Nuestro equipo
Personal
Yael Caplan (ella/ella/ella) es una recién graduada de la Facultad de Derecho de Yale. En la facultad de derecho, participó en la Clínica de Servicios Legales para Veteranos, donde ayudó a litigar casos relacionados con discriminación de padres militares, discriminación por discapacidad y restricciones discriminatorias de cobertura de FIV. También se desempeñó como editora de artículos en el Yale Journal of Law and Feminism. Anteriormente realizó una pasantía en Lawyering Project y Better Balance. Antes de estudiar derecho, Yael se desempeñó como analista para la Fundación Surgo, enfocándose en temas de salud materna y reproductiva a nivel nacional y global. Yael obtuvo su licenciatura, Phi Beta Kappa, de la Universidad de Chicago con una doble titulación en políticas públicas y desarrollo humano comparado. Entusiasta de los crucigramas desde hace mucho tiempo, recientemente comenzó a incursionar en la escena de las competencias de crucigramas en línea.
Leena Chawla (she/her) is a donor relations officer, previously serving as a development associate, at Pregnancy Justice. Leena most recently worked at the Legal Aid Society, helping NYC tenants fight eviction and unjust housing laws. Before moving to Brooklyn, Leena worked with domestic violence survivors in Austin, Texas. She holds a B.A. in sociology and gender, sexuality, and feminist studies from Middlebury College. Leena enjoys long dinners with friends and is learning how to sew.
Poonam Daryani (she/her) is a Justice Catalyst Legal Fellow at Pregnancy Justice. Prior to joining, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Keith P. Ellison of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Poonam holds a JD from Yale Law School, an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a BA from Scripps College. Before law school, Poonam worked in health justice advocacy, with a focus on gender, sexuality, and reproduction. In her free time, she enjoys hosting dinner parties, listening to 90s Bollywood music, and practicing yoga.
Zenovia Earle (ella/ella) se unió a Pregnant Justice como directora de medios y comunicaciones. Aprovecha su experiencia en asuntos gubernamentales, extensión comunitaria, marketing, relaciones con los medios y periodismo. Antes de unirse a Pregnant Justice, Zenovia ocupó funciones de comunicaciones del gobierno de Nueva York en servicios y tecnología para personas mayores. Comenzó su carrera en televisión y noticias en línea. Zenovia tiene una licenciatura en periodismo de la Universidad Estatal de Georgia y una maestría en administración de empresas de la Escuela de Graduados en Servicio Público Robert F. Wagner de la Universidad de Nueva York. Zenovia es una ávida viajera que trabaja para llegar a todos los continentes y considera las cuevas Waitomo Glowworm en Nueva Zelanda como uno de sus principales destinos. También tiene una gran debilidad por los adultos mayores.
Cara Eisenstein (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of the NYU School of Law, where she was a student advocate at the Reproductive Justice Clinic and the Criminal Appellate Defender Clinic. She interned with the Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Special Litigation Unit and Adolescent Defense Unit, and Shanies Law Office — a civil rights law firm that represents individuals whose rights have been violated through police, prosecutorial, and prison misconduct. Cara also volunteered with the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Identity Documents Project, and NYU Parole Advocacy. Cara earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Middlebury College, with a degree in international politics and economics, with a focus in Chinese. In her free time, Cara loves watching horror movies and walking around the city.
Emanuella Evans (she/her) is a digital media specialist with experience in video production, graphic design, social media strategy, and audience engagement. She is committed to community, Black liberation, and using intentional communication to make information accessible and to organize against structural oppression. Emanuella holds a B.A. in journalism from Northwestern University and has previously reported on criminal justice, immigration, mental health, and the intersection of gender-based violence and affordable housing. Outside of work, Emma loves to travel and leads a youth program for South Sudanese in Kansas City that addresses generational trauma.
