Denise A. Swink, Knox County Director, dswink@knoxcounty.in.gov
Denise was born in Southern Knox County, Indiana and grew up on a farm with her parents and two sisters. She recently moved back from the Chicago area to her home in Knox County, Indiana. Denise is passionate about children and helping those less fortunate. She is the mother of two teenage daughters who help her maintain focus on family when the rapid pace of life seems overwhelming. Denise was the director of a Preschool for a local church and was a substitute school teacher at her alma mater, South Knox High School. She is also passionate about interior design and studied design in Joliet, Illinois and ran her own design business. She was also a tutor at the local community college, Vincennes University, where she obtained her Associate of Science degree in Education. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana in Elementary Education. Denise enjoys home decorating, caning chairs, and working out in her spare time, including walking, running, and bowling
Angie Halter, Case Coordinator, ahalter@knoxcounty.in.gov
Angie was born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana and graduated from Vincennes University with an AS in Law Enforcement. From there she attended Indiana State University with a BS in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She is currently working toward her MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice and Social Work. Angie has 11 years’ experience working for IDOC in correctional counseling and case management and is excited to return to her hometown for employment and to be a part of the CASA team. Angie is married with 3 children two of which are serving our country and one who is currently working for Duke in the environmental field. Hobbies include refurbishing furniture, kickboxing, or any type of exercise, listening to live music, and spending time with her family and 3 dogs.
Cheryl Hugunin, Case Coordinator, chugunin@knoxcounty.in.gov
Cheryl lives in Bicknell, Indiana. She has two adult daughters and three grandchildren. She has an associate’s degree in Business Administration and has worked as an administrator in long term care. Cheryl likes attending her grandchildren’s sporting events, and working in her yard.
Haleigh Kixmiller, Staff Advocate, hkixmiller@knoxcounty.in.gov
Haleigh was born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana. Haleigh graduated from Lincoln High School in 2015. She then pursued her interest in social work by obtaining an associate degree from Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, IL in May of 2023. She is currently furthering her education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work online at Western New Mexico University, with an expected graduation date of May 2025. She previously worked at Colonial Assisted Living for 2.5 years. She is a proud mother to one child. Haleigh is excited to start this new chapter in her life and looks forward to positively impacting the lives of those she helps.
Cathy Beaman, Staff Advocate, cbeaman@knoxcounty.in.gov
Cathy Beaman was born and raised in Knox County. She grew up the youngest of five children on her family’s small farm. She graduated from North Knox and has lived in Knox County her entire life. She is married and is the proud mother of nine children. Her five grandchildren (soon to be six…and hopefully many more to come in the future) are her pride and joy. Cathy is devoted to her family and has helped take care of several extended family members. After working as a Registered Nurse for 23 years, Cathy decided she was ready for a change. She worked as a classroom aide in an elementary school as well as a preschool. She discovered working with children was her true passion. She had become a CASA volunteer in 2018, and when her youngest son started school, Cathy became a CASA staff advocate beginning in November 2020. Getting to know the children, advocating for them, and being their voice is a role that Cathy proudly holds. She is delighted to make a difference in the lives of the children she serves.
Amanda Acuña, Staff Advocate, aacuna@knoxcounty.in.gov
Amanda Acuña was born and raised in Nogales/Rio Rico, Arizona until the age of 11, when she moved with her mother and two younger sisters to Vincennes Indiana. Amanda is a 2009 graduate of Vincennes Lincoln High School, she has a background in early education, secondary education, special education, ABA therapy, and translating (Spanish/ASL). Amanda now has been in Vincennes roughly 14 years, apart from some small moves here and there. She is a proud dog mom, loves to sing, play guitar, and spend time with loved ones. She stands for what she believes in and advocates for what is right. Amanda is excited to be a part of CASA and ready to make change happen.
Lindsey Flory, Volunteer Coordinator, lflory@knoxcounty.in.gov
Lindsey Flory was born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 2017 and went on to pursue a degree in Creative Writing. She continued her education by pursuing an additional degree in Music Production. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys writing songs and spending time with her dog, Stella. Previously, she worked at BridgePointe Health Campus in 2023. To this day, she continues to visit the residents there. She strives to help others in any way that she possibly can.
Emily Vickers, Administrative Assistant, evickers@knoxcounty.in.gov
Emily was born in Danville, Indiana and grew up in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vincennes. She went to Vincennes University and Indiana State University for Fine Arts. She expresses herself through her drawings and believes that every child is an artist. Emily wants people to tap into their creativity to find meaning and satisfaction in their own lives. She loves volunteering with animals and is a cat fanatic. She loves any kind of creative outlet such as sewing, crafting, and painting. Emily hopes to use art to bridge the difficult gap in the human experience that words don’t adequately cover and give voices to those who are often overlooked.