Our Staff
Executive Director
Jennifer L. Wood 
Jennifer Wood has over 30 years of public interest experience in civil legal aid organizations, civil rights firms, state government, and legislative roles. Prior to joining the Center for Justice, she was the Deputy Secretary/General Counsel at the RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the General Counsel/Chief of Staff in the Office of the Lt. Governor. She also spent nine years as the Chief of Staff and Chief Legal Counsel at the RI Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She started her career as a fellow at Rhode Island Legal Services, before transitioning to private practice. Jenn is a graduate of Brown University and the Northeastern University School of Law.
Supervising Attorney
John Karwashan
John Karwashan joined the Center for Justice as the supervising attorney in December 2022. Prior to joining the Center, John worked in criminal defense, both as a private practitioner and a public defender. He brings a client-focused attitude into his work on the housing and criminal justice teams. He has successfully litigated cases in various courts across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. John is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and Roger Williams University School of Law.
Staff Attorney
Sam Cramer
Sam joined the Center for Justice as a legal fellow in December 2020. He is an honors graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, where he worked closely with the Legal Skills in Social Context program, which pairs cohorts of first year law students with community organizations and public interest law firms to advance social justice. Before attending law school, Sam worked as a film-maker, a carpenter, and a community organizer. He has a BA in English Literature from Grinnell College.
Staff Attorney
Troy Lange
Troy Lange is a housing law attorney that joined the Center in February of 2023, bringing with them past experience with housing law and public benefits law from Rhode Island Legal Services. Troy is a 2020 graduate of Roger Williams School of Law, where they served as the Executive Articles Editor of the Law Review. In their time outside the courts and the office, Troy officiates all levels of amateur ice hockey, including NCAA men's and women's games.
Staff Attorney
Noah Aurelio
Noah joined the Center for Justice in July 2023 after interning, and then working, at the Rhode Island
Public Defender’s office for 2 years. Noah graduated from University of Massachusetts School of Law in
2022 and was in the Public Interest Law Fellowship, where he committed himself to public interest work
after law school.
Staff Attorney
Alexis Koch
Alexis Koch joined the Center in July of 2023, with past experience in public interest law from Rhode Island Legal Services. Alexis is a 2019 graduate of Roger Williams School of Law, where she discovered her passion for public interest law through the law school's criminal defense clinic.
Legal Fellow
Diana Perez
Diana joined the Center for Justice as the Roger Williams University School of Law Legal Fellow in August 2022. Diana is a RI native growing up in North Providence, RI. Diana interned for the Center for Justice during law school and is excited to be on the staff. Diana is working on the housing team, drivers license restoration program, and education team.
Attorney Fellow
Kristen Billings
Kristen joined the Center for Justice as a Roger Williams University School of Law Legal Fellow in August 2022. Before joining the Center for Justice as a fellow, Kristen attended Roger Williams University School of Law, where she externed with the Center for Justice as part of the Public Interest Law Clinic. Prior to attending law school, Kristen graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Political Science. Kristen is working on the housing team, education team, and Driver’s License Restoration Program.
Legal Fellow
Katelyn Barfield
Legal Fellow
Danika Wayss
Paralegal/ Housing Advocate
Madison Mandell
Madison joined the Center for Justice as an intern on the criminal justice team in September 2022. She is now working full time as a Housing Advocate/Paralegal on both the housing and education teams. Madison recently graduated from Brown University with a BA in History.
Paralegal/ Housing Advocate
Robert Munrayos
Robert joined the Center for Justice as a Housing Advocate in June of 2023. A graduate student in Hispanic literature at Boston College, passionate about reading and researching social, racial, and environmental justice. Previously, Robert has worked in community programs coordinating and organizing. He holds a B.A. in French, Hispanic studies, and Italian from The University of Rhode Island.
Paralegal/ Housing Advocate
Nilab Ibrahimy
Nilab joined the center as a housing advocate in July 2023. She recently graduated from Brown University with a Master of Public Affairs. Her ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of inclusive and equitable educational policies that ensure every child, irrespective of their background, has equal opportunities to receive a quality education. Nilab also holds a BA n in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the Asian University for Women."