Jerry Cox
President

Jerry is the founder and president of Family Council.  He began Family Council in 1989 after a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to prevent the use of public funds for abortions.  He is the founder of the Education Alliance, the Arkansas Physician’s Resource Council, and the Arkansas Justice Institute.  In 2004 he spearheaded a successful effort to amend the Arkansas Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  In 2008 Jerry led a successful effort to pass the Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act. Between fundraising, public speaking, leading the staff, lobbying, and writing, Jerry maintains an active role in ensuring that Family Council continues to serve the people of Arkansas as it has for more than 30 years. He and his wife reside in Little Rock. They have four sons.


Lisa Crook
Education Alliance Director

Lisa worked at the Arkansas Department of Education for 30 years–including 10 years in the department’s Home School Office–before joining the Education Alliance in 2015. Lisa is a graduate of McClellan High School and she attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She and her husband have been married for 28 years. They have two daughters.


David Cox
Assistant Director

David is Jerry’s oldest son, and has worked for Family Council since 2007. He holds a degree in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Leadership and Ethics from John Brown University. David helps oversee Family Council’s operations, research, and communications. He also manages all of the websites for Family Council, Family Council Action Committee, Education Alliance, and the Arkansas Voter’s Guide.


Stephanie Nichols
Chief Legal Counsel, Arkansas Justice Institute

Stephanie is a lifelong Arkansan and a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she served on the editorial board for the Arkansas Law Review.  She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas.  She has been licensed to practice law in Arkansas since 2006.  Her career experience includes working in higher education administration, commercial litigation, and most recently, as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where she worked to advance religious liberty and conscience rights throughout the nation.  She serves as Chief Legal Counsel for the Arkansas Justice Institute, a division of Family Council. She works on legislation that advances life, liberty, and the wellbeing of Arkansas families.


Jim Lagrone, D. Min.
Church Ambassador Network Director

Dr. Jim Lagrone, former president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, has been in ministry for over 40 years. He is still currently a pastor and has worked in faith engagement in several states. He also worked for several years as an independent contractor with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He is leading the Church Ambassador Network for Family Council.


Luke McCoy
Development and Communications Director

Luke started working at Family Council in January, 2014. He works closely with Jerry on fundraising activities and lobbying efforts. If you get a chance to introduce yourself to Luke, please do. He would love to meet you.


Charisse Dean
Government Affairs

Charisse has worked with Family Council since 2014. She helps with lobbying efforts and oversees projects and events like Pastors Day at the Capitol.


Erin Hogan
Government Relations/Projects & Research

Erin has worked with Family Council since January of 2019. She helps with lobbying efforts and oversees projects and events like the monthly Prayer Meetings, Rapid Response Network, Pro-Life Communities, research, mailing logistics, and outreach.


Leslie Byrd
Administrative

Leslie has worked at Family Council since January of 2021. She assists in overseeing office administration, communications, and event planning.


Zoe Dean
Administrative

Zoe has worked at Family Council since December of 2022. holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Arkansas and is a certified birth and postpartum doula.