
WISE Mission
WISE leads the Upper Valley to end gender-based violence through survivor-centered advocacy, prevention, education and mobilization for social change.
WISE Vision
A world of freedom, justice, equality and dignity where all thrive.
Contact WISE

WISE Program Center
38 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH 03766
24 hour crisis line: 866-348-9473
Tel: 603-448-5922 • Fax: 603-448-2799
Program Center hours: Monday – Friday
8:30am – 4:30pm
*Program Center and Co-location hours are temporarily changed due to Covid-19. Please call 866-348-9473 for immediate support, chat online, or text 603-836-9472.
Co-Locations:
Windsor Connection Resource Center
1 Railroad Avenue, Room 203
Windsor
Mondays
12:30pm – 4:30pm
Wednesdays 8:30am – 12:30pm
Good Neighbor Health Clinic
70 North Main Street
White River Junction
Wednesdays 8:30am – 11:30am
Upper Valley Haven
713 Hartford Avenue
White River Junction
Hixon House
Fridays 8:30am – 11:30am
Dartmouth College Campus
213 Wilson Hall
Hanover
Mondays 8:00am – 4:00pm
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Center for Nursing Excellence Conference Room
1 Medical Center Drive
Lebanon
1st Thursday every month 8:30am – 10:30am
3rd Thursday every month 8:30am – 11:00am
Do you want to hear more from us? Share your email address, and we will send you our eNews. Email us your address, and we will send you our printed Highlights publication. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and keep connected in real time.
MITC Director
MITC Coordinator
Campus Advocacy Coordinator
Shelter & Housing Coordinator
Communications & Development Director
Family Violence Prevention Services Coordinator
Data Specialist
Educator
Educator
Program Director
WANN Director and Attorney
Finance Assistant
WANN Legal Assistant
Program Advocate
Development Assistant
Executive Director
Resource Coordinator
MITC Coordinator
Legal Services Coordinator
Program Operations Manager
Finance Director
Abby Tassel, ext. 3206
Alycia Chen, ext. 3205
Bailey Ray, ext. 114
Bethany Hartt, ext. 122
Betsy Kohl, ext. 119
Brianne Gallagher, ext. 104
Charlene Mehegan, ext. 123
Eesha Bemra, ext. 116
Izzy Kotlowitz, ext. 115
Kate Rohdenburg, ext. 111
Kate Semple Barta, ext. 103
Kathleen Pratt, ext. 108
Kelly Pikus, ext. 102
Laura Marone, ext. 113
Lydia Foxall, ext. 118
Peggy O’Neil, ext. 110
Rebekah Smith, ext. 120
Shannon Smith, ext. 3205
Sharon Mee, ext. 125
Stacey Glazer, ext. 117
Suzanne Kelly, ext. 108
Please note that response time to emails may be a few days.
If you have an urgent request, please call (866) 348-WISE every hour, every day.
MITC Director – Abby Tassel, ext. 3206
MITC Coordinator– Alycia Chen, ext. 3205
Campus Advocacy Coordinator – Bailey Ray, ext. 114
Shelter & Housing Coordinator – Bethany Hartt, ext. 122
Communications & Development Director – Betsy Kohl, ext. 119
Family Violence Prevention Services Coordinator – Brianne Gallagher, ext. 104
Data Specialist – Charlene Mehegan, ext. 123
Educator – Eesha Bemra, ext. 116
Educator – Izzy Kotlowitz, ext. 115
Program Director – Kate Rohdenburg, ext. 111
WANN Director and Attorney – Kate Semple Barta, ext. 103
Finance Assistant – Kathleen Pratt, ext. 108
WANN Legal Assistant – Kelly Pikus, ext.102
Program Advocate – Laura Marone, ext. 113
Development Assistant – Lydia Foxall, ext. 118
Executive Director – Peggy O’Neil, ext. 110
Resource Coordinator – Rebekah Smith, ext.120
MITC Coordinator – Shannon Smith, ext. 3205
Legal Services Coordinator – Sharon Mee, ext. 125
Program Operations Manager – Stacey Glazer, ext. 117
Finance Director – Suzanne Kelly, ext. 108
Please note that response time to emails may be a few days.
