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Leadership

The Shriver Center is led by a team of highly skilled, nationally recognized attorneys and professionals. Our advocates provide highly valued frontline information and ideas to policymakers and other national advocates, while collaborating with and supporting attorneys and others working at the state and local levels. Our work is led and supported by a governing board, leadership council, and an associate board.

Senior Management
 

John BoumanJohn Bouman
President

John Bouman, president of the Shriver Center, is widely recognized as one of the most effective and thoughtful public-benefit advocates in the country. Full Bio

 

 

Elizabeth Ring ZuckerbergElizabeth Ring Zuckerberg
Chief Operating Officer

Elizabeth Ring Zuckerberg is responsible for overseeing the human resources, procurement, information technology, financial management, and other operations of the Shriver Center. Full Bio

 

 

Carol AshleyCarol Ashley
Vice President of Advocacy

Carol Ashley heads the Shriver Center’s Advocacy Program, which actively pursues justice and opportunity on a range of issues.  Full Bio

 

 

 

PlaceholderMolly Bartlett
Vice President of External Affairs

Molly Bartlett is responsible for managing various facets of external relations, including media, public relations/marketing, and development. Full Bio

 

 

Ilze HirshIlze Sprudzs Hirsh
Vice President of Communication Programs

Ilze Sprudzs Hirsh, who has been with the Shriver Center since January 1989, has overall responsibility for the publication of Clearinghouse Review: Journal of Poverty Law and Policy and facilitates the development of the Shriver Center's poverty law library and website. Full Bio

 

 

Ellen HemleyEllen Hemley
Vice President of Training Programs

Ellen Hemley brings over 30 years of experience in the equal justice community to her role as Vice President of Training Programs. Full Bio

 

Advocacy Staff

Karen HarrisKaren K. Harris
Director, Asset Opportunities

Karen K. Harris became the supervising attorney of the Shriver Center's Community Investment Unit in October 2008. She has advocated for the development of asset building policies and programs for low-income and minority communities. Full Bio

 

 

Dan LesserDan Lesser
Director, Economic Justice

Dan Lesser has been a senior attorney with the Shriver Center's public benefits unit since 1996. He specializes in child care and early education, immigrant access to public benefits, TANF program, tax and budget, and climate change issues. Full Bio

 

 

Wendy PollackWendy Pollack
Director, Women's Law and Policy Project

Wendy Pollack is the founder and director of the Women's Law and Policy Project at the Shriver Center and a renowned advocate who works at the federal, state, and local levels. Full Bio

 

 

Margaret StapletonMargaret Stapleton
Director, Community Justice

Margaret Stapleton, senior attorney, has more than thirty-five years of experience practicing welfare and civil rights law. At the Shriver Center she focuses on public benefits, health care, child support, and former-offender issues. Full Bio

 

 

Katherine WalzKatherine E. Walz
Director, Housing Justice

Kate Walz advocates on behalf of low-income individuals living in or in need of public, subsidized, or affordable housing. Full Bio

 

For more information on our experts, see our Media Page.

For a full staff listing, see our Staff Directory.