Leadership & Board

Elizabeth is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist. Elizabeth attended Arizona State University, graduating as a Distinguished Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Minor in Human and Child Development. She received her Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as a Distinguished Graduate from Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Elizabeth has over 11 years of experience providing counseling services to at-risk youth and families in agency settings, with a focus on trauma-informed care. Elizabeth received specialized training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Processing), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), sandtray, and play therapy. She currently serves on the CTC Mental Health Advisory Committee and has held leadership positions on the board of the Central Texas Chapter of the Association for Play Therapy for the past 5 years.

Elizabeth began working for STARRY in 2017 as a satellite Counselor and later advanced to Team Supervisor for the STARRY FAYS program in Killeen, providing clinical supervision for graduate student interns and counseling services. She has also served as a Training and Technical Support Professional with STARRY’s STEP UP Texas program, providing training in trauma-informed care and restorative practices to community partners within Bell County. Today, Elizabeth continues to serve STARRY’s mission as the Senior Director of Family Support Services to provide clinical oversight to all STARRY programs and facilitate positive relationships with Universities to best support the graduate student intern experience at STARRY. In addition, Elizabeth serves as the HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer for the agency.

Elizabeth lives in the Killeen area with her husband, a retired Army Veteran, and her son. She is the proud mother of a Texas State University Bobcat! In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and practicing self-care through CrossFit and wood-working projects.

Deyanira (DeeDee) Duffy is a Director at STARRY. DeeDee attended the University of Texas Pan American, obtaining a Master of Arts Degree in Communication with a specialization in Organizational Communication. She obtained a Master of Social Work in 2023 from Walden University and became a licensed social worker as of December 2023. DeeDee’s experience with families and children includes six years with BCFS as a Case Manager and, ultimately Program Director for the Preparation for Adult Living Program and TWC Program. During her time with BCFS she assisted children and young adults in navigating the foster care system benefits as well as transitioning into independent living. DeeDee was transferred to the San Antonio office in 2017 to assist in restructuring the program there and expand her experience in networking, event coordination and youth engagement. DeeDee has 13+ plus years of experience serving families and children within the foster system, experiencing homelessness and children from hard places. DeeDee became employed by STARRY as a Family Support Specialist in the Killeen office in 2018 and was one of our bilingual providers. DeeDee married in 2019 and gained a bonus daughter, Adailyn. DeeDee gave birth to her second daughter, Arya in 2022.

Nita is the Director of the Carver Center for Families at STARRY. She is a Licensed Social Worker, Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner®, and N.E.A.R. Science Master Trainer who is committed to improving outcomes for families through supportive healing relationships. She began her social work career in Wichita Falls, Texas where she served as a Violent Crime Victim’s Advocate for 6 years. Upon relocating to Central Texas, she transitioned to the field of Foster Care and Adoption. Nita began working for STARRY Foster Care in 2012 as a Case Manager. She was then promoted to Foster Care Coordinator in 2014 and became the Director of Foster Care and Adoption in 2017, leading the program in becoming the first Child Placing Agency in the area to create a program focusing solely on supporting biological parents and reunification.

In 2022, STARRY elected to fully embrace their efforts in supporting biological families and shift their services upstream. Nita has helped lead this initiative to reduce childhood trauma through connecting with families prior to CPS involvement. This work is Nita’s focus through the new Georgetown Family Resource Center, of which she is the Director. The Family Resource Center is a partnership of the Georgetown Health Foundation and STARRY.

Michelle Villarreal, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and TBRI Practitioner, fulfills the role of Internship Support Professional at STARRY’s Temple and Waco offices. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University Central Texas.

Throughout her career, Michelle has dedicated herself to serving non-profit organizations in various capacities, as a counselor, program coordinator, in leadership, and more, and as a Temple native, she possesses an intimate understanding of the community and its resources. This familiarity enables her to effectively connect with both clients and staff and provide care in a holistic manner.

Michelle resides in Temple with her husband, three daughters, and two beloved dogs. Beyond her professional life, she finds joy in indulging in movies, crafting, and embarking on weekend adventures with her girls.

Diana Plachowski is STARRY’s Regional Manager of FSS – North. Diana received her Master’s in Social Work from Boston University, and is on track to pursue her LCSW.

