Laura Abbott

Member; Health Educator / Injury Prevention Trainer

Laura Abbott is a Health Educator / Injury Prevention Trainer from Arkansas. She graduated from Central Arkansas University with honors while attaining a BSE and MSE. During Laura’s career in Health Education she has created a data driven injury prevention program which includes partnerships with non -profits and government stakeholders on the topics of child abuse/ maltreatment, teen dating violence, healthy relationships, human trafficking, consent, sexual assault, bystander/ upstander education , adverse childhood experiences, substance abuse, mental health, trauma, bullying, and cybersafety. Ms. Abbott has served on the state wide Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse/ Rape/Domestic Violence and Arkansas Suicide Prevention Council while also serving on various local boards and committees serving victims of domestic violence , child abuse, and education injury prevention planning. Laura collaborated with legislators to help craft numerous pieces of legislation regarding victims’ rights and injury prevention, highlighted by the passage of “Laura’s Card” to provide victims’ rights and resource information to victims of domestic violence. In 2014 Ms. Abbott was selected Arkansas Health Teacher of the Year.

In 2012, Laura survived a near fatal domestic violence assault. During Laura’s journey through the judicial system she became aware of NCVLI. Ms. Abbott volunteers outreach efforts on victims’ rights, the impact of trauma, and injury prevention. In 2019, Laura was awarded the DOJ OVC Volunteer for Victims Award. Ms. Abbott enjoys walking, traveling, meeting people, and enjoying a good comedy movie.

Dr. David Black

Member; Governance Committee

I became involved with NCVLI as a presenter at an Annual Conference around 2010, sharing information on children’s cognitive development and their understanding of and ability to respond to legal proceedings.

I have been a Pediatrician since 1986 having graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1982 and the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine in 1986. My interests in this field are general pediatric and adolescent primary care and child development. As a member of the UConn faculty from 1989 until 1998, I taught medical students and residents in an inner city clinic in Hartford, CT, where we provided primary care to the wonderful families of the Northend. In my time in the clinic I helped developed several innovative teaching programs giving the students an opportunity to provide long term primary care to a group of children during the full period of their training.

In 1998 I relocated to the Pacific Northwest to join Kaiser Permanente Northwest and developed my practice in Vancouver, WA. I continued to teach PA and medical students during their Pediatric Primary Care rotations allowing my patients and their families to do most of the teaching. In 2021 I retired from my practice.

I joined the NCVLI Board as a way to help child victims of crime and their families. I hope to contribute to a fuller understanding of the effect of legal proceedings on children and also to better understand how children understand the things that occur in their world.

Nicole Clavo, Psy.D

Member

Dr. Nicole Clavo is a Navy Veteran and the Director of Violence Prevention in Sacramento, California. She earned her master’s degree in Human Services and her Doctorate in Psychology. After her family faced the tragedy of her son’s death from gun violence, Nicole and her daughter, Japhera Clave, B.S., founded the Healing5 Foundation for those who are in need of grief assistance after sudden and unexpected loss. Nicole finds motivation in knowing she is doing work that will help someone who has traveled her path or may travel her path in the future. When she can find time, Nicole enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

Kathleen Cady

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Kathy Cady is the Director of the Bureau of Victim Services for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Designated as the major provider of comprehensive services to victims and witnesses in Los Angeles County, the Bureau of Victim Services provides essential services to victims of crime that are mandated by the California Constitution, Penal Code and Government Code. The Bureau of Victim Services is divided into three divisions: Direct Services, Claims Verification and Restitution Enhancement.

Kathy has over three decades of experience as a prosecutor and victims’ rights advocate safeguarding victims’ rights and assisting victims of violent crime. As a prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. She tried over 90 felony jury trials and specialized in family violence, child abuse, and sexual assault cases. She previously provided pro bono representation to crime victims with Dordulian Law Group.

She has lectured and written extensively on child physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, the criminal justice system, victims’ rights and services, restitution and victims with disabilities. Ms. Cady has drafted legislation and testified in Sacramento regarding bills relating to victims’ rights and child abuse. She is a Board Member with the National Crime Victim Law Institute, the Children’s Advocacy Center for Child Abuse Assessment and Treatment, Justice for Homicide Victims and Justice for Murdered Children and previously served on the California Children’s Justice Act Task Force.

Christine Dunn

Christine Dunn is Co-Managing Partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight‘s Washington, DC office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Sexual Violence, Title IX and Victims’ Rights Practice Group. In that role, Christine seeks to hold powerful institutions accountable when they fail to keep members safe. Christine has brought claims against schools, universities, religious institutions, corporations, government entities, property owners and individuals.

