Linnea Ionno, MPH
Executive director
Linnea received her Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Art History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Connecticut. She went on to complete her Master of Public Administration with a certification in Nonprofit Management at the University of Georgia. Linnea worked as an Outreach Advocate and Community Involvement & Volunteer Coordinator at Project Safe, a local nonprofit working to end domestic violence. Linnea first started working with the Cottage as a Hotline Volunteer and On-call Advocate in 2015. In 2017, Linnea was hired to be the Advocate for Adult Services before transitioning to the Director of Adult Services in 2018. In 2022, Linnea became the Executive Director and is honored to lead this incredible nonprofit!
Linnea uses she/her/hers pronouns.
Phone: 706-546-1133 Ext: 222
Sarah Still, MSW
director OF sexual assault center
Sarah received her Bachelor Degree in Psychology and her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Georgia. Before joining The Cottage, Sarah worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Emory University, working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Additionally, Sarah worked briefly as a Child and Adolescent Counselor in the Athens community. Sarah was both a prior Intern and an On-Call Advocate at The Cottage before becoming the Director of the Sexual Assault Center in 2022. Sarah is passionate about working collaboratively towards both prevention and healing from sexual violence.
Sarah uses she/her/hers pronouns.
Phone: 706-546-1133 Ext: 224
Annelise Allgood, LCSW
Director of children’s advocacy center
Annelise is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She was born and raised in Athens Clarke County. She has spent much of her professional career assisting children and families through crisis intervention, treatment planning, resource acquisition, and mental health therapy. Annelise oversees all clinical services for the child and adolescent program and provides family advocacy to caregivers and families. She is nationally certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and provides therapy services to children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.
Phone: 706-546-1133 Ext. 229
Email: annelise@northgeorgiacottage.org
Lori Karr
VICTIM’S ASSISTANCE PROGRAM & Outreach COordinator
Lori has a Bachelor Degree from The University of Georgia in Child and Family Development. She has worked with children and families for over fifteen years in a variety of settings. She joined our team as the Family Advocate in September of 2009 and has since been trained in Finding Words Georgia to also conduct forensic interviews. Lori currently works with the Victim’s Assistance Program for The Cottage. The Victim’s Assistance Program provides assessments and therapeutic interventions to child and adolescent survivors of child abuse. Lori also provides support and education to caregivers. Lori is also an authorized trained facilitator in the Darkness to Light Stewards of Children training program as well as Protecting Our Children and Prevent Child Abuse’s Circles of Safety.
Lori uses she/her/hers pronouns.
Phone: 706-546-1133 Ext. 221
Email: lori@northgeorgiacottage.org
Kristin Barnett, LCSW
FORENSIC INTERVIEW & mdt coordinator
Kristin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Georgia College & State University. She has also received a master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Evidence-Based Interpersonal Practice and Trauma Treatment graduate certificate from The University of Tennessee. Kristin began her professional career working with adolescents experiencing mental health crises. She has been conducting forensic interviews since 2019 after completing her training in Child First and enjoys working with our partner agencies in the fight against child abuse.
PHONE: 706-546-1133 EXT: 236
EMAIL: KRISTIN@NORTHGEORGIACOTTAGE.ORG
Alexia Ardon, MSW
BILINGUAL Forensic InterviewER, Advocate & Therapist
Alexia received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia and her master’s degree in Social Work from Walden University. Prior to joining The Cottage, she worked primarily with Latino/a/x children and families as a Community Support Individual. Alexia was a prior intern at The Cottage before becoming the Bilingual Forensic Interviewer, Advocate, and Therapist. Alexia looks forward to expanding our services to the Latino/a/x community and to help provide a safe space for anyone who has experienced abuse.
Alexia uses she/her pronouns.
Phone: 706-546-1133 ext. 226
Email: alexia@northgeorgiacottage.org
Tanya Wingfield
Community Engagement coordinator & executive assistant
Tanya Wingfield has twenty years of service to the Athens-Clarke County Community. Before joining The Cottage Tanya served as Director of Victim Services with the Western Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. Tanya has worked with community-based agencies Project Safe, Inc. and Community Connection of NEGA.
phone: 706-546-1133 ext. 223
email: tanya@northgeorgiacottage.org
Rachel Abbruzzi
ADVOCATE for adult services
Rachel received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Texas at El Paso. Rachel dedicated her time working with impoverished communities, navigating systems to supply families with resources, education, and safety. Before joining The Cottage, Rachel served as a victim advocate with the Athens-Clarke and Oconee County District Attorney's Offices and has deep compassion for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Rachel participates in various community organizations and values an interdisciplinary approach with partner agencies. Rachel serves as an Adult Advocate and works to establish a safe space for adults who have endured sexual violence at any point in their lives.
Rachel uses she/her/hers pronouns.
Phone: 706-546-1133 EXT: 227
Email: rachel@northgeorgiacottage.org
Elise Colquitt, MSW
FAMILY ADVOCATE & THERAPIST
Elise received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Mercer University and her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia. She has worked with children and families in a variety of settings, including working as an intake coordinator at Babies Can't Wait, a part-time case manager at The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, and with exploited youth through the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Georgia’s Commercial Sexually Exploited Children Response Ream. Elise completed an internship at The Cottage in May 2023, which further fueled her passion for this vital work. She is thrilled to join The Cottage as a family advocate and therapist dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families.
Elise uses she/her pronouns.