See our wonderful Directors and those whose guidance makes the different departments the best they can be, on our Leadership page.
Forensic Interviewing
JULIE S, MSW, LICSW, Lead Forensic Interviewer
Julie is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a Master and Bachelors Degree in Social Work. Julie is the Lead Forensic Interviewer at CornerHouse. Julie joined CornerHouse in 2006 as a Forensic Interviewer and Trainer, and in within her continued roles of a forensic interviewer and a trainer, Julie conducts forensic interviews with children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults regarding allegations of abuse or witnessing of violence; provides training for professionals in basic and advanced forensic interviewing skills and regarding other related topics, conducting training on a local, national, and international level; testifies as an expert witness; has authored and co-authored published articles regarding forensic interviewing; serves as a moderator for a national, online peer review process; participates in local and national task forces and committees; and engages in ongoing updating and development of The CornerHouse Forensic Interview Protocol™ and other practices. In early 2021, Julie became the Forensic Interviewing Manager, supervising CornerHouse’s team of forensic interviewers and managing the forensic interviewing program. In mid-2022, Julie transitioned to the newly created position of Lead Forensic Interviewer. As the Lead Forensic Interviewer, Julie works in collaboration with CornerHouse leadership, and engages in additional responsibilities related to development and support of CornerHouse’s team of forensic interviewers and of CornerHouse’s processes and practices for forensic interviewing. Prior to joining CornerHouse, Julie was a therapist in a residential treatment center, working with children and their families. Other professional experiences include working with individuals from preschool to young adulthood in a range of social service and school- and community-based programs.
ANNE L M, LSW, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer
Since joining the CornerHouse staff in 1993, Anne has conducted over 2,500 interviews with children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults, resulting in a career total of more than 3,500 interviews. Anne is also the co-developer and an ongoing facilitator of the CornerHouse training program for mandated reporters. Anne graduated with honors from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a Social Work emphasis and a minor in Psychology. When Anne came to CornerHouse, she had over 10 years of experience in juvenile probation, adolescent residential treatment, and county-administered social services. She worked for four years as a Child Protection/Child Welfare worker, and five years supervising the Children and Family Services programs in Chippewa County, Minnesota.
BARBARA K-P, Forensic Interviewer
Barb has undergraduate degrees in Family Life and Health and Nursing and advanced practice degrees or certificates in Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health and Forensic Nursing. With certification as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Barb is credentialed to provide medical forensic exams for Pediatric (SANE-P) and Adults and adolescents (SANE-A). Barb has been an educator and practitioner in Forensic Nursing where she has conducted more than 500 medical forensic exams. Barb has worked closely with CornerHouse and the Multi-disciplinary Team to insure the integrity of the forensic interview at CornerHouse. Barb is delighted to insure that the voices of children be heard through the forensic interview at CornerHouse.
Emma s, forensic interviewer and Trainer
Emma recently joined the Forensic Interviewing team in 2021 after joining CornerHouse as a Child & Family Advocate at CornerHouse in October of 2019. Emma graduated from Beloit College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with minors in Legal Studies and Political Science. Prior to CornerHouse, Emma worked for two years at a youth residential treatment facility in conjunction with both the Department of Corrections and the Department of Human Services, serving adolescent boys who were experiencing serious and persistent mental illness as well as showing high behavioral needs. While there, she helped to design and implement the Aftercare Program, which included working with residents during their time in treatment, as well as continuing to work with them to reintegrate into their communities post-treatment in the hopes of reducing recidivism rates. Emma is also currently pursuing her Master’s in Human Services with an emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health at Concordia University in St. Paul. Emma is a previous intern of CornerHouse and is thrilled to be back to continue to support families and children.
Isabelle F, Forensic Interviewer and Trainer
Isabelle joined CornerHouse in 2024. Isabelle has a master's degree in sociology with a focus on criminology from McGill University. While at Mcgill, Isabelle spent 6 years conducting research on best practices in forensic interviewing with children from various backgrounds. She has also worked with adult victim-survivors of sexual violence, as well as children and adults in the welfare systems in Canada. In her spare time, Isabelle enjoys reading, playing scrabble, and baking.
