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mission statement
governance
Catholic social teaching
annual reports
divisions
diversity
employment
contact us
staff bios
DONALD M. KERWIN
Donald Kerwin is the Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network,
Inc. (CLINIC). CLINIC, a subsidiary of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), is a public interest legal corporation that supports a national
network of 161 charitable legal programs for immigrants from more than 260
locations. Mr. Kerwin is a 1984 graduate of Georgetown University and a 1989
graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to coming to CLINIC, he was
an associate at the Washington, DC law firm of Patton, Boggs. Upon his arrival at
CLINIC in 1992, Mr. Kerwin provided legal support to CLINIC’s political asylum project
for Haitians. Mr. Kerwin became CLINIC’s Executive Director in December 1993.
During Mr. Kerwin’s tenure, CLINIC has coordinated among the nation’s largest
affirmative asylum, detained immigrant, immigration appeals, and naturalization
programs. CLINIC also offers the nation’s most extensive training and legal support
programs for community-based legal agencies. Mr. Kerwin regularly writes and
speaks on issues affecting at-risk and low-income immigrants. He serves as an
advisor to the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, a member of the American Bar
Association’s Commission on Immigration, and a non-resident fellow at the Migration
Policy Institute.
***
Donald Kerwin is the Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network,
Inc. (CLINIC). CLINIC, a subsidiary of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), is a public interest legal corporation that supports a national
network of 161 charitable legal programs for immigrants from more than 260
locations. Mr. Kerwin is a 1984 graduate of Georgetown University and a 1989
graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to coming to CLINIC, he was
an associate at the Washington, DC law firm of Patton, Boggs. Upon his arrival at
CLINIC in 1992, Mr. Kerwin provided legal support to CLINIC’s political asylum project
for Haitians. Mr. Kerwin became CLINIC’s Executive Director in December 1993.
During Mr. Kerwin’s tenure, CLINIC has coordinated among the nation’s largest
affirmative asylum, detained immigrant, immigration appeals, and naturalization
programs. CLINIC also offers the nation’s most extensive training and legal support
programs for community-based legal agencies. Mr. Kerwin regularly writes and
speaks on issues affecting at-risk and low-income immigrants. He serves as an
advisor to the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, a member of the American Bar
Association’s Commission on Immigration, and a non-resident fellow at the Migration
Policy Institute.
***
415 Michigan Ave., NE
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
Suite 150
Washington, DC 20017
202.635.2556
202.635.2649 fax
media inquiries:
e-mail me
(202) 635-5810
Evangeline Abriel, Senior Attorney, San Francisco
Ms. Abriel holds a law degree from Tulane University Law School (she also earned her undergraduate
degree from Tulane). She has served as Clinical Professor at Loyola University New Orleans School of
Law, and Project Director of Loyola’s Mobile Immigration Law Clinic and Street Law Program. She has been
a visiting professor at Murdoch University School of Law in Perth, Western Australia and Southwestern
University School of Law in Los Angeles. She is multilingual (proficient in Spanish and French, plus
research ability in four other major languages). She is a member of the Louisiana Bar and the Florida Bar
(currently inactive).
Tanisha L. Bowens, Legalization Attorney, DL
Ms. Bowens is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law and earned a B.A. in Spanish from the
University of North Florida. As a Legalization Attorney in the Division of Legalization, she helps to prepare
the Catholic Church, faith based groups, and pro-immigrant organizations to implement legalization programs
for the undocumented. Previously, Ms. Bowens was a practicing immigration attorney for over five years
and worked with the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (Lucha Project) and Catholic Charities Legal
Services in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Ms. Bowens is a member of the Florida Bar.
Sarah Bronstein, Staff Attorney, DTTS
Ms. Bronstein is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and is CLINIC’s leading expert on
immigration legal issues specific to children. Ms. Bronstein supervises the legal work of CLINIC’s detention
staff, and provides trainings to staff and pro bono lawyers on a range of immigration issues. She handles
the majority of calls related to minors that come in to the “attorney of the day” hotline, and provides ongoing
training and technical assistance to affiliates on issues relating to children in detention. Ms. Bronstein served
as a detention fellow in CLINIC's Los Angeles office from 2000-2002, and ran CLINIC's San Francisco
detained children's representation project from 2002-2004. She is a member of the California State Bar.
Laura Burdick, Deputy Director, DNP
Ms. Burdick holds a Master’s Degree in social work administration, policy, and planning from Virginia
Commonwealth University and a B.A. from Smith College. She manages CLINIC’s citizenship assistance
projects and its asylee information and referral line. She also attends meetings with USCIS officials on
behalf of CLINIC’s member agencies to advocate on issues such as citizenship for people with disabilities
and the redesign of the citizenship test. Since coming to CLINIC in 1997, she has managed various projects,
including a national immigrant organizing project in 15 cities; a national, federally-funded project for outreach
and naturalization assistance to refugees in ten cities; two statewide projects for naturalization assistance
and asylee outreach in Florida; and a national project for technical assistance training and information to
over 130 agencies serving elderly refugees in 27 states. Prior to CLINIC, she worked for refugee
resettlement agencies in Texas and Virginia.