Christine has been recognized in the legal community as a Lawyer of Distinction and as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers. In 2024, Christine was one of only 15 attorneys selected to The National Law Journal’s Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar; in 2023, she was named Sexual Violence Litigation Lawyer of the Year for Lawyer Monthly’s Women in Law Awards. Profiles in Diversity Journal has named Christine among its
Women Worth Watching in Leadership (2022) and a Latino Leader (2023). The National Law Journal named Christine a 2023 Plaintiffs Attorney Trailblazer.

Christine received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University. A member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars, Christine has conducted presentations on a range of issues related to victim advocacy. Christine
is also a member of the National Crime Victims’ Bar Association.

Before joining Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, Christine worked at the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. At the Department of Justice, Christine prosecuted federal civil rights crimes involving official and police misconduct, racially motivated violence, and human trafficking, including sex trafficking. She also conducted extensive grand jury investigations and jury trials throughout the U.S. and made numerous presentations to law enforcement agencies on civil rights issues. Many of Christine’s official and police misconduct prosecutions involved allegations of sexual violence. Christine also completed a detail as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia where she appeared in court on a daily basis to handle a variety of criminal matters.

At Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, Christine’s representations have included:

Litigating and resolving lawsuits against a major shipping company on behalf of two female United States Merchant Marine Academy cadets who were sexually assaulted and sexually harassed while working aboard a commercial ship as part of their “Sea Year” requirement
Reaching a settlement with boarding school Phillips Exeter Academy on behalf of a former student who was groomed and sexually abused by a longtime math teacher at the school, while also serving as the victim’s advocate during the criminal proceeding against the teacher
Litigating on behalf of a certified class of approximately ten thousand African American current, former, and prospective Deputy U.S. Marshals who experienced race discrimination
Negotiating settlement on behalf of a young woman who was sexually assaulted in a residential treatment facility
Negotiating settlement on behalf of a male client who was sexually assaulted as a child by a teacher at an elite private school
Litigating on behalf of a female medical student who was sexually assaulted in her apartment building as a result of her landlord’s negligence in failing to repair a known security risk
Negotiating robust programmatic relief from an elite high school on behalf of a sexual assault survivor
Protecting the interests and rights of a crime victim during the criminal prosecution of the perpetrator

When Christine is not lawyering, she enjoys reading, paddle boarding, hiking, yoga, and spending time with her daughter.

Ryan Guilds

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Ryan Guilds is Counsel at international law firm Arnold and Porter, LLP, where his practice focuses on intellectual property brand protection, complex products liability litigation, white collar defense, internal company compliance and criminal law. Mr. Guilds’ pro bono practice focuses on supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, with an emphasis on survivors of sexual assault in the military. In 2012, Mr. Guilds spearheaded the development of Arnold and Porter’s representation of crime victims in criminal proceedings, a program that has since trained hundreds of crime victim rights lawyers and represented dozens of crime victims. Mr. Guilds is the former board chair of Network for Victim Recovery of DC, a nonprofit organization offering holistic services including legal counsel to the victims of crime. In 2014, Mr. Guilds was a recipient of NVRDC’s inaugural Firm Voice Award, in recognition of his commitment to offering pro bono support and advocacy for survivors of crime by ensuring they have a voice throughout the recovery process. In 2017, Mr. Guilds was honored with the Protect Our Defenders Justice Award for outstanding contributions to the representation of military sexual assault survivors. Mr. Guilds graduated in 1997 from the University of North Carolina School Of Law, High Honors and clerked for the Hon. J. Dickson Phillips, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Adelaide Kahn

Adelaide Kahn is a passionate change advocate and supporter of victims’ rights. As a survivor of rape herself, Adelaide experienced firsthand some of the challenges that survivors undergo in their pursuit of justice. Inspired by the hope of empowering survivors, Adelaide spent 8 years at Protect Our Defenders (POD), most recently as Director of Programs and Policy, managing the organization’s Legal Services Program advocating for and providing casework assistance to hundreds of survivors of military sexual assault. She also engaged in expanding POD’s pro bono legal network and oversaw the organization’s policy and advocacy strategies. In addition to furthering POD’s mission and championing successful policy reforms, Adelaide has mentored dozens of colleagues, helping them hone their professional and communication skills while supporting their career goals. Passionate about uplifting the stories and voices of survivors, Adelaide is a co-founder of the Military Reform Coalition and serves as a Policy Advisor on military sexual assault at Minority Veterans of America (MVA).

Adelaide hails from Los Angeles, CA, has a BA in International Relations with a focus on Global Security from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a MA in Criminology from George Washington University. Tapping into another passion of hers, Adelaide is also an Ambassador at Remake, promoting humane and climate-friendly policies and practices within the fashion industry.

