NCVLI Staff

Meg Garvin, M.A., J.D., Executive Director
Meg is the executive director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) and a clinical professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she leads NCVLI’s national impact litigation and legal technical assistance programs. Ms. Garvin is recognized as a leading expert on victims’ rights, having created the only national curriculum on victims’ rights enforcement in the country. She regularly presents on victims’ rights and participates in national forums to develop policy on victims’ rights. She has testified before Congress and the Oregon Legislature on the current state of victim law. She currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section Victims Committee, serves on the Legislative & Public Policy Committee of the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, chairs Chair Oregon Crime Victims’ Rights Program Advisory Committee, is a member of the board of directors for the National Organization of Victim Assistance, and is a member of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force Planning Committee. Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Garvin practiced law in a private firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota and clerked for the Honorable Donald P. Lay of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. She received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, her master of arts degree in communication studies from the University of Iowa, and her juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Susanna Cowen, J.D., Staff Attorney
Ms. Cowen participates in the development and implementation of NCVLI's national litigation and education strategies by providing legal technical support to victim attorneys and advocates nationwide, drafting amicus curiae briefs, and educating attorneys and advocates on victims' rights issues. Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Cowen worked as a litigation associate at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, in New York. Her practice at Paul, Weiss involved general commercial litigation, as well as the representation of pro bono clients in the areas of employment, voting rights, and immigration law. Ms. Cowen has a B.A. in English from Columbia University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Terry L. Campos, J.D.
Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Campos was an appellate attorney with the Office of the State Appellate Defender in Chicago, Illinois. During her time at OSAD, Ms. Campos represented indigent persons on appeal in criminal cases. Ms. Campos interned for the Metropolitan Public Defender in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Campos has a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida and a J.D. from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College with a certificate in Criminal law.

Alison Wilkinson, J.D.
Ms. Wilkinson is an attorney at NCVLI and clinical faculty at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she co-teaches a clinic on victim’s rights. She supervises the administration of NCVLI’s grant with the Office of Violence against Women, including by collaborating with other organizations, planning training sessions, and fielding legal technical assistance requests. Ms. Wilkinson has worked on a broad range of technical assistance requests at NCVLI, including drafting amicus briefs, and performing research and drafting memos on issues relating to sexual assault, domestic violence, and privacy, among other topics. She has presented at both local and national conferences on victims’ rights. She has also been appointed by the Oregon Attorney General to Oregon's Sexual Assault Task Force. Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Wilkinson worked as a litigation associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in New York City. Alison has a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Sarah LeClair, J.D., Staff Attorney
Before joining NCVLI, Ms. LeClair served as judicial clerk for the Honorable Rick Haselton of the Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon, after which she practiced law as an associate attorney at Miller Nash LLP in Portland, Oregon. During her four years with Miller Nash, Ms. LeClair focused her practice in the areas of general commercial litigation and employment, education, and environmental law. During law school Ms. LeClair interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and with the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Appellate Section. She has a B.A. in History from the University of Oregon and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Carol Schrader, J.D., Program Manager/Staff Attorney
Ms. Schrader brings to her work with NCVLI experience managing the Victims’ Rights Section of the Oregon Department of Justice; experience representing clients at legal aid agencies across the country; and experience as an executive director of a nonprofit working to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms Schrader has trained nationally on crime victims’ rights, helped draft Oregon victims’ rights enforcement law, and was lead drafter of crime victims’ rights best practices in Oregon. Ms. Schrader has a JD from Northeastern University Law School, an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School, and a BPh from the Western College of Miami University.

Marti Long, J.D., Staff Attorney
Ms. Long is licensed in Oregon and has previously practiced in both Washington and Maryland. She has experience in criminal cases (both prosecution and defense) as well as a background in commercial and family law litigation. Before moving West, Ms. Long worked on public policy advocacy for a non-profit in Washington, D.C. Ms. Long has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Jeff Hanson, Paralegal
Mr. Hanson provides paralegal and administrative support to NCVLI management team and staff attorneys. He previously worked for U.S. Pretrial Services and a private law practice in Portland.

Johanna Borkan, Victim Advocate
Prior to joining NCVLI, Jo worked as a social worker, program administrator, and Spanish interpreter at a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center providing medical and social services to youth and adults experiencing homelessness. During her training as a social worker she interned with a county public health department and a community mental health non-profit organization. She also brings experience as a patient advocate at a women’s health clinic. She has a B.A. in History from Grinnell College and a Master’s in Social Work from Portland State University.

Scott Flor, Staff Accountant
Mr. Flor provides administrative support for the organization, performing accounting and budgeting functions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from California State University, San Diego, and an MBA in Finance from California State University, Hayward. Mr. Flor worked as Fiscal Director with a local nonprofit organization prior to his work with NCVLI.

Lisa Farrell, Grants & Programs Coordinator
Ms. Farrell assists NCVLI in monitoring and coordinating the organization's grants and subgrants, educational events and trainings, evaluation and reporting, board of directors, website and marketing, and effective organizational development and functioning. Previously, she worked with the Project REACH Transition to Teaching Grant, a federally-funded grant program placing teachers in high-need schools in Arizona. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Arizona.

Cassandra Mercer, Programs and Board Development Coordinator
Ms. Mercer assists NCVLI's Board of Directors, helps coordinate NAVRA and other NCVLI programs, and works to strengthen NCVLI's alumni group and fundraising efforts. Prior to joining NCVLI, she worked with a federal GEAR UP grant program in Wenatchee, Washington, helping prepare low-income and minority students for college. She has a B.A. in Classics from Colorado College and an M.A. in Classics from the University of Colorado.

Sean-Michael Riley, Administrative Support
Mr. Riley was an NCVLI intern before moving into a permanent position. He graduated from the Portland Community College paralegal program with highest honors. Before coming to NCVLI, he worked for the Los Angeles and Multnomah County District Attorneys providing audio/video analysis and trial support for criminal cases. He plays piano in a local band and spends his free time with his wife and two cats.