internship at Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, TX in 2021. Since then, Eli returned to Houston where they work at Texas Children’s Hospital in outpatient Radiology as a child life specialist.

Before being elected as the SACLP’s Outreach Chair for the 2021-2023 term, Eli also served on SACLP’s Professional Development Committee. Eli, remaining a teacher at heart, utilizes their position as a CCLS to lead educational initiatives pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion topics for Texas Children’s Child Life department as well as engaging in student programming opportunities.

In their personal life, Eli is an avid reader and loves to go camping in Texas’ many beautiful state parks with spouse, Jordan, and their dog, Sweet Pea.

Originally from Boston, MA, Sami completed her education at Wheelock College. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Counseling Psychology and a Master's in Child Life and Family Centered Care. While in Boston, she worked as a CCLS at Franciscan Children's for 3.5 years, where she had the opportunity to establish and grow the role of child life in an Inpatient Mental Health Unit. She moved to Texas in January of 2021, where she worked as a CCLS at Our Children's House for 2 years. Currently, Sami is the Adolescent Health/WISH Certified Child Life Specialist at Parkland Health in Dallas, TX. She works with a skilled team of midwives to provide developmentally appropriate education and trauma-informed care to adolescent mothers throughout their pregnancy and postpartum experience. She also works to reduce stress and increase coping for young children who have experienced the loss of a sibling during pregnancy.

Erica is a Certified Child Life Specialist in Oklahoma City working at INTEGRIS Health Children’s at Baptist Medical Center. Erica primarily covers the Pediatric ICU; however, transitions to supporting patients and families throughout the whole hospital during the evenings. She was born and raised in Plano, Texas and moved up to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2014 where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Arkansas. Erica completed her Child Life Practicum and Internship at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee before becoming certified. Erica moved to Oklahoma in 2020 and loves the work she does as a Certified Child Life Specialist. Erica is specifically passionate about building therapeutic relationships with patients and families to create individualized therapeutic activities that help support coping throughout hospital admissions. Erica recently got married and now lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her husband and two French Bulldogs. Erica is excited and honored to get to work alongside the members of the SACLP board during this term.

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and a Master’s degree in Human Development & Family Sciences from Texas State University. She completed her internship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, then moved to San Antonio where she began her child life career working at CHRISTUS Children’s in the emergency department. Currently, Melissa works as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital (CMHH) in Houston, TX on the general pediatrics and behavioral health unit.

Melissa consistently strives to participate in opportunities and discussions dedicated to increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the child life profession. She currently serves as a member of the ACLP DEI committee and a member of the DEI committee at CMHH. Melissa is excited to serve as webmaster to aid in establishing a sense of unity within SACLP by ensuring the website is easily accessible to both students and professionals.