Genevra Alberti

Genevra Alberti is a Senior Attorney at Martinez Immigration Law, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri, where she focuses on removal defense, habeas corpus petitions, and affirmative family-based and humanitarian matters. She has been practicing for 15 years, the first 13 of which were at a nonprofit where she focused exclusively on representing indigent individuals in the Kansas City Immigration Court. She has handled a wide array of complex and nuanced immigration cases and has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.Genevra regularly presents at national and local immigration conferences and teaches courtroom skills to other immigration attorneys. She is a contributing author to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Litigation Toolbox, 5th Ed. (2016) and 6th Ed. (2019).

Genevra remains deeply involved in AILA. She has served on several national committees, including recently as Removal/Litigation Track Chair for the 2026 Annual Conference Planning Committee. She also served as Chair of the Missouri-Kansas AILA Chapter from May 2023 to May 2025 and was one of the Chapter’s liaisons to the immigration court from 2020 to 2025.

Genevra earned her BA with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her JD from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where she graduated cum laude.

Lauren Anselowitz

Lauren Anselowitz is a Partner at the firm Harlan York and Associates. A graduate of North Carolina State University and Seton Hall Law School, Ms. Anselowitz also earned a Master of Arts Degree from the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations. Named to Best Lawyers in America, her most noted accomplishments include successfully arguing numerous cases under the Convention Against Torture before the U.S. Immigration Courts and winning oral argument before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate a deportation order for a client of the firm. Ms. Anselowitz specializes in deportation defense, detention matters and issues of crimmigration for the firm.

Victoria Carmona

Victoria Carmona joined the Chicago-Kent College of Law faculty in August 2019 as director of the C-K Law Group’s Immigration Law Clinic. The clinic’s practice focuses on United States immigration law and practice, including family-based immigration before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum offices and removal defense before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (immigration court).

From 2014 to 2019, Carmona practiced immigration law at the Law Office of Robert D. Ahlgren and Associates PC, representing clients in applications for family-based and victim-based immigration benefits and in removal proceedings. Additionally, Carmona provided pro bono representation for immigrant woman and children detained in the South Texas Family Residential Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Chicago Chapter, and serves on several liaison committees.

Carmona earned her LL.M. in international human rights from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2018, where her thesis focused on human rights violations by the U.S. with concern to the regulation of migration. She earned her J.D. with a certificate in child and family law from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2014. While earning her J.D., she was a caseworker in the Bluhm Legal Clinic’s Children and Family Justice Law Center. She also received a Public Interest Law Initiative grant to work at the Chicago Legal Clinic’s Chancery Advice Desk.

Before law school Carmona completed a bachelor’s degree in international and Latin American studies at the University of Chicago and a Master of Social Work at the Loyola University Chicago Graduate School of Social Work.

Carmona speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and German, and has lived in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and Spain. From 2008 to 2014, Carmona was the assistant director of the Brazil in Chicago Portuguese Language School and Brazilian Cultural Center. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois.

Marie Celentino

Marie Celentino is an assistant professor and the Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Previously, she served as a Teaching Fellow and Interim Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at Michigan State University College of Law. She has exclusively practiced immigration law for her entire career, serving as a managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, senior attorney at Freedom House Detroit, and immigration attorney with Antone, Casagrande & Adwers, P.C. Celentino is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves as the chair of the Michigan chapter’s Asylum Committee. She also serves on the State Bar of Michigan’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. Celentino is a graduate of Harvard Law School and New York University.

Zakkery Clark

Zakk Clark is an Associate Attorney with Flora Legal Group in Indianapolis, Indiana. He primarily focuses on removal defense before the Chicago and Indianapolis Immigration Courts. Zakk earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in 2019 and has exclusively practiced immigration law since that time. Since joining Flora Legal Group, Zakk has established himself as a dedicated advocate in immigration law, leveraging his bilingual abilities to represent a diverse clientele across multiple states.

Zakk’s prior experience includes working as a Staff Attorney at the American Bar Association’s Immigration Justice Project, where he helped establish the country’s first universal representation program aimed at providing pro bono immigration representation to all low-income residents of San Diego County. Before IJP, Zakk worked at Jacobs & Schlesinger LLP in San Diego, where he handled employment and family-based cases, as well as Ninth Circuit appeals. Zakk is also a staunch supporter of pro bono work and tries to volunteer his services as much as possible. Zakk is originally from Indianapolis, IN, and graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and a minor in Spanish.

