Heartland's Staff
Meet the dedicated team who carry out Heartland’s mission of inspiring compassion for animals, the earth and each other.
Staff Leadership
Jen Korz
Executive Director, she/herJen has been dedicated to non-profit work for the entirety of her almost 30-year career. After earning her degree in Social Work, she advocated for a variety of vulnerable populations, eventually finding her ultimate passion working with and for the animals. After working many years in fundraising and advocacy for a nationally-recognized animal organization, she changed gears and served as part of the administration team at an arts-based early childhood education landmark in Madison, Wisconsin. Jen brings expertise and connections in development, project management and strategic planning, but considers her passion and conviction for the mission of Heartland as her most important assets. While Jen was raised on the east coast, her family has Midwestern roots and she has been a resident of Madison since 2005. In her spare time, she enjoys eating her partner’s vegan culinary offerings and spending time with their two daughters and three rescue dogs; Otto, Finn and Mowgli.
Emma Rosera, LSW
Therapeutic Programs Director + Experiential Therapist, she/herEmma moved to the Madison area in 2017 from Minnesota. She earned her degree in social work and education, and has been practicing as a licensed social worker in child welfare for the past five years. Emma also teaches dog training classes at a local facility where she highlights using positive reinforcement techniques and teamwork. Heartland’s mission of inspiring compassion for all is close to Emma’s heart. Her current menagerie at home includes two cats, an ex-racing greyhound named Solomon, a leopard gecko, and a collection of fish. In her free time, Emma enjoys sipping coffee and reading on the couch with her pets, camping and hiking with her husband and dog, and playing board games. Emma is so excited to combine her love for animals with her passion for supporting families by being part of the experiential therapy program at Heartland!
Shelter Staff
Thomas Gasper
Groundskeeping Assistant, he/hisThomas started volunteering at Heartland in February 2021 and loved spending time with the staff and animals. He is excited to join the Heartland team for the summer because he has always been intrigued by tractors and farm machinery. He is looking forward to caring for the grounds at Heartland and making friends with the animals and staff. Thomas loves biking, video games, and his dog named Bear.
Michelle Hogan
Behavioral Health Lead, she/herMichelle moved to Madison from the Chicagoland area in December 2013 and started volunteering at Heartland doing animal care the following April. Michelle lives with her fiancé and their three dogs. They also foster for several organizations so they usually have a few foster animals (dogs, cats, and birds) at home, as well. Outside of Heartland, Michelle spends most of her time with her dogs, but also enjoys baking vegan desserts, reading too many books at one time, and listening to true crime podcasts.
Gia Arciero
Physical Health Lead, she/herGia spent many of her childhood and early adult years on farms working with horses. She moved to Madison from Minnesota in 2015, and started volunteering at Heartland when she left her job in January 2021. She loved spending time with the animals so much that she decided to join the staff! She lives with her husband, dog, and cat in McFarland. When she's not out snuggling the chickens, she spends her time sewing, weaving, and trying any other fiber art that seems fun.
Hannah Moore
Animal Caregiver - Generalist, she/herHannah was born and raised in Madison, WI. She grew up in the city but has loved and cared for many feathered and furry companion animals her whole life and is an avid outdoors enthusiast. Driven by her love for animals, Hannah started volunteering at Heartland Farm Sanctuary in December of 2021 as part of the Animal Care team. Caring for the animals and ensuring their comfort, health and happiness has been incredibly rewarding for Hannah. She quickly began to realize the amazing mission, vision and values of HFS, and to appreciate the incredible humans involved. Hannah is honored to join the HFS staff and to contribute as much as she can to the organization! When not at Heartland, you may find Hannah glamping in the woods of central Wisconsin, exploring and appreciating nature, or putzing around her home in Stoughton with her wife, two dogs and three cats.
Nicole Slania
Animal Caregiver - Generalist, she/herNicole started volunteering with Heartland Farm Sanctuary in 2014. She has served in various volunteer roles since then, including administration, animal care, special events, enrichment, and work groups. In February 2024, Nicole joined our staff as a member of our Animal Care team. Outside of Heartland, Nicole loves to be outside — hiking, playing volleyball or just going for a neighborhood walk. She also enjoys reading, road trips and a good cup of coffee. Adventures that her dogs can join are always the best (she has three!). She also volunteers with a local dog rescue by fostering and dog sitting, and strongly believes in the healing power of french fries.
