The Honorable Elizabeth K. Dillon

The Honorable Elizabeth K. Dillon is a United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia. She took the oath of office on February 16, 2015, and principally hears cases in the Roanoke and Harrisonburg divisions. Prior to judicial service, Judge Dillon practiced law for 29 years (Woods, Rogers in Roanoke, Virginia (1986-1998), Guynn & Dillon, P.C. (1999-2000), the Office of the City Attorney, City of Roanoke, Virginia (2000-2003), and Guynn, Memmer & Dillon, P.C., Salem, Virginia (2005-2015)). Her practice focused on civil rights litigation, employment litigation, and local government representation. She is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne college and Wake Forest University School of Law.

Robert L. Testman, Ph.D., M.D.

Dr. Trestman is Chair for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and at Carilion Clinic. He serves as Co-Chair of the Opioid Task Force at Carilion Clinic, and as Chair of the Research Committee, American Academy of Psychiatry, and the Law Institute of Education and Research.

Dr. Trestman earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University and his Ph.D. and M.D. from the University of Tennessee. He trained in psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Dr. Trestman is a nationally recognized expert in psychiatry and population health and has an extensive background in education and research. Dr. Trestman previously was a tenured professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, with a joint appointment as a professor of nursing. He served as executive director of a division of global health care to all inmates within the Connecticut Department of Correction. Prior to that, he serviced in numerous academic and leadership roles at the  University of Connecticut, Mount Sinai Medical Center, and the Bronx VA Medical Center. Dr. Trestman has lectured and consulted nationally and internationally, authored and coauthored over 150 peer reviewed articles, chapters, and commentaries, and is senior editor fo the Oxford Textbook of Correctional Psychiatry. 

Dr. Trestman serves as a consultant to the Federal Drug Treatment court in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia.

Christine Wright

Christine Wright spent many years living in active addition and it wasn't until her involvement with the Drug Court program that she received the treatment she so desperately needed. Christine was in the program for nearly three years - in which time she was incarcerated several times, sentenced to the ALPHA program, gave birth to her third child, and ultimately hit her rock bottom. Upon release, she volunteered with the HOPE Initiative as part of her requirements and graduated in 2018.

Since then, she has been working as a Peer Recovery Specialist, helping to light the way for others seeking a pathway out of addition and into recovery. With over five years in recovery, she has all three of her children home and has found a passion for live she never thought was possible. Christine is now a Registered Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Supervisor, the Behavioral Health Program Manager at Bradley Free Clinic, and a member of the steering committee for the Roanoke Valley Collective Response, none of which would be possible without the people who stepped in and loved her until she could love herself.

Dennis Gardner

Mr. Gardner has an Associate Degree in Administration of Justice from Virginia Western Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University, and a Master’s Degree in Business Management and Leadership from Liberty University.  He worked at the Roanoke County Police Department for over 10 years as a patrol officer, field training officer, and detective.  For the past eight years, he has been employed by the United States Probation Office for the Western District of Virginia as a United States Probation Officer.  He supervises people in the community and is the Drug Treatment Court Coordinator.

Monica Cliatt

Ms. Cliatt is the First Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Virginia, the office representing indigent members of our community accused of federal crimes.  She grew up in Georgia and moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to attend law school. Ms. Cliatt began her legal career as a legal services attorney representing victims of domestic violence. She joined two county public defender offices, specializing in appeals and juvenile delinquency. Afterwards, she was a law school clinician and adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law for ten years. She rejoined the public defender community as a federal defender in Pennsylvania. In 2019, she transferred to Roanoke, Virginia and became the First Assistant. In addition to assisting with the management of the office, one of her duties is to participate in the Drug Court Program, working with Judge Dillon, Probation Officer Dennis Gardner, and others to provide support for those convicted of crimes and struggling with addiction.

Kristin Johnson

Kristin B. Johnson is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. She prosecutes prescription drug diversion cases and serves as one of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s opioid coordinators. Under the leadership of former United States Attorney, now United States District Judge Thomas T. Cullen, she helped launch the district’s Heroin Education Action Team (HEAT) to raise awareness and understanding about the growing heroin and opioid epidemic and its impact on Virginia families. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2018, she served for more than a decade as the career law clerk for Chief United States District Judge Michael F. Urbanski, where she saw the devastating effects of substance abuse play out in the courtroom. During her tenure with the court, Judge Urbanski formed a federal Veteran’s Treatment Court and Drug Treatment Court. She witnessed firsthand how these programs offering alternatives to incarceration can help break the cycle of addiction and provide positive outcomes for defendants, their families, and the community.

Nancy Hans

Nancy joined the Prevention Council of Roanoke County in the fall of 2001 as a parent volunteer shortly after moving to Roanoke from Annapolis, MD. In the spring of 2005, she was hired to coordinate the Council’s grant efforts through the Drug Free Community Support Program at the Office of Drug Control Policy at the White House. In 2011 she became the Director of the Council and was named Executive Director in 2014. 

Over the past 16 years Nancy guided the council through the second phase of the DFC in 2008, when the Council secured its own 501(c)3 status, and was instrumental in securing the National Coalition of Excellence “Got Outcomes!” award 2010 from CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) and the SAVVY Model Program Award from the Office of the Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia. 

The Council is committed to reversing the opioid/heroin epidemic in our community and Nancy has served on the Opioid/Heroin Prevention Task Force since its inception 8 years ago. She has served as the Chair for the HOPE Initiative, serves on the Steering Committee for the Roanoke Valley Collective Response and is a founding member and past Chair of Community Coalitions of VA. She has completed 54 triathlons.

Jennifer Reed

Group Supervisor Jennifer Reed has been employed by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Diversion Control Division since July 2009. GS Reed started her career in the Boston Division Office and currently works in the Roanoke Office.

GS Reed has received recognition for her investigations to include an Investigative Achievement Award from the Boston U.S. Attorney's Office. 

GS Reed earned a B.S. from Abilene Christian University and worked in the marketing and banking fields prior to being hired by the DEA.

In her free time, GS Reed enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs and pursuing volunteer activities that support animals and verterans.