Our Team
Board of Directors
CLASI’s Board of Directors includes attorneys, leaders in the nonprofit sector and academia, and former CLASI clients whose diverse perspectives and deep expertise inform our work.
Officers (2025-2026)
Lauren Russell, Esq.
President
Kenisha Ringgold, Esq.
Vice President
Carmella Keener, Esq.
Treasurer
Katherine Alteneder Mills, Esq.
Secretary
Jerry Hyman, Esq.
Member-at-Large
Kent County Members
Nicole Applewhite
Delaware State University
New Castle County Members
Robert Locke, DO, MPH
ChristianaCare Health Systems
Oderah Nwaeze, Esq.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Carol King-Ries
National Federation of the Blind of Delaware
Sussex County Members
Delaware State University
Katherine Alteneder Mills, Esq.
Access to Justice Innovation
Staff
Our dedicated staff members are the driving force of our mission. Learn more about the individuals making up our team at CLASI.
LEADERSHIP
Daniel G. Atkins, Esq.
Executive Director
Marissa L. Band, Esq.
Project Director, Disability Rights Delaware
Tara Blakely, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Sussex County Office
James Hamilton
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer
Jayce Lesniewski, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Kent County Office
Megan Mahle, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Family Representation Unit
Richard Morse, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Jennifer R. Pérez, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Housing Unit
Gilberte Pierre, Esq.
Managing Attorney, New Castle County Office
Sarah Spangler Rhine, Esq.
Deputy Director
Kym Davis Rogers, Esq.**
Legal Director, Disability Rights Delaware
Jason D. Stoehr
Director of Development and Innovation
John Whitelaw, Esq.
Advocacy Director
Managing Attorney, Elder Law Program and Public Benefits Unit
Mallary Willatt, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
ADMINISTRATIVE AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Amy Desmond
Accountant
James Hamilton
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer
Samantha Kowalczyk
Grants Administrator
Margaretta Kroeger
Director of Communications
Molly McPheeters
Campaign Manager, Combined Campaign for Justice
Jason D. Stoehr
Director of Development and Innovation
CLERICAL TEAM
Yvette Aponte
Office Manager/Secretary/Interpreter – Kent County
Rose Colon
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – Kent County
Ricki Hernandez
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – New Castle County
Pablo Lopez
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – Sussex County
Cinthya Perez
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – New Castle County
Dana Schuster
Office Manager/Secretary – Sussex County
Lem Ramirez
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – New Castle County
Nilda Reed
Receptionist/Secretary/Interpreter – New Castle County
Cynthia L. Stopyra
Office Manager/Secretary – New Castle County
LEGAL TEAM
Derechos de los discapacitados en Delaware
Marissa L. Band, Esq.
Project Director, Disability Rights Delaware
Elizabeth Booth, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Disability Rights Delaware
Joanne Curley, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Delaware
Elisabeth A. Furber
Senior Paralegal/Client Assistance Program Coordinator, Disability Rights Delaware
Susan Henry
Administrator, Disability Rights Delaware
Nina Kegelman
Paralegal/Voting Rights Advocate, Disability Rights Delaware
Brittany Muller
Paralegal, Disability Rights Delaware
Stefanie Ramirez, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Disability Rights Delaware
Kym Davis Rogers, Esq.**
Legal Director, Disability Rights Delaware
Jacky Saez-Rosario
Senior Paralegal, Disability Rights Delaware
Valerie L. Snow, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Delaware
Caroline E. Szerenyi, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Delaware
Hope Vella
Decision-Making Advocate, Disability Rights Delaware
Christiane L. Winslow
Senior Paralegal, Disability Rights Delaware
Programa de Derecho de la Tercera Edad
Nathan Bunyon
Law Clerk, Elder Law Program
Antionette Johnson
Senior Paralegal, Elder Law Program
Michelle McLean
Senior Paralegal, Elder Law Program
Anthony Panicola, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Elder Law Program
Addison Richards
Paralegal, Elder Law Program
John Whitelaw, Esq.
Advocacy Director
Managing Attorney, Elder Law Program and Public Benefits Unit
Unidad de Representación Familiar
Peyton V. Carper, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Family Representation Unit
Anna Manu Fineanganofo
Law Clerk, Family Representation Unit
Edna Hughart
Senior Paralegal, Family Representation Unit
Megan Mahle, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Family Representation Unit
Kelly Manogue
Paralegal, Family Representation Unit
Frances Ratner, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Family Representation Unit
Unidad de Vivienda
Jessica Armstrong
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Nick Beard
Law Clerk, Housing Unit
Kaitlyn Cirrito
Paralegal/Fair Housing Testing Coordinator, Housing Unit
Joshua Friedman
Law Clerk, Housing Unit
Christian Garcia
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Jayce Lesniewski, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Kent County Office
Emily Luiken, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Joyce McCormick
Paralegal/Housing Justice Coordinator, Housing Unit
Sandra Mullett
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Jennifer R. Pérez, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Housing Unit
Rena L. Scott
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Tony Sierzega, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Housing Unit
Chris Tijerino
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Matthew Whitworth
Law Clerk, Housing Unit
David Zisser, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Jackie Aniunas
Paralegal, Medical-Legal Partnership Program
Ramonita Baez
Paralegal, Immigration Unit
Tara Blakely, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Domestic Violence Unit
Managing Attorney, Sussex County Office
Sabdi Bull
Paralegal, Immigration Unit
Matthew Cain
Paralegal, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Jane Curschmann
Paralegal Specialist/DOJ Accredited Representative, Immigration Unit
Alicia Dugger, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Liza Franco
Paralegal, Immigration Unit
Savannah Fritz
Law Clerk, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Emily Houde, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Immigration Unit
Flavia Mino
Paralegal, Immigration Unit
Christine Neifert
Paralegal, Medical-Legal Partnership Program
J. Zachary Noble, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Kathryn van Amerongen, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership Program
Edgar Verde
Paralegal, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Vestonia M. Viddy, Esq.*
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Ross Wiech, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Mallary Willatt, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Unidad de Prestaciones Públicas
Gilberte Pierre, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Public Benefits Unit
Managing Attorney, New Castle County Office
Abby Samuels, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Public Benefits Unit
John Whitelaw, Esq.
Advocacy Director
Managing Attorney, Elder Law Program and Public Benefits Unit
*Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania only | ** Admitted to practice in Texas only
CLASI Partners
By working hand-in-hand with these diverse organizations and professionals, we ensure a comprehensive approach to the well-being of those we serve. We invite you to learn more about some of the impactful partnerships that contribute to CLASI’s mission.