If you have an urgent request, please call (866) 348-WISE every hour, every day.
WISE Board of Directors
Chair
Martha Goodrich
Vice Chair
Kate Griffiths Harrison
Treasurer
Margaret Rightmire
Secretary
Gail Gentes
Directors
Angela Zhang
Jason Lichtenstein
Jenny Levy
Jenny Williams
Karen Colberg
Mike Shipulski
Mindi Laine
Pat Glowa
Patricia Spellman
Sherice McCarthy-Hill
Executive Director
Peggy O’Neil, Executive
Board Emeritus
Susan Dewees
Tuck Revers Board Fellows
Sandhya Rajaraman
Will Indvik

WISE Strategic Advisors
Barbara Couch
Brian Edwards
Bruce Williamson
Giavanna Munafo
Gretchen Rittenhouse
Lizann Peyton
Sharin Luti
Service Area Map
Our unique service area of 986 square miles straddles the Connecticut River with communities in two different states.

WISE History
Over the past decades, WISE has supported more than 10,000 people, provided trauma support training to over 5,000 first-responder professionals, taught healthy relationship skills to more than 18,000 students and reached over 11,000 community members with customized workshops.
Founded in 1971 as a career resource center for women, WISE began as a grassroots organization offering education and employment training as well as support and information for new moms. As WISE became recognized as a safe space where women could gather as a community, they began to talk about experiences in their lives beyond careers. WISE listened and was struck by the stories of domestic and sexual violence at home and in the work place and realized that women were suffering.
In 1981 WISE joined the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and established a 24-hour crisis line (1-866-348-WISE). Eight years later the crisis line was receiving over 1000 calls annually.
In 1994 WISE hired a Youth Violence Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator, expanding the mission to not only respond as a crisis center, but to advocate for social change through education. Today WISE outreach programs reach an average of over 5000 people annually.
In 2001 WISE rented its first apartment to serve as a confidential emergency shelter for women fleeing violence.
In 2006 WISE bought the Program Center at 38 Bank Street in Lebanon NH, a permanent home and safe space for WISE, survivors, and the community. On February 8, 2008 WISE moved into the Program Center and has continued to provide and expand critical support for victims and survivors in the Upper Valley.
In 2013 WISE purchased a Safe Home realizing the dream to have its own warm, nurturing and holistic space where victims can be safe and begin their journey towards healing and self-sufficiency.
In 2015 WISE began a partnership with Dartmouth College to provide a dedicated campus advocate and a co-location site on campus.
In 2018 WISE opened a co-location site in Windsor, VT and partnered with Upper Valley Haven, Good Neighbor Health Clinic, and LISTEN to provide a coordinated community response to survivors of gender-based violence. In addition, WANN (Welcoming All Nationalities Network) became a program of WISE to provide legal assistance and comprehensive support to immigrant survivors of gender-based violence.
In 2019, WISE launched its Multidisciplinary Interview and Training Center, a ground-breaking collaboration with Windsor County State’s Attorney, the Windsor County Unit for Special Investigations and Hartford and Woodstock Police Departments. Through this program, victims are able to more accurately share their experiences of traumatic victimization, and the criminal legal system can secure more useful information for investigative and prosecution work.