Nela Kalpic

Nela Kalpic leads with purpose and a commitment to creating safer communities. Her work ensures that crime victims receive the recognition and support they deserve, built on collaboration, innovation, and a system-wide approach. Nela is an advocate, advisor, and speaker. She works with prosecutors, judges, public defenders, corrections officials, law enforcement, and stakeholders across the criminal justice system to create meaningful solutions. Through her leadership, she has developed initiatives like the Silhouettes Project and Victim Rights Mapping exercises, which have received national recognition for bringing stakeholders together and driving improvements across the system.

Her contributions also include appointments to the Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board, the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse, the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) Policy Committee and the U.S. Congressional Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus Advisory Committee, where she collaborates with national leaders to advance victim-centered practices.

Nela’s work has earned high praise from Wisconsin’s and national public service leaders for her resilience and dedication. A recognized voice in reimagining the criminal justice system, she shares her expertise through media appearances and speaking engagements with audiences around the world, fostering understanding and inspiring positive change. Nela is dedicated to advancing solutions that promote healing, accountability, and safer, healthier communities for all. With her global background and fluency in multiple languages, she connects with diverse communities, building empathy and trust. She remains committed to shaping a justice system that is fair, accessible, and supportive for everyone involved.

Sean J. Riddell

President of the Board; Executive Committee and Finance Committee

Sean Riddell is a native of Long Valley, New Jersey. After high school Sean attended a small Liberal Arts Jesuit college called LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York. He graduated in May of 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. Considering the need for full-time philosophers, Sean entered Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia in June of 1994 and graduated a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps twelve weeks later. After completing his initial training at The Basic School, Sean attended the Infantry Officer’s Course and reported to his first assignment as an Infantry Platoon Commander with 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment in Camp Lejeune, North Caroline. Sean left active duty Marine Corps in June of 1998, backpacked across Ireland and, then drove cross county to a city he never visited before, where he knew no one, to attend a law school he just learned about six months before. When asked why, Sean replies, “Because it is the only law school that accepted my application.” Sean graduated Lewis & Clark Law School in May of 2001 and passed the bar in September of 2001.

Sean started work as a Deputy District Attorney with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office in June of 2002. While at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Sean prosecuted misdemeanor offenses, felony property crimes, domestic violence crimes, sexual assault crimes, homicides, aggravated murders, gun related crimes, financial fraud crimes and gang related crimes. Sean left the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in June of 2009 to serve as a prosecutor with the Oregon Department of Justice. Sean worked in the Criminal Justice Division for two years and the Civil Litigation Division of the Oregon Department of Justice for one year, before starting his own practice in June of 2012. Between 2002 and 2012, Sean was recalled twice to active duty by the Marine Corps to serve in Iraq as a Combat Engineer Officer in support of Operation Iraq Freedom.

Sean focuses his practice on representing victims of crimes, law enforcement officers and veterans. Sean’s practice touches several areas of the law including, but not limited to: plaintiff personal injury; labor disputes; internal affairs investigations; veteran’s preference in public employment; whistleblower protections; and civil rights litigation. Sean was elected to the board in May of 2019.

Sean remained active in the Marine Corps Reserves after his deployments. He served in various billets over the years including: Battalion Commander; Engineer Officer for Marine Forces Pacific; and Deputy Regimental Commander. He has served in several countries including: South Korea, Latvia; Lithuania; Tunisia; Israel; Iraq; Kuwait; Albania; and France. Sean also completed his Masters in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in June of 2014. He currently holds the rank of Colonel and is scheduled to retire in January of 2020.

Sean lives in Portland, Oregon and Waldport, Oregon with his wife Erin Greenawald and daughters Sophia and Georgia. When not working or completing homework together, they enjoy hiking, gardening, board games, skiing and caring for their 17 year old wiener dog named Baxter.

Lisa Zauner

Treasurer of the Board; Executive Committee, Governance Committee and Chair of Finance Committee

Lisa heard about NCVLI through a colleague at Perkins & Co, where she has worked in the audit department since 2008. The victim’s right movement holds particular appeal for Lisa, and she was honored by the chance to join the board in 2012. Lisa has worked in public accounting since 2002. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Washington with a degree in accounting and is affiliated with the American Institute of CPAs and the Oregon Society of CPAs. She enjoys spending her free time running the trails near her home in Portland, Oregon, and taking camping trips with her husband, Joe, and their young daughter, April.

Doug Beloof

Ex Officio

Mr. Beloof is a Law Professor Emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School and is the founder and former Executive Director of NCVLI. Professor Beloof has written the only casebook on the subject of crime victim law, Victims in Criminal Procedure, and has been cited by the United States Senate Judiciary Committee as an expert on crime victim law. He is a leader in legal education in crime victim law and writes amicus briefs to appellate courts nationwide. Doug joined the Board in 2008.