Samuel B. Cole
Samuel B. Cole is a Senior Supervising Attorney and Chief Immigration Litigation Counsel at the ACLU of Illinois. He previously served as a United States Immigration Judge in Chicago for nine years until he stepped down in September 2025. He also previously worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Rice University.

Ingrid Cova

Ingrid Cova, Vice Chair – 2025 Courtroom Skills Workshop is a Venezuelan-born attorney who graduated as an attorney in Venezuela and later earned her law degree from DePaul University College of Law, where she developed a strong foundation in legal advocacy. She began her career in immigration law at a non-profit organization before transitioning to private practice. During law school, Ingrid gained valuable experience working at a small law firm and participated in a study abroad program in Costa Rica focused on human rights. Today, she runs her own law office, specializing in family-based immigration, humanitarian relief, and removal defense.

Sabrina Damast

Sabrina Damast practices in the areas of immigration and nationality law and post-conviction relief. Before opening her own law practice, Sabrina served as a judicial law clerk in the Los Angeles Immigration Court and worked as an immigration attorney in private practice. Her practice includes removal defense, appeals, federal litigation, waivers, family-based immigration, humanitarian immigration, and post-conviction relief. She is certified by the California Bar as a specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law.

Sabrina sits on the Board of Governors and the Benefits Litigation Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. In her spare time, she is the leader of a local Girl Scout troop.

Vanessa Esparza-López

Vanessa Esparza-López is an Associate Director of Legal Services at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC). Vanessa represents individuals before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Justice. Vanessa is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), where she currently serves on the Chicago AILA District Director Liaison Committee. She obtained her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 2009 and her Bachelor of Arts with honors in International Studies from DePaul University in 2006. During law school, Vanessa was the cofounder of a new student group, the Society for Asylum & Immigration Law.

Jesse Evans-Schroeder

Jesse Evans-Schroeder is an immigration attorney and federal litigator committed to defending the rights of immigrants and challenging unlawful government action. As a partner at Green Evans-Schroeder, Ms. Evans-Schroeder focuses heavily on removal defense, federal court litigation, and appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the federal courts of appeals. She regularly represents detained and non-detained immigrants facing deportation and has extensive experience successfully litigating complex immigration matters in federal district court, including challenges to unlawful detention and executive overreach.

Ms. Evans-Schroeder has continued to litigate aggressively on behalf of immigrants during periods of increasingly hostile enforcement policies and rapid shifts in immigration law. Her practice includes federal habeas corpus litigation, emergency litigation involving detention and removal, and appellate advocacy in complex immigration matters.

Ms. Evans-Schroeder is deeply committed to advancing the rights of immigrant communities through litigation, public service, and zealous advocacy for ethical immigration practice. She has participated in and helped coordinate numerous community immigration workshops, public education campaigns, and legal skills trainings.

Angel Graf

Angel Graf is the Principal Attorney at Inmigracion Digna, a boutique law firm based in Las Vegas, NV and focusing on removal defense, humanitarian relief, and complex cases. Angel is a bilingual immigration attorney whose core belief is that no one should have to face the government alone and that everyone deserves their chance for safety and stability in the United States, regardless of where they were born.

Prior to opening Digna, Angel worked as an Attorney Advisor with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) from 2012 to 2014. After that she transitioned the Immigration Center for Women and Children, where she served asylees fleeing persecution, individuals who have experienced domestic violence, crime victims, and children who have been abused, abandoned, and neglected. In 2025 she opened Digna.

Angel specializes in deportation defense, humanitarian relief (U/T/VAWA/SIJS), and family-based petitions for individuals in relationships that immigration considers “nontraditional.” In addition to working with clients, she also provides technical assistance to other attorneys. Angel is the current chair for the AILA Nevada Chapter and serves as the Chair of the Council of Chapter Chairs for AILA National.

