Our Team

Claire Bartholomew (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of NYU School of Law, where she was involved with the school’s Reproductive Justice Clinic, Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellowship, If/When/How chapter, and Public Interest Law Students Association. She previously interned with Planned Parenthood, the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, the Pace Women’s Justice Center, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Claire earned her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and worked for an education nonprofit before law school. Claire loves to bake, read, and walk around the city.

Yael Caplan (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of Yale Law School. In law school, she was involved with the Veterans Legal Services Clinic, where she helped litigate cases involving military parental discrimination, disability discrimination, and discriminatory IVF coverage restrictions. She also served as an articles editor with the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism. She previously interned with the Lawyering Project and a Better Balance. Prior to law school, Yael served as an analyst for the Surgo Foundation, focusing on domestic and global reproductive and maternal health issues. Yael earned her B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Chicago with a dual degree in public policy and comparative human development. A longtime crossword enthusiast, she has recently started dabbling in the online crossword competition scene.

Leena Chawla (she/her) is a development associate at Pregnancy Justice. Leena most recently worked at the Legal Aid Society, helping NYC tenants fight eviction and unjust housing laws. Before moving to Brooklyn, Leena worked with domestic violence survivors in Austin, Texas. She holds a B.A. in sociology and gender, sexuality, and feminist studies from Middlebury College. Leena enjoys long dinners with friends and is learning how to sew.

Zenovia Earle (she/her) joined Pregnancy Justice as the media & communications director. She leverages experience in government affairs, community outreach, marketing, media relations, and journalism. Before joining Pregnancy Justice, Zenovia held NYC government communications roles in aging services and technology. She started her career in TV and online news. Zenovia holds a B.A. in journalism from Georgia State University and an MPA from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Zenovia is an avid traveler, working to make it to all continents, and counts the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand as a top destination. She also has a big soft spot for older adults.

Emanuella Evans (she/her/hers) is a digital communications professional with experience in video production, graphic design, social media strategy, and audience engagement. She is passionate about Black liberation and using intentional multimedia communications to make information accessible and organize against structural oppression. Before joining Pregnancy Justice, Emanuella worked in communications at the International Women’s Media Foundation. Emanuella holds a B.A. in journalism from Northwestern University and has previously reported on criminal justice, immigration, mental health, and the intersection of gender-based violence and affordable housing. In her free time, Emma loves to travel, and she runs a youth program for South Sudanese in Kansas City.

Dara Gell (she/her) joined Pregnancy Justice as senior staff attorney in 2024. Previously, she spent nearly seven years with the Innocence Project as the investigations attorney and supervisor for intake partnerships and training. Additionally, she served as interim director of intake at the Innocence Project for three years. She began her career as a practicing immigration defense attorney in New York City. Dara holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo and a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Dara loves singing kids songs with her beautiful daughter and belting out obscure Kate Bush songs at karaoke. 

Kelly Keglovits (she/her/hers) recently graduated from Duke Law and also obtained a certificate in public interest and public service law. Prior to joining Pregnancy Justice, she previously interned at the ACLU of Oklahoma and the Center for Reproductive Rights’ U.S. litigation team. At Duke, she was involved in the Health Justice Clinic, Wrongful Convictions Clinic, and the Coalition Against Gendered Violence. She received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and is originally from Oklahoma. Outside of work Kelly is also an avid hiker and runner — her best hike so far was climbing Kilimanjaro.

Lourdes A. Rivera (she/her/ella) joined Pregnancy Justice as its first president in 2023, bringing more than 30 years of experience as a respected leader in reproductive rights and justice, health law and policy, and philanthropy. She recently served as a senior vice president of U.S. Programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights, overseeing comprehensive litigation, policy advocacy, and partnership strategies. Lourdes is a co-founder of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and the Groundswell Fund, a board member of the National Health Law Program, and board president of the Brush Foundation. She also received an American Bar Association presidential appointment to the ABA’s Coalition on Racial and Ethnic Justice. She earned a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Yale University. An enthusiastic salsa dancer since childhood, Lourdes can lead and follow with grace.