Charles Cassidy, Detention Fellow, DNP
Mr. Cassidy received his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and his M.A. (Philosophy) and J.D. from
Georgetown University. Mr. Cassidy is currently serving as a detention fellow in CLINIC’s Los Angeles
office. During college and law school Mr. Cassidy interned with a variety of organizations including: the
Bednet Committee of Léogâne (KOLEMO) in Léogâne, Haiti; Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services in
Washington, DC; the United States Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration Review,
Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Venezuela and
Ecuador; the Center for Applied Legal Studies at Georgetown University Law Center; and the Organization
of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Helen Chen, VAWA Attorney, DL
Helen Chen is a graduate from City University of New York School of Law and received a B.A. in Sociology
from Boston University. She serves as VAWA attorney in the Division of Legalization and works on issues
related to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. She provides training
and technical assistance to CLINIC affiliates/members, domestic violence organizations and other social and
legal services agencies on these issues. She also provides training and consultation to organizations on
program management and capacity building. Previously, Ms. Chen was an immigration attorney with Mid-
Shore Council on Family Violence and Catholic Charities of Boston. She spearheaded the VAWA project at
both agencies and provided direct services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and
other crimes.
Jeff Chenoweth, Director, DNP
Mr. Chenoweth holds a Master’s Degree in social work with an emphasis on administration and family/child
welfare. He directs CLINIC’s Division of National Programs. The division seeks to expand services to low-
income and at-risk immigrants through the management of high-impact, national programs that its member
agencies cannot under on their own. Mr. Chenoweth oversees staff and projects that provide direct or
programmatic supportive services to refugees, asylees, survivors of torture and violence, persons in
detention, and citizenship applicants. Previously, he has managed refugee resettlement projects in the
United States and in Saudi Arabia for Immigration and Refugee Services of America. He also served as a
refugee resettlement case worker/manager for Jewish Family Services and Lutheran Social Services.
Maura Collins, Communications Coordinator
Ms. Collins has an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and a B.A., magna cum
laude, in Anthropology from Brandeis University, and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. As
Communications Coordinator for the agency, she leads the agency’s planning and communications, assists
the Executive Director in research and writing, and serves as liaison to Catholic Charities CLINIC member
agencies and CLINIC’s board of directors. Prior to coming to CLINIC, she worked as an English as a Second
Language instructor. She is fluent in Spanish.
Julianne Donnelly, Supervising Attorney, DNP
Ms. Donnelly is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (Juris Doctor). Between college and law
school, Ms. Donnelly worked for a variety of non-profit organizations, including the Esperanza Peace and
Justice Center; the Texas Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project; and
the People's Legal Assistance Network. She has interned with the Federal Defenders of Eastern
Washington and Idaho, the ACLU National Prison Project and the American Bar Association Center for
Immigration Law & Representation. She is a member of the National Lawyers Guild.
Anne Marie Gibbons, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Gibbons is a graduate of Potomac School of Law, Washington, D.C. She has practiced immigration law
since 1989 when she represented detained asylum seekers in South Texas, and recruited and trained law
students and lawyers from around the country to represent detainees asking for asylum. She later entered
private practice where she worked on general immigration issues, as well as child abuse and neglect
cases. Since 1998, she has managed CLINIC projects dealing with antidiscrimination in the workplace, and
legal representation of abused women under the Violence Against Women Act. Since 2000, she has
worked for the Division of Religious Immigration Services, helping bring foreign-born priests, sisters,
brothers and lay workers to work for the Church in the United States. She also participates in trainings,
writing training material, and manages an internship program with law students from Catholic University. Ms.
Gibbons is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Peggy Gleason, Senior Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Gleason is a graduate of Antioch School of Law (Juris Doctor). A specialist in family reunification and
methods of obtaining legal status, Ms. Gleason is familiar with the Washington region’s immigrant
communities and the legal and social service organizations that serve them. In addition to training staff of
community-based immigration legal programs in the mid-Atlantic for CLINIC, she practices immigration law in
the District of Columbia for Catholic Charities.
Martin Gauto, Irmas Fellow, DNP
Martin Gauto joined CLINIC's Los Angeles office and National Programs division. Martin worked with Julianne
Donnelly on expanding CLINIC's pro bono attorney network and strengthening its relationship with law firms,
bar associations and other organizations in the Los Angeles area. Martin is a May 2006 graduate of the
University of Southern California Gould School of Law (LA). He has become CLINIC’s University of
Southern California Law School/USC Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) Irmas Fellow for the 2007-2008
year. Through this fellowship, National Programs’ detention project in Los Angeles, CA will implement a
program to provide legal assistance to CLINIC clients.
Jennifer Guilfoyle, Staff Attorney, DTTS
Jennie Guilfoyle, the Southeast region Field Office Attorney provides training and technical support on
immigration law and program management to members of CLINIC’s network. Prior to joining CLINIC, she
provided training and technical support to Church World Service’s nationwide network of refugee
resettlement and immigration legal service providers for four years. Before that, she worked as an Equal
Justice Works Fellow at the New York Association for New Americans, where she represented asylum and
VAWA applicants. She has a JD New York University School of Law and an AB from Harvard College.