Rich Hanus

Richard Hanus is a veteran immigration lawyer based in Chicago, Illinois. He received his B.S. from Northwestern University and J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. Richard established the Law Offices of Richard Hanus in 1991, and since that time has been representing clientele across the U.S. and globally in family and employment-based immigration matters, as well as in defense of removal/deportation proceedings. Richard provides representation before U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s immigration agencies including Citizenship and Immigration Services, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Justice/Executive Office of Immigration Review’s Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals, as well as U.S. District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal. Richard is a frequent lecturer on immigration law topics for the immigration law, criminal defense, corporate/employment and family law bars. He provides pro bono counsel through various social services agencies, including the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, ARK Chicago and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. He has chaired numerous government liaison and pro bono committees for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, including AILA Chicago’s Immigration Law Clinic as well as AILA Chicago’s liaison committees with DHS’ Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Chicago Field Office, as well as the State of Illinois – Secretary of State’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Richard has appeared on Frontline, NBC Nightly News, and Fox 32 Chicago News and his writings have been published in the Wall Street Journal and bi-weekly at www.usavisacounsel.com (“Richard’s Blog”). Richard’s federal litigation activity of note includes the deportation defense cases of Fitzpatrick v. Sessions, 847 F.3d 913 (7th Cir. 2017), cert denied; Keathley v. Holder, 696 F.3d 644 (7th Cir. 2012), the latter of which became the subject of The Courtroom, the acclaimed Off-Broadway play and Tribeca selected feature film.

Jeremy McKinney

Jeremy L. McKinney is a North Carolina Board Certified Immigration Law Specialist and founder of McKinney Immigration Law in Greensboro. He was the 2022-2023 AILA National President, a former chair of AILA’s EOIR and ICE Liaison Committees, and currently serves on the AILA Board of Governors (BOG). He testified before Congress in both 2020 and 2023 on the need for an independent immigration court system. McKinney is a former U.S. Army Captain and trial counsel.

Sheila McNulty

Sheila McNulty is a Partner with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. Born with a natural inclination for justice, Sheila pursued a legal education, earning a law degree that would serve as the foundation for a career marked by tireless dedication to the law. Throughout her early years, she demonstrated a profound respect for the principles of fairness, advocating for the rights of individuals and standing firmly on the side of the underrepresented.

In 1991, Sheila began her journey with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), where she served as a Trial Attorney for nearly a decade. In this role, she worked on complex immigration cases, honing skills in legal argumentation, case management, and procedural intricacies. It was here where she developed a profound understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants and the legal complexities of U.S. immigration law, which would shape the remainder of her career.

Building upon her experience in immigration law, Sheila transitioned to a role as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois in 2000. During this time, she managed a variety of cases involving both criminal and immigration law, strengthening her expertise in federal legal proceedings. Her work in this high-stakes environment further cultivated her ability to navigate complex legal issues with precision and determination, earning her recognition as a fierce advocate for justice.

In 2010, Sheila was appointed as an Immigration Judge at the Chicago Immigration Court, where she presided over a wide array of immigration cases. Her tenure at the court was marked by a steadfast commitment to applying the law fairly and equitably. She earned the respect of her peers and the legal community through her ability to make tough decisions with compassion, always keeping in mind the human side of immigration proceedings.

In November 2015, she was promoted to Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, a role in which she provided leadership and oversight in the administration of immigration court cases. In this capacity, Sheila was instrumental in managing judicial functions and improving the efficiency and fairness of immigration proceedings across the country. Her leadership and dedication to ensuring justice for all were evident in every decision made and in her continuous efforts to improve the judicial process for immigrants seeking relief in the United States.

In March 2021, Sheila was appointed Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judge, further expanding her influence and impact on the national immigration system. In this role, she took on even greater responsibilities, overseeing multiple immigration courts and working with judges across the region to maintain consistency in rulings and ensure that cases were handled with the highest degree of professionalism and fairness.

In April 2023, Sheila was appointed Chief Immigration Judge, a prestigious position that placed her at the forefront of the U.S. immigration system. As the Chief Immigration Judge, she managed the nation’s immigration courts, overseeing the adjudication of cases that impact the lives of individuals from around the globe. Under her leadership, the immigration courts became more efficient, with a strong emphasis on fairness, transparency, and the protection of due process rights. Her ability to lead by example and her unwavering commitment to justice made her a pivotal figure in shaping the future of U.S. immigration law.

