Deborah Mathis came to the Public Justice Foundation in January 2007 as Communications Director. She was previously vice president of media and communications consultant for an Africa trade consulting firm and had provided strategic communications services to the Children’s Defense Fund, a Turkish media holding company, and the ACLU of Maryland. 

dmathis@publicjustice.net

John Dyess was appointed Development Director for the Public Justice Foundation in May 2009. He leads a team of six professionals, working with the Board of Directors and other volunteer leaders to raise the revenue the Public Justice Foundation annually seeks from Memberships, Special Gifts, Sponsorships, Cy Pres Awards, Foundation Grants and other miscellaneous support throughout North America.

jdyess@publicjustice.net

Cassandra Goings, Outreach Coordinator at the Public JusticeFoundation, networks with other public interest groups and members of the legal community, develops programs to enhance diversity, expands speakers bureau, and manages the operation of the State Coordinators Network and essay contest. A graduate of Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, Cassandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.

cgoings@publicjustice.net

Sarah Dean joined the Public Justice Foundation in May 2006 as the Communications Coordinator.  She works with the Communications Director in implementing communications initiatives, including managing the web site, handling mass e-mail communications, writing articles, and assisting with the production of publications. Sarah holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from George Mason University, and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Sweet Briar College.

sdean@publicjustice.net

Susan Gombert, CMP, is Meetings & Events Manager at the Public Justice Foundation, whose staff she joined in 1997. Susan is responsible for all aspects of the Foundation’s meetings and special events. Along with those responsibilities, she is also a staff liaison to the Foundation’s Membership Committee. Prior to her employment with Public Justice, Susan was the Membership Director for the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution. She is currently on the Board of the Potomac Chapter of MPI and works with the Member Recognition Committee for the chapter.

sgombert@publicjustice.net

Donna Shannon serves as Development Program Manager for the Public Justice Foundation. Donna has worked in fundraising and politics for over a decade,  becoming a jack of all trades in all things development, from direct mail to foundations, from databases to major gifts.

dshannon@publicjustice.net

Maggie Barr, Membership Coordinator at the Public Justice Foundation, works closely with the rest of the development team to cultivate members and develop fundraising strategies and campaigns. She also serves as staff liaison to the Public Justice Foundation's Membership Committee and assists in promoting membership activities. Maggie is a graduate of Florida International University's School of Hospitality Management, and honed her customer service skills with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

mbarr@publicjustice.net

Barbara Reeves, Administration & Finance Director at Public Justice and the Public Justice Foundation, manages all administrative and financial functions of both organizations, including overseeing the financial and general administrative functions of the West Coast Office.  She reviews technology needs of both organizations and ensures proper maintenance and performance of technology. Barbara joined the Public Justice and the Public Justice Foundation on October 1, 1990.  She is a graduate of University of Maryland's University College in College Park, Maryland.  She holds a B.S. degree in Management and is a member of the DC Office Management Team.

breeves@publicjustice.net

Shoshana Finacom has been the Office Manager of Public Justice’s West Coast Office since September 2004.  She is Executive Assistant to Arthur Bryant and Legal Assistant to the West Coast Office staff attorneys.Shoshana came highly recommended by Public Justice Foundation Past President Gary Gwilliam of Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer, a prominent plaintiffs’ personal injury firm in Oakland, CA.

sfinacom@publicjustice.net

Jean Hansen has been the Bookkeeper for Public Justice and the Public Justice Foundation since January 2001.  As such, she handles accounts payable and deposits for the both organizations. Before coming to Public Justice, Jean worked for Smith's Transfer and for Ambassador Relocations, two international moving companies.  Nearly a dozen years prior to that, she worked at the law firms of Williams & Jensen, PC and Wald, Harkrader & Ross, both of Washington, D.C.  Jean also once worked at the National Bank of Washington. She earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of the District of Columbia; a Bachelor’s of Science in business from the University of Maryland; and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology from the Catholic University.

jhansen@publicjustice.net

Clarisia Lovelace, Senior Legal Assistant, assists assigned attorneys in all aspects of their work and performs special research assignments at the direction of the attorneys.  She also provides training to less experienced secretaries.  She expertly troubleshoots computer software related problems for the entire staff, and also maintains the law library. In addition to the decades of legal experience that Ms. Lovelace brings with her, immediately prior to joining the Public Justice team, Ms. Lovelace also taught Court Reporting at the National Education Center in Washington, DC before the school closed in 1991.

clovelace@publicjustice.net

Paula Athey assists the Environmental Enforcement Director, Managing Attorney, and Power-Cotchett and Brayton-Baron Fellows and coordinates all incoming requests for assistance from the general public and attorneys.  She joined Public Justice in 1995 as the Receptionist and was promoted to several other positions.  From 1997-1999, she served as Legal Secretary to two staff attorneys and, from 1999-2000, she served as the Administration Coordinator.  Paula returned to Public Justice in 2002 as Legal Assistant.  She has studied Government and Politics and Paralegal Studies at the University of Maryland and University of Maryland University College.

pathey@publicjustice.net

Mary Kidwell began as Fiing Clerk and Administrative Assistant in the West Coast Office in June 2007, but by the end of that year, she was named Legal Assistant.  She brings to Public Justice a myriad of skills including doing research and evaluation in museum settings; administering accounts payable, receivable, and bank reconciliations; and teaching in elementary classrooms.  Her educational background includes graduate work in Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University as well as a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University (1987).

mkidwell@publicjustice.net

Sam Friedman joined the Public Justice Foundation in July 2006 as a Development Assistant. Sam has many years of experience managing databases, including at the Federal Bar Association and Action on Smoking and Health, both located in Washington, DC. Among his varied duties are gift entry and state registration contact for the Foundation.

sfriedman@publicjustice.net

Katie Petrelius is a Development Assistant at the Public Justice Foundation. Katie graduated from Drew University with degrees in political science and French. She worked for Sen. Joseph Biden's 2008 presidential campaign and for the Democratic National Committee.

kpetrelius@publicjustice.net

Lynette Hutton has been the Receptionist at Public Justice and the Public Justice Foundation since 1999. She has myriad responsibilities, working to maintain a steady flow and efficiency in the workplace. 

lhutton@publicjustice.net