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Staff + Board Members
Jen Tarnowski
Executive Director
Jen graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After graduating college, she worked at the Covenant House in Fort Lauderdale as a Case Manager, Assistant Coordinator, and then Grants Coordinator. She then moved to Georgia and worked as a Middle School Youth Minister in Snellville and a Youth Ministry Event Planner for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. She began working for Rape Response in 2017 as a Contract Educator, and then moved to the Campus Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator. She currently serves as the Advocacy Director, where she has served since 2019, supervising staff and providing intervention, support, and advocacy for survivors and their loved ones. Jen is a member of the Gainesville Rotary Club and serves on the advisory board for FullCircle Georgia in Forsyth County. She is a VIRTUS certified facilitator on prevention of child sexual abuse and is a trained OneLove Escalation facilitator. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and baking.
Jen uses she/her pronouns.
Email: JEN@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Erica Autry Henderson, LMSW
Therapist
Erica graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and from the University of Georgia with her Masters in Social Work. She has been involved with Rape Response since 2013, holding the titles of Advocate, Educator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Programs Director before transitioning into her current role as Therapist. In her free time, Erica likes to read, explore new places, and spend time with her family outside!
Erica provides trauma focused therapy and group support for survivors of sexual trauma and their loved ones. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, Perinatal Mental Health, and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Erica is currently working towards certification in Expressive Arts Therapy and is training a therapy dog, Blue, who joins her for sessions. Blue is a rescued Great Dane who enjoys snuggles, snacks and is working hard to become a fully certified Therapy Dog.
Erica uses she/her pronouns.
Email: erica@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Sommer Floyd
Outreach & Education Advocate
Sommer received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in educational psychology & child development from Georgia Gwinnett College and is now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Georgia. Since graduating, Sommer has worked in a variety of educational settings, completed research on topics in educational psychology, and served as a youth mentor for adolescents in the foster care system. Sommer joined Rape Response as a volunteer in 2021 before she transitioned into her previous role as the Mobile Advocate. In her current role as the Outreach & Education Advocate, Sommer oversees Rape Response’s Prevention Education Program, coordinates services for students, and provides advocacy and support to survivors and their loved ones. In her free time, Sommer enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.
Sommer uses she/her pronouns.
Email: sommer@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Jeanne Buffington
Fundraising Manager
Jeanne served as the Chief Executive Officer for Rape Response, Inc. from 2010 to 2022. She is a graduate of Mercer University with a degree in Organization Leadership. As Executive Director she advises and consults with the Board in fiscal management, policy development, implementation and agency operations while maintaining the authority, responsibility and accountability for the daily operations and management of Rape Response. Jeanne is responsible for grant acquisition, funding and fiscal management and ensures the agency’s responsibilities to its clients and the community are met. Jeanne volunteers with two great nonprofit agencies: Thumbs Up Mission and Adults Protecting Children. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board for Truett McConnell University Rielin and Salmen School of Nursing and the Fetterman School of Nursing at Toccoa Falls College. She is a past Rotarian, Wisdom Keeper, United Way Hall County and Still Waters Counseling board member.
Jeanne uses she/her pronouns.
Email: JEANNE@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Sarah Marin
Campus Advocate
Sarah obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, with a minor in Education from Brenau University. She began volunteering with RRI in February of 2021 as a way to help survivors in her community. She is now the Campus Advocate & Outreach Coordinator. In her role, Sarah will serve as the primary advocate for the 4 Universities and 2 Technical Colleges in our 6 county radius. In addition, she will also schedule, coordinate and facilitate University/College outreach & awareness programs, develop campus resources for survivors of sexual violence, and provide advocacy as a trainer for campus professionals. In her free time Sarah enjoys hiking, shopping, binge watching Netflix shows, spending time with family, and fostering pets.
Sarah uses she/her pronouns.
Email: sarah@RAPERESPONSE.COM
April Aguirre Seid
Advocate
April obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a minor in Sociology from the University of North Georgia. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts (MA) in Professional Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Concentration at Piedmont University. April serves Rape Response as an Advocate. In her role as an advocate, she provides advocacy and comprehensive direct victim services to survivors and their loved ones throughout our 6-county service area. April is certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid and has been trained to provide initial help to someone experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, doing yoga, reading, and spending time with her friends and family.
April uses she/her pronouns.
Email: april@raperesponse.com
Maddie Weiss
Contract Therapist
Maddie graduated from Southeastern University with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. She is currently pursuing a MS in Clinical Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Trauma and Forensics. Maddie began seeing clients as a therapist at Rape Response in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys being outside hiking, spending time with her cat, and visiting with friends.
Maddie uses she/her pronouns.
Email: Maddie@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Miriam Murphy-Gary
Contract Therapist
Miriam Murphy-Gary is a Master’s Level Clinical Counseling Intern in the state of Georgia. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Studio Art Minor from Brenau University in 2019. In her first internship she worked with children who were survivors of trauma in 2018 as an intern at Gateway Domestic Violence Shelter. She then worked as a mentor for young adults on the Autism Spectrum at Brightstone Transitions in 2019 before beginning her graduate program in 2020. Currently she is in pursuit of a Masters in Clinical Counseling Psychology from Brenau University, and in 2022 she began seeing clients as a Psychotherapist at Rape Response under the supervision of Anjana Freeman, LPC.
Miriam uses she/her pronouns.
Email: Miriam@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Katherine Mitchell
intern Therapist
Katherine graduated from Ave Maria University in Naples, FL in 2014 with her BA and is currently completing her Master’s in Social Work through the University of Central Florida. She began her career as a teacher at Pinecrest Academy before pursuing a career in social work. Katherine started working with sexual abuse survivors in 2017 as a staff member at Jesse’s House, a trauma-informed group home for teen girls, and then in 2022 she entered into the role of counseling intern for Jesse’s House. She joined the Rape Response team in January 2023 as a counseling intern and looks forward to accompanying survivors on their healing journeys. Katherine is in her final year of her graduate level social work program in hopes of pursuing clinical counseling. She is certified in Crisis Prevention Intervention, and is working towards her certification as a Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals (CST-I). In her free time, Katherine enjoys hiking with her family, going to the gym, and playing outside with her children.
Katherine uses she/her pronouns.
Email: katherine@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Kalia Jordan
Advocate
Kalia obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Kennesaw State University. She began volunteering with Rape Response in 2011. She then switched roles to CCR in 2018. She now serves Rape Response as an advocate. She offers direct services to survivors in our 6 county districts of Hall, Habersham, Lumpkin, Forsyth, Dawson, and White. During her free time, Kalia loves to spend time with her husband and three children, paint, cook/bake, and craft.
Kalia uses she/her pronouns.
Email: kalia@RAPERESPONSE.COM
Board of Directors
President: Melissa King
Vice President: Sally Walden-Crowe
Treasurer: Jeremy Perry
Secretary: Leigh Stallings-Wood
Members at Large
Natasha Alvarado Kris Brown
Debbie Edwards Kevin Gaddis
Chris Gailey Monica Hayman
Amanda Lammers Gail Lane-Seabolt
Laura Major Shelly Martin
Carol Martin Sean McCusker
Ashton Meeks Alyson Paul
Carol Shirley Wanda Vance
Camille Viera Trey Wood
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