Dorothy Couchman
Legal Fellow
Civil Rights Litigation
Dorothy holds a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law, a master’s degree and PhD in English literature from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley. She lends her strengths as a scholar and a teacher to her role on DRLC’s litigation team. Her lived experience with diabetes fuels her desire to help clients and communities exercise their rights and tell their own stories to achieve justice.
Alegría De La Cruz
Director of Litigation
Alegría is DRLC’s Director of Litigation. Prior to joining DRLC, she served as the founding Director of the Sonoma County Office of Equity. She has led critical work at the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the State of California, Agricultural Labor Relations Board, the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, and California Rural Legal Assistance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Alegría embraces the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to public service, social justice, and equity.
Lisette Gaeta
Cancer Justice Manager
Lisette provides programmatic support to the DRLC’s Cancer Justice program. Leveraging her 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and at the intersection of public service and social justice, Lisette is excited to continue to champion for the rights of individuals in this new space.
Andrew Gray
Paralegal
Civil Rights Litigation
Andrew began as a volunteer at DRLC and transitioned to the litigation team as a paralegal in 2024. Andrew is committed to public service, and he lends his research skills to DRLC’s programming. A longtime Oklahoma resident, he holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and History from the University of Tulsa. Andrew serves as a region coordinator on Mortar Board’s national leadership team.
Corrigan Lewis
Senior Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Corrigan has been a critical member of DRLC’s litigation team since 2021. She previously engaged in litigation and advocacy efforts in rural communities, advocated for voting rights, and protected her clients’ civil liberties as an attorney in a private firm. Corrigan obtained her JD from Southern Illinois University School of Law and her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University.
Elvira Maldonado
HR & Administration Coordinator
Elvira has worked at the Disability Rights Legal Center since 2016. In addition to HR and administration, she has worked closely with DRLC’s outreach and with the Cancer Justice program. Elvira’s dependability and reliability have earned the trust of her colleagues, due to her commitment and dedication to the organization’s mission.
Emily Maust
Officer of Communications
Emily manages DRLC’s external communications, including social media, web publications, newsletters, and presentations. Her nearly 10 years in nonprofit development and communications is informed by her personal experience with chronic pain and by her prior roles as a teacher, youth program coordinator, cancer caregiver, multi-media artist, and writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French.
Anabel Prudencio
Director of Administration
Anabel has inspired and led the team at DRLC for over 20 years. She leads all aspects of DRLC’s Administration Department and collaborates closely among DRLC’s Directors to achieve sustainable, transformative changes. Anabel is the recipient of multiple awards from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for her roles supporting youth. She holds an Associate in Arts Degree from Santa Monica College.
Katie Sanchez
Development Officer
Katie oversees grants management, annual giving, and special events, including the FDR Dinner. She has been devoted to nonprofit development for over 15 years and has served nonprofits focusing on healthcare, education, public land protections, and disability rights. Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Northern Vermont University (Lyndon) and her Certificate in Non-profit Management from Molloy University.
Sophie M. Tohl
Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Sophie supports DRLC’s Civil Rights Litigation and Cancer Justice programs. Sophie earned her JD from the University of California, Davis School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College. Her personal history with a disability and her familial experiences as the daughter of a cancer survivor and sister to a brother with disabilities drive her pursuit for disability justice.
Sylvia Torres-Guillén
President & CEO
Sylvia oversees all programming at DRLC and lends her strategic vision to this critical transformative stage of the organization’s growth. She has spent decades fighting for civil rights and social, racial, and economic justice with a holistic and intersectional approach. She has won numerous awards for her advocacy in and out of the courtroom, and she leads from her personal experience as a cancer caregiver for both of her parents.
Ashly Villa-Ortega
Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Ashly joined DRLC in 2024 as a Staff Attorney after working as an attorney in a private firm. She earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and her Bachelor’s in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Ashly has championed disability rights as a community organizer, policy advocate, and youth defender in delinquency proceedings through the Youth Justice Clinic at Loyola New Orleans.
