Executive Board
Jovan Ruvalcaba, PRESIDENTDavid Beverly, PRESIDENT" href="http://<a id="davidbeverly">David Beverly, PRESIDENT</a>" title="">
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Jovan Ruvalcaba is a student at the James E. Rogers College of Law. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a double minor in French and Spanish. Jovan has volunteered with Pima County Teen Court in Tucson Arizona for more thirteen years where he now serves as доставка готовой еды в Москве court magistrate. Prior to entering law school Jovan also served two terms with AmeriCorps. A staunch advocate for advancing disability rights and leadership through international educational exchange, Jovan had the privilege of studying International and Comparative Law at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-PO) for five months through the Gilman Scholarship Program. More recently, Jovan taught English and researched accessibility issues at the Federal University of Paraná a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy since birth, he sees having a disability even with all its hardship, as an opportunity to connect with others and offer insight on how to make the world a more hospitable place for everyone.
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Desiree Joy Frias, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY
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Desiree Joy Frias is a second year JD/MPA student at American University Washington College of Law. Desiree received her B.S. in Public Policy at City University of New York Baruch College and an A.A. in Economics of Post-Modern China at Bard Early College at Simon’s Rock. She worked at the Disability Rights Law Clinic at American University, a law firm that advocates for a wide variety of clients with disabilities including both children and adults. She has interned for the Honorable Congressman Eliot Engel and was the youngest member to be appointed to a community board in New York City when she served on Bronx Community Board 4. She has language proficiencies in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Italian and Portuguese. In her free time she fosters puppies with City Dogs Rescue and teaches Sunday school at The City Church. After law school, Desiree plans to return to her home district of the Bronx and serve the community through policy work. Desiree has Fibromyalgia which leads to part-time use of a cane and ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type.
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Kyra Sims, CONFERENCE DIRECTOR
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Kyra Sims is a first year law student at Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH. Before attending law school Kyra received her B.S. in Economics from Eastern Washington University, in Cheney WA. Kyra’s legal interests include corporate contract law and adoption law. Kyra has ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome and anxiety. Kyra has big plans for the 2016 NALSWD conference and is excited for the future of NALSWD.
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Karen Gorodzinsky, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
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Karen Gorodzinsky is a 2L student at the University of San Diego School of Law. After receiving her B.A. from the University of Southern California (Go Trojans!) in Communication. After a career in advertising, Karen's own chronic, invisible illnesses led her to work as a patient advocate and opportunities to lobby Congress for awareness of rare diseases and approval of orphan drugs. Now in law school, Karen continues to advocate for patients with rare disease, disabilities, and others whose voices need help being heard. As a law student with Dysautonomia (POTS, specifically), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a yet-undiagnosed auto-immune disorder, and various other complications, Karen proves every doctor that told her law school would be impossible wrong every day. She hopes to empower others to do the same on their own paths.
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Michael Wells, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
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Michael Wells is a 2nd year law student at the University of Idaho College of Law. He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18. He served two tours of duty in Iraq. After the military he obtained his bachelors degree from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs with a degree in Sociology. Last summer he had the opportunity to work for a private personal injury firm specializing in car accidents, and other related injuries. During the Iraq war Michael had suffered wounds received from action. As a result, when he came back he was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Hemicrania. After law school, Michael would like to focus on disability rights and make sure that reasonable accommodations are being provided for those who are less fortunate. Additionally, he would like to open his own firm one day.
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Patrick Comparin, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
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Patrick Comparin is currently a 2nd-year law student at the University of Iowa College of Law. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Grinnell College. Patrick was Grinnell College's first full-time power wheelchair user and served as an integral part of the College's efforts to make its campus more accessible. During the summers of 2011 and 2012, Patrick worked as an Accessibility Specialist, advising the College on how to further make the campus more accessible. During these summers, Patrick also created a collection of student stories, with his being the first entry, where students with disabilities at Grinnell College can tell of their experiences at the College and advise prospective students with similar disabilities on what to expect and how the College can individually help them. Patrick has an interest in corporate and intellectual property law, as well as an interest in providing pro-bono services to help advocate for disability rights and reform.
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Junior Officers
Danica Gonzalves, Advocacy Committee
Danica Gonzalves is a 3L at The George Washington University Law School studying health care law. She received a B.A. in English from Brigham Young University. Her interest in disability rights stems from her own personal struggles with multiple psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder. Her past internships include: Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Program, Mental Health America, AARP Foundation Litigation, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice. She received scholarships from Equal Justice Works and Mental Health America for her public service work. Danica is also a member of GW’s Disability Support Services Speakers Bureau, where she presents to various audiences about being a student with disabilities. She is the President of Active Minds of GW Law, a student organization increasing awareness of mental health on campus. Upon graduation, Danica hopes to use her Juris Doctor degree to protect and improve the health care system, especially for individuals with disabilities.
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Alina Arredondo, Advocacy Committee
Alina Guadalupe Arredondo is in her first year of law school at Roger Williams University School of Law. Alina wishes to pursue a career in Family Law and Disability Advocacy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso. Alina worked very closely with one of El Paso’s local Congressman Beto O’Rourke as a congressional intern for three months. Alina volunteered for three years as a senior facilitator with the El Paso del Norte Youth Leadership Forum, where she has presented in many conferences in different cities within the state of Texas and encouraged young people to be leaders in their community. Being with the El Paso Del Norte Youth Leadership Forum, Alina was at the 2015, $10 Campaign rally for personal care attendants at the Texas State Capitol. Alina has also sung the national anthem for various local events including a charity event, at the El Paso’s Chihuahua baseball team game, and two town meetings. Alina has phocomelia, a physical disability where her upper and lower extremities are not fully developed.