Diana worked for the SAFE Alliance in Austin (previously the Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace) for 15 years prior to coming to STARRY. Diana worked as a direct care provider and program manager in their emergency children’s shelter and teen parent programs for 8 years before taking on the role of training and recruitment manager. Diana is a TBRI® Practitioner and Satori Alternatives to Managing Aggression (SAMA) Facilitator, as well as a trainer for OAG-Certified Sexual Assault Training Programs, and specialized in creating and implementing trauma-informed training programs for the SAFE Alliance as well as for the Austin community.

Diana started at STARRY in 2022 as an MSW Intern and Family Support Specialist at the Georgetown location before shifting to her role as the Team Supervisor for the combined Georgetown and Round Rock offices. Diana is passionate about trauma recovery and approaching individual mental health and family wellbeing from a social justice and health equity framework.

Diana is an avid reader and gardener, and enjoys cooking and hosting themed dinners for her husband and their friends. Whenever the weather permits, she can be found in a hammock in her garden, ideally surrounded by all 5 of her pets.

Clint Tomlinson is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor currently serving as the Regional Manager of FSS – North. Clint attended Tarleton State University for both his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and his Master of Science degree in Counseling/Psychology. Prior to working for STARRY, Clint worked at various funeral homes, the Stephenville’s regional Local Mental Health Authority, and STAR Council giving Clint a background in substance use counseling and domestic violence counseling. He worked at STARRY for just over 5 years serving as a counselor and Team Supervisor. After taking an 8-month sabbatical he has returned to the Team Supervisor position in the Stephenville office. Clint received his certification as a CBT provider and hopes to continue to serve this region for a long time. Clint lives in Stephenville and has spent most of his life in the Stephenville area. He is a proud supporter of Tarleton Athletics and is an avid Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers fan. He enjoys wood working and building projects, which tends to get him in trouble with his wife. He lives with his beautiful wife and daughters and two lab mixed pups. When he is not at work he and his family enjoy playing outside together, riding bikes, talking around a campfire, watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, going to Rangers games, and listening to Frank Sinatra and other jazz greats.

Ryan Guajardo is a licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor who works as the Internship Support Professional (ISP) for the Wilco and Killeen STARRY offices. Ryan attended Texas State University and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Music, and his Master pf Arts degree in Professional Counseling with an emphasis on Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. Ryan worked as a counseling intern and then staff counselor for 4 years at STARRY before leaving to explore private practice work in 2017.

Ryan returned to STARRY in February of 2024 to take on one of the new Internship Support Professional roles.

Ryan lives in Hutto with his partner and their dog, Winston. During his free time, Ryan enjoys playing video games, watching movies, playing guitar, and playing live music around the Austin area.

Cari Latimer is STARRY’s Waco Team Supervisor. Cari received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas – Arlington, and is pursuing her LCSW. She also holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M – Commerce.

Cari has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience serving children and families and providing case management, program management, and training to a variety of populations. Cari is a TBRI® Practitioner as well as a trainer for Bridges Out of Poverty, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the American Red Cross.

Cari started at STARRY in 2023 as an MSW Intern and Family Support Specialist at the Waco office before transitioning to her role as the Team Supervisor. Cari is passionate about helping others find healing and hope, while building skills that allow them to move forward and thrive.

Cari enjoys reading, painting, and baking in her free time and is convinced that coffee is essential to life. Cari volunteers as a mentor and resource navigator at Christian Women’s Job Corps in Waco where she lives with her husband and their little herd of dogs.

Buffy Messer is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor who currently works as the Team Supervisor at STARRY Wichita Falls. Buffy attended Texas Tech University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies – with an emphasis in Early Childhood and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Midwestern State University.

Buffy has over 25 years experience teaching young children and providing counseling and psychoeducation to children, adolescents and families as well as college students in schools, community outreach, and counseling agencies.

Buffy lives in Wichita Falls with her three dogs and, when they are home from college, her three adult children. When she is not working, you can find her volunteering in the Texoma community, coloring (especially mandalas!), playing with her dogs, and trying to keep her poor, struggling plants alive.