Leadership & Staff

EXECUTIVE

David Stern, Executive Director - BIO
Susan Gurley, Deputy Director - BIO
Aaron Blacksberg, Special Assistant to the Executive Director

FELLOWSHIPS

Sterling Morriss, Fellowship Sponsor Relations Specialist
Sarah Snik, Program Manager, Fellowships
Mia Sussman, Senior Manager, Fellowship Sponsor Relations

FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Kerry O’Brien, Director of Federal Programs and Strategic Initiatives - BIO
Brenna Duncan, AmeriCorps Program Coordinator

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH

Sally Carlson, Director of Communications and Outreach - BIO
Isaac Bowers, Senior Program Manager, Educational Debt Relief and Outreach
Becky Brand, Senior Communications Specialist
Lauren Fuchs, Law School Program & Member Services Specialist
Shakirah Holley, Communications Specialist
Sarah Mahoney, Program Manager, Communications
Nita Mazumder, Program Manager, Law School Relations
Radhika Singh Miller, Program Manager, Educational Debt Relief and Outreach

DEVELOPMENT

David Simmons, Director of Development - BIO
Adam Chamy, Development Coordinator
Steven Rice, Development Specialist
Mizue Suito, Senior Manager of Donor Relations

OPERATIONS

Teresa Burk, Coordinator, Programs
Eric Harsch, Logistics and Operations Support Specialist
Chloe Hua, Senior Accountant
Nadine Smith, Administrative Coordinator
William Winfield, Operations Manager

DAVID STERN

With nearly 30 years of experience in public interest law, David Stern has helped develop Equal Justice Works into the nation's leading organization in creating public interest law opportunities.  Originally joining the organization to launch the now tremendously successful Equal Justice Works Fellowship program, Mr. Stern has served as Executive Director for the past 15 years and quadrupled the size and impact of Equal Justice Works.  With an unwavering dedication to public interest law, David Stern has continued to be an inspiration to each fellow that embarks on the journey of serving the underprivileged and continues to push the legal world to lend a hand to those who are casualties of an unjust legal system.

After graduating from Union College, Stern entered Georgetown University Law School, where he was immediately drawn to public interest law.  After receiving his law degree, he clerked for two federal judges in Baltimore, Maryland before working at a public interest law firm where he learned first-hand the importance of equal justice.  Realizing public interest law was his calling, Stern joined Equal Justice Works, then known as the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), to establish a postgraduate fellowship program.  Under his leadership, the organization has grown to include several diverse initiatives, including the Equal Justice Works and AmeriCorps fellowship programs, which currently have 170 active fellows serving in 26 states as well as the District of Columbia; Summer Corps, which allows law students to experience the benefits of performing public interest law over summer break; the Public Defender Corps, a partnership with Southern Public Defender Training Center to elevate the quality of the public defender system;  and expanding Equal Justice Works' resources to include student debt relief advice, a guide to law schools and public interest programs,  and tools to promote public interest law opportunities on campuses across the country. 

As Executive Director for Equal Justice Works, Stern articulates the organization's vision, works with the Board of Directors to develop a strategic plan of the organization, raises necessary funds, and ensures the overall health of the organization. Since his tenure as Executive Director, the organization's budget has grown from roughly $1.5 million to $8 million; staff has grown from eight to 36; and more than 95 percent of ABA-accredited schools are now members of Equal Justice Works.

"Early in my career I entered into a small public interest law firm and it was the hardest and most grueling work I have ever done," said Stern. "What I learned is that there were not enough of us…that we needed more impassioned attorneys to provide 'the little guys' need legal assistance; at Equal Justice Works I've been able to add many, many more soldiers to the army that is fighting for the little guy."

In addition to the organization, Stern has made strides in ensuring vulnerable communities are being served.  In 2006, he was honored by the Mississippi Center for Justice for bringing national attention to the legal needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina and for creating the Katrina Initiative.  This Equal Justice Works project deployed 19 lawyers to the Gulf Coast region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to help the hundreds of thousands of people left without homes, jobs and social services due to the damage cases from the storm.

Recognized by Legal Times in 2008 as one of the "Greatest Washington Lawyers in the Past 30 Years," Stern has been an integral part of Equal Justice Works' 25 year history of service and commitment to helping those in need.  Looking towards the future, Stern hopes to create additional opportunities to help lawyers help community through new and much needed initiative at Equal Justice Works

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SUSAN K. GURLEY

Susan K. Gurley is a senior executive with expertise in nonprofit management and turnaround, international development, and legal education. She has a reputation for anticipating market shifts, redefining corporate strategies and leading organizations to becoming stronger, more profitable and sustainable businesses.

During her career, Ms. Gurley has testified before Congress, launched several new programs, grew international trade and membership organizations, and opened new overseas offices. She has held leadership positions in several prominent organizations, including:

• Senior Alliance Advisor and Senior Legal Reform Advisor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),
• Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE),
• Assistant Dean of International and Graduate Programs and Adjunct Faculty Member at the Georgetown University Law Center.

While serving as the Assistant Dean at Georgetown she created the International Human Rights and National Security Law Certificate programs. She has also worked in the areas of consumer product safety and developed Corporate Social Responsibility programs covering issues such as trafficking of women and children. During her tenure with ACTE she was frequently quoted in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, USA Today, Washington Post, NPR, BBC, and the Los Angeles Times. She also appeared on CNN.

Ms. Gurley earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and speaks French, Hungarian and German.

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KERRY O'BRIEN

Kerry O’Brien is Director of Federal Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Equal Justice Works, overseeing the AmeriCorps Legal Fellowship, Summer Corps, and Public Defender Corps programs, and developing new federally-funded initiatives.  Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, she was the Director of Services for CASA de Maryland, the state's largest immigrant service and advocacy organization, where she oversaw legal, health, education, employment, and social services programming in seven sites throughout Maryland.  

Kerry began her legal career as the Crowell & Morning Equal Justice Works Fellow at Bread for the City, where she started the city's first low-wage workers' rights practice.  Following her fellowship, Kerry co-founded the D.C. Employment Justice Center, a workers' rights organization.  Kerry has also been a Campaign Coordinator at Service Employees International Union and a Rule of Law Liaison with the American Bar Association in Yerevan, Armenia.  

Kerry holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.    

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SALLY CARLSON

Sally Carlson is the Director of Communications and Outreach at Equal Justice Works, overseeing communications, law school relations and educational debt and outreach programs.  Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, she was the Director of Communications for Kidsave International, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding permanent families for older orphans and children living in foster care. Before relocating to Washington in 2007, Sally lived in Massachusetts where she ran her own consulting company for 15 years, providing marketing communications expertise to a diverse client list that included Massachusetts General Hospital, Old Mother Hubbard Dog Food, the Essex National Heritage Commission/National Park Service and the Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy - Andover. She was a member of the board of directors of the YWCA in Newburyport, MA, where she served two years as President. Sally received her B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.

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DAVID SIMMONS

David Simmons joined Equal Justice Works as Director of Development in November 2010. He previously worked as a development director at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the American Constitution Society. Prior to these positions, David worked at Equal Justice Works from 1998 to 2007 serving as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Development. During this period, the organization grew from an annual budget of $2.5 million to $9.2 million. David has nearly 25 years of experience raising funds for various nonprofits in Washington, DC and political candidates.

David is originally from Iowa where he earned his BA in history from Briar Cliff University and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the university.

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