Helen Harnett, Sr. Advocacy Attorney, DA
Helen served as the Supervising Attorney with the University of Baltimore Immigrants Rights Clinic. She also
served as Sr. Attorney with Farmworker Legal Services, Bangor, MI. She developed the Immigrant Rights
Clinic at the University of Baltimore and at Farmworker Legal Services, she assisted clients and educated
staff on public benefits for farmworkers. Helen is a 2001 graduate of American University College of Law.
Karen Herrling, Staff Attorney, DNP
Ms Herrling is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (Juris Doctor). She provides technical
advice and assistance on low-wage immigrant workers issues to Catholic Charities Immigration Programs
around the country. Prior to joining CLINIC, Ms. Herrling litigated on behalf of the U.S. government for the Civil
Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. She acquired public policy experience working in the Clinton
Administration and has criminal law experience. She also served as a law clerk to the late Honorable
Vincent L. Broderick in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York.
Jack Holmgren, Field Office Attorney, DL
Mr. Holmgren is a graduate of the Monterey College of Law and has practiced immigration law exclusively
since 1987. He has run a direct service program, supervised CLINIC’s national training and technical support
staff and worked closely starting and growing Catholic immigration legal services programs. He teaches,
writes and consults on program management, Board of Immigration Appeals recognition and accreditation
and other aspects of immigration law and practice. Besides working within the CLINIC network, Mr.
Holmgren has assisted in beginning and improving local immigration law programs in other faith-based and
ethnicity-based groups such as the Muslim, Arab and South Asian networks. Increasingly, he helps
programs and staff in the Domestic Violence Survivor network. He works out of the CLINIC San Francisco,
California office and is a member of the California state bar.
Kristina Karpinski, Field Office Attorney, Boston, DTTS
Ms. Karpinski is a graduate of Washington School of Law of The American University (Juris Doctor). She
currently provides direct immigration legal services to low-income clients in the Boston area and trainings in
immigration law to CLINIC’s member agencies such as Boston Catholic Charities, as well as many other
community-based organizations. Since 1999, Ms. Karpinski has expanded her role as a local and national
trainer. In 2004, she gave 15 trainings in 9 sites on such topics as citizenship and naturalization, and
immigration program management among others. Previously, she worked as an associate with Wildes and
Weinberg and as a staff attorney with the Catholic Migration Office of Brooklyn, New York. She is a member
of the New York State and Connecticut State Bars.
Hiroko Kusuda, Detention Attorney, Louisiana, DNP
Ms. Kusuda is a graduate of Tulane University Law School. She has implemented CLINIC’s Louisiana
immigration detention representation program for three years. This program offers free legal services to
immigrant detainees. She has supervised students in the Loyola University New Orleans immigration clinic
and other volunteers. She is a member of the New Orleans immigration bar and an officer of Mid-South
Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Her experience as an immigration lawyer in
private practice in New Orleans prior to joining CLINIC, and her service as an AILA officer, have helped
CLINIC to obtain pro bono assistance from lawyers and other professionals in New Orleans.
Nancy Marwin, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Nancy Marwin has accepted the position of DRIS Attorney with the national office. Nancy will replace Anne
Schiff whose employment ends Friday, November 2nd. A 2003 graduate of American University,
Washington College of Law, Nancy’s professional experience includes serving as a university lecturer at
American University and Georgetown University; an Associate for David Ware & Associates in New
Orleans, LA; and Staff Attorney with Howrey LLP in Falls Church, VA. .
Izzy Menchero, Director, DAD
Mr. Menchero is a 1972 graduate of Loyola University where he received a M.A. degree in Latin American
History. After spending over twenty years in education as a teacher and administrator, he has been
involved in resource development for the past eighteen years. He has served as Director of Outreach
Programs at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was responsible for major
and planned giving programs. He has also served as Director of Development and Public Relations with the
Long Island – New England Province of the De La Salle Christian Brothers (Narragansett, RI) and the
Roanoke Valley (VA) Chapter of the American Red Cross. In addition he served with the firm Guidance in
Giving, Inc. (NY) as a Capital Campaign Director.
Nina McDermott, Staff Attorney, DRIS
A former DRIS intern, with additional immigration and contract analysis experience as an attorney in
Pittsburgh, PA, Ms. McDermott is a 2006 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. In law school, she
was on the editorial board of the Law Review, interned as guardian ad litem for abused and neglected
children, and added Canon Law and Roman Law to her studies. Her B.S. degree was earned at
Greensboro College, Greensboro, NC in psychology with a minor in art. She has been admitted to the bar by
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania.
Molly McKenna, Director, DA
Ms. McKenna has a B.A. in French from Boston College, a graduate certificate in adult education, and is
currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. She works in CLINIC’s Division of Legalization and
Advocacy. She coordinates CLINIC’s advocacy with DHS Headquarters. She collaborates with CLINIC’s
network of charitable legal service providers to document issues of import facing the population it serves
and works to resolve those issues with the appropriate officials at United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Executive Office
for Immigration Review. She has also worked as a BIA accredited representative, immigration paralegal, and
English as a Second Language instructor.