Caitlyn Garcia (she/her/hers) is a staff attorney at Pregnancy Justice. Prior to joining, she was a staff attorney at Brooklyn Defender Services, representing parents in child protection, custody, visitation, paternity, and family offense proceedings. She litigated cases from inception to disposition. Caitlyn also served as an associate attorney at Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, LLP, where she represented clients in product liability matters. Caitlyn earned a B.A. in criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where she led the Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest nonprofit group. In her free time, she enjoys boxing and running.
Dara Gell (she/her/hers) is a senior staff attorney. Previously, she spent nearly seven years with the Innocence Project as the investigations attorney and supervisor for intake partnerships and training. Additionally, she served as interim director of intake at the Innocence Project for three years. She began her career as a practicing immigration defense attorney in New York City. Dara holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo and a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Dara loves singing kids songs with her beautiful daughter and belting out obscure Kate Bush songs at karaoke.
Kulsoom Ijaz (she/her/hers) is a senior staff attorney at Pregnancy Justice. Prior to joining, she was a staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, litigating reproductive rights cases nationwide. She also championed tenants’ rights as a senior staff attorney at Legal Services NYC, ensuring safe, affordable, and fair housing. As a founding advocacy chair of the American Muslim Bar Association, she brings her passion for community and coalition building to every endeavor. Kulsoom also formerly rehabbed birds, finding inspiration in the lessons they offer about collective liberation.
Imaan Khasru (all pronouns) is an avid social researcher from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to joining Pregnancy Justice, she conducted research for the National Institutes of Health, University of Chicago, and Dr. Kristina Olson’s Human Diversity Lab. She graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in psychology, focusing on global mental health, and a minor in South Asian studies. She is the oldest in a family of six children, has been a freelance graphic designer and digital artist since 2014, and loves playing video games.
Chiara Padilla (she/her/ella) is a legal fellow at Pregnancy Justice and a recent graduate of Penn Carey Law School, where she pursued civil rights work grounded in racial justice and equity with ArchCity Defenders, the ACLU National Prison Project, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. During law school, Chiara served as co-president of the Latinx Law Students Association and case chair for the Youth Advocacy Project. She also served as the direct services coordinator at her school’s If/When/How chapter, where she developed and launched a pro bono project in partnership with the Abolitionist Law Center. Prior to law school, Chiara was the associate director of development for Planned Parenthood of Utah. In her free time, she loves listening to Latin music and searching for the best kouign-amann in town.
Lourdes A. Rivera (she/her/ella) joined Pregnancy Justice as its first president in 2023, bringing more than 30 years of experience as a respected leader in reproductive rights and justice, health law and policy, and philanthropy. She recently served as a senior vice president of U.S. Programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights, overseeing comprehensive litigation, policy advocacy, and partnership strategies. Lourdes is a co-founder of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and the Groundswell Fund, a board member of the National Health Law Program, and vice president of the Brush Foundation’s board. She also received an American Bar Association presidential appointment to the ABA’s Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice. She earned a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Yale University. An enthusiastic salsa dancer since childhood, Lourdes can lead and follow with grace.
Emma Roth (she/her) is a senior staff attorney at Pregnancy Justice. Prior to joining us, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ronnie Abrams of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She also worked as an Equal Justice Works fellow for the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, where she brought impact litigation to advance the rights of women and girls in courts across the country. Emma received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her A.B., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Brown University. As a proud mom of two small children, Emma brings both her personal and professional experiences to her representation of pregnant and parenting people.
Alea Rouse es una profesional de gestión de operaciones y proyectos. Tiene una licenciatura de la Universidad de Alabama en Birmingham y una maestría en asuntos globales de la Universidad de Rutgers. Alea trabajó anteriormente para USAID como becaria de investigación e innovación en Ciudad del Cabo, Sudáfrica. En este cargo, coordinó una amplia gama de proyectos multifuncionales complejos para lograr objetivos organizacionales centrados en apoyar los derechos de las mujeres. A Alea le gusta ir a museos y pasear por Central Park.