Emma Roth (she/her) is a senior staff attorney at Pregnancy Justice. Prior to joining us, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ronnie Abrams of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She also worked as an Equal Justice Works fellow for the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, where she brought impact litigation to advance the rights of women and girls in courts across the country. Emma received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her A.B., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Brown University. As a proud mom of two small children, Emma brings both her personal and professional experiences to her representation of pregnant and parenting people.

Alea Rouse is an operations and project management professional. She holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an M.A. from Rutgers University in global affairs. Alea previously worked for USAID as a research and innovation fellow in Cape Town, South Africa. In this role, she coordinated a wide range of complex cross-functional projects to achieve organizational goals focused on supporting women’s rights. Alea enjoys going to museums and strolling through Central Park.

Dana Sussman (she/her/hers) joined Pregnancy Justice in 2021 as deputy executive director and served as acting executive director in the transition period prior to Lourdes A. Rivera joining as our new president. Dana previously served as a deputy commissioner at the NYC Commission on Human Rights and has 15 years of experience as a workers’ rights, civil rights, and gender justice attorney. After graduating from Northeastern University School of Law, Dana served as a Legal Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Rights and clerked for federal Magistrate Judge James Orenstein in the Eastern District of New York. Dana holds a B.A. and an M.P.H. from Tufts University. A former fitness instructor and dancer, Dana now hosts dance parties in her kitchen for her two small children to the soundtrack of 90s hits.

Jack Tambini (he/him/his) is a seasoned administrative professional who has worked for several nonprofits and arts organizations throughout New York City. He joined Pregnancy Justice, where he provides executive-level support to President Lourdes A. Rivera, from an international art gallery. He has held numerous positions, including administrative assistant to the executive director at the American Friends of the Hebrew University, development and communications consultant at the Hudson School, office manager at New Yorkers for Parks, and executive assistant at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Jack holds an M.A. in art history from the CUNY, Brooklyn College, and a B.A. in fine arts from Wagner College. In his spare time, Jack loves exploring New York City museums and is working on a graphic novel about an artist living in Italy during the Renaissance.

Karen Thompson (she/her) joined Pregnancy Justice as legal director in 2024. Karen was previously a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the Innocence Project. After earning her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, M.A. from New York University, and B.A. from Carleton College, Karen started her legal career as an associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Morrison & Foerster LLP. She has decades of experience fighting for civil rights and liberties and racial justice in courts nationwide. Karen spends her free time learning to play the cello, honing her jazz vocals, and helicopter parenting her two dachshunds, Miles Davis and Jolene.

Mahathi Vemireddy (she/her) is a legal fellow with Pregnancy Justice. She recently graduated from Northeastern University’s School of Law with a concentration in health law and policy. She has previously interned with the National Institute of Reproductive Rights, the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, and Pregnancy Justice. She earned her B.A. from New York University, where she focused on feminist and decolonization movements. In her spare time, Mahathi likes to read and go to museums.

Fikayo Walter-Johnson (she/her) is a social science researcher committed to transformative social movements. Prior to joining Pregnancy Justice, she was a paralegal with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, where she supported pressing First and Fourth Amendment litigation. She is excited to combine her knowledge of privacy and free speech to advance pregnant people’s social and legal protections. Fikayo received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago with a dual degree in sociology and public policy and a specialization in gender and sexuality studies. Once upon a time, she co-hosted and produced a biweekly radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM called “OurSpace.”

Damaris Williams (she/her) is Pregnancy Justice’s controller and is an accountant with experience in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors in various industries such as real estate management, publishing, higher education, tech startups, trade/barter, and professional associations. She graduated cum laude from Hunter College and holds a B.A. in accounting. She also holds a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. While working for a psychological association, she realized the importance of contributing to the well-being of society, leading her to Pregnancy Justice. Damaris enjoys urban sketching. She draws and paints people, places, and things in real-time.

Lauren Wranosky (she/they) is a policy and program associate with Pregnancy Justice. Before joining us, Lauren worked as a social worker in mental health, hospice, and skilled nursing. They earned their MSW from Columbia University, specializing in public policy, and interned with Pregnancy Justice. Additionally, they have a BSW from Azusa Pacific University. In their free time, Lauren enjoys music production and singing karaoke.