Carol Pelton, Staff Attorney, DNP
She coordinates the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Pro Bono Project. The BIA Project matches indigent
immigrants with volunteer lawyers who represent them before the BIA. Prior to joining CLINIC, Ms. Pelton
was a Staff Attorney at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in Baltimore, providing legal support to
the agency’s network of affiliated immigration service providers. As a practicing attorney and Director of
Immigration Programs at the Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc., she represented clients before DHS and EOIR in
family-based, asylum, VAWA, and other humanitarian-based matters. Additional experience includes
teaching English as a Second Language in Seoul, S. Korea. Ms. Pelton received her JD from Chicago-Kent,
IIT and her BA in Spanish Literature from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar
and the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA).
Sr. Margaret Perron, Religious of Jesus and Mary, Director, DRIS
Sister Margaret is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America. In addition to
serving as Division Director and supervising a staff of six full-time legal professionals, she also represents
Division clients and offers trainings on religious immigration law. She has increased the Division’s legal
assistance and representation; inaugurated trainings and technical support for arch/diocesan staff working
with foreign-born religious workers; and serves as a resource for religious immigration advocacy efforts of
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Prior to directing DRIS, she served as a staff attorney for
Catholic Charities’ Immigration Services Program in Silver Spring, MD; Director of Associated Catholic
Charities’ Immigration Services Program in Washington D.C.; and Associate Director of the Legal Resource
Center for Religious in Silver Spring, MD. Sister Margaret is a member of the Maryland Bar, the District of
Columbia Bar, and the U.S. District Court.
Allison Posner, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Posner is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and American University’s Washington College of
Law. Prior to joining CLINIC’s staff in 2004, Allison worked as an associate with the general practice firm of
Geary & Associates in Massachusetts and in the immigration practice of the Law Office of Paul Zoltan in
Dallas, Texas. She also gained valuable experience as an intern with the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees and as a research assistant for the War Crimes Research Office of the Washington College of
Law. She is a member of the New York State Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Sairah Saeed, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Saeed is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and the University of Michigan (BA in Political Science,
Women’s Studies, and Afro American and African Studies). Prior to joining CLINIC, Sairah was a Law
Fellow with Alliance for Justice’s Nonprofit Advocacy Project and Foundation Advocacy Initiative. While at
AFJ Sairah conducted workshops and engaged in research and writing projects regarding advocacy rules
for nonprofit organizations. Sairah worked as a Law Clerk with the United Auto Workers Legal Department,
clerked with Ms. Ambereen Ahmed, a private practitioner, and was a Law Clerk with Notre Dame’s
Immigration Clinic. Prior to law school, Sairah was involved in a number of activities including creating
curriculum and presenting workshops on working with specific populations of survivors of violence against
women, particularly Muslim women survivors of violence and South Asian survivors. Sairah is also
involved with planning the National Association of Muslim Lawyers upcoming annual conference.
Susan Schreiber, Field Office Attorney, Chicago, DTTS
Ms. Schreiber is a field office attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. in CLINIC’s Chicago
office, where she provides technical assistance and training to member agencies in the ten-state Midwest
region. Ms. Schreiber graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School in 1980 and
worked for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago for eight years. Since 1982, Ms.
Schreiber’s practice has focused on immigration law. After working at LAF, Ms. Schreiber was the
managing attorney at Midwest Immigrant Rights Center from 1988 to 1998 and then worked at DePaul Law
School Legal Clinic as a supervisor of law students representing asylum applicants and providing technical
assistance to community-based organizations. Ms. Schreiber has worked for CLINIC since 2001. She is a
member of the Illinois State Bar.
Debbie Smith, Project Director, IAN, DTTS
Ms. Smith, the Project Director for the Immigration Advocates Network (“IAN”), a collaborative project with
other immigrants’ rights organizations, is an attorney with more than 20 years experience in non-profit,
private and public sector practice. Most recently a staff attorney at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San
Francisco, Debbie was also previously a partner at the San Francisco law firm, Simmons & Ungar, a staff
attorney at the International Institute of the East Bay, and the national coordinator of the American Baptist
Churches (“ABC”) class action settlement.
Kathleen Sullivan, Detention Project Manager, DNP
Ms. Sullivan is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law, and was a Fulbright-Hayes Research
Grant recipient in Costa Rica in the late 1980s. As director, she oversees eight staff members and the
CLINIC detention representation projects that provide immigration representation and legal rights workshops
to detained non-citizens. In the past, Ms. Sullivan served as Counsel to Senator Kennedy on the Senate
Immigration Subcommittee, as an adjunct law professor, and as a consultant to prominent foundations and
nonprofits on immigration and refugee issues. She has substantial legal and policy-making expertise on
immigration detention issues and strong supervisory and project management skills. She is a member of the
California, District of Columbia, and New York State Bars.
Mirna Torres, Director, DL
Mirna Torres is CLINIC’s Director of the Division of Legalization. Ms. Torres leads CLINIC’s Legalization
Project, which seeks to prepare the Catholic Church in the United States -- in partnership with faith-based
and other pro-immigrant networks -- to implement a broad legalization program for the undocumented. After
graduating from Northwestern University School of Law, Ms. Torres was awarded an Equal Justice Works
Fellowship to provide free legal services to immigrant survivors of gender violence at Catholic Charities of
Central New Mexico, where she established the VAWA Immigration Project and later served as the Director
of the Immigration Program. Prior to her current position, she worked on U.S./Mexico border issues for U.S.
