Illinois Legal Aid Online's staff members are committed to innovation, simplifying the law and legal processes, and using technology to help people solve their legal problems more easily. We are a diverse group that includes lawyers, technologists, fundraisers, and nonprofit professionals.
Teresa (Teri) is ILAO's Executive Director. She leads, and serves, ILAO's small but mighty team of just under 20 staff, which is buoyed by more than 100 volunteers. She fosters strategic partnerships with local and national leaders and groups, and oversees development of ILAO's new and transformed products, programs, and services. Teri is a graduate of Northwestern University and DePaul University College of Law.
Gwendelyn is ILAO's Deputy Director and has been with ILAO since 2004 in various technical leadership roles. Gwen is responsible for leading the organization’s product strategy and helps in leading service delivery. She oversees our technical team, product, content, and community engagement units. Gwen has a B.B.A in Accounting and is a graduate of DePaul University's College of Law and spends her free time with her cats, Boomer and Bogart.
As the Finance Director, Jessica oversees all areas of accounting and financial management for ILAO. Jessica was most recently a Senior Accounting Analyst at Tenneco, Inc. in the SEC Reporting and Consolidations group and a Senior Audit Associate at Crowe Horwath. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an MS in Accounting in 2006.
Kyisha shepherds ILAO’s operational knowledge, implement administrative policies and procedures and serves as the logistics point person and project manager for team-wide events and meetings. Kyisha has 22 years of experience in the Human Service Field. Before ILAO, Kyisha worked as a Domestic Violence Medical Advocacy Program Manager. She is an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP). Kyisha earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Service Management from the University of Phoenix.
As Product Support Manager, Karla manages user feedback, user support, user experience (UX) and quality assurance (QA) testing of ILAO software products. Karla has degrees in Health Sciences and Psychology from Western Illinois University and loves to watch true crime dramas.
As Community Engagement Director, Amy directs engagement with and support of ILAO's partner organizations to ensure they are effectively using ILAO's products and services. She received her AM from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and her JD from Emory University School of Law.
As Promotion and Translation Manager, Marcin helps with the content ILAO publishes. He is responsible for ILAO's social media, editorial calendar, and working with our translation vendors, as well as managing our Polish language materials. After getting his B.A. at Dominican University for Criminology and Sociology, he interned at the National Criminal Justice Association. After NCJA, Marcin was hired as the Managing Editor/Community Manager for retro gaming magazine, Mega Visions. When he’s not at work, Marcin loves to go hiking and travel.
As a Legal Content Manager, Yaima works with volunteers to ensure that the legal information on ILAO’s website is accurate and up-to-date and manages all Spanish-language legal content ILAO produces. Prior to ILAO, she was a Senior Self-Help Center Specialist (Staff Attorney) with the Minnesota Judicial Branch. She also served as Program Director and Criminal Expungement Program Manager & Resource Attorney at the Volunteer Lawyers Network in Minneapolis. Yaima holds degrees in Social Work and Psychology from Florida International University and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.
Rod comes to ILAO with wealth of marketing, public & media relations and communications experience working with many leading non-profit, educational and social service/charitable organizations. Having performed every key role in successfully promoting, marketing and implementing key strategies for those organizations where he’s been employed and consulted, including social media/website management, public relations, marketing direction, fundraising/donation initiatives and event coordination.
As Community Navigator Leader, Oscar helps the community by providing information on how to access different resources on the ILAO website. A native Spanish speaker, Oscar performs outreach in the Hispanic community so that everyone can access the legal system and understand the law through the use of ILAO's self-help information.
Alexa oversees ILAO’s fundraising initiatives - individual and corporate giving, events, and grants. Past positions include Development Director at resilience aka Rape Victim Advocates and Connections for Abused Women and their Children. Alexa received her BA in Psychology from the University of Texas, Austin and her MSW from Washington University, St. Louis.
As the Legal Content Director, Chanita leads and supports the ILAO Content Team which develops and maintains the legal publications, translations, and automated forms on the site. Prior to ILAO, Chanita was the Client Empowerment Practice Area Manager and Managing Attorney for TexasLawHelp.org at Texas Legal Services Center, as well as a staff attorney at Disability Rights Texas. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and University of Texas at Dallas.
As an Automated Documents Specialist, Vivian develops and implements guided interviews that generate legal forms and other documents. She works primarily in Python and uses platforms such as Docassemble, HotDocs, and A2JAuthor. Vivian received her BA in Cinema and Media Studies from Carleton College and her JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
As Associated Director of Legal Tech, Matt creates and supports ILAO's guided interviews and automated forms. After getting a J.D. from DePaul College of Law, he worked for 3 years as staff attorney at LAF. He then spent 11 years doing IT support at Northwestern University, where he earned an M.S. in Computer Information Systems. Matt enjoys exploring and building worlds in Minecraft with his son.
As Director of Product Innovation, Michael is responsible for leading design and development of ILAO's statewide online triage and intake system, leading research and development, and collaborating with stakeholders on new product development. Prior to joining ILAO, Mike worked as an attorney in Texas, including 7 years at Lone Star Legal Aid. He earned a BS in Philosophy & Psychology at Mansfield University and his JD at Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
As Community Partnerships Manager, Felicia oversees ILAO's Community Navigator Program, which serves communities affected by immigration policies in Kane and DuPage Counties. She has several years of experience working in the 18th Judicial Circuit as a Spanish interpreter and in the medical field. Felicia has an Associate Degree in Legal and Medical Interpreting from Waubonsee Community College and is working toward a Health and Human Sciences degree from Northern Illinois University.
_0.jpg)
As a Legal Content Manager, Tracy works with volunteers to ensure that the legal information on ILAO’s website is accurate and up to date. Prior to ILAO, Tracy was an attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus. She also worked as a career advisor at Ohio State’s law school and taught Legal Research and Writing and Civil Litigation in Wilbur Wright College's paralegal program. Tracy is a graduate of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Ball State University.
As a Legal Content Manager, Steve works with volunteers to ensure that the legal information on ILAO’s website is accurate and up-to-date and manages the internship and fellowship program. Before ILAO, Steve ran his firm practicing consumer protection law. Steve was also an Illinois Foreclosure Fellow with Equal Justice Works, where he represented individuals facing foreclosure with the Chicago Legal Clinic. Steve is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and UIC Law School.
As a Community Navigator Manager, Jerome oversees ILAO's Community Navigator Program in Sangamon and Macon counties, focusing on communities impacted by incarceration policies.
