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Karla Ward is the Executive Director of New Beginnings and is responsible for guiding the organization while overseeing its clinical and educational programs of the agency as well as grant writing and fundraising.

She is Chair of the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and is Chair for the Program Implementation Committee that oversees the statewide initiative of the Green Dot Program.

Karla has been with New Beginnings since 1998, when she joined the organization as Community Educator.

Karla earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education from Western Kentucky University in 1994.

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Julie Campbell is the Assistant Director for New Beginnings and is responsible for managing the business and accounting functions of the agency. In addition, she presents community education programs and covers the crisis line when the need arises.

She is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants and a member of the Tri-State Payroll Association.

Julie has been with New Beginnings since 1999, and has twice briefly served as interim director for the organization.

Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Murray State University in 1995 and a Masters of Business Administration from Murray State University in 1997.

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Ronda Howard is the Prevention Educator for New Beginnings and is responsible for educating the community on violence prevention.

She is Chair of the Owensboro-Daviess County Prevention Team and a member of the of the PIC committee for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs.

Ronda has been with New Beginnings since 2007, having spent the previous ten years teaching children in grades two through four.

Ronda earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University in 1994.

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Rebecca Roby is a Clinical Therapist for New Beginnings and is responsible for providing educational and individual therapy to those affected by sexual victimization. In addition, she provides medical and legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault. Rebecca is trained in EMDR, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Child Centered Play Therapy.

Rebecca has been with New Beginnings since 2009.

Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Brescia University in 2005 and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville in 2006. She earned a Certified Social Work License in 2006 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2011.

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Tara Gann is a Clinical Therapist for New Beginnings and is responsible for providing therapy services for clients of all ages in Henderson, Union & Webster counties.  In addition, she provides medical & legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault and conducts crisis, educational & family sessions.

Tara has been with New Beginnings since 2007.  She earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Brescia University in 2004 and a Master of Science in Social work from the University of Louisville in 2005.  She became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2011.  Tara has been trained in EMDR and utilizes CBT & child centered play therapy for individualized treatment of clients.

[email protected]

Emalee Deel is a Clinical Therapist for New Beginnings and is responsible for providing therapy services for clients of all ages in Henderson, Union, and Webster Counties. In addition, she provides medical and legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault and conducts crisis, educational and family sessions. Emalee is trained in EMDR, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Child Centered Play Therapy.

She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Emalee has been with New Beginnings since 2011.

Emalee earned a Bachelor of Social Work from University of Southern Indiana in 2007 and a Master of Social Work from University of Southern Indiana in 2008. She became a Certified Social Worker in 2010 & a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2013.

[email protected]

Jennifer Francis is a Clinical Therapist for New Beginnings and is responsible for providing educational and individual therapy to those affected by sexual victimization. In addition, she provides medical and legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault. Jennifer is trained in EMDR, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Child Centered Play Therapy.

Jennifer is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Jennifer has been with New Beginnings since 2016.

Jennifer earned a Bachelor’s of Psychology and Sociology in 1998 from Bellarmine University and a Master of Social Work from Spalding University in 2003. She earned a Certified Social Work License in 2007 and is currently working to obtain her Licensed Clinical Social Worker license.

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Terri Crowe is Advocacy Coordinator for New Beginnings and is responsible for ensuring that survivors have the best resources and the access to the help they need. In addition, she recruits and trains volunteers, provides training on rape and sexual assault to community responders (nurses, police officers, attorneys, etc.), and provides legal and medical advocacy and crisis counseling to survivors of sexual assault as needed.

She is a member of Toastmasters International, where she has earned Competent Communicator recognition.

Terri has been with New Beginnings since 2011, when she joined as a Volunteer Advocate. She also served as Assistant to the Volunteer Coordinator before taking her current position.

Terri earned a Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Disorders from University of Kentucky in 1995, graduating Cum Laude. She earned a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of Kentucky in 2000, and is a member of the Beta Phi Mu honor society.

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Breanna Smith is the Service Coordinator for New Beginnings. She is responsible for ensuring smooth operations of the office administrative functions as well as facilitating client access to services.

Breanna earned her Associate of Science degree from Owensboro Community and Technical College in 2015. She plans to continue her education and earn her bachelor’s degree in the near future. She has been with New Beginnings since 2019. She was previously the assistant director of a daycare for the past 3 years.

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Crystal Wall is the Volunteer Coordinator for New Beginnings.  She is responsible for the recruitment, training, and supervision of the crisis intervention volunteer advocates.

Crystal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University in 2002.  She has been with New Beginnings since 2016.

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Shelly Nichols is a 1996 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Social Work. She was drawn to victim’s work and especially interested in working with women; empowering survivors of interpersonal violence. She spent 7 years working at three different domestic violence programs in three different states…. As advocate, counselor and supervisor. (YWCA Spouse Abuse Center, Lexington, KY., Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies, Punta Gorda, Fl., Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence, Columbus, Oh.) In 2003, she became the Assistant Administrator for Victim’s Services through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, where she assisted in victim-offender dialogues and supported victim’s families through the execution process. In 2016, Nichols became Executive Director at OASIS (Owensboro Area Shelter & Information Services), where she worked for two years. Nichols is currently a Prevention Educator for New Beginnings Sexual Assault support services.
She is currently living in Owensboro, KY. with her husband and two sons, Cameron and Carter

Crystal Newton is a Clinical Therapist for New Beginnings and is responsible for providing educational and individual therapy to those affected by sexual victimization in Ohio County. In addition, she provides medical and legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault.

Crystal worked for New Beginnings 11 years before changing her careers to be a teacher at Owensboro High School.

In 2016 Crystal earned the Fonetta Elam award for Excellence in Clinical Supervision Service.

Crystal earned a Bachelor’s of Social Work in 1996 from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Social Work from University of Louisville  in 2000. 

[email protected]

Sandra Watts is an LMFT who has been with New Beginnings since 2014. Prior to coming to New Beginnings Sandra had her own private practice Watts Counseling. She graduated from Western Ky University with her MA in 1991. She is certified in EMDR part 1 and 2, Certified Reality Therapist, and Certified Bereavement Pastoral Counselor.

[email protected]

Alyssa Roberts is a Victim Advocate for New Beginnings and is responsible for ensuring that survivors have the best resources and the access to the help they need. In addition, she provides training on rape and sexual assault to community responders (nurses, police officers, attorneys, etc.), and provides legal and medical advocacy and crisis counseling to survivors of sexual assault as needed in Ohio County.

Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Literature from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2013. She has been with New Beginnings since 2019. She was previously a Career Developer with Audubon Area Community Based Services.

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Laura Jones is a Prevention Educator for New Beginnings and is passionate about educating the community about violence prevention and reducing the rate of interpersonal violence.
Laura came aboard the New Beginnings team in 2019 with an eclectic background. She worked formerly as a Diversion Intervention Specialist and assisted in the the preservation and reunification of community families.
In addition to work in community and support services, Laura is also a freelance graphic designer, fine artist, and photographer, and has worked actively in the community as a contributor to the arts.
She earned her Bachelor degree of Science in Art from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2001 and her Masters in Psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2012, earning Magna Cum Laude in her class.
In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and volunteering in the children’s ministry at her church.