Senator Jeff Bingaman. Ms. Torres is a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association.
Charles Wheeler, Director, DTTS
Mr. Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, and has practiced and taught
immigration law for two decades. As a CLINIC division director, he manages support and advocacy work on
immigration law and related issues affecting immigrants. Mr. Wheeler directed the National Immigration Law
Center for more than ten years. He has served on boards of the National Immigration Forum, American
Immigration Lawyers Association, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, and other
leading organizations. He is a member of the State Bars of California, Colorado and Maryland.
Melissa Williams, Media Relations Coordinator, DA
Melissa Williams is a graduate of Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. She holds Bachelor of Arts
degrees in political science and journalism. She has been a practicing journalist for the past six years, most
recently as a general beat reporter for the Richmond Free Press, the majority weekly in Richmond, Virginia.
Ms. Williams joined CLINIC in September of 2007 as its Media Relations Coordinator. In this capacity, she is
responsible for organizing and implementing CLINIC’s media relations and press work, overseeing internal
and external publications, and responding to inquiries from the media as well as CLINIC’s affiliate agencies.
Ms. Abriel holds a law degree from Tulane University Law School (she also earned her undergraduate
degree from Tulane). She has served as Clinical Professor at Loyola University New Orleans School of
Law, and Project Director of Loyola’s Mobile Immigration Law Clinic and Street Law Program. She has been
a visiting professor at Murdoch University School of Law in Perth, Western Australia and Southwestern
University School of Law in Los Angeles. She is multilingual (proficient in Spanish and French, plus
research ability in four other major languages). She is a member of the Louisiana Bar and the Florida Bar
(currently inactive).
Tanisha L. Bowens, Legalization Attorney, DL
Ms. Bowens is a graduate of Florida State University College of Law and earned a B.A. in Spanish from the
University of North Florida. As a Legalization Attorney in the Division of Legalization, she helps to prepare
the Catholic Church, faith based groups, and pro-immigrant organizations to implement legalization programs
for the undocumented. Previously, Ms. Bowens was a practicing immigration attorney for over five years
and worked with the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (Lucha Project) and Catholic Charities Legal
Services in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Ms. Bowens is a member of the Florida Bar.
Sarah Bronstein, Staff Attorney, DTTS
Ms. Bronstein is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and is CLINIC’s leading expert on
immigration legal issues specific to children. Ms. Bronstein supervises the legal work of CLINIC’s detention
staff, and provides trainings to staff and pro bono lawyers on a range of immigration issues. She handles
the majority of calls related to minors that come in to the “attorney of the day” hotline, and provides ongoing
training and technical assistance to affiliates on issues relating to children in detention. Ms. Bronstein served
as a detention fellow in CLINIC's Los Angeles office from 2000-2002, and ran CLINIC's San Francisco
detained children's representation project from 2002-2004. She is a member of the California State Bar.
Laura Burdick, Deputy Director, DNP
Ms. Burdick holds a Master’s Degree in social work administration, policy, and planning from Virginia
Commonwealth University and a B.A. from Smith College. She manages CLINIC’s citizenship assistance
projects and its asylee information and referral line. She also attends meetings with USCIS officials on
behalf of CLINIC’s member agencies to advocate on issues such as citizenship for people with disabilities
and the redesign of the citizenship test. Since coming to CLINIC in 1997, she has managed various projects,
including a national immigrant organizing project in 15 cities; a national, federally-funded project for outreach
and naturalization assistance to refugees in ten cities; two statewide projects for naturalization assistance
and asylee outreach in Florida; and a national project for technical assistance training and information to
over 130 agencies serving elderly refugees in 27 states. Prior to CLINIC, she worked for refugee
resettlement agencies in Texas and Virginia.
Charles Cassidy, Detention Fellow, DNP
Mr. Cassidy received his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and his M.A. (Philosophy) and J.D. from
Georgetown University. Mr. Cassidy is currently serving as a detention fellow in CLINIC’s Los Angeles
office. During college and law school Mr. Cassidy interned with a variety of organizations including: the
Bednet Committee of Léogâne (KOLEMO) in Léogâne, Haiti; Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services in
Washington, DC; the United States Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration Review,
Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Venezuela and
Ecuador; the Center for Applied Legal Studies at Georgetown University Law Center; and the Organization
of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Helen Chen, VAWA Attorney, DL
Helen Chen is a graduate from City University of New York School of Law and received a B.A. in Sociology
from Boston University. She serves as VAWA attorney in the Division of Legalization and works on issues
related to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. She provides training
and technical assistance to CLINIC affiliates/members, domestic violence organizations and other social and
legal services agencies on these issues. She also provides training and consultation to organizations on
program management and capacity building. Previously, Ms. Chen was an immigration attorney with Mid-
Shore Council on Family Violence and Catholic Charities of Boston. She spearheaded the VAWA project at
both agencies and provided direct services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and
other crimes.
