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.

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.

Step Up To Justice Board Vice President
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.

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.

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.

Tretschok, McNamara, & Miller, P.C.

Meghan McNamara Miller graduated from Loyola University in three years, while a member of the women’s basketball and track and field teams. In 2003, she obtained her juris doctor from the University of Arizona College Of Law. She has been a member of the state and federal bars since 2003 and is licensed to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court.

Meghan has limited her practice to representing disabled people in Social Security disability cases and injured workers in workers' compensation cases. She joined the firm Tretschok, McNamara and Miller in 2001 and has served as the managing partner since 2005.

Meghan regularly volunteers her time with SU2J as a volunteer attorney, and she is also active in the Autism community.

DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C.

Anthony Holbrook is an associate attorney in the Tucson office of DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Arizona in 2015, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Arizona in 2017. After four years of working as a public school teacher, he attended the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona and earned his Juris Doctorate in May of 2024.

During his time at the College of Law, Anthony worked with the Civil Rights Restoration Clinic; served on the College of Law Curriculum and Faculty Committee; served on the College of Law Admissions Committee; volunteered on the Finance Committee for Step Up to Justice Pro Bono Law Center; and worked as Business Manager and Article Editor for the Arizona Law Review, where his Note is published.

University of Arizona Athletics

Corrina Eklund is the Director of Special Events and Community Relations for Arizona Athletics. Prior to joining the Athletic Department, Corrina worked in various capacities at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law from 2015 to 2024, holding positions including Programming & Events Coordinator, Alumni Engagement and Events Coordinator, and Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Engagement. Before her time at the law school, Corrina served as a judicial assistant in Pima County Superior Court and Juvenile Court from 2000 to 2015.

Corrina joined SU2J’s Communications Workgroup in 2024, where she is an active member and frequent contributor to the SU2J newsletter.

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.

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.

Program Coordinator

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.

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.

Program Coordinator

Lillian is from Santa Cruz, California, and moved to Tucson to join her family and pursue her education. She earned degrees in Law, Geography, and Family Science from the University of Arizona before deciding to stay for a Master’s in Legal Studies, with graduate certificates in Family Law and Paraprofessionalism. During her time at the University, she completed internships and coursework that revealed how access to legal resources can meaningfully impact lives—sparking a passion to ensure that no one is left behind or alone in their legal journey.

Intake Specialist

Elizabeth is a University of Arizona graduate with a degree in Law and Spanish, with an emphasis in Translation and Interpretation. A Tucson native, she was inspired to pursue a career in the legal field after witnessing the disparities faced by low-income and immigrant families in her community. Elizabeth aspires to become a court interpreter to help bridge the communication gap for Spanish-speaking individuals navigating the justice system.

Intake Specialist

Samantha is a student at the University of Arizona, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law and minoring in Theatre Arts. Her academic interests reflect both a passion for justice and a creative, well-rounded approach to problem-solving. Samantha joined SU2J’s team with the goal of expanding access to legal education, particularly for individuals who may not have the resources to pursue it on their own. She is committed to serving underrepresented communities and believes that everyone deserves to understand their rights. Through her work, she hopes to create lasting, positive changes in the community.

Intake Specialist

Julia is a student at the University of Arizona, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science. She finds her role as an intake specialist at Step Up to Justice especially rewarding, as it has strengthened her legal writing and communication skills. Each day, she sees how our work makes a meaningful impact in the community.

Community Education Intern

Giselle is a student at the University of Arizona and will be graduating in December 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science. She is dedicated to helping individuals experiencing homelessness and those transitioning from incarceration, aiming to provide support and resources for successful reintegration.

In her role as a Community Education Intern, Giselle assists in preparing workshops, collecting data, conducting outreach, and building meaningful community partnerships. Her approach is rooted in empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Philanthropy Intern

Eliza is a student at the University of Arizona pursuing a dual Bachelor’s degree in Law and Finance. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she is the first in her family to attend university.

She is excited to join Step Up to Justice and contribute to its mission of serving vulnerable communities and advocating for individuals in need of legal assistance.