STEPHANIE R, MA, Forensic Interviewer
Stephanie joined the CornerHouse team in January of 2019. She started her career as frontline staff at St. Joseph’s Home for Children in Minneapolis. Stephanie then went on to earn her Master of Counseling from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS. After graduating, she worked for many years as a forensic interviewer and trainer in Kansas City, MO. During that time she conducted over 1,000 interviews with children, teens, and vulnerable adults. In 2016 Stephanie moved back to Minnesota and worked as a Victim Assistant Specialist with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center and the National Child Protection Training Center.
Forensic Services
MALLORY T, Forensic Services manager
Mallory joined the CornerHouse team in July of 2018. She brings with her a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Adult and Family Services from Iowa State University. As the Forensic Specialist Intake Lead she helps coordinate CornerHouse intake and referral services with local law enforcement and child protection investigators as well as helping to gather statistical reports on an as needed base. Before coming to CornerHouse Mallory worked for five years as a fulltime caregiver and also has previous work experience at a children's advocacy center in Nashville, TN.
Abby S, Forensic Services Specialist
Abby joined CornerHouse in June of 2023. She has her Bachelor’s of Sociology degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse alongside a minor in Interpersonal Communication. Abby was a part of an advocacy group within the athletics during her time in Wisconsin. This group was dedicated to learning about social issues and ways in which change can be created. Both this group and her major inspired her passion for advocacy work. Outside of work, Abby enjoys playing lacrosse, reading, and solving Sudoku.
Blair I, Forensic Services Specialist
Blair Ivey joined CornerHouse in February of 2023. Blair earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, where she primarily studied Creative Writing and African American Literature. In 2016, Blair left Georgia and moved to Minnesota, where she began her career in human services by working with vulnerable adults living with severe and persistent mental illness. Blair has worked with children on and off her entire adult life, from working at summer camps to teaching after-school chess clubs. In her free time, Blair enjoys reading both fiction and nonfiction, solving crossword puzzles, and drawing portraits in graphite and charcoal.
Caitie W, Forensic Services Specialist
Caitie joined the CornerHouse team in July of 2022. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Macalester College with a double Minor in French and Religious Studies. Caitie has a particular passion for Forensic Psychology. In college, she worked with domestic violence and reproductive rights organizations and she brings this love for advocacy into her role working at CornerHouse.
Paulina D, Forensic Services Specialist
Paulina joined the CornerHouse team as a bilingual specialist in September of 2023. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Psychology, and certificates in Criminal Justice and Global Health. During her time in Madison, she worked part-time for a Child Advocacy Center. It was there that she learned of her interest in CAC's and her passion for supporting children and families. Paulina loves spending time with friends and family, traveling, and cooking!
Training
KATIE B, Trainer
Katie brings 17 years of experience as a child protection social worker to the CornerHouse training department. Conducting child protection investigations has given Katie an opportunity to conduct forensic interviews with nearly 800 children and adolescents as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Katie graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and completed her teaching certification at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Her work at CornerHouse allows her to provide forensic interview training to professionals that conduct forensic interviews or are members of a multi-disciplinary team confronting abuse of vulnerable populations.
MICHELLE H, Trainer and Forensic interviewer
Michelle is a Trainer and Forensic Interviewer for CornerHouse. In this role, Michelle facilitates training to professionals on forensic interviewing and other related topics as well as contributing to the advancements in the field of professional education. Prior to this, Michelle worked in Children’s Advocacy Centers conducting over 1,200 forensic interviews. Michelle has experience in community outreach, crisis intervention, child abuse assessment, fact and expert witness testimony and prevention activities. Michelle has a Master’s Degree in Human Services: Child Protection with emphasis in Psychology of Child Advocacy and is certified as a Diplomat Child Forensic Interviewer through the National Association of Certified Child Forensic Interviewers.
Mental Health
Tina s, therapy services manager
Tina Strong, Ph.D., is the Therapy Services Manager - managing therapists within CornerHouse’s mental health clinic and coordinating family support groups. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Hamline University and her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles. Over the past 26 years, Tina has worked in several non-profit social service and community mental health agencies in both Minnesota and California. She has experience providing individual and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults affected by trauma. Before joining the CornerHouse team in October of 2018, Tina worked as a women’s and youth therapist at Domestic Abuse Project.
