Melissa 'Missy' Greathouse, Executive Director
Missy was named Executive Director by Dispute Resolution Institute’s Board of Directors on October 1, 2016. She has been employed by DRI since its doors opened in August 2009 serving as Program Administrator and Program Coordinator to several grant funded mediation programs. These programs include: the First Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Family Mediation Program, the Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program, the Jackson County and Williamson County Small Claims Mediation Programs, the St. Clair County Foreclosure Mediation Program and the First Judicial Circuit Foreclosure Mediation Program. Missy had an integral role in the development and incubation of the St. Clair County and First Judicial Circuit’s Foreclosure Mediation Programs. Notably, she authored the First Judicial Circuit Foreclosure Mediation Rule approved by the Illinois Supreme Court on January 28, 2016, and adopted by the First Judicial Circuit on April 1, 2016.
As a licensed attorney and mediator, Missy assists in planning and providing mediation trainings, provides pro bono mediations on behalf of DRI, and is on the pro bono attorney roster for Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance. Additionally, from 2011 – 2013 she assisted Southern Illinois University School of Law with BAR Prep for graduates preparing for the BAR exam.
Missy received her Juris Doctorate in 2008 from Southern Illinois University School of Law and licensed in November 2008. She has completed a 40-Hour Basic Skills and Family Mediation course and numerous advanced mediation trainings. Additionally, Missy has completed a 10-hour Guardian ad Litem course. In 2003, Missy received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Saint Louis University. Prior to attending law school, she was employed by the St. Louis City Children’s Division as a Foster Care Case Manager and Specialized Foster Home Licensing Worker.
Missy is very active in various organizations. She previously served on the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Committee on Mediation. In addition, Missy is a member of the following: Illinois State Bar Association – serving on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Council and the Agricultural Law Section Council; American Bar Association – Section Membership in Dispute Resolution, Environment, Energy and Resources, Family Law, Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division, Young Lawyers Division Dispute Resolution Committee; Jackson County Bar Association – past President, CLE Committee Member and past Social Committee Chair; Williamson County Bar Association; Association for Conflict Resolution; Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; National Association for Community Mediation; and American Agricultural Law Association.
In her spare time, Missy is a 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher. Her husband, Lee, works for Maryville University in Chesterfield, MO in IT. They live in the metro-east area with their daughter, Grace, and two cats, David and Matthew.
Austin Mathis, PrograMS director
Austin started with DRI in May of 2016 as an administrative assistant for the First Circuit Foreclosure Mediation Program. He then became a Program Coordinator for the same program. In 2017 he moved to St. Louis and took over the St. Clair County Foreclosure Mediation Program. He is now a Programs Manager in St. Clair County for the Eviction and Foreclosure Mediation Programs.
Austin has a Masters of Legal Studies degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. He is a member of the 20th Circuit Pro-Bono Committee. Austin's wife, Holly, is a graphic designer for New Balance. They recently moved back to Southern Illinois after living in St. Louis for the last 5 years with their daughter Margot and Siberian Husky Kuba.
Clare Killman, Programs manager
Clare Killman is the manager of our First Circuit offices, providing program management and mediation services to our First Circuit Family, Eviction and Small Claims Mediation Programs, our statewide Illinois Agricultural Mediation Program, and our Southern Illinois focused Community Mediation Program. With a background in criminal justice reform and being involved in regional politics, alternative dispute resolution models are a sustained area of interest for her.
In addition to her role at DRI, Clare currently serves on the board of the Golden Rainbows of Illinois South, the Citizen's Advisory Board for the Jackson County State's Attorney, and the Ambassador Committee for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. In 2023 she was elected to the Carbondale City Council as the first transgender councilperson in the state of Illinois. Clare is a member of the 1st Judicial Circuit’s Pro-Bono Committee. As a Southern Illinois Leadership Institute graduate, Clare has a clear commitment to the development of the public and nonprofit sectors of Illinois' economy she continues to demonstrate in her work with DRI. As a delegate to and fellow of Local Government 2030, Clare has a keen insight into the problems all local communities face in the United States. She is a delegate to a confederation of community organizations committed to building a democratic and egalitarian society from the ground up called Symbiosis. Clare routinely guest lectures for or has been a keynote speaker for Illinois Women in Leadership, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, American Planning Association’s Illinois Chapter, and Women in Planning and Development. As a longtime peace and human rights activist, Clare, in her capacity as an elected official has passed both a resolution calling for the peaceful end of all conflict and ordinance establishing a human rights title within municipal code.
She lives in Carbondale with her two dogs, senior special needs cat, 50 fish, and three dozen houseplants. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, gardening, reading and attending ideas salons.
Danielle Wallace, Administrative Assistant
Danielle started at DRI in May of 2023 as an Administrative Assistant at the Belleville Office. She works with the eviction and foreclosure mediation programs.
Danielle is a native of St. Clair County, living in Marissa all her life. She loves living in a small town. Danielle graduated from Marissa High School in 2015. Then she went on to earn dual Associates degrees in Science and Arts in 2018 from Southwestern Illinois College. After that, Danielle graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in December of 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Paralegal Studies with a pre-law specialization and minoring in Psychology.
In her personal life, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, attending weekly Bible study, traveling to new places on her summer vacations, and spending time with her cat Lisa.
Heather Kent, program ASSISTANT
Heather is a native of Central Illinois, born and raised in Arcola, home to the Purple Riders and Lawn Rangers. She holds an A.A.S. Administrative Professional degree and a B.S. Adult Education degree. She has extensive experience working in the non-profit sector, specifically higher education. Program improvement, efficiency, and data management are professional passions of hers.
Outside of work, Heather enjoys thrifting, watching true crime documentaries, making spooky crafts, and songwriting. She has a son and daughter, who are the lights in her life. Together they enjoy camping, hiking, and splashing in creeks.