Sara Runyan
Animal Caregiver - Generalist, she/herBorn in Illinois with a lifelong love of animals, Sara graduated from UW-Platteville, with a Bachelor’s in Agribusiness, and furthered her studies in her passion area of equines, getting an Associates Degree in Equine Science from Highland Community College. Having spent over 10 years in the equine field, Sara is looking forward to broadening her animal care knowledge and getting to know all the individuals (human and animal!) that contribute to the sanctuary. In her free time, you’ll most likely find Sara out in nature (hiking, kayaking and/or foraging) or in Madison with her dog, Bumi, and cat, Zuko, or out riding or playing at liberty with her horse, Poppy.
Sharon Larson
Animal Caregiver - Generalist, she/herGrowing up, Sharon was always passionate about helping animals in need, tending to injured wildlife or chasing down stray dogs, but never intended on having a job in the animal field. Instead, she spent many years as a dental assistant before visiting Heartland, the first animal sanctuary she came to know. ''Seeing the great life these animals were living, in the peaceful environment with their friends, made me see how special they are," Sharon writes. She later interned at another animal sanctuary, which led to a sense of contentment through the presence of animals and caring for them. Sharon also spent time working with exotic animals and horses before joining the Heartland team. When she's not working, she enjoys visiting and volunteering at other farm sanctuaries, finding new parks for her dog, thrifting, and reading outside.
Program Staff
Katelyn Becker, LCSW
Experiential Therapist, she/herKatelyn joined our team after learning about Heartland's mission and was excited to combine her passions for supporting kids/families with her passion for animal compassion, healing and rescue. Katelyn is originally from central Wisconsin but moved to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed a Bachelor's and Master's of Social Work with a Child, Youth and Family Welfare focus. Katelyn has worked in after-school programs, nonprofits and currently in a school social work role providing crisis stabilization. She lives with her husband, two dogs and one cat...with hopes to expand when they have more space!
Laura Marshall
Community Outreach Team member, she/herLaura is an instructional designer by day and an animal lover 24/7. As of spring 2022, she is also a Heartland Community Outreach Team member, leading public and private tours of the sanctuary and representing Heartland in the community. Laura is a Wisconsin native who grew up on a farm. Her passions in life are to teach, learn, and explore the world, especially its creatures and cultures. In her free time, you can find her walking in Madison's many parks with her husband and two dogs, growing flowers in her garden, or embarking on a variety of creative projects.
Emma Rosera, LSW
Therapeutic Programs Director + Experiential Therapist, she/herEmma moved to the Madison area in 2017 from Minnesota. She earned her degree in social work and education, and has been practicing as a licensed social worker in child welfare for the past five years. Emma also teaches dog training classes at a local facility where she highlights using positive reinforcement techniques and teamwork. Heartland’s mission of inspiring compassion for all is close to Emma’s heart. Her current menagerie at home includes two cats, an ex-racing greyhound named Solomon, a leopard gecko, and a collection of fish. In her free time, Emma enjoys sipping coffee and reading on the couch with her pets, camping and hiking with her husband and dog, and playing board games. Emma is so excited to combine her love for animals with her passion for supporting families by being part of the experiential therapy program at Heartland!
Alissa Andrews, CTRS
Experiential Therapist, she/herAlissa has lived in Madison for over three years and loves everything it has to offer! She lives with her fiancé, dog (Monty) and cat (Luna). She graduated from UW Milwaukee earning her degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. Alissa is a licensed Recreational Therapist, has a background working in nonprofits, and also currently works part-time in mental health services. In her free time, she loves snuggling up with her pets with a good book in hand, practicing yoga, getting outdoors, playing soccer and exploring new places! As a lifelong animal lover, Alissa is thrilled to be a part of the Heartland community. She is passionate about supporting the Heartland farm residents and clients in exploring their leisure interests while working towards their personal goals.
