Tucson Electric Power

Ryan received his Juris Doctorate from McGill University in Canada. After graduation, Ryan worked with the Law Office of Cheryl Copperstone where he focused on bankruptcy matters. Ryan also lent his skills to Mayor Rothschild service the City of Tucson as a Policy Advisory. Currently, Ryan works with Tucson Electric Power. Ryan brings a history of volunteerism and a commitment to access to justice to the board.

Arizona Supreme Court

Justice Beene graduated with a BA from the University of California at Santa Barbara and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona. Justice Beene has served at the Pinal County Attorney's Office, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, and worked as Chief Counsel at the Residential Utility Consumer’s Office. Justice Beene was also an Assistant Attorney General in the Capital Litigation Section. In 2019, Governor Doug Ducey appointed Justice Beene to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Goldberg & Osborne

Anna Ceder joined Goldberg & Osborne in 2024 as District Managing Attorney of Southern Arizona. Born and raised in a small town near Tacoma, Washington, Anna moved to Tucson in 1997 and subsequently earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arizona.

During and since law school, Anna has been an advocate for those in need of legal help. She currently serves on the Founding Board of Step Up To Justice and is a volunteer attorney who assists clients with minor guardianship and landlord / tenant matters.

Step Up To Justice Board Secretary
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Kristy is a 2015 graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. After graduation, she worked as a Fellow for the University of Arizona Community Law Group assisting low-income and domestic violence victims with their immigration and family law needs. From 2017-2021, she was the owner of Family Law Legal Consulting and provided unbundled services to people who were self-represented in family law matters. Following private practice, Kristy was the Legal Paraprofessional Program Coordinator at the James E. Rogers College of Law and is currently a Director in the school’s Career Development Office and a part-time Professor of Practice.

Merrill Lynch

Nate earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and his Bachelor of Accounting and Business Management from Western International University. In addition to his work as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch, Nate is also a dedicated volunteer serving on the board for three non-profit organizations in Tucson, AZ: Reid Park Zoological Society, Reid Park Zoological Foundation and most recently, Step Up to Justice. Nate’s business acumen was acquired from his upbringing in small businesses and has served in leading various committees including Chairing, Zoocson 2021-2024.

CPA Tucson

Julianne began her accounting career in 1983 with KPMG Peat Marwick in Portland, Oregon. In 1985 she transferred to the KPMG Tucson office and shortly after received her CPA certificate in Arizona. After close to ten years with KPMG, Julianne moved on in 1993 to form her own practice in Tucson. Julianne is a member of the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC

Shannon is a partner with Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC practicing almost exclusively in employment law and litigation. Shannon’s practice is heavily focused on the representation of employees. She is listed in Best Lawyers in America for employment law and litigation, and she is a member of the Executive Council of the Employment and Labor Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona. Shannon is a committed Step Up to Justice volunteer.

Arizona Court of Appeals, Division II

Judge Sklar has served on the Arizona Court of Appeals since December 2022. Prior to that, he was a judge on the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County and a commercial litigator at Lewis and Roca. While in private practice, he volunteered at Step Up to Justice clinics for several years. In 2019, he was honored as a Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney by the Arizona Bar Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Step Up to Justice Board President

Lisa is the former Vice President & Market Leader for Cox Communications Southwest Region. Lisa serves on numerous community boards, including Sun Corridor the Southern Arizona Leadership council, the Tucson Airport Authority, and the Reid Park Zoo. In 2017, Lisa was named a board member of Unisource Energy. Lisa grew up in Tucson and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona. She also received an MBA with academic honors from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management.

Step Up To Justice Board Treasurer
Tucson Electric Power

Matt serves as the Chief of Staff at UNS Energy & Tucson Election Power, providing direct support to President and CEO Susan Gray. Matt joined UNS in 2019 as a corporate counsel specializing in labor and employment law before moving into his current role in November 2020. Prior to joining UNS, Matt practiced employment law at Snell & Wilmer and served in a research compliance role at the University of Arizona. He has a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Trinity College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. A passionate supporter of local music, Matt has hosted the Locals Only program on community radio station KXCI since 2011 and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

A retired Pima County Superior Court Commissioner, Karen is an experienced trial lawyer and a former shareholder in the law firm of DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy. Karen attended the University of Arizona for a B.S. in Mathematics, a Masters of Education in Counseling and Guidance, and a Juris Doctorate with Distinction. She has been a fierce advocate for access to justice issues for over twenty years and has received numerous awards honoring her commitment to the delivery of pro bono legal services.

