Our Team
Board of Directors
CLASI’s Board of Directors includes attorneys, leaders in the nonprofit sector and academia, and former CLASI clients whose varied perspectives and deep expertise inform our work.
Officers (2025-2026)
Lauren Russell, Esq.
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
President
Kenisha Ringgold, Esq.
Delaware State University
Vice President
Carmella Keener, Esq.
Cooch and Taylor, P.A.
Treasurer
Katherine Alteneder Mills, Esq.
Access to Justice Innovation
Secretary
Jerry Hyman, Esq.
Member-at-Large
Kent County Members
New Castle County Members
R. Eric Hacker, Esq.
Morris James LLP
Jerry Hyman, Esq.
Carmella Keener, Esq.
Cooch and Taylor, P.A.
Carol King-Ries
National Federation of the Blind of Delaware
Robert Locke, DO, MPH
ChristianaCare Health Systems
Oderah Nwaeze, Esq.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Lauren Russell, Esq.
Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
Sussex County Members
Katherine Alteneder Mills, Esq.
Access to Justice Innovation
Delaware State University
Staff
Our dedicated staff members are the driving force behind our mission. Learn more about CLASI’s team below.
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
Nicole Taylor Justice, LPCMH
Social Work Supervisor, Family Representation Unit
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
Disability Rights Delaware
Managers
Marissa L. Band, Esq.
Project Director
Disability Rights Delaware
Kym Davis Rogers, Esq.
Legal Director
Disability Rights Delaware
Project Staff
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
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
Elder Law Program
Managing Attorney
John Whitelaw, Esq.
Advocacy Director
Managing Attorney, Elder Law Program and Public Benefits Unit
Program Staff
Nathan Bunyon, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Elder Law Program
Antionette Johnson
Senior Paralegal
Elder Law Program
Anthony Panicola, Esq.
Supervising Attorney
Elder Law Program
Addison Richards
Paralegal
Elder Law Program
Family Representation Unit
Managers
Nicole Taylor Justice, LPCMH
Social Work Supervisor
Family Representation Unit
Megan Mahle, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Family Representation Unit
Unit Staff
Peyton V. Carper, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Family Representation Unit
Anna Manu Fineanganofo, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Family Representation Unit
Edna Hughart
Senior Paralegal
Family Representation Unit
Kelly Manogue
Paralegal
Family Representation Unit
Frances Ratner, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Family Representation Unit
Housing Unit
Managing Attorney
Jennifer R. Pérez, Esq.
Managing Attorney, Housing Unit
Unit Staff
Jessica Armstrong
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Nick Beard, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Kaitlyn Cirrito
Paralegal/Fair Housing Testing Coordinator, Housing Unit
Joshua Friedman, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Christian Garcia
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Jayce Lesniewski, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Housing Unit
Managing Attorney, Kent County Office
Emily Luiken, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Joyce McCormick
Paralegal/Housing Justice Coordinator, Housing Unit
Rena L. Scott
Paralegal, Housing Unit
Tony Sierzega, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, Housing Unit
Chris Tijerino
Paralegal, Housing Unit
David Zisser, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Managing Attorney
Mallary Willatt, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Medical-Legal Partnership, Domestic Violence, and Immigration Unit
Unit Staff
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
Public Benefits Unit
Managing Attorney
John Whitelaw, Esq.
Advocacy Director
Managing Attorney, Elder Law Program and Public Benefits Unit
Unit Staff
Gilberte Pierre, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Public Benefits Unit
Managing Attorney, New Castle County Office
Abby Samuels, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Public Benefits Unit
CLASI Partners
By partnering with organizations across the state and nationally, we are able to expand our impact and ensure a comprehensive approach to the well-being of those we serve. We invite you to learn more about some of our partners below.