Solomon
Therapy Dog, he/hisSolomon is a seven-year-old, ex-racing greyhound who is elated to be joining the HFS therapy team in his retirement. Solomon hails from the South, but has learned to love the changing seasons in Wisconsin, and especially loves a good zoom in the snow. Since joining the team at Heartland, Sol has learned he's more than just the speed he can run, and has leaned (literally, if you've met him) into a role of dedicated comforter and supporter. In his free time, Solomon enjoys taking his human, Emma, on local adventures to breweries, coffee shops, and walking paths. His favorite thing about being part of the experiential therapy team is doing whatever it takes to make the kids laugh, and getting SO MANY snoot rubs.
Molly Linn-Miller, MS-ATR
Experiential Therapist, she/herMolly Linn-Miller has worked as a registered art therapist for 15 years. She provides art therapy support for a variety of ages and populations including children and young adults with autism, families living with cancer, and adults recovering from substance abuse. Molly also paints large scale children’s murals and likes to incorporate upcycled and natural materials into her artwork. She enjoys spending time with her two boys, her husband, and her rescue pup, a terrier-mix named Eddy. When not at the sanctuary or making art, you can find her cooking and eating with lady friends, hiking, or playing ultimate frisbee. Molly grew up in the country in a log cabin style home surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and a variety of wildlife that snuck into the home. She recently discovered Heartland, knowing it would be a perfect fit to combine her love of creative expression and animals to promote healing and wellness for all beings.
Madison Stanton, CTRS
Experiential Therapist & Intake Coordinator, she/herMadison earned her degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Illinois State University and has been practicing as a certified professional since. Madison has 3 years of experience working in the mental health field, 2 years experience working in a community setting, and many more years of experience working with children in different capacities. She currently lives in Madison with her fiancé (Hunter) and their cat (Buddy). In her free time she enjoys taking dance classes, snuggling with her cat, hanging out with friends and family, sipping/making coffee, and exploring new places/traveling. Madison is excited to combine her compassion of working and children and her love for animals.
Katie Williams
Humane Education Manager, she/herKatie is beyond thrilled to join Heartland's community as the Humane Education Manager. She comes to Heartland with 15 years experience teaching kindergarten and early childhood education. Katie has a strong passion for teaching equity, compassion, inclusion and kindness. She loves all animals and the environment and is so excited to share that love with Heartland's campers. Katie spent summer 2021 volunteering at Heartland's camps and she fell in love with the residents (especially potbellied pig Jerry), the community and everything Heartland embodies. She quickly realized the positive effect Heartland can have on one's mental health. Katie lives in McFarland with her husband, their rescued basset hound, and their milk snake (who was also her class pet in her Kindergarten classroom). She feels the happiest when she is outside; especially camping, hiking or snowshoeing. Katie also loves watching The Office, eating french fries and playing board games.
Samantha Brennecke
Humane Education Assistant, she/herSamantha has worked in the animal rescue space for over six years. She holds a degree in Social Science Psychology and uses this knowledge to help others understand animal emotion and behavior. Samantha enjoys educating on empathy, compassion and kindness towards all beings. She lived in Australia for 11 years, and during that time worked with various non-profit animal rescue organizations. She has held multiple titles - animal foster, case manager, sanctuary operations coordinator and board member. No matter her position, her focus has always been the same - to provide care to animals and educate the community. She loves being outside and enjoys hiking, camping, laying in the grass with a good book. When she is not at Heartland, she runs a small business as a dog trainer.
Colin Lynaugh
Humane Education Intern, he/himA life-long animal lover, Colin is overjoyed to be part of Heartland Farm Sanctuary as an intern. He was first introduced to the Sanctuary by his mom in 2022 and after going on a tour at the former location in Verona, Colin was hooked. He’s become an expert pig whisperer since then and especially loves Honey, the pot bellied pig. Colin has lived his whole life in Madison and resides with his family on the eastside along with his three cats, his dog, and multiple fish. Colin cares a lot about respecting animals and respecting nature. He takes time to learn to speak each animal’s language, honoring their unique needs, and sharing what he knows with others. In his free time, Colin likes playing video games, eating French fries, visiting his other animal friends at the Henry Vilas Zoo and petting pig’s bellies.
Toni Sobon, MFT- IT
Experiential Therapist, she/herToni graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Psychology and continued at Edgewood, earning a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is excited to join her therapeutic practice with her love for animals. In her free time, she likes to read, garden, and run. You may recognize Toni from her six-month internship with us earlier in 2024, and we're so excited to re-welcome her back as staff!
