Meet our Staff
AWAKE operates with full time employees, part time employees and many dozens of volunteers. In addition to our essential functions, we organize outreach to the community in a variety of ways, and conduct fundraisers throughout the year.
Crystal Jones, Executive Director
Crystal serves as the Executive Director of AWAKE and is tasked with grant management, fundraising, collaborative governance, and project coordination. She also conducts victim outreach in our communities by ensuring effective cooperation and child-centered needs are met. She worked with AWAKE as the Assistant Director/Victim Outreach Coordinator from 2020 to 2022. She will forever be grateful for her mentor and friend, Renee Coward (retired Executive Director). Crystal served her country by enlisting in the United States Air Force from 2005 to 2011. She also served her community as a law enforcement officer for over nine years. Crystal has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University and has a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs, also from W.C.U. She proudly serves as the Board Secretary on the Child Medical Collaborative Inc.
Paige Gilliland, Senior Case Manager and Forensic Interviewer
Paige currently serves as AWAKE’s Senior Forensic Interviewer and Case Manager, conducting interviews with child victims and providing advocacy services to families from the point of referral to resolution in court and beyond. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the Honors College at Western Carolina University in 2011. Paige has been in the child welfare field for over a decade, serving as a Guardian Ad Litem in Haywood County, as well as working at KARE Children’s Advocacy Center from 2012 – 2015. Paige is a certified victim services practitioner and is trained in four nationally recognized forensic interview protocols. She is also a diplomate certified child forensic interviewer through the National Association of Child Forensic Interviewers. Paige is employed part time as a faculty moderator with the RADAR forensic interview training team. She is also pursuing a law degree through the University of Dayton School of Law.
Ashley Cook, Operations Coordinator
Ashley serves as AWAKE’s Operations Coordinator. Ashley recently received an Associates of Human Services Technologies and also has an Associates in Business Administration and Early Childhood Development from Southwestern Community College. Ashley received Victim Advocate training through the National Children’s Advocacy Center. She has worked for several years with families in the community and loves being able to advocate and provide services for families in need. Ashley coordinates numerous youth sports groups in Jackson County in addition to serving as the treasurer for youth sports.
Kristen Brady, Victim Advocate, Forensic Interviewer and Administrative Assistant
Kristen serves as Victim Advocate and Administrative Assistant. Kristen is in the process of receiving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western Carolina University. She is trained as a Victim Advocate through The National Children’s Advocacy Center. Kristen is also trained in helping families and recognizing and preventing child abuse. After she completes her education, she has decided to stay in Western North Carolina and is eager to serve families in the area.
Hannah Trammel, Forensic Interviewer and Case Manager
Hannah received her Bachelor’s of Art in Educational Studies from Bryan College and is currently working to obtain her Master of Human Services in Lifespan Development. Hannah has received training in NCAC and RADAR forensic interviewing protocols. She has worked with children and families for several years and is excited to serve the families of Jackson County!
Molly Boughman, L.C.S.W., Mental Health Therapist
Molly has over 11 years experience in the field of working with child abuse victims and their families. We are so thankful that she has joined our team to help children who have been abused, work past their trauma and become survivors.
Margarita Martinez-Lopez, Spanish and English Bilingual Mental Health Therapist
Margarita received her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2022 and her master’s degree in social work in 2024, both from Western Carolina University. Margarita has experience working with English and Spanish speaking victims and has worked in a variety of settings providing services to children, teenagers and families with the focus being on advocacy and mental health. Margarita loves working with our communities and is excited to continue to enhance her experiences and learning to provide the best possible services to those in need.
Stephanie Martinez Cedillo, Bilingual Victim Advocate and Case Manager
Stephanie serves as AWAKE’s English and Spanish bilingual Victim Advocate. She is a certified CNA and will be enrolled in the Psychology Department at Western Carolina University in the Spring. Stephanie completed an internship with AWAKE during which she had the opportunity to work with children and families as well as provide interpretation services. After graduation, Stephanie aspires to be a mental health therapist for children who have experienced trauma.