Andrew Lauersdorf

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Andy is a shareholder with Maloney Lauersdorf Reiner PC, a Pacific Northwest law firm specializing in insurance coverage disputes. In addition to his insurance coverage practice, Andy represents human trafficking survivors in actions against traffickers and trafficking infrastructure, and victims of internet harassment, bullying, and abuse. Andy and his team also provide pro bono representation for crime victims in criminal proceedings and persons involved in civil restraining order and stalking protective order proceedings. Andy is a long-time supporter of NCVLI and excited to be working closely with NCVLI and its partners to promote crime-victim-centered legal advocacy in our nation’s courtrooms.

Helene R. Davis

Secretary of the Board; Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Chair of Governance Committee

Helene Davis grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, receiving her AA in Business Administration and worked as a mental health professional. In 1980, she and her family moved to Oakland, California, where she continued to work in children’s mental health services. In 1989, Ms. Davis’ son was murdered and she began her work on behalf of homicide victims and other victims of violent crime. From 1991 – 2013, she was co leader of the first support group specifically for families of homicide victims in the Oakland Metropolitan area. Ms. Davis served as a State Commissioner of Juvenile Justice, Crime, and Delinquency Prevention from 1994 through 2002. In 1996, she became a founding member of a local group, Mother’s Against Murder and Assault (MAMA). MAMA provided rehabilitative services to youth in the custody of the Alameda County Probation Department, aiding in their successful reentry to the community and reduction in recidivism. In 2003, she received the California Senior Leaders Award from the University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Davis continued with that group until 2013 when she moved from the Bay Area. Currently she consults with crime victims’ families with emphasis on preparing victim impact statements. Ms. Davis joined the Board of Directors of NCVLI in 2002.

What would you most like to see NCVLI or the victims’ rights movement accomplish over the next five years? Twenty years?
Over the next five years I would like to see the passing of a national Victims’ Rights Amendment. This would require a collaborative effort between the legal and victim services communities. Work done by NCVLI is increasingly bringing these groups together and I believe continued education and collaborative work will make the need for victims’ rights an undeniable fact. Within the next 20 years I would like to see the rights of victims become an integral part of the judicial system in this country.

Why should someone get involved with NCVLI and victims’ rights?
I believe every citizen in this country should have a vested interest in increasing victims’ rights. Victims left unsupported often live with a sense of desperation and abandonment from those factors in our society that they have spent years investing and believing in. NCVLI is the only organization I know of whose focus is “victim-centered” and who is willing to bring all the players to the table to learn why victims’ rights are so important.

To read more of Helene’s thoughts on the future of victims’ rights and why it is so important to continue the work NCVLI does for victims, click here.

Douglas G. Houser

Ex Officio

Douglas G. Houser is a Senior Partner at Bullivant Houser Bailey PC. Mr. Houser graduated from Willamette University (BA, 1957) and Stanford University College of Law (JD, 1960). He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a former member of the Rand Institute Board, and also serves on the Board of Directors at Nike, Inc. Doug joined the Board in 2008.

Why did you first get interested in working with NCVLI and victims’ rights?
When my brother and sister in law were murdered in 1987 I became very frustrated as a member of a victim’s family and became a great admirer of Prof. Doug Beloof and the work of the NCVLI.

As an organization what is NCVLI’s greatest strength?
Dedicated, intelligent staff that are committed to helping victims.

What are your hobbies?
Reading, golfing, fishing, travel.

What has been the most rewarding thing you have done in your professional life?
Helping others.

Who or what inspires you?
People who help others.

Ashley Vaughn

Member; Chair of Fundraising & Education Committee

Ashley is a partner at Dumas & Vaughn, Attorneys at Law, in Portland, Oregon, where she represents survivors in child and adult sexual assault civil cases across the country. She graduated cum laude from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2011. During law school, she was a Lead Article Editor for the Lewis & Clark Law Review, worked as a certified law clerk as a prosecutor’s office, and participated in the CLVC Clinic. After law school, she worked as an associate attorney at O’Donnell Clark & Crew LLP and Dumas Law Group, LLC, doing the same type of work she does now. She is an active member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and volunteers for the “We the People” constitutional law program.

Describe your current profession / most rewarding thing you have done in your professional life.

