NCVLI Staff

Meg Garvin, M.A., J.D., Executive Director
Ms. Garvin is the Executive Director for the National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI). She leads NCVLI's impact litigation, and provides legal technical assistance to attorneys representing crime victims nationwide. Ms. Garvin has presented on victims' rights at over 50 conferences nationwide; she regularly participates in national forums to develop policy on victims' rights, and has testified before Congress and the Oregon Legislature on the current state of victim law. She is currently serving as co-chair of the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section Victims Committee and has been appointed by the Oregon Attorney General to Oregon's Sexual Assault Task Force. Prior to joining NCVLI, Ms. Garvin clerked for the Honorable Donald P. Lay of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, after which she practiced law in a private firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focusing on appellate litigation, complex business litigation, and employment law. She has a B.A. from the University of Puget Sound, an M.A. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in rhetorical theory from the University of Iowa, and a J.D. 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 and Clark College with a certificate in Criminal law.

Alison Wilkinson, J.D.
Prior to joining NCVLI, Alison worked as a litigation associate at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in New York. At Orrick, she was involved in litigation concerning women's rights, including participating in amicus briefing before the Supreme Court. Alison was active in women's rights organizations in college and law school, holding an officer position at Virginia Law Women. She looks forward to expanding upon her background at NCVLI. 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.

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.

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, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Mercer provides primary administrative assistance to the Executive Director, Program Manager, and Staff Attorneys. 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.