Jeff Chenoweth, Director, DNP
Mr. Chenoweth holds a Master’s Degree in social work with an emphasis on administration and family/child
welfare. He directs CLINIC’s Division of National Programs. The division seeks to expand services to low-
income and at-risk immigrants through the management of high-impact, national programs that its member
agencies cannot under on their own. Mr. Chenoweth oversees staff and projects that provide direct or
programmatic supportive services to refugees, asylees, survivors of torture and violence, persons in
detention, and citizenship applicants. Previously, he has managed refugee resettlement projects in the
United States and in Saudi Arabia for Immigration and Refugee Services of America. He also served as a
refugee resettlement case worker/manager for Jewish Family Services and Lutheran Social Services.
Maura Collins, Communications Coordinator
Ms. Collins has an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and a B.A., magna cum
laude, in Anthropology from Brandeis University, and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. As
Communications Coordinator for the agency, she leads the agency’s planning and communications, assists
the Executive Director in research and writing, and serves as liaison to Catholic Charities CLINIC member
agencies and CLINIC’s board of directors. Prior to coming to CLINIC, she worked as an English as a Second
Language instructor. She is fluent in Spanish.
Julianne Donnelly, Supervising Attorney, DNP
Ms. Donnelly is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (Juris Doctor). Between college and law
school, Ms. Donnelly worked for a variety of non-profit organizations, including the Esperanza Peace and
Justice Center; the Texas Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project; and
the People's Legal Assistance Network. She has interned with the Federal Defenders of Eastern
Washington and Idaho, the ACLU National Prison Project and the American Bar Association Center for
Immigration Law & Representation. She is a member of the National Lawyers Guild.
Anne Marie Gibbons, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Gibbons is a graduate of Potomac School of Law, Washington, D.C. She has practiced immigration law
since 1989 when she represented detained asylum seekers in South Texas, and recruited and trained law
students and lawyers from around the country to represent detainees asking for asylum. She later entered
private practice where she worked on general immigration issues, as well as child abuse and neglect
cases. Since 1998, she has managed CLINIC projects dealing with antidiscrimination in the workplace, and
legal representation of abused women under the Violence Against Women Act. Since 2000, she has
worked for the Division of Religious Immigration Services, helping bring foreign-born priests, sisters,
brothers and lay workers to work for the Church in the United States. She also participates in trainings,
writing training material, and manages an internship program with law students from Catholic University. Ms.
Gibbons is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Peggy Gleason, Senior Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Gleason is a graduate of Antioch School of Law (Juris Doctor). A specialist in family reunification and
methods of obtaining legal status, Ms. Gleason is familiar with the Washington region’s immigrant
communities and the legal and social service organizations that serve them. In addition to training staff of
community-based immigration legal programs in the mid-Atlantic for CLINIC, she practices immigration law in
the District of Columbia for Catholic Charities.
Martin Gauto, Irmas Fellow, DNP
Martin Gauto joined CLINIC's Los Angeles office and National Programs division. Martin worked with Julianne
Donnelly on expanding CLINIC's pro bono attorney network and strengthening its relationship with law firms,
bar associations and other organizations in the Los Angeles area. Martin is a May 2006 graduate of the
University of Southern California Gould School of Law (LA). He has become CLINIC’s University of
Southern California Law School/USC Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) Irmas Fellow for the 2007-2008
year. Through this fellowship, National Programs’ detention project in Los Angeles, CA will implement a
program to provide legal assistance to CLINIC clients.
Jennifer Guilfoyle, Staff Attorney, DTTS
Jennie Guilfoyle, the Southeast region Field Office Attorney provides training and technical support on
immigration law and program management to members of CLINIC’s network. Prior to joining CLINIC, she
provided training and technical support to Church World Service’s nationwide network of refugee
resettlement and immigration legal service providers for four years. Before that, she worked as an Equal
Justice Works Fellow at the New York Association for New Americans, where she represented asylum and
VAWA applicants. She has a JD New York University School of Law and an AB from Harvard College.
Helen Harnett, Sr. Advocacy Attorney, DA
Helen served as the Supervising Attorney with the University of Baltimore Immigrants Rights Clinic. She also
served as Sr. Attorney with Farmworker Legal Services, Bangor, MI. She developed the Immigrant Rights
Clinic at the University of Baltimore and at Farmworker Legal Services, she assisted clients and educated
staff on public benefits for farmworkers. Helen is a 2001 graduate of American University College of Law.
Karen Herrling, Staff Attorney, DNP
Ms Herrling is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (Juris Doctor). She provides technical
advice and assistance on low-wage immigrant workers issues to Catholic Charities Immigration Programs
around the country. Prior to joining CLINIC, Ms. Herrling litigated on behalf of the U.S. government for the Civil
Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. She acquired public policy experience working in the Clinton
Administration and has criminal law experience. She also served as a law clerk to the late Honorable
Vincent L. Broderick in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She is a member of the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York.
Jack Holmgren, Field Office Attorney, DL
Mr. Holmgren is a graduate of the Monterey College of Law and has practiced immigration law exclusively
since 1987. He has run a direct service program, supervised CLINIC’s national training and technical support
staff and worked closely starting and growing Catholic immigration legal services programs. He teaches,
writes and consults on program management, Board of Immigration Appeals recognition and accreditation
and other aspects of immigration law and practice. Besides working within the CLINIC network, Mr.