I represent survivors of child sexual assault and adult sexual assault in civil lawsuits against the perpetrators and institutions responsible for the assaults. Most of my cases involve adults who were sexually abused as children. I often represent survivors in cases against large institutions of trust, such as youth-serving organizations (e.g. the Boy Scouts), religious organizations, and schools. The most rewarding part of my job is helping my clients process their trauma and transform their lives. Sometimes that process is due to their civil case and finally having the opportunity to seek justice; sometimes it is due to reuniting with their families; sometimes it is due to finally seeing a good therapist. Most often, it is a combination of these and many other factors. Not all cases are successes, but when I am able to help clients live better lives, instead of suffering in silence, that is the best part of my job.

Lilly Grace Blakely

Lilly Grace Blakely is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business where she received a BBA in Business Management and a Certificate in Legal Studies. She just recently moved to New York City, where she is a Legal Assistant in the New York office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, Georgia, and Maryland. In addition to her everyday responsibilities, she works on the Firm’s Criminal and Sexual Violence team.

Lilly Grace is involved with many different organizations. She has served as the fundraising and service director for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization that works to train and support volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children that have come to the attention of the court so each child can be safe and have a permanent home. She also tutors underprivileged children in Athens, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee as well as teenagers in New York City, New York. She worked as a Legal Intake and Operations Extern at Sanford Heisler Sharp during her senior year conducting intake calls and coordinating with potential clients to understand their potential legal claims. Lilly Grace is considering attending law school in the future.

In her free time, Lilly Grace enjoys exercising including workout classes such as F45, Orange Theory, and various hot yoga studios. She also is an avid Georgia Bulldog football fan and likes to try new recipes to share with her family and friends. She loves her hometown, Nashville, Tennessee, but has loved experiencing all there is to offer in New York City!

Julie Braun

Policy Initiatives Advisor, WI DOJ
Operations Director, Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board

Julie Braun has nearly 25 years of criminal justice public policy experience at the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) specializing in victim rights, public safety and human trafficking policy. As the Policy Initiatives Advisor to the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services, Julie works across disciplines to provide high-level analysis and recommendations to shape statewide victim-centered public safety initiatives. She has extensive background in victim rights enforcement, assigned for 23 years to the Wisconsin Crime Victims Rights Board as operations director. In her free time Julie enjoys being with her family, sailing, reading, and attempting any kind of artistic endeavor.

Jennifer A. Brobst, JD, LL.M.

Assistant Professor of Law; Humphreys School of Law

Jennifer A. Brobst is an Assistant Professor at Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at The University of Memphis in Tennessee. Her scholarship focuses on law and science as it impacts human wellbeing, including the intersection of criminal law and health law, crime victim rights, and the constitutional implications of technology in the courtroom. Her civil and criminal practice experience has been solely devoted to public interest litigation and policy, working with centers and programs in Indiana and North Carolina involving mental health, child trauma, and domestic violence and sexual assault. She received her B.A. degree from University of Cape Town, South Africa, J.D. from University of San Diego School of Law, and LL.M. from Victoria University at Wellington, New Zealand (by thesis in international comparative law related to physical child abuse).

Anne P. DePrince, PhD

Anne P. DePrince, PhD, is Distinguished University Professor in Psychology and Director of the Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning (CCESL) at the University of Denver. She is a nationally-recognized expert in trauma whose program of community-engaged research addresses pressing policy and practice questions about interpersonal violence.

Lakeydra Houston

US Air Force Veteran

Lakeydra Houston is a US Air Force veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the founder of KEY Fit, Knowledge, Empowerment and You-nity, which mentors on wellness, veteran support and suicide prevention to increase life productivity.

She earned her Associates degree in Criminal Justice, Human Resources and a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership from Trident International University. Lakeydra is pursuing a Masters in Social Work specializing in military and trauma. She is a certified ASSIST, victim advocate, and resiliency trainer with over 10 years of experience with domestic violence, youth empowerment, sexual assault prevention and mental health support.

Her community outreach includes working with youth and veterans to discuss trauma awareness and prevention. She is currently a member of Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, American Corporate Partners, Merging Vets & Players, The KEY, and the National Outreach Coordinator for The Pink Berets. She is looking to make impact within the military community and bring awareness to ignite justice for survivors, victims, and families of crime.

Courtney Kiehl

Associate Attorney; Paul Mones P.C.

Courtney Kiehl is a tireless advocate for victim-survivors of sexual abuse. Now working for sexual abuse attorney Paul Mones of Los Angeles, she has spent the last 20 years dedicated to this cause. Courtney is committed to fighting for victims of sexual abuse. As a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse herself, she brings to her work a keen understanding of the psychological and emotional consequences of sexual abuse. Years ago as a young teen, she was sexually abused by her gymnastics coach. Evidence of her strength and resilience can be found in the fact that she put her own tragic experience into outreach, founding Abused Children Heard Everywhere (A.C.H.E.), continuing to fight for a cause she deeply believes in.

