Staff

Jacquelyn Cowan

Director of Project LIFE

Jacquelyn joined the UMFS staff in 2009 as Director of Project LIFE. Her experience includes program development and management, community outreach and collaboration, and planning local and regional initiatives for private and public agencies in the Richmond area. She has also been a volunteer youth mentoring trainer and small group leader. She is a graduate of Creighton University and received her MSW degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Phone: 804-239-1030 Email: jcowan@umfs.org

Talia Knezic

Project Coordinator

Talia joined UMFS in 2012 as the Project Coordinator. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Public Relations and Spanish from James Madison University. Prior to her involvement with UMFS, she worked as a case manager at a highly respected mediation and arbitration firm in Richmond. She brings a variety of skills and knowledge to the Project LIFE team in the areas of event planning, project management, marketing, public relations and administration. Talia is passionate about the youth in her community and has served as a mentor for at-risk teens for many years through her involvement with several mentoring programs as well as her dedication to the youth in her local church.
Phone: 804-239-1044 Email: tknezic@umfs.org

Leah Hatcher

Piedmont Region Independent Living Consultant

Leah earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology at Virginia Tech in 2005 and her master’s degree in counselor education through Radford University. Since 2002, she has worked in educational and community programs with at-risk youth and youth with disabilities. Leah has experience in cultivating partnerships, supervising counseling programs, and coordinating regional events for youth. Her key areas of training are in the following areas: youth development and related curriculums, service-learning, parent education curriculums, wraparound services, and volunteer management.
Phone: 540-589-6223 Email: lhatcher@umfs.org

Andrew Martin

Central Region Independent Living Consultant

Andrew received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Georgia State University in 2003 and a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2008. He is a two-time recipient of the Child Welfare Education and Support Stipend Program which prepared him to work in public child welfare, including Child Protective Services and foster care. He engages youth in the development of a regional youth council, strives to build community relationships that will improve youth outcomes, and enjoys mentoring youth who have transitioned from foster care by helping them use their strengths to create opportunities for success. Andrew serves on several committees to address the developmental needs of older youth in foster care.

Phone: 804-239-1033 Email: amartin@umfs.org

Melissa Peele

Eastern Region Independent Living Consultant

Melissa obtained her her bachelor’s degree in human services counseling from Old Dominion University and her Master of Social Work degree from Norfolk State University. She began working with youth in intensive treatment in 1996, and has since worked with public and private agencies providing in-home, case management, individual and family counseling, foster care/adoption training, adoption recruitment, and program development to include policy and procedures, staff trainings and evaluations.
Phone: 757-409-0242 Email: mpeele@umfs.org

Heather Wines

Northern Region Independent Living Consultant

Heather earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Mason University in 2006, with a focus on adolescent development. She began her career in 2002 as a supervisor of an after-school program and summer camp. In 2007, she joined a local department of social services as a foster care social worker as well as the Independent Living Coordinator. Heather also worked as a Qualified Mental Health Professional with families deemed at risk, and has had training in multiple aspects of the foster care system, ranging from prevention work to adoption services.
Phone: 540-905-5299 Email: hwines@umfs.org

Norma Wood

Western Region Independent Living Consultant

Norma earned her master’s degree in Christian education from Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Education and social work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998. Although she has worked with children, youth, and their families through faith-based settings for 30 years, Norma has worked as a child welfare professional since 1997. In 2004, she became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Over the years, Norma has worked for public and private agencies in the areas of foster care, adoption, and counseling.
Phone: 540-798-9908 Email: nwood@umfs.org

Kimberly Gilley

Best Practice Consultant

Kim earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Milligan College in 2007. Since 2008, she has worked for public and private agencies providing case management services to at risk populations in Northeast Tennessee and in the Piedmont Region of Virginia. She has extensive experience developing tool kits and implementing programming to address relationship development and maintenance and vocational skill development. Kim also has experience and training working as a meeting facilitator.
Phone: 434-906-1269 Email: kgilley@umfs.org

Craig Simmons

Best Practice Consultant

Craig joined the Project LIFE team in October 2010. He received his bachelor’s degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies and English from Virginia Tech in 2002 and 2004 respectively. He has worked with at risk youth in the roles of special education teacher, intensive in-home therapist, and match support for mentors and mentees. Most recently he served as a case manager and life skills coach for older youth in an independent living setting. He continues to mentor former foster youth who have emancipated from care, serving as a role model and resource. Craig is currently pursuing a masters in professional counseling from South University.
Phone: 804-239-1066 Email: crsimmons@umfs.org

Zandra Rawlinson

Organizational Learning Coordinator

Zandra received her Master of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has designed and delivered numerous trainings, workshops and handled a variety of training management functions. She serves as an internal consultant and the Project LIFE Youth Council Advisor. Also, for the UMFS Learning Institute, Zandra ensures that learning and development functions/activities are implemented agency-wide as well as perform curriculum development, assist with online learning and program planning. With her vast array of experience and ability, Zandra ranks among the best in the field.
Phone: 804-239-1090 Email: zrawlinson@umfs.org

Stevara L. Haley-Clark

Training Support Specialist

Stevara joined the UMFS staff in May 2010. Her previous experience includes program development and evaluation, case management, website maintenance, grant writing, risk management, and quality improvement. Stevara has previously worked with dislocated workers, homeless adults, foster care youth and high school students. She received both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in administration, policy and program planning.
Phone: 804-239-1028 Email: shaleyclark@umfs.org