Step Up To Justice Board Immediate Past Co-President

Alyce has been an attorney since 1982 and has worked in both private and public practice. In 2012 Alyce was appointed as a Commissioner/Judge Pro Tem of the Pima County Superior Court where she served on the family, juvenile and probate/mental health benches until her retirement in January 2022. Alyce has worked throughout her career to advance equal access to justice and was awarded the William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award by the Arizona Bar Foundation, and the Juan Perez-Medrano Excellence in Public Service Award by the Pima County Bar Foundation. Alyce is a founding member of the Step Up to Justice Board.

Raytheon Technologies

Deb is the Director of Requirements and Development for Raytheon Technologies. She has 25 years of strategic and operational experience in planning, facilitating, managing, and organizational effectiveness. Deb brings non-profit experience and a history of demonstrated community engagement to Step Up to Justice, serving most recently as a board executive and board member of Youth On Their Own.

Step Up to Justice Board Vice President
Law Office of Denice R. Shepherd

Denice Shepherd has been practicing in the areas of personal injury, general civil litigation, probates, guardianships, conservatorships, and elder law for more than 30 years. In 2003, 2010 and 2013, Denice was named among Arizona’s Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys. In 2011 Denice received the Arizona Supreme Court Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, and in 2012 she was recognized by the State Bar with the Elenor ter Horst Probate Award.

Arizona Superior Court, Pima County

Lisa Bibbens is a member of the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County, currently serving as a court commissioner on the juvenile court bench. She is actively involved in the Dependency Alternative Program and the Juvenile Court Family Law Protocol Committee; is a member of the LGBTQ court-involved youth task force; and participates on various court committees and workgroups addressing family law, juvenile law, LGBTQ court-involved youth, and self-represented litigant issues. She received the Arizona Bar Foundation “Top 50 Pro Bono Attorneys of Arizona” award in 2001, 2011, and 2013, and has continued to work within the court to improve access to justice. Lisa earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business management from St. Mary’s University.

Executive Director/Attorney

Michele grew up in Tucson and attended the University of Arizona where she received a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science. She received her J.D. from the University of Dayton. Michele has thirty years of experience coordinating and expanding the reach and delivery of pro bono legal services. She is invested in providing quality legal services for low-income individuals and families in her community and has dedicated her professional life to the development of innovative delivery models. 

Associate Director/Attorney

Melissa has been deeply involved in the delivery of free civil legal services to low-income clients and their families since 2010. She has a B.A. in Sociology from Binghamton University, an M.A. in Ethics, Peace & Global Affairs from American University, and a J.D. from the University of Arizona.

As the Associate Director of Step Up to Justice, Melissa works with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors to develop and implement the vision and direction for SU2J.

Director of Operations

Kate is a dedicated Tucson native, committed to narrowing the gap in accessible legal services within her community. Following her military service, Kate graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Law from the University of Arizona. Kate's active involvement within the community and desire to go to law school is fueled by her life-long commitment to making Tucson a happier and healthier place for everyone.

Philanthropy Fellow

Pat (she/they) is the inaugural Philanthropy Fellow at Step Up to Justice. She has earned degrees in the fields of Law, Public Management, and Public Policy from the University of Arizona. As a first generation immigrant from the Philippines, she is most inspired by SU2J's mission of closing the justice gap for marginalized communities here in Pima County. Pat is looking forward to spending the year collaborating with community leaders to expand the reach of Step Up to Justice to ensure that people can access the legal help they need, when they need it.

Staff Attorney

Amanda Rutherford is a staff attorney with Step Up to Justice (SU2J). She joined SU2J as an intern in the spring of 2018. After graduating with a J.D. from the U of A James E. Rogers College of Law, she completed both the HOME Fellowship and FLOAT Fellowship with SU2J. She then served for 3 years as SU2J's Director of Community Outreach. Amanda has a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona and worked in outdoor education before attending law school.

Intake Specialist

Elizabeth is a student at the University of Arizona and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Spanish. She was drawn to an education in law after witnessing the disparity and lack of resources in her community between economic classes and for struggling immigrant families.

As the SU2J Intake Specialist, Elizabeth is responsible for conducting initial client intakes.

Community Education Coordinator

Jacqueline is from Tucson, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University. Jacqueline is excited to work with community partners to further SU2J's efforts to educate individuals on their legal rights and responsibilities.