Throughout her career, Sheila has earned a reputation not only for her legal expertise but also for her deep compassion for the people affected by immigration law. Her work has influenced policy, shaped legal precedents, and provided a voice for those seeking justice in the face of complex immigration issues. Known for her dedication to fairness, Sheila has become a trusted figure in the legal community, always striving to create a legal environment that is just and equitable for all.

Now, as an attorney in private practice, Sheila continues to inspire future generations of lawyers, advocates, and judges with her commitment to justice and the law. Her legacy of service is a testament to her lifelong dedication to ensuring that the principles of justice, fairness, and equality are upheld in every case she touches.

KiKi Mosley

KiKi M. Mosley is an immigration attorney and solo practitioner whose practice focuses primarily on asylum and refugee law, removal defense, and other humanitarian forms of relief. She also represents clients in family-based immigration and naturalization matters.

Ms. Mosley currently serves as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Chicago Chapter and as a member of AILA’s national Board of Governors. She previously served on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Diversity Leadership Council from 2014 to 2016.

Ms. Mosley graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2010, earning certificates in International and Comparative Law and Public Interest Law. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology/Anthropology and Black Studies (cum laude) from Denison University. She is admitted to practice law in Illinois and Louisiana (inactive).

Sarah Owings

Sarah Owings is a partner at Owings MacNorlin, LLC, based in Atlanta, Georgia. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the Georgia State University’s College of Law in 2007 and she has practiced immigration law exclusively since that time. Sarah has experience in representing foreign nationals in a variety of immigration proceedings including removal defense, family-based petitions, humanitarian forms of relief, and asylum proceedings. Sarah served as an elected director on the Board of Governors of the American Immigration Lawyers Association from 2017-2023 and she has served on AILA’s national EOIR, ICE, and CBP Liaison Committees as well as their Removal Defense Section Steering Committee. She has been involved in immigration advocacy and support efforts at the state and local level throughout her career and she is frequently asked to speak at continuing legal education programs and to provide commentary to the media on the rapidly changing immigration landscape. She lives in Atlanta and is a member in good standing of the Georgia Bar

JuanCamilo Parrado

JuanCamilo Parrado is a senior attorney with Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C. JuanCamilo has extensive experience in removal/deportation defense and family-based immigration, including family-based petitions, waivers, adjustments of status, and naturalization. His practice also includes asylum, U-visas, T-visas, and VAWA self-petitions. JuanCamilo has practiced immigration law in the Chicago area since 2014. Before joining Minsky, McCormick & Hallagan, P.C., JuanCamilo was a managing attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center, where he managed the pro se Immigration Court Helpdesk. JuanCamilo was also previously an attorney at World Relief Chicago. JuanCamilo received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from Florida State University. While in law school, JuanCamilo interned at Americans for Immigrant Justice in Miami, Florida. He was also a student attorney at the Public Interest Law Center at the Florida State University College of Law.

Scott Pollock

Scott D. Pollock has practiced immigration law since 1985. A past Chairperson of the Chicago Chapter, he has served on many AILA committees, including its national Amicus, Student and Scholars, and Federal Litigation Task Force committees, and for 2 years as the Chair of its Consumer Protection and Authorized Representation Task Force. He has been a four-time faculty member for the American Immigration Council’s Litigation Institute.

He has contributed articles to AILA’s annual conference handbooks, articles in AILA’s Immigration Options for Religious Workers (2nd Ed. 2010) and one in AILA’s Immigration Options for Academics and Researchers (2nd Ed. 2011). He has authored or co-authored several law review articles, including Immigration Law vs. Religious Freedom: Using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to Challenge Restrictive Immigration Laws and Practices, 12 Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion 295 (Spring 2011) and Do Unto Others: The Importance of Better Compliance of Consular Notification Rights, 21 Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law 461 (2011). His practice includes federal court litigation, such as Arthur-Price v. Blinken, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158349, 2023 WL 5804233 (N.D. IL Sept. 7, 2023)(declaring plaintiff a U.S. citizen pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1503 claim from DOS denial of passport); Rosario v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Servs, 365 F.Supp.3d 1156 (W.D. Wash. 2018) (national class action, ruling that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must adjudicate asylum applicants’ initial (first time) applications for employment authorization documents (EADs) within 30 days). Rubman v. USCIS, 800 F.3d 381 (7th Cir.2015) (Freedom of Information Act decision ordering USCIS to conduct search for documents); Kamal v. Gonzales, 547 F. Supp. 2d 869 (N.D. IL 2008) (granting mandamus on delayed adjustment of status case); Kholyasvsky v. Schlecht et al., 479 F. Supp. 2d 897 (E.D. WI 2007)(granting EAJA fees in a habeas action) Morales-Morales v. Ashcroft, 384 F.3d 418 (7th Cir. 2004) (reversing denial of cancellation of removal), and Kuhai v. INS, 199 F.3d 209 (7th Cir. 1999) (reversing denial of asylum).

