The Executive Fellows

Meet our inspirational Executive Fellowship leaders.

Meet the Leaders

Executive Fellows Website Photo - The Executive Fellows

This year’s group of leaders comprises an extraordinary 40 legal aid leaders from across the country, representing a diverse range of practice areas, including immigration, housing, and disability rights.

Executive Fellow Class of 2026

Abigail Esquivas (She/Her)

Abigail Esquivas (She/Her)

Director of Partnerships and Advocacy, Social Justice Collaborative

Amanda Bernardo (She/Her)

Amanda Bernardo (She/Her)

Deputy Director, ABA Immigration Justice Project

Amber De Buizer (She/Her)

Amber De Buizer (She/Her)

Chief Development Officer, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley

Andres Rapoport (He/Him)

Andres Rapoport (He/Him)

Director of Litigation, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County

Ashley Holliday (She/Her)

Ashley Holliday (She/Her)

Executive Director, West Tennessee Legal Services

Brandon Greene (He/Him)

Brandon Greene (He/Him)

Director of Policy Advocacy, Western Center on Law and Poverty

Carol McBirney (She/Her)

Carol McBirney (She/Her)

Deputy Director, Legal Aid Society of San Diego

Chelsea Crowton (She/Her)

Chelsea Crowton (She/Her)

Supervising Attorney, Southern Nevada Senior Law Program

Chriselle Raguro (She/Her)

Chriselle Raguro (She/Her)

Director of Pro Bono and Strategic Partnerships, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area

Diana Cruz (She/Her)

Diana Cruz (She/Her)

Executive Director, Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team

Elizabeth Kristen (She/Her)

Elizabeth Kristen (She/Her)

Legal Director, California Women's Law Center

Francis Antonio (He/Him)

Francis Antonio (He/Him)

Director of Operations and Technology, National Housing and Community Development Law Project

Gabriel Negrete (He/Him)

Gabriel Negrete (He/Him)

Deputy Director, La Raza Centro Legal

Jenna MacRae (She/Her)

Jenna MacRae (She/Her)

Deputy Director, Elder Law & Advocacy

Joanna Davis (She/Hers)

Joanna Davis (She/Hers)

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of NENY, Inc.

Joseph Calaceto

Joseph Calaceto

Director of Development, Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (NNJLS)

Katie Furuyama (She/Her)

Katie Furuyama (She/Her)

Director of Institutional Partnerships, Asian Law Caucus

Linh Nguyen (She/Her)

Linh Nguyen (She/Her)

Legal Services Manager, Tacoma Community House

Lizbeth Silva (She/Her)

Lizbeth Silva (She/Her)

Program Manager, The Watsonville Law Center

Lydia Nicholson (They/Them)

Lydia Nicholson (They/Them)

Administrator, Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Action

Makiedah Messam (She/Her)

Makiedah Messam (She/Her)

Executive Director, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality

Marcus Tang (He/Him)

Marcus Tang (He/Him)

Executive Director, California Immigration Project

Margaret DeMatteo (She/Her)

Margaret DeMatteo (She/Her)

Directing Attorney, California Center for Movement Legal Services

Maria Arrine (She/Her)

Maria Arrine (She/Her)

Legal Director, African Advocacy Network

Michael Stone (He/Him)

Michael Stone (He/Him)

Executive Director, Center for Disability & Elder Law

Michelle Uzeta (She/Her)

Michelle Uzeta (She/Her)

Interim Executive Director, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

Monica Arellano (She/Her)

Monica Arellano (She/Her)

Deputy Director, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Nadia Segura Narvaez (She/Her)

Nadia Segura Narvaez (She/Her)

Directing Attorney (Small Business Development Program), Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Paul Haidle (He/Him)

Paul Haidle (He/Him)

Director of Strategic Advocacy, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Reena Arya (She/Her)

Reena Arya (She/Her)

Director of Immigration Legal Services, Jewish Family Community Services of the East Bay

Richard Eisendorf (He/Him)

Richard Eisendorf (He/Him)

Director of Development, Senior Legal Services

Sarah Cottingham (She/Her)

Sarah Cottingham (She/Her)

Managing Attorney, Step Forward Foundation

Sharon Cartagena (She/Her)

Sharon Cartagena (She/Her)

Directing Attorney, Public Counsel

Shelby Emore (She/Her)

Shelby Emore (She/Her)

Lead Attorney, Dependency Legal Services

Soo Woo (She/Her)

Soo Woo (She/Her)

Assistant Managing Attorney (Housing Unit), Northeast New Jersey Legal Services

Stacy Townsend (She/Her)

Stacy Townsend (She/Her)

Senior Attorney (Housing Program), Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA)

Stephanie Bilinski (She/Her)

Stephanie Bilinski (She/Her)

Pro Bono Director, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo

Sylvia Torres-Guillén (She/Her)

Sylvia Torres-Guillén (She/Her)

President & CEO, Disability Rights Legal Center

Vicki Bass (She/Her)

Vicki Bass (She/Her)

Associate Director of Strategy and Innovation, Disability Rights California

Zoe Cronin (She/Her)

Zoe Cronin (She/Her)

Deputy Director, Greater Boston Legal Services

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