Ashley C. Sawyer (she/her) is Pregnancy Justice’s senior policy counsel and an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School. Ashley previously served as senior staff attorney at Advancement Project, a movement lawyering and racial justice organization; policy director and senior director of campaigns at Girls for Gender Equity; and as an attorney at Youth Represent, where she supported NYC youth with their legal needs. Ashley is committed to abolishing prisons and building wellness, dignity, and joy for all people — especially Black girls, queer, and trans young people. She holds a JD from Howard University and a BA from Rutgers. She exists on a steady rotation of Stevie Wonder songs and journalism podcasts; she is also a devoted auntie.
Dana Sussman (she/her/hers) joined Pregnancy Justice in 2021 as deputy executive director and served as acting executive before becoming senior vice president. Dana previously served as a deputy commissioner at the NYC Commission on Human Rights and has 15 years of experience as a workers’ rights, civil rights, and gender justice attorney. After graduating from Northeastern University School of Law, Dana served as a Legal Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Rights and clerked for federal Magistrate Judge James Orenstein in the Eastern District of New York. Dana holds a B.A. and an M.P.H. from Tufts University. A former fitness instructor and dancer, Dana now hosts dance parties in her kitchen for her two small children to the soundtrack of 90s hits.
Jack Tambini (él/él/su) es un profesional administrativo experimentado que ha trabajado para varias organizaciones artísticas y sin fines de lucro en toda la ciudad de Nueva York. Se unió a Pregnant Justice, donde brinda apoyo a nivel ejecutivo a la presidenta Lourdes A. Rivera, desde una galería de arte internacional. Ha ocupado numerosos puestos, incluido el de asistente administrativo del director ejecutivo de American Friends of the Hebrew University, consultor de desarrollo y comunicaciones en Hudson School, gerente de oficina de New Yorkers for Parks y asistente ejecutivo en Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. . Jack tiene una maestría en historia del arte de CUNY, Brooklyn College y una licenciatura en bellas artes de Wagner College. En su tiempo libre, a Jack le encanta explorar los museos de la ciudad de Nueva York y está trabajando en una novela gráfica sobre un artista que vivió en Italia durante el Renacimiento.
Karen Thompson (she/her) joined Pregnancy Justice as legal director in 2024. Karen was previously a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the Innocence Project. After earning her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, M.A. from New York University, and B.A. from Carleton College, Karen started her legal career as an associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Morrison & Foerster LLP. She has decades of experience fighting for civil rights and liberties and racial justice in courts nationwide. Karen spends her free time learning to play the cello, honing her jazz vocals, and helicopter parenting her two dachshunds, Miles Davis and Jolene.
Fikayo Walter-Johnson (ella/ella) es una investigadora de ciencias sociales comprometida con los movimientos sociales transformadores. Antes de unirse a Pregnant Justice, fue asistente legal en el Proyecto de Discurso, Privacidad y Tecnología de la ACLU, donde apoyó los litigios urgentes de la Primera y la Cuarta Enmienda. Le entusiasma combinar su conocimiento sobre privacidad y libertad de expresión para promover la protección social y legal de las personas embarazadas. Fikayo recibió su licenciatura de la Universidad de Chicago con una doble titulación en sociología y políticas públicas y una especialización en estudios de género y sexualidad. Érase una vez, copresentadora y productora de un programa de radio quincenal en WHPK 88.5 FM llamado "OurSpace".
Lauren Wranosky (ella/ellos) es asociada de políticas y programas de Pregnant Justice. Antes de unirse a nosotros, Lauren trabajó como trabajadora social en salud mental, cuidados paliativos y enfermería especializada. Obtuvieron su título de MSW en la Universidad de Columbia, especializándose en políticas públicas, y realizaron una pasantía en Pregnant Justice. Además, tienen un BSW de la Universidad Azusa Pacific. En su tiempo libre, Lauren disfruta de la producción musical y cantar en karaoke.