Kevin Raica

Kevin Raica is a Senior Attorney with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. His practice includes federal litigation through mandamus and naturalization actions, marriage and other family-based petitions, waivers of inadmissibility, defense in removal proceedings, asylum applications, and employment-based immigration. Kevin practices before USCIS, ICE, the Immigration Courts and Board of Immigration Appeals, the Department of State, and Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeal.

Kevin is currently the Chair of the Litigation Track for the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Midwest Regional Conference and has served in that role since 2020. He has served as Co-Chair of the AILA Chicago Chapter Executive Office for Immigration Review Liaison Committee since 2015. He also served as Co-Chair of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations liaison committee from 2013-2015.

Gina Reynolds

Gina Reynolds is the Chief Immigration & Advocacy Officer at Latinos Progresando. She served as an Immigration Judge at the Chicago Immigration Court from 2022 to 2026. Prior to that, she was an attorney and partner at Hernandez & Reynolds LLC for approximately 14 years. She began her legal career as a student attorney with Notre Dame’s Immigration & Asylum Law Clinic.

Gina’s experience spans removal defense, asylum, family-based immigration, citizenship, immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and humanitarian immigration matters. Throughout her career, she has been deeply committed to serving her community through extensive pro bono work. Gina was awarded the AILA Chicago Chapter’s Pro Bono Champion award in 2022.

Outside of her law practice, Gina is also a certified yoga teacher with a particular interest in trauma-informed yoga. She has taught trauma-informed approaches in teacher training programs and previously volunteered as a yoga instructor at the Cook County Jail.

She received her B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

David Ruiz-Padilla

David Ruiz-Padilla is an attorney with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender, where he represents noncitizens in complex immigration proceedings. His practice focuses on representing detained noncitizens in removal proceedings before the Immigration Court and advising clients on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. David is committed to providing zealous, client-centered advocacy and works closely with individuals and families navigating some of the most challenging moments of their lives. He is passionate about expanding access to justice, mentoring fellow advocates, and advancing zealous advocacy for noncitizens facing removal.

Saadia Saadique

Saadia Siddique is an immigration attorney and founder of Siddique Law Group, LLC, serving clients with offices in Illinois and Indiana. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in deportation/removal defense, federal court litigation, asylum, and consular processing with waivers. She has a proven track record of securing client releases via federal habeas petitions and, during law school, clerked for the Chicago Immigration Court. She is a member of AILA and the South Asian Bar Association, and a past president of the Pakistani Bar Association. She holds degrees from DePaul University (J.D.), the University of London SOAS (Master’s), and UIUC (Bachelor’s).

Eva S. Saltzman

Eva S. Saltzman served as a United States Immigration Judge in Chicago from 2016-2026, where she presided over numerous high-profile cases on the court’s detained docket. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Supervisory Staff Attorney in the Office of Legal Affairs at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, from 2006–2016. She is a graduate of Cardozo Law School in New York City and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During law school, she received the Telford Taylor Fellowship in Public International Law for research at Oxford University. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of immigration law, asylum and the immigration consequences of criminal convictions.

Linda Sanchez Ortega

Linda Sanchez Ortega focuses her practice on family-based immigration, humanitarian immigration, and removal defense. She has extensive experience representing individuals before the Chicago Immigration Court and previously served as an EOIR manager at a prominent immigration law firm, where she handled complex removal defense matters. During law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law, Linda participated in the school’s immigration legal clinic. She also volunteered with Children’s Legal Center and Centro Romero, assisting underserved immigrant communities through pro bono legal services. As an immigrant and first-generation attorney, Linda brings both professional experience and personal insight to her work with immigrant families and individuals navigating the United States immigration system.