Inesa Z, MSW, LICSW, Clinical Supervisor
Inesa is a Family Services Therapist and Clinical Supervisor at CornerHouse. She received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Metropolitan State University and her Master’s in Social Work from University of Minnesota. Over the past 5 years, she has been working at CornerHouse providing individual and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults affected by trauma. She also has worked as a Trauma Social Worker at Children’s Hospital Minnesota. Inesa is proficient in Russian and fluent in Spanish, and she is passionate serving families of culturally diverse backgrounds.
Katie J, MSW, LGSW, Family services therapist
Katie is a Family Services Therapist at CornerHouse. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater from Barnard College at Columbia University, her Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Community-Based Practice from Fordham University. Katie also has a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee! Over the past 6 years, Katie has worked in a variety of social work settings in New York, New Mexico, and Minnesota. Before coming to CornerHouse, Katie worked at a child advocacy center and victim's services program in Albuquerque as a therapist serving children, adolescents, and families.
Advocates
Abigail F., Child and Family Advocacy Manager
Abby is the Child and Family Advocacy Manager, managing the team of advocates at CornerHouse. She received her B.S. in Psychology and minor in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Over the past 9 years, she has worked in trauma-informed care. From research on the impacts of trauma on children and adolescents at the U of M, to volunteering in community violence intervention centers, to mentoring refugee students, she is passionate about helping those impacted by trauma. In her free time, she likes to do photography, watch comedy, and hangout with her family.
Bleeshah V, Bilingual Child & Family Advocate
Bleeshah is a bilingual Child and Family Advocate at CornerHouse. She graduated from SCSU in 2017 in Community Psychology and a minor is Psychology. Prior to working at CornerHouse, she spent many years working with and advocating for diverse families and youth in the MN. She is incredibly passionate about providing a safe, trauma-informed space for all families. During her free time, she enjoys hikes, traveling, and bubble tea.
jovanna L, Bilingual child and family advocate
Jovanna graduated from the University of Minnesota- Twins Cities in 2021 with a Bachelor's of Science Psychology and a minor in Family Violence prevention degree. Prior to working at CornerHouse, Jovanna worked at early education centers and an immigration law firm that allowed her to use her Spanish speaking skills to help and connect a diverse group of people. Jovanna always wanted to create a warm and safe environment for everyone. During her free time, Jovanna likes searching for the best coffee shops in the Twin Cities, hiking, drawing, listening to music and podcasts.
Administration
Elena P, Bilingual Coordinator and Bookkeeper
Elena has joined the team as a bilingual coordinator and bookkeeper! She graduated from Bethel University with a B.A in Psychology, and a business minor. Prior to joining CornerHouse, she worked with flowers and celebrated all walks of life. She hopes to create a welcoming space here at CornerHouse and use her people-skills to serve and build relationships. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and contemplating about each person she has yet to meet. She enjoys a good play occasionally and hopes to travel more in the future.
Mirnesa H, Development and Training Coordinator
Mirnesa has been with the CornerHouse team since May of 2022. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Political Science, and Global Studies with an emphasis in Human Rights. Mirnesa supports multiple departments across the organization with her many skills, especially utilizing her communication and technological support skills. She loves to travel as well as find new coffee shops/cozy places to read her book of the week!
Fund Development
stacey j, MBA, Development Manager
Stacey Jensen is the Corporate Relations and Special Events Officer at CornerHouse where she specializes in creating memorable experiences that build brand recognition and drive meaningful awareness. She started her career as Regional and Political Coordinator of the California Restaurant Association where she worked with some of the top Chefs and Restaurant Owners in the nation to plan their special events. In 2009 she moved back to MN from CA and spent the next 11 years working for Running Aces, Casino, Hotel and Racetrack where she was responsible for building a very successful marketing events program from the ground up. She has a Marketing degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from St Thomas. Currently, Stacey serves on the Board of Director’s for the Minnesota Festival and Events Association, on the Young Professional Advisory Board for Team Women and is Chair of the Philanthropic Committee for National Concierge Association. In her free time, she is a mother to two crazy little boys. Her favorite place in the world is her cabin up north where her family has been creating memories for five generations!
Interns
Kat Quinn
Kat is an MSW intern that assists advocacy and support groups at CornerHouse. They graduated from UMN-Twin Cities with a BA in Psychology and a BA in Art Studio. Currently, they are seeking an MSW- clinical track at Augsburg University. Kat spent many years in diverse mental health settings from long term care to case management. In his free time, he enjoys learning new instruments and sipping coffee with his partner and husky!
Have questions about CornerHouse Programs and Services?
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