The focus and determination necessary for pursuing excellence in gymnastics have stood Courtney in good stead in her law career. After receiving her college degree from UCLA and her law degree from Penn State University, she has served as a fellow for CHILD USA’s Game Over Commission to Protect Youth Athletes, an investigatory body designed to uncover the systemic failures that enabled Larry Nassar to continue his serial abuse. Like others who devote themselves to one primary cause, Courtney is always looking for new ways to approach the subject of sexual abuse in ways that will be beneficial to those who have been victimized. A strong example of this is her experience as part of an interdisciplinary research team, based at Penn State, that developed an art-based therapy program for victims-survivors of sexual violence. The research also involves investigating the impact of sexual trauma on the human body. Her work as a healer parallels her work as a sexual abuse attorney; she is also a member of the National Crime Victim Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Council.

Benjamin Lull

Deputy District Attorney; Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Benjamin D. Lull is a graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School, a crime victim, and a former law clerk at NCVLI, who brings a deep commitment to advocating for victims’ rights to his role as a new member of the NCVLI advisory committee/board. As a career prosecutor in Oregon since earning his law degree, Benjamin has dedicated his career to seeking justice for victims of crime and hopes that his compassionate nature and active participation within the legal community will make him a valuable asset to NCVLI in supporting and empowering crime victims on their path to healing and justice.

Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, JD

Founder; LOTUS (Legal Options for Trafficked and Underserved Survivors) Legal Clinic Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Rachel K. Monaco, JD (Marquette University Law School, magna cum laude) Honors BA English/Theology (Marquette University) has practiced law and taught in the US for 20 years, working with trafficked persons, victims of sensitive crimes, individuals with disabilities, as well as owning a private practice in wealth succession, estate planning and philanthropy. Winner of numerous awards, she is known for her innovative survivor-empowerment work to combine creative writing and art therapy with legal and social justice advocacy. She is the founder of LOTUS (Legal Options for Trafficked and Underserved Survivors) Legal Clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She enjoys world travel, ultrarunning, and breeding Hungarian Vizslas. She lives on a small farm in Wisconsin and also on the South Shore of Lake Superior.

Olivia Ortiz

Attorney; Washington State

Olivia Ortiz (she/her) is an attorney in Washington State dedicated to ending gender-based violence. After graduating from the University of Washington School of Law, Olivia began her legal career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Northwest Justice Project, where she served youth experiencing homelessness. Olivia currently represents and advises survivors of gender-based violence as a Staff Attorney at Northwest Justice Project in King County, Washington.

Cari Simon, JD

Title IX Attorney; Fierberg National Law Group

Cari Simon is one of the Nation’s Top Title IX Attorneys representing survivors of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and sexual harassment in University and K–12 settings nationwide. Ms. Simon graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and clerked for a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Simon has been credited with the inclusion of stalking and dating violence in the definition of sexual harassment under Title IX.

Jill Sorenson

Jill Sorenson spent her career in broadcasting. From Louisiana, to Ohio, to Wisconsin, she was a Jill-of-all-trades as a News Director, Program Director, producer and air talent. She brought not only her dedication to the air, but also her whimsy (ask her about classical music in cartoons!). She then worked at MusicMaster, the premier music-scheduling software for media outlets around the world. There she headed the support team before leading the software testing team. She also continues to write all the user documentation. Her work in support of survivors is focused on notification and restitution issues.

Julie K. Hester, MBA

Director of Administration and Operations

Julie is responsible for the successful execution of key NCVLI’s projects, including select long-term grant-funded programs and strategic advancement projects. Prior to this position, she coordinated a variety of NCVLI’s projects including grant-funded projects; marketing, branding and communications; and development efforts, including fundraising, donor and volunteer cultivation, and board and organizational development. Julie joined NCVLI in 2010 as the Project Director for NCVLI’s Vision 21 grant. This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, involved a nationwide strategic planning initiative looking at the future of the crime victims field. She took a hiatus in 2011 to complete an MBA program and returned to NCVLI in 2013. Julie joined NCVLI in November 2010.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Meg Garvin, MA, JD, Mst

Executive Director

Meg Garvin, MA, JD, Mst, is the Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) and a Clinical Professor of Law at Lewis & Clark Law School. Professor Garvin is recognized as a leading expert on victims’ rights and is co-author of Victims in Criminal Procedure. She has testified before Congress, state legislatures, and the Judicial Proceedings Panel on Sexual Assault in the Military. She is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice. In 2017 she was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Forces, a role she continued to fill that role until April 2025. Previously she served on the Victims Advisory Group of the United States Sentencing Commission; Oregon Chief Justice’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee; co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section Victims Committee, co-chair of the Oregon Attorney General’s Crime Victims’ Rights Task Force, as a member of the Legislative & Public Policy Committee of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, and on the Victim Services Subcommittee, of the Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crime Panel of the United States Department of Defense. In 2020 Professor Garvin received the Frank Carrington Crime Victim Attorney Award from the ABA Criminal Justice Section and in 2015 she was honored with the John W. Gillis Leadership Award from National Parents of Murdered Children. Prior to joining NCVLI, she practiced law in Minneapolis, Minnesota and clerked for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Professor Garvin received her MA from the University of Iowa, her JD from the University of Minnesota, and her Mst in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Sarah LeClair, JD

