Every Child Deserves a Happy Heart
20 Colonial Square, Sylva, North Carolina 28779
Meet our staff
Renée Coward, EdD
Renée serves as the Executive Director of AWAKE and is responsible for the overall operational services to victims. She has a background in educational leadership with an Educational Doctoral degree from Western Carolina University. She taught in grades 4-12, primarily in middle grades math and science in Jackson, Macon, and Wake Count
Renée serves as the Executive Director of AWAKE and is responsible for the overall operational services to victims. She has a background in educational leadership with an Educational Doctoral degree from Western Carolina University. She taught in grades 4-12, primarily in middle grades math and science in Jackson, Macon, and Wake County and then served as Program Director at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching until her retirement in 2012. She was hired as the Victim Services Coordinator at AWAKE in 2014 and then Executive Director in 2015. Renée is responsible for grants management, human resource operations, but also works with child victims as an assistant in providing direct victim services.
Crystal Jones
Crystal serves as the Assistant Director of AWAKE and is tasked with assisting with grant management, fundraising, collaborative governance, and project coordination. She also assists as the Victim Outreach Coordinator by ensuring effective cooperation and child-centered needs are met. Crystal served her country by enlisting in the Unit
Crystal serves as the Assistant Director of AWAKE and is tasked with assisting with grant management, fundraising, collaborative governance, and project coordination. She also assists as the Victim Outreach Coordinator by ensuring effective cooperation and child-centered needs are met. 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 WCU.
Paige Gilliland
Paige currently serves as AWAKE's Senior Case Manager and Forensic Interviewer, 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
Paige currently serves as AWAKE's Senior Case Manager and Forensic Interviewer, 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 seven years, 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 different nationally recognized forensic interview protocols. She is also employed through UNC-CH, as a faculty moderator on the RADAR forensic interview protocol training team.
Reggie Nichols, NP, MSW
Reggie serves as the Children Medical Provider as a Family Nurse Practitioner for AWAKE and is responsible for medical exams for child victims. His overall focus is to assess any immediate or potential long-term medical needs for the child, while evaluating for evidence of abuse. Reggie has his Master’s in Nursing as a Certified Family N
Reggie serves as the Children Medical Provider as a Family Nurse Practitioner for AWAKE and is responsible for medical exams for child victims. His overall focus is to assess any immediate or potential long-term medical needs for the child, while evaluating for evidence of abuse. Reggie has his Master’s in Nursing as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University and his Master’s in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Reggie began serving with AWAKE in 2020. He is a Rostered Children’s Medical Provider and has received a SANE-P and SANE-A certificate. Reggie is happily married since 2005 and has four children.
Sarah Hirsch, MA, MST
Sarah serves as the Victim Advocate at AWAKE. She speaks Spanish and English fluently, which directly assists with medical, legal, and educational interpretation and translation here at AWAKE. Sarah is a former high school teacher and college lecturer in New Hampshire. She is trained and skilled in Victim Advocacy through the Nationa
Sarah serves as the Victim Advocate at AWAKE. She speaks Spanish and English fluently, which directly assists with medical, legal, and educational interpretation and translation here at AWAKE. Sarah is a former high school teacher and college lecturer in New Hampshire. She is trained and skilled in Victim Advocacy through the National Children's Advocacy Center. This involves working directly with children, parents, and non-offending caregivers to support them through traumatic experiences. As a new resident of Sylva, she is excited to learn more about the Jackson County community, culture and beautiful environment here.