Holmgren has assisted in beginning and improving local immigration law programs in other faith-based and
ethnicity-based groups such as the Muslim, Arab and South Asian networks. Increasingly, he helps
programs and staff in the Domestic Violence Survivor network. He works out of the CLINIC San Francisco,
California office and is a member of the California state bar.
Kristina Karpinski, Field Office Attorney, Boston, DTTS
Ms. Karpinski is a graduate of Washington School of Law of The American University (Juris Doctor). She
currently provides direct immigration legal services to low-income clients in the Boston area and trainings in
immigration law to CLINIC’s member agencies such as Boston Catholic Charities, as well as many other
community-based organizations. Since 1999, Ms. Karpinski has expanded her role as a local and national
trainer. In 2004, she gave 15 trainings in 9 sites on such topics as citizenship and naturalization, and
immigration program management among others. Previously, she worked as an associate with Wildes and
Weinberg and as a staff attorney with the Catholic Migration Office of Brooklyn, New York. She is a member
of the New York State and Connecticut State Bars.
Hiroko Kusuda, Detention Attorney, Louisiana, DNP
Ms. Kusuda is a graduate of Tulane University Law School. She has implemented CLINIC’s Louisiana
immigration detention representation program for three years. This program offers free legal services to
immigrant detainees. She has supervised students in the Loyola University New Orleans immigration clinic
and other volunteers. She is a member of the New Orleans immigration bar and an officer of Mid-South
Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Her experience as an immigration lawyer in
private practice in New Orleans prior to joining CLINIC, and her service as an AILA officer, have helped
CLINIC to obtain pro bono assistance from lawyers and other professionals in New Orleans.
Nancy Marwin, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Nancy Marwin has accepted the position of DRIS Attorney with the national office. Nancy will replace Anne
Schiff whose employment ends Friday, November 2nd. A 2003 graduate of American University,
Washington College of Law, Nancy’s professional experience includes serving as a university lecturer at
American University and Georgetown University; an Associate for David Ware & Associates in New
Orleans, LA; and Staff Attorney with Howrey LLP in Falls Church, VA. .
Izzy Menchero, Director, DAD
Mr. Menchero is a 1972 graduate of Loyola University where he received a M.A. degree in Latin American
History. After spending over twenty years in education as a teacher and administrator, he has been
involved in resource development for the past eighteen years. He has served as Director of Outreach
Programs at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was responsible for major
and planned giving programs. He has also served as Director of Development and Public Relations with the
Long Island – New England Province of the De La Salle Christian Brothers (Narragansett, RI) and the
Roanoke Valley (VA) Chapter of the American Red Cross. In addition he served with the firm Guidance in
Giving, Inc. (NY) as a Capital Campaign Director.
Nina McDermott, Staff Attorney, DRIS
A former DRIS intern, with additional immigration and contract analysis experience as an attorney in
Pittsburgh, PA, Ms. McDermott is a 2006 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. In law school, she
was on the editorial board of the Law Review, interned as guardian ad litem for abused and neglected
children, and added Canon Law and Roman Law to her studies. Her B.S. degree was earned at
Greensboro College, Greensboro, NC in psychology with a minor in art. She has been admitted to the bar by
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania.
Molly McKenna, Director, DA
Ms. McKenna has a B.A. in French from Boston College, a graduate certificate in adult education, and is
currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. She works in CLINIC’s Division of Legalization and
Advocacy. She coordinates CLINIC’s advocacy with DHS Headquarters. She collaborates with CLINIC’s
network of charitable legal service providers to document issues of import facing the population it serves
and works to resolve those issues with the appropriate officials at United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Executive Office
for Immigration Review. She has also worked as a BIA accredited representative, immigration paralegal, and
English as a Second Language instructor.
Carol Pelton, Staff Attorney, DNP
She coordinates the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Pro Bono Project. The BIA Project matches indigent
immigrants with volunteer lawyers who represent them before the BIA. Prior to joining CLINIC, Ms. Pelton
was a Staff Attorney at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in Baltimore, providing legal support to
the agency’s network of affiliated immigration service providers. As a practicing attorney and Director of
Immigration Programs at the Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc., she represented clients before DHS and EOIR in
family-based, asylum, VAWA, and other humanitarian-based matters. Additional experience includes
teaching English as a Second Language in Seoul, S. Korea. Ms. Pelton received her JD from Chicago-Kent,
IIT and her BA in Spanish Literature from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar
and the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA).
Sr. Margaret Perron, Religious of Jesus and Mary, Director, DRIS
Sister Margaret is a graduate of the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America. In addition to
serving as Division Director and supervising a staff of six full-time legal professionals, she also represents
Division clients and offers trainings on religious immigration law. She has increased the Division’s legal
assistance and representation; inaugurated trainings and technical support for arch/diocesan staff working
with foreign-born religious workers; and serves as a resource for religious immigration advocacy efforts of
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Prior to directing DRIS, she served as a staff attorney for
Catholic Charities’ Immigration Services Program in Silver Spring, MD; Director of Associated Catholic
Charities’ Immigration Services Program in Washington D.C.; and Associate Director of the Legal Resource
Center for Religious in Silver Spring, MD. Sister Margaret is a member of the Maryland Bar, the District of
Columbia Bar, and the U.S. District Court.
