Staff Biographies

Lawrence Lyman has over 15 years experience in public service, primarily in local government with Travis County and the City of Austin. He currently serves as Division Director, overseeing planning staff, and managing workforce development and education for the Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

Prior to this assignment, his work has encompassed a wide range of human services issues including early childhood, youth development, basic needs, and public safety. Work in these areas has encompassed all phases of intermediary work: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University and a Master of Public Affairs from the L.B.J. School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Korey Darling has been with the Research & Planning Division since 2004. Korey’s work in the Division includes community planning in older adult services, strategic planning, demographic analysis, GIS mapping, and group facilitation. Her previous experience includes direct practice work with elders in nursing home and community-based settings and administrative work in family planning and community services at the state level. Korey earned a Bachelor of Arts from Clark University and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin.

Anna Lisa Conlin, LMSW is a Planner with the Travis County Health and Human Services Department’s Research & Planning Division. Her areas of focus include early care and education, public participation, community data analysis, and collaborative problem solving. Anna Lisa currently serves as the Travis County appointee to the City of Austin Early Childhood Council. She has over fifteen years of experience in social services, including a range of education and experience in child and youth development, demographic trends, low income working individuals and families, family economic security, and planning and policy development in both nonprofit and government settings.

Anna Lisa holds a Bachelor of Social Work (’03) and a Master of Science in Social Work with a focus on Administration and Planning (’04) from the University of Texas at Austin.

Brittain Ayres joined the Research & Planning Division in July 2016. Her previous experiences include community organizing work with people with disabilities, supporting a collective impact initiative for youth services, and communication and administrative work at a statewide advocacy organization. Prior to her time in Texas, Brittain worked with immigrants and migrant workers in Tennessee.

Brittain earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and a Master’s of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Courtney Bissonnet Lucas joined the Research & Planning Division in 2008. Her work includes performance measurement and evaluation for the Department's internal and external social service investments, community conditions and demographic analysis, and GIS mapping. Her prior work experience includes project management, with a focus on content and test development for state educational assessments, and educational research and assessment in reading and language arts.

Courtney earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Southwestern University and a Master of Education from the University of Texas at Austin.

Rachel Coff received her Bachelor of Arts from Rice University, and her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Administration and Planning and an interdisciplinary certificate in Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies. She has been with the Research & Planning Division since 2006. Rachel's work in the Research & Planning Division includes demographic analysis, community planning around immigrant issues, project management, group facilitation, and field instruction for MSSW interns. Her previous work experiences were in the areas of disabilities services, family violence and sexual assault, medical social work, and volunteer management.

Rochelle Olivares joined the Research & Planning Division in January 2018. Her previous experiences include direct practice work with youth, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and immigrants. Rochelle also has experience as a research consultant with a special focus on monitoring and evaluation and qualitative methodology and analysis. Within the division her primary issue area focus is youth and also includes performance measurement and evaluation.

Rochelle is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and obtained her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a Master of Public Affairs at the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Tara Carmean joined the Research & Planning Division as a Planner in 2012. Her previous experiences include direct practice work with low-income families and homeless individuals, patients with cancer and/or HIV, children experiencing mental health crisis, and children of domestic violence survivors. She also has experience working as a liaison and program specialist for a state agency and providing research assistance for a national social justice organization and a state university.

Tara earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Community and Administrative Leadership.

Tonya Pennie joined the Research & Planning Division in June of 2016. Her work within the division includes providing administrative, project and planning support to the Division Director and Research & Planning team. Her previous work experience includes business operations, account management, and sales administration. Tonya earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from St. Edward’s University.