Legal Publications Director

Sarah LeClair serves as NCVLI’s Legal Publications Director and is a member of NCVLI’s legal team. In her role as Legal Publications Director, Sarah manages the content, look and distribution of NCVLI’s legal publications covering a wide array of victim law topics. As a member of the legal team, she participates in the continued development and implementation of NCVLI’s national litigation and education strategies, including providing legal technical support to attorneys and advocates through legal research, writing and strategic consultation, and planning and facilitating in-person and online trainings. Before joining NCVLI, Sarah served as judicial clerk for the Honorable Rick Haselton of the Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon, after which she practiced law as a litigation associate at Miller Nash LLP in Portland, Oregon. During law school Sarah interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and with the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Appellate Section. She has a BA in History from the University of Oregon and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. Sarah joined NCVLI in January 2009.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Susie Cowen, JD

Legal Team

Susie Cowen is a member of NCVLI’s legal team. In this role, she provides legal technical assistance to attorneys, advocates, and other allied professionals on topics related to victims’ rights. Susie also drafts amicus curiae briefs and creates training materials and other educational resources about victim law. Susie worked as a staff attorney at NCVLI from 2008 to 2010 and as a research and litigation consultant from 2010 to 2012 and, more recently, from 2018 to 2023. Prior to joining NCVLI, Susie was a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where she practiced general commercial litigation and represented pro bono clients in matters involving employment discrimination, housing, voting rights, and medical privacy. Susie has also worked on civil matters in other positions, including as a volunteer attorney focused on poverty law issues at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. Susie received her BA in English Literature from Columbia University and her JD from the University of Chicago. Susie rejoined NCVLI as a staff member in June 2023.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Terry L. Campos, JD

Ms. Campos is a member of NCVLI’s legal team. In this role, she researches victims’ rights laws and policies across the United States, provides technical legal assistance to attorneys and advocates nationwide, drafts amicus curiae briefs, and presents online and in-person trainings and webinars on a variety of victims’ rights topics. Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Campos was an appellate attorney with the Office of the State Appellate Defender in Chicago, Illinois representing indigent persons on appeal in criminal cases. During law school, where she earned a certificate in criminal law, she interned for the Metropolitan Public Defender in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Campos has a BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida and a JD from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. Ms. Campos joined NCVLI in May 2008.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hopper

Junior Employee Relations Specialist

Hopper is a yellow Labrador Retriever who was adopted by Ms. Hester as a 20-month old after growing up at a breeder’s kennel. Although Hopper had never been indoors before his adoption, he adjusted quickly. After receiving intensive training in employee relations from Bruce, Hopper now very happily works full-time at NCVLI, providing staff with emotional support, endless entertainment, daily physical activity, and lots of hugs and kisses.

Adrian Perry

Member

Adrian Perry is an educator, mother, and spouse of a retired United States Marine. After completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Radford University, she married her husband Breck Perry and moved to Quantico, Virginia in 2002.

In 2003, the Perry’s received orders to Oahu, Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Adrian served as the Director of a Preschool in Honolulu. In 2005, their first child was born and Adrian became a dedicated mother of three girls over the last thirteen years and eight duty-stations across the United States and Japan. Throughout that time, Adrian has served as a substitute teacher, volunteer reading instructor, and volunteer children’s ministry teacher.

She is the co-founder of Survivors United, Inc., a Non-Profit for sexual assault survivors in the military. Survivors United connects survivors of sexual assault with critical resources and support. This is a nonprofit organization comprised of survivors and family members of survivors who understand the trauma of sexual assault as well as the challenges that come with reporting an assault and navigating the military justice system.

Adrian testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Sexual Assault in the Military in order to shine light on current legislative inadequacies for sexual assault survivors, while recommending the necessary changes to ensure justice is served for sexual assault survivors and their families. In 2020, Adrian became a nationally credentialed victim advocate, and has worked multiple cases in support of justice for sexual assault survivors.

Adrian is currently living in Virginia with her family where she is a Victim Witness Assistant Director for a local county. Last year, she completed her Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in Legal Studies. Adrian is pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Community Counseling and Traumatology.

