Beth Maeker, BSn, rn, ca-CP sane, sane-A, SANE-P
immediate past president - Fort Worth, TEXAS

Beth Maeker is a Registered Nurse with specialized training in the assessment and treatment of patients of physical and sexual assault and abuse. Beth received her certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in March of 2013. She is certified by the Texas Office of the Attorney General in both the Pediatric and the Adolescent / Adult patient of sexual assault. In 2018, she received her IAFN certification as an Adult / Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and in 2019, she received her IAFN certification as a Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Beth also works with Texas A&M Health Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing as a Forensic Nurse Coach.  Her education includes a BA in psychology, with minors in sociology and addiction recovery studies from Texas Tech University. She returned to school and received her BSN / RN from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in 2010.  As a staff nurse, Beth worked in the surgical intensive care unit for 5 years. She left bedside nursing in 2015 to pursue a fulltime career in forensic nursing. Beth began her career in forensic nursing in 2013 with Forensic Nurse Staffing of West Texas where she remained until 2022. After calling Lubbock, Texas her home for 43 years, Beth said ‘goodbye’ to Lubbock and headed east on I-20 to Fort Worth, where she accepted a position with Texas Health Resources as the System SANE Manager for Texas Health Southwest division. Beth has received extensive training in non-fatal strangulation, human trafficking, and domestic violence. She has conducted numerous trainings on the subject of sexual assault, non-fatal strangulation, human trafficking, and domestic violence.  She has also co-authored articles on the care of patients of sexual assault / abuse.  These articles have been published in Nursing2023 and the Journal of Forensic Nursing. Beth has been an active member of the Texas IAFN Chapter for several years, serving in various positions on the Chapter Board.  She is the current Past President and will serve in that capacity from 2025 thru the end of 2026 

jenny black, BSN, RN, SANE-A
pRESIDENT - fort worth, TEXAS

Jenny Black is the Director of Forensic Nursing at the SAFE Alliance in Austin, Texas. She has been a forensic nurse since 2007. In 2015, Ms. Black co-founded Austin’s community based forensic nursing program. She was a principle investigator on the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Health Study, the first national study to research the recovery process after sexual assault. Ms. Black is certified as a sexual assault nurse examiner for adults/adolescents by the Texas Office of the Attorney General and the International Association of Forensic Nurses. She has served in leadership at the Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team and is a member of the Texas Office of the Governor's Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force. Ms. Black is a national educator and consultant on leadership, patient centered care, and the medical response to sexual assault.

CRystal conner, mSN, RNc-ob, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P
President elect - college station, texas

Crystal Conner has been a registered nurse since May of 2000 most of that time in labor and delivery. As a labor and delivery nurse, she discovered her love of forensic nursing and in 2016 became certified by the States of Texas as a SANE nurse in both adult and pediatric. In 2022 she earned her national certification in adult and pediatrics. In 2021, she became the co-coordinator of the forensic department at Baylor Scott and White in College Station. She works alongside 12 forensic nurses providing care for victims of violence in the Brazos Valley. Crystal received the “Top 10 Nurse” award in 2018 and 2019 for the care that she provides for her patients and her support to the community. She is an active member of several multidisciplinary teams within the Brazos Valley and surrounding counties. Crystal helps educate community partners, including law enforcement, advocates and other medical professionals about Forensic Nursing, including the sexual assault exam, domestic violence, child abuse and strangulation. Crystal is also a clinical coach at Texas A&M and works in training the up-and-coming forensic nurses.  She received her Masters of Forensics at Texas A&M in May 2024 to help increase her knowledge in the care and treatment plan of forensic patients. 

Dr. Cindy Burnette obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1997. Over the years she has continued her educational journey and completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2016. During her nursing career, she has practiced in many specialties but mainly in the areas of oncology, emergency nursing and trauma. From 2012-2014, she was also an assistant faculty member for Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Nursing. 

During her many years of emergency and trauma nursing, Dr. Burnette was introduced to the specialty of forensics. This led her to gain certification through the Texas Office of the Attorney General as a pediatric and adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and international SANE-A certification from the Internal Association of Forensic Nurses. She assisted in building the SANE program at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas and also served as the coordinator of their SANE program. Her passion and dedication to assist sexual assault victims compelled her to accept a position at Texas Health Resources with the System SANE Program. Dr. Burnette has 13 years of forensic nursing experience to include more than 200 completed sexual assault medical forensic examinations and numerous courtroom testimonies.

PAULA MARKS, RN, CA-SANE, sane-a
Treasurer - AUSTIN, texas

Paula Marks RN, SANE-A, CA-SANE is the Director of Forensic Nursing at the SAFE Alliance In Austin, Texas where she oversees clinic operations, training, onboarding, and mentorship of forensic nurses. She has been a forensic nurse since 2015 and continues to provide direct patient care as well as supervise the forensic nursing program at the SAFE Alliance. She believes the informed consent model is critical for patients and staff alike. At the SAFE Alliance, Ms. Marks developed and delivered curriculum for the 40-hour didactic program for sexual assault forensic nurses as well as clinical simulation training for speculum assessments and simulated medical forensic exams. Ms. Marks also participated as a forensic nurse expert at Texas A&M’s Center for Excellence in Forensic Nursing clinical simulation training. She consulted with Texas Teleforensic Remote Assistance Center, a program that provides telehealth assistance to underserved communities in Texas. Ms. Marks is also a strangulation expert witness and provides testimony and consultation for these trials. Ms. Marks’ background includes labor and delivery nursing and massage therapy for people with chronic pain, histories of trauma, and prenatal needs. Ms. Marks is the current Treasurer for the Texas Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses and enjoys the opportunity to cultivate relationships with programs from around the state.

SUSAN VELEZ, MSN, RN, CA-SANE, SANE-A
member at large - texas

Susan Velez has been a Registered Nurse since July 2013 and has been a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in Texas since October 2017. She has been certified as a SANE for Adults and Adolescents and is currently pursuing a certification for the Pediatric population. She currently works for Texas Health Resources as a full-time SANE, traveling between three facilities in three different counties, and has testified in court multiple times. She has been a member in good standing of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) since 2016 and the Texas Chapter of IAFN since 2021. She became a SANE-A through IAFN in 2019 and has maintained that certification. She obtained a Master of Science in Forensic Nursing in 2021 through Texas A&M University

LIZ WOLF, BSN, rn, CNP, CA-SANE, CP-sane, SANE-a, SANE-P, CFN, CFC, EMLS
MEMBER AT LARGE - texas

Elizabeth Wolf is the founder and owner of Wolf Legal Nurse Consultants, Inc. She is a  Registered Nurse and Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner. She is certified as as a Forensic  Nurse, Forensic Consultant, and Forensic Criminal Evidence Analyst. She is also certified in  Texas and Internationally as an Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.  

Elizabeth is an independent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for various counties east of Dallas. She is credentialed at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Commerce, and Quinlan, where  she performs sexual assault examinations. 

Elizabeth testifies as an expert witness in civil and criminal cases involving sexual  assault, pediatric physical assault, Intimate personal Violence, human trafficking, and  strangulation. She also lectures in various settings on many forensic topics. 

She is the SANE Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kaufman and Navarro  Counties. She also takes call at Grayson Children’s Advocacy Center and is currently developing  a SANE program in Fannin County. She is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree  at Abilene Christian University and anticipates graduating in December 2025.