Junta Directiva
Sarah Burns es profesora de derecho clínico en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Nueva York. Supervisa la Clínica de Justicia Reproductiva, que representa a clientes en litigios y proyectos de políticas centrados en la toma de decisiones reproductivas. Sarah es directora ejecutiva de Washington Square Legal Services. También cofundó y supervisa la Clínica de Mediación y la Clínica de Litigio, Organización y Cambio Sistémico, realizadas en asociación con Make the Road NY y el Centro para la Democracia Popular. Sarah combina el derecho con el aprendizaje de las ciencias sociales para desarrollar soluciones efectivas a los problemas que enfrentan las instituciones y comunidades. Sarah, que forma parte del cuerpo docente de la Universidad de Nueva York desde 1990, se especializa en pedagogía del aprendizaje experiencial, desarrollando cursos clínicos y de simulación en litigios, negociación, mediación, promoción de políticas y cambio sistémico. Burns se graduó en 1979 en la Facultad de Derecho de Yale y tiene una maestría en sociología de la Universidad de Stanford y en relaciones humanas de la Universidad de Oklahoma.
Julie Ehrlich (ella/ella) es directora de iniciativas presidenciales y jefa de personal de la Fundación Mellon, donde colabora con el presidente para identificar, crear estrategias y ejecutar iniciativas distintivas de concesión de subvenciones, incluido el Proyecto de Monumentos, el Proyecto Puerto Iniciativa Rico e Imaginando la Libertad. Anteriormente, Julie fue decana adjunta de iniciativas estratégicas y jefa de personal, directora ejecutiva de Birnbaum Women's Leadership Network y profesora adjunta de derecho clínico y co-instructora de la Clínica de Justicia Reproductiva de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Nueva York. Antes de unirse a NYU Law en 2014, Julie fue litigante de derechos civiles durante casi una década. Comenzó su carrera jurídica como abogada/compañera del Proyecto de Derechos de las Mujeres de la ACLU y trabajó como secretaria de la jueza Nina Gershon en el Distrito Este de Nueva York y del juez Robert D. Sack en la Corte de Apelaciones del Segundo Circuito de los Estados Unidos. Julie tiene una licenciatura en Estudios Americanos de la Universidad de Yale y un doctorado en Derecho de la Universidad de Nueva York, donde recibió una beca Hays en Derechos y Libertades Civiles y el Premio Maurice Goodman Memorial de Becas y Carácter.
Humaira Faiz (she/her/hers) is an impact investor who manages the mission-related investment portfolio at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Humaira’s investment expertise is predominantly in the private markets with the theme of inclusion and equity across the U.S. and internationally. Her experience spans sustainable finance, development, economics, strategic consulting, philanthropy, and traditional finance. She has an M.B.A. from New York University Stern and a B.S. in finance and English from Rutgers University. Humaira is a globetrotter-turned-suburban-mom who spends her free time wrangling her children and dog or planning her family’s next big adventure.
Warner Fite (he/him/his) has decades of finance, operations, and strategic planning experience with nonprofits and for-profits. He teaches accounting at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and maintains a group of nonprofit clients. He previously served as managing director of Austerlitz Management; principal of the Public Equity Group, working with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, and others; and as a senior vice president at Merrill Lynch. He earned an M.P.A. from NYU Wagner and an A.B. in economics from Princeton University. Warner enjoys road biking, kayaking, and traveling. He once jumped off a moving train in Kenya and saw the top of Kilimanjaro.