WISE In The News
Timeline
2021
- A Milestone for WISE Serving the Upper Valley for 50 Years, Image Magazine
- Out & About Poetry, prose event looks to help writers connect, Valley News
- WISE Celebrates 50 Years Serving Survivors, The Lebanon Times
- Seven decades after a priest assaulted her, a Plainfield woman is still grappling with the trauma, Valley News
2020
- Survivors stand up for ‘Care Not Cops’ campaign, Valley News
- Spike in cases, worries about lockdowns renew fears of rise in domestic violence, Valley News
- Authors navigate strange chapter as book releases go virtual in pandemic, Valley News
- On the blog advocacy week repair, Vermont Network Blog
- Rule would gut U.S. role as human rights defender, Editorial by Kate Semple Barta, Valley News
- Ramesh: Fighting Sexual Violence in New Hampshire, The Dartmouth
- Settlement in Dartmouth sexual misconduct lawsuit gets final approval, Valley News
- Amid increase in domestic violence, students start online store to support victims, The Dartmouth
- New Title IX guidelines narrow sexual harassment definition, reframe investigative process, The Dartmouth
- Victim advocates unsettled by drop in help hotline calls during stay-at-home order, Chester Telegraph
- Social Distancing Cuts Crime, Valley News
- Support for domestic violence survivors amid covid-19 outbreak, NBC Channel 5:
- Upper Valley’s Housing Crunch Keeps Stable Housing Out Of Reach For Most Vulnerable, NHPR
- Emotional testimony heard on proposed gun legislation, The Eagle Times
- College, PBS department see changes after lawsuit, The Dartmouth
2019
- We are here for you, we believe you, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Newsletter
- Hanover police adopt new sexual assault reporting method, Valley News
- Caring for Women in Crisis , Health Watch Magazine
- Sexual assault reports increase, Valley News
- Under proposed settlement, plaintiffs in Dartmouth College lawsuit will each receive at least $75,000, Valley News
- Dartmouth College settles sexual misconduct lawsuit, Valley News
- What Sex Ed Looks Like In Vermont Today, VPR
- Geisel Professor Receives Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine News
- College denied claims made by expelled student in lawsuit, The Dartmouth
- WISE Exceeds $2 Million Goal in Wiser Community Campaign, Valley News
- A modern-day sex education, Valley News
- Honoring Those Who Survive , Valley News
- College debuts Campus Climate and Culture Initiative, The Dartmouth
- What Becky Lost Part 3 A Woman’s Please to Regain Custody, Valley News
- What Becky Lost Part 2 ‘I Almost Died From That One’, Valley News
- What Becky Lost Part 1 Records Were Destroyed, Valley News
- Lawsuit puts spotlight on College’s practices concerning sexual assault survivors, The Dartmouth
- Building Wise Communities, Upper Valley Image Magazine
- Nursing School Grads Recall Sexual Assaults, Valley News
- Women Speak The Truth, Men Need To Listen, Valley News
- Dartmouth Students Express Shock, Numbness to Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit, Valley News
- Nothing Changes, but We Are Not Alone, Valley News
- Domestic Trauma, Violence Affects Senior Citizens Too, Valley News
- Fondling Reports Rise at Dartmouth, Valley News
- Film, Panel Discussion, Focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Valley News
- Third Dartmouth Professor Ousted in Sexual Misconduct Inquiry, Valley News
2018
- Nonprofits to Benefit From Americorp Several Upper Valley Groups Will Receive Some Funding,Valley News
- Hanover Rotary Distributes $144,000 After Fundraiser , Valley News
- Finishing His Last Race , Valley News
- South Royalton Murder Raises Questions About Furlough, Valley News
- A Different Kind of Bottom Line: Boards Can Make or Break Nonprofits’ Success, Valley News
- WISE Focuses on Domestic & Sexual Violence with its Bi-Annual ‘Unedited Voices’ Performances, Image Magazine Online
- Hanover Police Adopt New Sexual Assault Reporting Method, Valley News
- Dartmouth Survey: More Sexual Assaults Reported, Valley News
- A Mother’s Crusade, Valley News
- Dartmouth Forms Sexual Misconduct Committee, Valley News
- More than 1,000 fill House chamber for gun hearing, Vermont Digger
- What Do Schools Teach About Sexual Harassment?, Education Week
- United Way campaign fails to meet fundraising goals, The Dartmouth
- Event Focuses on Gender-Based Violence, Valley News
2017
- Interview with Peggy O’Neil, on The River
- Column: Harassment Is About Power: Let’s Push Back by Peggy O’Neil For the Valley, Valley News
- Jim Kenyon: N.H. Policy Gap Makes It Hard for Mom to Defend Daughter, Valley News
- Men’s Health Magazine: December 2017, Fatherhood, pg. 17.
