Our Team

Theresa Roth is the Executive Director for NYSCA, joining the organization in February 2024. She has dedicated her career to advocating for victims of sexual violence and child abuse and has worked in the field of victim advocacy for over twenty years. Prior to joining NYSCA, she led the Justice for Children Advocacy Center in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties for eight years. She graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a BS in Community and Human Services and earned her MS in Public Affairs from the University of Missouri. Theresa was born and raised in Akron, NY and continues to serve that community by volunteering for the Akron Fire Company, along with her husband, Don. She is also the proud mother of two daughters. In her spare time, Theresa enjoys photography, gardening, and bird watching.

Patricia Maio Mullin, Director of Communications, joined NYSCA in 2018. She received her BFA from Syracuse University majoring in Advertising Design. Patty began her marketing/design career in the cable television industry winning awards from HBO and Showtime for creative development. From there, she worked for Syracuse-based advertising/design firms, started her own freelance business, and used her talents at the Child Advocacy Center in Onondaga County as the Marketing and Fund Development Specialist before joining NYSCA. Patty lives in Syracuse with her husband Paul. They have four children and became grandparents in February of 2022. She spends her time traveling to visit her children and granddaughter. 

John Kelly is the Statewide Multidisciplinary Team Director for NYSCA, joining the organization in October, 2019. He joined the Saratoga Springs Police Department and enjoyed assignments that included DARE, School Resource Officer, Bike Patrol & Community Services and finally retiring in 2012
as an investigator. John then joined the Harriet M. West Child Advocacy Center in Saratoga Springs and quickly gained a second family. He was born in Ticonderoga, NY and is the oldest of three, with two sisters. John and his wife, Robyn, have two children, Chad and Morgan. John loves the outdoors and has completed 26 of the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks. Some day he hopes to slow down and retire to the Carolinas....some day.

Tebo Cossa is the Director of Data Services and Analytics for NYSCA, joining the team in
April 2020. Having come from a Child Advocacy Center, she is well versed in the CAC model and has knowledge of database systems. Tebo worked as a Community Outreach & Education Specialist before becoming a Victim Advocate. Prior to her positions at a Child Advocacy Center, she was a Volunteer and Diversity Specialist for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). Tebo graduated with a BA from Global University in South Africa and received a Post Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Studies
from the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. She is a puppetry artist and skilled Ventriloquists performer. Tebo finds joy in spending her leisure time traveling with her family and running her online closet.

Kim Haight is the Director of Advocacy & Membership Support for NYSCA, joining the organization in February 2023, after serving for nearly 6 years as Executive Director of The Child Abuse Prevention Center / Dutchess County Child Advocacy Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.  Kim was raised in Burnt Hills, New York, where she lived until moving to the Hudson Valley to attended Marist College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration.  Kim has dedicated her career to advocating for children and families, and has done so working in the nonprofit sector for the past 20 years.  She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, three children, and two dogs.  She enjoys doing crafts with her kids, gardening, and vacationing in the Adirondacks. 

Paige Potter joined the NYSCA team in September of 2023 as the Director of Training and Development. Paige was born and raised in Cortland, New York, leading her to pursue a BS in Sociology and a MS in Community Health both from SUNY Cortland. While working towards each degree Paige was also a
5-year member and a 2-year captain of the SUNY Cortland Women’s Lacrosse Team. Prior to NYSCA, Paige was the Community Outreach Educator at the Cortland County Child Advocacy Center, where she became well versed in different child abuse/exploitation prevention curriculums and other trainings such as, Less Is More. She currently is still residing in Cortland with her partner Jake and their 5-year-old pup Oakley. In her free time, Paige enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling to spend time with family and friends.

Tammy Schmidt is Director of Finance, joining NYSCA in March 2024. She has over 28 years of experience working with grants and budgets and is also the Financial Management Assistant for two departments of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee Justice and the Justice for Children Advocacy Center. Tammy has experience working in the private sector as an accounts payable clerk and an office manager. She is currently on the City Council in the City of Batavia. Tammy graduated from Genesee Community College with a degree in Accounting and lives in Batavia with her husband of 32 years, Mark. She has 2 children and 2 grandchildren that she loves spending time with and attending all their sport and dance functions. Her favorite things to do are vacations, boating, and camping.