El Dr. Hytham M. Imseis es un especialista en medicina materno-fetal que ejerce en Charlotte, Carolina del Norte. Su carrera ha estado dedicada a cuidar y defender a las mujeres embarazadas. Está muy involucrado en la educación médica de obstetras y ginecólogos en los EE. UU., por lo que ha ganado muchos premios de enseñanza. Actualmente forma parte de la Junta Ejecutiva de Mujeres y del Comité de Ética de su hospital y se ha desempeñado como director médico del Programa de Abuso de Sustancias Perinatales del Área de la Montaña y de la Clínica de Embarazo en Adolescentes de Educación sobre la Salud del Área de la Montaña. El Dr. Imseis ha publicado artículos de investigación en el American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology y en Obstetrics and Gynecology y actualmente revisa manuscritos para su publicación tanto en el American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology como en Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Tiloma Jayasinghe (she/her) is the president and CEO of Community Resource Exchange, a nonprofit management consulting firm that works with nonprofits in New York City. Tiloma is a human rights advocate, working from the local to the international levels, at Sakhi for South Asian Women, the United Nations, and served as Pregnancy Justice’s first full-time staff attorney when we were named National Advocates for Pregnant Women. She has deep roots in strengthening the nonprofit sector through her tenure at Nonprofit New York. Tiloma is a proud New Yorker, tree-hugger, and cheese lover, living in the great borough of Queens with her husband, and two teen/tween daughters (so prayers are always welcome).
Carmelyn P. Malalis (she/her) joined the board of Pregnancy Justice in 2022. Carmelyn is the head of impact at Level Forward. She previously served as commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights and was a partner at Outten & Golden LLP, where she co-founded and co-chaired its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Workplace Rights Practice Group. She is a frequent speaker and commentator on human rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and she has worked with several local and national organizations advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA, BIPOC, immigrant, and religious communities. Depending on the season, Carmelyn can be seen in Brooklyn coaching her older child’s softball team, playing a pick-up game of beach volleyball, or trying to keep up with her daughter on ice skates.
Katherine Rosenfeld (she/her) is a partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP. She has a diverse civil litigation and trial practice, focusing on prison and jail abuse and conditions such as lack of medical and mental health care, police misconduct, and discrimination in public accommodations, housing, and employment. She has obtained historic settlements on behalf of women challenging the New York City Police Department and other agencies’ use of shackles during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. From 2014 to 2017, Katherine served as the legal director at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. She received her J.D. from Yale Law School. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature and trying not to lose at Scrabble to her three children.
Karen Sauvigné was a pioneer in the fight against sexual harassment in employment. While on the Cornell University faculty in the mid-1970s, she organized a “Speak-Out” in Ithaca, New York—a kind of public consciousness raising—against sexual exploitation. They coined the phrase “sexual harassment on the job.” Karen served as director of education in the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care at Mount Sinai. Before Mount Sinai, she held faculty and management positions at Cornell, CUNY Law School, John Jay College, and Baruch College. She served on the boards of the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, the Public Interest Law Foundation, Cornell’s Institute for Women and Work, NYC’s LGBT swim team, and served on Callen-Lorde’s board for 10 years — five of which as chair. Karen, who loves sailing, iceboating, and oyster-growing currently serves on the board of the East End Seaport Museum.
Vivian Siu (she/her/hers) is an Emmy and Webby Award-winning producer with more than 20 years of communications experience with nonprofit and news organizations worldwide. Vivian is the managing director of communications and external affairs at the Vera Institute of Justice and Vera Action. She has also led communications for the Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, UNICEF, and The Intercept. Vivian started her career in news, working as a journalist and producer for NBC, ABC, and PBS. She holds a B.S. from Barnard College, Columbia University and an M.S. from Columbia University’s Journalism School.
Ria Tabacco Mar (ella/ella) es la directora del Proyecto de Derechos de las Mujeres de la ACLU. Anteriormente, fue abogada en el Proyecto Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Transgénero y VIH de la ACLU, donde dirigió el equipo de la ACLU en Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. contra la Comisión de Derechos Civiles de Colorado . En el caso, a una pareja del mismo sexo se le negó un pastel de bodas porque son homosexuales. Ria es una comentarista frecuente sobre temas de justicia de género y ha sido reconocida en la lista anual The Root 100 de los afroamericanos más influyentes de entre 25 y 45 años y como uno de los mejores abogados LGBT menores de 40 años por la Asociación Nacional de Abogados LGBT.