Hallie Wright, CTRS
Experiential Therapist, she/herHallie earned her degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2021 and has been practicing as a certified professional since then, recently working in an in-patient hospital focusing on spinal cord and brain injuries. Originally from northern Wisconsin, Hallie recently moved to Madison and lives with her dog, Stitch. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with Stitch, paddleboarding, reading, drinking coffee, and hanging out with family and friends. Growing up, Hallie was active in 4H and familiar with farm animals. She's excited to incorporate her love of animals while helping participants explore and grow to reach their goals!
Administrative & Development Staff
Jen Korz
Executive Director, she/herJen has been dedicated to non-profit work for the entirety of her almost 30-year career. After earning her degree in Social Work, she advocated for a variety of vulnerable populations, eventually finding her ultimate passion working with and for the animals. After working many years in fundraising and advocacy for a nationally-recognized animal organization, she changed gears and served as part of the administration team at an arts-based early childhood education landmark in Madison, Wisconsin. Jen brings expertise and connections in development, project management and strategic planning, but considers her passion and conviction for the mission of Heartland as her most important assets. While Jen was raised on the east coast, her family has Midwestern roots and she has been a resident of Madison since 2005. In her spare time, she enjoys eating her partner’s vegan culinary offerings and spending time with their two daughters and three rescue dogs; Otto, Finn and Mowgli.
Jamie Monroe
Content Creator, she/herJamie started volunteering with Heartland Farm Sanctuary in 2011 as an animal caretaker, and has served in various part-time and full-time roles at HFS since then, finally settling into Heartland's Content Creator position in May 2023. She's originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and graduated from Northern Michigan University, earning a degree in writing & journalism. Jamie currently lives with her partner and their rescued animal friends (including rescued chickens adopted from Heartland!) on Madison’s north side. When she's not at the sanctuary, you'll find Jamie deploying out to animal rescue cases across the country as an Animal Rescue Responder with the Humane Society of the United States.
Sydnie Zimmerman
Donor Relations Officer, she/herA Madison native through and through, Sydnie's journey with Heartland began in 2017 during her time at UW Madison, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Zoology. She loved volunteering and immediately fell in love with our rescued residents and our mission of compassion. After a detour into Property Management post-graduation, Sydnie joyfully returned to volunteering at Heartland in the spring of 2023. Because her dream has always been to pursue a career that inspires and educates others about farm animals, the environment, respect, and compassion, she is thrilled to officially join the Heartland team as our first Donor Relations Officer. Off duty, Sydnie enjoys quality time with family and friends, and cozying up by the fire or on the porch with her husband and their two cats, Prissy and Drizzy. Nature enthusiasts, they often go on walks or hikes, binoculars in hand, to watch the birds.
Kes Allen
Grounds & Facilities Coordinator, they/themKes was most recently employed as an adoption counselor and merchandise coordinator at Dane County Humane Society, and currently volunteers with House Rabbit Society. Kes shares their home with two dogs, two cats, three rabbits and four chickens (and one spouse)! When Kes isn't working at Heartland, they love to knit, read, play video games, and participate in karate and theater.
Quinn Natzke
Administrative Manager, she/herQuinn was born and raised in the Madison area, and most recently spent almost a decade working in the local beer and hospitality scene. Quinn lives on the east side of Madison with her husband, two kids, two cats, and three dogs. When she isn’t working, or wiping off sticky fingers, Quinn can be found yapping about beer and hostas, gardening, scrolling social media, or playing with her kids.
Direct Contacts
Planned giving, corporate and business partnerships, fundraising:
- Jen Korz | Executive Director
- [email protected]
Shelter management and donations of barn supplies:
Social media and website:
- Jamie Monroe | Content Creator
- [email protected]
Administrative inquiries:
- Kes Allen | Administrative Coordinator
- [email protected]
- 608-440-1118
Humane Education Programs & Tours:
- Katie Williams | Humane Education Manager
- [email protected]
- 608-466-6242
Experiential Therapy Programs:
Animal surrenders and rehoming requests:
- [email protected]
- 608-424-8475