Dorothy Couchman
Legal Fellow
Civil Rights Litigation
Dorothy holds a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law, a master’s degree and PhD in English literature from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley. She lends her strengths as a scholar and a teacher to her role on DRLC’s litigation team. Her lived experience with diabetes fuels her desire to help clients and communities exercise their rights and tell their own stories to achieve justice.
Alegría De La Cruz
Director of Litigation
Alegría is DRLC’s Director of Litigation. Prior to joining DRLC, she served as the founding Director of the Sonoma County Office of Equity. She has led critical work at the Dolores Huerta Foundation, the State of California, Agricultural Labor Relations Board, the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, and California Rural Legal Assistance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Alegría embraces the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to public service, social justice, and equity.
Lisette Gaeta
Program Coordinator
Cancer Justice
Lisette provides programmatic support to the DRLC’s Cancer Justice program. Leveraging her 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and at the intersection of public service and social justice, Lisette is excited to continue to champion for the rights of individuals in this new space.
Andrew Gray
Paralegal
Civil Rights Litigation
Andrew began as a volunteer at DRLC and transitioned to the litigation team as a paralegal in 2024. Andrew is committed to public service, and he lends his research skills to DRLC’s programming. A longtime Oklahoma resident, he holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and History from the University of Tulsa. Andrew serves as a region coordinator on Mortar Board’s national leadership team.
Corrigan Lewis
Senior Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Corrigan has been a critical member of DRLC’s litigation team since 2021. She previously engaged in litigation and advocacy efforts in rural communities, advocated for voting rights, and protected her clients’ civil liberties as an attorney in a private firm. Corrigan obtained her JD from Southern Illinois University School of Law and her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University.
Elvira Maldonado
HR & Administration Coordinator
Elvira has worked at the Disability Rights Legal Center since 2016. In addition to HR and administration, she has worked closely with DRLC’s outreach and with the Cancer Justice program. Elvira’s dependability and reliability have earned the trust of her colleagues, due to her commitment and dedication to the organization’s mission.
Emily Maust
Director of Communications
Emily manages DRLC’s external communications, including social media, web publications, newsletters, and presentations. Her nearly 10 years in nonprofit development and communications is informed by her personal experience with chronic pain and by her prior roles as a teacher, youth program coordinator, cancer caregiver, multi-media artist, and writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French.
Anabel Prudencio
Director of Administration
Anabel has inspired and led the team at DRLC for over 20 years. She leads all aspects of DRLC’s Administration Department and collaborates closely among DRLC’s Directors to achieve sustainable, transformative changes. Anabel is the recipient of multiple awards from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for her roles supporting youth. She holds an Associate in Arts Degree from Santa Monica College.
Katie Sanchez
Director of Development
Katie oversees grants management, annual giving, and special events, including the FDR Dinner. She has been devoted to nonprofit development for over 15 years and has served nonprofits focusing on healthcare, education, public land protections, and disability rights. Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Northern Vermont University (Lyndon) and her Certificate in Non-profit Management from Molloy University.
Sophie M. Tohl
Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Sophie supports DRLC’s Civil Rights Litigation and Cancer Justice programs. Sophie earned her JD from the University of California, Davis School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College. Her personal history with a disability and her familial experiences as the daughter of a cancer survivor and sister to a brother with disabilities drive her pursuit for disability justice.
Sylvia Torres-Guillén
President & CEO
Sylvia oversees all programming at DRLC and lends her strategic vision to this critical transformative stage of the organization’s growth. She has spent decades fighting for civil rights and social, racial, and economic justice with a holistic and intersectional approach. She has won numerous awards for her advocacy in and out of the courtroom, and she leads from her personal experience as a cancer caregiver for both of her parents.
Ashly Villa-Ortega
Staff Attorney
Civil Rights Litigation
Ashly joined DRLC in 2024 as a Staff Attorney after working as an attorney in a private firm. She earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and her Bachelor’s in Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Ashly has championed disability rights as a community organizer, policy advocate, and youth defender in delinquency proceedings through the Youth Justice Clinic at Loyola New Orleans.