- $395,000 Grant Helps Vermont Coalition Target Elder Abuse , Valley News
- Here in Hanover: Picaboo Save Your Memories And Share Them, page 72-80
- Claims Against Professors Not Part of Work, Valley News
- WISE Will Use Grant to Expand, Valley News
- ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Maidstone’s Grisly Murder-Suicide Was Domestic Violence, Seven Days Vermont’s Independent Voice
- For Victims Of Domestic Violence, Guns In The Home Increase Terror, VPR
- 866-348-WISE: Lifting up the crisis hotline number for the Upper Valley’s main resource against gender-based violence, UV Index, Digital Publication of Valley News:
2016
- Partners in Protection, Mary Christie Quarterly
- WISE Words: Teens Talk to Their Peers, Woodstock Magazine
- Crisis Line Advocates Needed, Valley News
- College: Fewer Rapes Reported, Valley News
- Teen Issues, Teen Voices: High school students record radio spots through WISE, Valley News
2015
- Let’s Talk About Sex: Windsor High School’s Lack of Health and Sexual Education, The Windsor Gazette
- In prep school rape case, glimpse into objectification of girls, The Christian Science Monitor
- Amid confusion over sexual consent, advocates calling for increase in sex education, The Concord Monitor
- Talking about Touching: Teaching Consent and Respect, Kid Stuff Magazine
- Articles announcing the WISE Campus Advocate
- Link Up Holds Conference for Middle School Girls, The Dartmouth
- Assistant Director of WISE Honored, Valley News
- The Meaning of Yes and No: WISE Counsels High School Students on Sex and Consent, Valley News
2014
- 1 is 2 Many; Twenty Years of Fighting Violence Against Women and Girls, White House Report
- One voice for all victims: D-H’s Domestic Violence Task Force
- Domestic violence victims speak out: ‘If I worked, he would take my money’, The Guardian
- Dartmouth and Ayotte Discuss Plans to Address Sexual Assault , Valley News
- WISE Gets $50,000 Gift to Start Fund, Valley News
- Forcible sex offense reports rise in 2013, The Dartmouth
- WISE: Teaching Tools of Consent, The Lebanon Times
- Sexual Assault Survivors Step Out Of The Shadows And Into The Footlights on Vermont Public Radio
- Unedited Voices of the Upper Valley on CATV
- WISE Gives Aid To Victims Of Abuse on New Hampshire Public Radio
- Efforts rise to protect pets from domestic violence , Union Leader
- Rape Trial Ends in Acquittal, Valley News
- ‘Not Guilty’ Verdict In Dartmouth Rape Case Brings Mixed Reactions on Vermont Public Radio
- Teaching Kids About Sexual Assault, The Atlantic
- OMFG Teach Your Kids Accurate Names for Body Parts Already, Jezebel
- Featured on A Mighty Girl
- Featured on Scarleteen
2013
- The Case for Teaching Kids ‘Vagina,’ ‘Penis,’ and ‘Vulva’, The Atlantic
- Just say ‘vagina’: Using correct body part names empowers kids, experts say, Today.com/parents
2011
- Offering Refuge – And Hope in The Valley News
- Word to the WISE, Community Spotlight in Upper Valley Image
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of WISE to provide educational programs and/or services to victims/survivors of gender-based violence regardless of gender identity/expression/perception, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental or emotional ability, sexual orientation/identity, socio-economic status, race, national origin, parental responsibility, language, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation.
Your Rights
- You have a right to know and understand the policies of the organization.
- You have a right to make your own decisions, within the rules and policies of the organization
- You have a right to respectful treatment
- You have a right to access your individual records
- You have a right to have your information/records kept confidential according to New Hampshire and Vermont Laws including NH RSA 173-C
- You can speak to WISE staff about your rights under New Hampshire and Vermont Laws, including NH RSA 173-C.
- You have a right to offer suggestions and input concerning WISE.
- You have a right to have complaints concerning WISE services. To do this, you may make a complaint to the Assistant and/or Executive Director. If no resolution is reached, you may make a formal complaint to the WISE Board of Directors
- It is the policy of WISE to provide educational programs and/or services to victims/survivors of gender-based violence regardless of gender identity/expression/perception, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental or emotional ability, sexual orientation/identity, socio-economic status, race, national origin, parental responsibility, language, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation.