Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Announces New CEO

FORT WORTH, TX- A press release from the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has said, that after a thorough national search, they have named Maria Thomas-Jones as the new Chief Executive Officer, and her position will become effective immediately.

The press release stated, “The Board met last month for its quarterly meeting, during which Board Members unanimously voted to select Md. Thomas-Jones, who has served as Interim CEO since February 2016.”

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to officially welcome Maria Thomas-Jones as the new CEO of Legal Aid NorthWest Texas,” said Jan Langbein, Board Chair. “Maria has served LANWT effectively in many different capacities during her 17-year tenure with the firm.”

Langbein explained that Tomas-Jones impressed the Board with her commitment and leadership. “Maria has demonstrated a style of leadership that is transparent and inclusive,” said Langbein. “She is strategic and has a solid vision for the future of LANWT. We believe she will bring the firm to even higher levels of achievement in providing legal services to low-income Texans.”

When the LANWT Board of Directors began searching for its new CEO, they had one primary goal: select the best CEO to support what it means to be the very best Legal Aid staff. “A Search Committee was assembled comprising representatives from LANWT’s staff, executives, and union, as well as the Board,” the press release stated.

Throughout the process, the Board worked to ensure that its staff had an active role in the selection process by participating throughout surveys and a town-hall candidate forum. In the end, the Search Committee recommended Ms. Thomas-Jones as their top candidate.

“I am honored to have been selected from the broad field of candidates who applied to lead Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas,” said Thomas-Jones. “I look forward to continuing to work with our entire staff as we move our organization forward and meet our ongoing mission to deliver quality civil legal services to those in need in ever more innovative and effective ways, as our law firm has done for more than 65 years.”

Thomas-Jones joined LANWT in 1999, and is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. During her tenure with LANWT, Thomas-Jones has served as a staff attorney, the Supervising Attorney of Family Law Unit in Dallas, Deputy Director and Interim CEO.