Our Team

NCVLI’s staff has more than 100 years combined experience serving survivors of crime. Our staff of compassionate and knowledgeable lawyers, advocates, program managers, and operations experts are led by an equally amazing Board of Directors that hails from across the country and an Advisory Council of complementary experts. Get to know us.

Read NCVLI's Resume

Meet Our Board

Job Openings

Our Board of Directors

Laura Abbott

Member; Health Educator/Injury Prevention Trainer

Dr. David Black

Member; Governance Committee

Dr. Nicole Clavo

Member

Kathleen Cady

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Christine Dunn

Member

Ryan Guilds

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Adelaide Kahn

Member

Nela Kalpic

Member

Adrian Perry

Member

Sean J. Riddell

President of the Board; Executive Committee and Finance Committee

Lisa Zauner

Treasurer of the Board; Executive Committee, Governance Committee and Chair of Finance Committee

Our Advisory Council

In 2013 NCVLI’s Board of Directors formally created a Victims’ Rights Advisory Council. The function of the Council is to advise and make non-binding recommendations to NCVLI in order to strengthen the impact of NCVLI’s work to protect, advance, and enforce victims’ rights, to raise awareness about victims’ rights, and to call the larger community to action. The creation of the Advisory Council was inspired by invaluable contributions of long-time Advisory Board Member Diane Humetewa, who demonstrated by example how community members can make tremendous contributions to the work of NCVLI without being full Board members.

Valenda Applegarth, JD

Lilly Grace Blakely

Julie A. Braun

Jennifer A. Brobst, JD, LL.M.

Anne P. DePrince, PhD

Helene R. Davis

Kimberly Griffith, JD

Gen. Richard Harding, JD

Margaret Harwell

Lakeydra Houston

Courtney Kiehl

Benjamin Lull

Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, JD

Olivia Ortiz

Cari Simon, JD

Jill Sorenson

David Thomas

Key Staff

Click on a staff member to learn more about them and their position with NCVLI.

Julie K. Hester, MBA

Director of Administration and Operations

Meg Garvin, MA, JD, Mst

Executive Director

Sarah LeClair, JD

Legal Publications Director

Susie Cowen, JD

Legal Team

Terry L. Campos, JD

Legal Team

Hopper

Junior Employee Relations Specialist

Laura Abbott

Member; Health Educator / Injury Prevention Trainer

Dr. David Black

Member; Governance Committee

Nicole Clavo, Psy.D

Member

Kathleen Cady

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Christine Dunn​

Ryan Guilds

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Adelaide Kahn

Nela Kalpic

Sean J. Riddell

President of the Board; Executive Committee and Finance Committee

Lisa Zauner

Treasurer of the Board; Executive Committee, Governance Committee and Chair of Finance Committee

Doug Beloof

Ex Officio

Andrew Lauersdorf

Member; Fundraising & Education Committee

Helene R. Davis

Secretary of the Board; Executive Committee, Finance Committee and Chair of Governance Committee

Douglas G. Houser

Ex Officio

Ashley Vaughn

Member; Chair of Fundraising & Education Committee

Lilly Grace Blakely

Julie Braun

Policy Initiatives Advisor, WI DOJOperations Director, Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board

Jennifer A. Brobst, JD, LL.M.

Assistant Professor of Law; Humphreys School of Law

Anne P. DePrince, PhD

Lakeydra Houston

US Air Force Veteran

Courtney Kiehl

Associate Attorney; Paul Mones P.C.

Benjamin Lull

Deputy District Attorney; Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, JD

Founder; LOTUS (Legal Options for Trafficked and Underserved Survivors) Legal Clinic Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Olivia Ortiz

Attorney; Washington State

Cari Simon, JD

Title IX Attorney; Fierberg National Law Group

Jill Sorenson

Julie K. Hester, MBA

Director of Administration and Operations

Meg Garvin, MA, JD, Mst

Executive Director

Sarah LeClair, JD

Legal Publications Director

Susie Cowen, JD

Legal Team

Terry L. Campos, JD

Hopper

Junior Employee Relations Specialist

Adrian Perry

Member

Our Team

Our Board of Directors

Laura Abbott

Dr. David Black

Dr. Nicole Clavo

Kathleen Cady

Christine Dunn

Ryan Guilds

Adelaide Kahn

Nela Kalpic

Adrian Perry

Sean J. Riddell

Lisa Zauner

Our Advisory Council

Valenda Applegarth, JD

Lilly Grace Blakely

Julie A. Braun

Jennifer A. Brobst, JD, LL.M.

Anne P. DePrince, PhD

Helene R. Davis

Kimberly Griffith, JD

Christine Dunn

Policy Initiatives Advisor, WI DOJ
Operations Director, Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board