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Kelsey McDonald, Advocacy Committee |
Nermin Abdelwahab, Advocacy Committee |
Kelsey McDonald is a 1L at Roger Williams University School of Law. As a member of the university’s 3+3 law program, she will receive her undergraduate degree in Legal Studies and Political Science in May 2016. In the past, she has completed three internships in the Rhode Island court system, and one with a criminal defense attorney. She has particular interest in criminal law, and would like to practice in her home-state, Rhode Island. She has Myasthenia Gravis Syndrome.
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Nermin Abdelwahab is a 3L at U.D.C. David A. Clarke School of Law.
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Durdana Karim, Finance Committee |
Kamaljit Singh, Finance Committee |
Durdana Karim is currently a 2nd year student at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. She received her B.A. with College Honors in International Development Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Growing up as an immigrant, Durdana was exposed to the legal immigration system at a young age and understood the importance of strong legal representation as a way to protect, defend, and empower. Prior to law school, Durdana worked for about four years gaining legal advocacy experience in the area of Civil Rights and Disability Law. She was a legal advocate with Disability Rights California, a non-profit protection and advocacy agency. She worked with various populations in advocating to increase public benefits, provided legal analysis for attorneys working with victims facing abuse and neglect in state hospitals, and worked on class action litigation related to integrated competitive employment for individuals with developmental disabilities in the state of California. Currently, Durdana is a Junior Editor with the Los Angeles Public Interest Law Journal and has volunteered with various health foundations including Hemophilia Foundation of Southern California and the Latino Hemophilia Foundation, both organization provide assistance to access health and public benefit as well as promote legislative advocacy for individuals with bleeding disorders. She has also worked with the Legal Aid foundation of Los Angeles to provide legal services for thousands of homeless veterans seeking information and access to disability benefits. Learning from experience with family and close friends who have hemophilia and other major disabilities, Durdana is a strong advocate for access to proper healthcare, reasonable accommodations in school and workplace, and meaningful legal representation to all populations in society.
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Kamal is a Second Year law student at Fordham School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude with her B.A. in History and Philosophy from St. John’s University. She then taught middle school History and English at a school for students with special needs in New York City. During that time, Kamal decided to go to law school. Kamal is a Sikh-American and a Queens native who hopes to one day serve her community as an attorney. She particularly enjoys studying Constitutional law, Criminal law, Human Rights law, and Environmental law. She is currently a member of the Fordham Law Environmental Law Review and working as a judicial extern for the Honorable Singh at the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division. Kamal has multiple sclerosis.
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Elana Freeman, Conference Committee |
Michelle Glasenberg, Conference Committee |
Elana is a third year student in the top 15% of her class at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of law, where she is Managing Editor of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, and a Staff Editor of the Law & Literature Journal. She is also Founder of the Exercise, Health, & Wellness Club, and Copyright Chair of Cardozo’s Intellectual Property Law Society. While studying at Cardozo, she has interned at an intellectual property law firm, as well as two multinational media and entertainment companies. Before law school, she earned her B.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA, where she graduated with Distinction in the Field of Religious Studies. Elana has a rare genetic retinal condition, which has made her legally blind.
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Michelle Glasenberg recently received her B.A. from York University, majoring in Law and Society. A native Canadian, she has worked at two Toronto law firms, as well as worked for the Law Commission of Ontario on its Class Actions project. Michelle has been diagnosed with Mild Inattentive ADD, as well as a mild hearing loss combined with auditory processing issues. She embraces the opportunity to help students navigate available resources and transition into their academic careers. Her own educational experiences combined with her volunteer work have all inspired her to pursue a law degree with the goal of practicing in the disability rights sector.
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James Skamarakas, Communications Committee
James R. Skamarakas is a student at Rutgers University School of Law. He holds undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Computer Science and an M.B.A. in Finance. James is a chaplain, the New Jersey State Director for OFFE, and participates in various veterans and disability related organizations. James is retired after a lengthy career in the United States Navy and with the Microsoft Corporation. He is visually disabled, and upon graduation will be dedicating his legal career to helping those with issues related to their disabilities, particularly disabled veterans. James is the social media liaison for the ABAs Civil Rights and Social Justice – Disability Rights Committee, and participates in similar capacities with organizations at Rutgers School of Law, and at the national, State and local levels.
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Krystal Simms, Communications CommitteeKrystal Simms is a student at the University of Maine School of Law.
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Curtis Brittingham, Membership Committee |
Curtis Brittingham is a pre-law student and long time successful entrepreneur. He is currently a senior at Point University where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Studies. The innocent victim of a violent crime that left him visually impaired, he is passionate about fixing our criminal justice system and advocating for victim rights. He was recently selected by the National Federation of the Blind to lobby for assisted technology for the blind. He spends most of his spare time encouraging others who have faced tragic circumstances that they can make it. His faith in achieving the impossible is so strong that he is currently penning a book about his incredible life story.
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