Allison Posner, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Posner is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and American University’s Washington College of
Law. Prior to joining CLINIC’s staff in 2004, Allison worked as an associate with the general practice firm of
Geary & Associates in Massachusetts and in the immigration practice of the Law Office of Paul Zoltan in
Dallas, Texas. She also gained valuable experience as an intern with the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees and as a research assistant for the War Crimes Research Office of the Washington College of
Law. She is a member of the New York State Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Sairah Saeed, Staff Attorney, DRIS
Ms. Saeed is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and the University of Michigan (BA in Political Science,
Women’s Studies, and Afro American and African Studies). Prior to joining CLINIC, Sairah was a Law
Fellow with Alliance for Justice’s Nonprofit Advocacy Project and Foundation Advocacy Initiative. While at
AFJ Sairah conducted workshops and engaged in research and writing projects regarding advocacy rules
for nonprofit organizations. Sairah worked as a Law Clerk with the United Auto Workers Legal Department,
clerked with Ms. Ambereen Ahmed, a private practitioner, and was a Law Clerk with Notre Dame’s
Immigration Clinic. Prior to law school, Sairah was involved in a number of activities including creating
curriculum and presenting workshops on working with specific populations of survivors of violence against
women, particularly Muslim women survivors of violence and South Asian survivors. Sairah is also
involved with planning the National Association of Muslim Lawyers upcoming annual conference.
Susan Schreiber, Field Office Attorney, Chicago, DTTS
Ms. Schreiber is a field office attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. in CLINIC’s Chicago
office, where she provides technical assistance and training to member agencies in the ten-state Midwest
region. Ms. Schreiber graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School in 1980 and
worked for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago for eight years. Since 1982, Ms.
Schreiber’s practice has focused on immigration law. After working at LAF, Ms. Schreiber was the
managing attorney at Midwest Immigrant Rights Center from 1988 to 1998 and then worked at DePaul Law
School Legal Clinic as a supervisor of law students representing asylum applicants and providing technical
assistance to community-based organizations. Ms. Schreiber has worked for CLINIC since 2001. She is a
member of the Illinois State Bar.
Debbie Smith, Project Director, IAN, DTTS
Ms. Smith, the Project Director for the Immigration Advocates Network (“IAN”), a collaborative project with
other immigrants’ rights organizations, is an attorney with more than 20 years experience in non-profit,
private and public sector practice. Most recently a staff attorney at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San
Francisco, Debbie was also previously a partner at the San Francisco law firm, Simmons & Ungar, a staff
attorney at the International Institute of the East Bay, and the national coordinator of the American Baptist
Churches (“ABC”) class action settlement.
Kathleen Sullivan, Detention Project Manager, DNP
Ms. Sullivan is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law, and was a Fulbright-Hayes Research
Grant recipient in Costa Rica in the late 1980s. As director, she oversees eight staff members and the
CLINIC detention representation projects that provide immigration representation and legal rights workshops
to detained non-citizens. In the past, Ms. Sullivan served as Counsel to Senator Kennedy on the Senate
Immigration Subcommittee, as an adjunct law professor, and as a consultant to prominent foundations and
nonprofits on immigration and refugee issues. She has substantial legal and policy-making expertise on
immigration detention issues and strong supervisory and project management skills. She is a member of the
California, District of Columbia, and New York State Bars.
Mirna Torres, Director, DL
Mirna Torres is CLINIC’s Director of the Division of Legalization. Ms. Torres leads CLINIC’s Legalization
Project, which seeks to prepare the Catholic Church in the United States -- in partnership with faith-based
and other pro-immigrant networks -- to implement a broad legalization program for the undocumented. After
graduating from Northwestern University School of Law, Ms. Torres was awarded an Equal Justice Works
Fellowship to provide free legal services to immigrant survivors of gender violence at Catholic Charities of
Central New Mexico, where she established the VAWA Immigration Project and later served as the Director
of the Immigration Program. Prior to her current position, she worked on U.S./Mexico border issues for U.S.
Senator Jeff Bingaman. Ms. Torres is a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association.
Charles Wheeler, Director, DTTS
Mr. Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, and has practiced and taught
immigration law for two decades. As a CLINIC division director, he manages support and advocacy work on
immigration law and related issues affecting immigrants. Mr. Wheeler directed the National Immigration Law
Center for more than ten years. He has served on boards of the National Immigration Forum, American
Immigration Lawyers Association, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, and other
leading organizations. He is a member of the State Bars of California, Colorado and Maryland.
Melissa Williams, Media Relations Coordinator, DA
Melissa Williams is a graduate of Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. She holds Bachelor of Arts
degrees in political science and journalism. She has been a practicing journalist for the past six years, most
recently as a general beat reporter for the Richmond Free Press, the majority weekly in Richmond, Virginia.
Ms. Williams joined CLINIC in September of 2007 as its Media Relations Coordinator. In this capacity, she is
responsible for organizing and implementing CLINIC’s media relations and press work, overseeing internal
and external publications, and responding to inquiries from the media as well as CLINIC’s affiliate agencies.
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