Elina Santana

Elina Magaly Santana is the founder of Santana Residency Law, P.A., a national firm based in Miami, Florida. She focuses her immigration practice on removal defense, waivers, family and marriage-based residency, and asylum. Elina serves on the AILA National Board of Governors, is the past chapter chair of AILA South Florida, and is an active thought leader in the area of practice management. She’s as passionate about winning cases as she is about building systems that help lawyers win at life and find happiness. In addition, she is a Board Member for Capital Good Fund, co-administrator of “Nerdy Immigration Lawyers” on Facebook, and manages 20+ immigration-specific WhatsApp mentoring groups with thousands of attorney participants across the country. Elina earned her JD from Boston University (BU) School of Law and her BA in both Sociology and Spanish Literature at New York University (NYU) with high honors. She is a fluent Spanish speaker and was raised in Miami, Florida by a proud Cuban American immigrant family.

Mike Smith

Mike Smith is an Associate Professor and practicing academic Hospitalist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since moving back to Omaha in 2014. That Christmas, he was given improv lessons at The Backline Theater as a gift. He initially hid the fact that he performed improv from everyone, especially his coworkers, but began to incorporate the skills of improv into his job as a physician and an educator of future healthcare providers with extremely positive results. In 2018, he developed five workshops for the faculty development department at UNMC. Since then, he has led over 200 workshops and experiences using improv to educate other healthcare providers and professionals across the country in communication, wellness, and leadership skills. He still performs in monthly improv shows with his two regularly performing teams, Dad Jokes and Biscuits. He is frequently a Top Teacher for both medical students and residents.

Erich Straub

Erich C. Straub is an attorney focusing on fiancé and marital visas, family immigration, citizenship, asylum, and deportation defense. Since 2006, he has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America. He is the founder and chair of the annual AILA Chicago Courtroom Skills Workshop. From 2006 to 2013, he served as a faculty member for the American Immigration Council’s Litigation Institute. In 2025, he received the Joseph Minsky Beacon of Light Award from the Chicago Chapter for his dedication to advancing immigration law and outstanding mentorship.

Diana Tafur

Diana Tafur is a human rights advocate who has been practicing immigration law for over thirteen years on a broad range of immigration matters, specializing in asylum, counter-trafficking, removal defense, and cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children. In her career, Diana has offered strategic case development support, technical assistance, and guidance on legal issues, trauma-informed lawyering, and child-centered legal services to in house teams as well as pro bono attorneys. Diana is now the Senior Legal Advisor for the International Recue Committee’s Children’s Legal Services unit.  Diana holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. in English and Political Science from Florida State University.

Timothy Tamisiea

Timothy Tamisiea is an applied improvisation facilitator, educator, and nonprofit leader who has spent more than two decades helping people communicate more effectively, adapt to change, and build stronger relationships. Drawing on a career in professional comedy, performance, and leadership development, he has designed and facilitated workshops for healthcare providers, educators, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community leaders across the country.

As a co-founder of Healthcare Improv, Timmy uses the principles of improvisation to teach communication, empathy, collaboration, leadership, and resilience. He has served on the faculty of the College of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has taught improv and storytelling to thousands of students and professionals.

In addition to his facilitation work, Timmy serves as Executive Director of Launch Leadership, a nonprofit organization that has been developing young leaders since 1961. Whether working with physicians, executives, students, or nonprofit professionals, he is passionate about helping people discover that the skills needed to lead, connect, and thrive can be learned through practice.

Kathryn Weber

Kathryn R. Weber is a Partner at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. in Chicago, IL and has been practicing immigration law in private practice since 2004 with a focus on asylum/withholding/CAT, family-based immigration, waivers, religious workers, naturalization, removal defense, VAWA/U visas, and immigration litigation and appeals. She served on the Executive Board of the AILA Chicago Chapter between 2010 and 2016 and has chaired and served on numerous AILA Chicago Chapter and AILA National committees, including co-chairing the AILA National Asylum & Refugee Committee between 2021 and 2024. She is currently Chair of the Family/Humanitarian Track for the 2027 Midwest Regional Conference, Co-Chair of the AILA Chicago CBP Liaison Committee, and member of the AILA Chicago Asylum Liaison Committee. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.