STAFF
Sebastian Foltz//NEXTPittsburgh
SUSAN J. FRIETSCHE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Susan Frietsche is Executive Director of WLP and Legal Director of WLP and founded the Western Pennsylvania Office of the Women’s Law Project in 2002.
Her law practice focuses on providing legal services for the 18 freestanding abortion facilities in Pennsylvania, including direct representation in state and federal courts, amicus representation, compliance work, legislative advocacy, representation before state licensure boards, and strategic defense from anti-abortion violence and disruption. Frietsche has appeared as counsel for young women seeking confidential abortions in over 50 judicial bypass cases. In addition to her reproductive rights practice, she engages in civil litigation and advocacy involving sexual harassment and sexual assault in education and employment settings, Title IX athletics, LGBTQ discrimination, economic security, incarcerated women, criminalization of pregnancy, and race and gender bias in the legal system.
Sue has argued before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuits as well as Pennsylvania appellate courts. She is the co-author of “Women on the Court and the Court on Women,” in The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania: Life and Law in the Commonwealth 1684-2017 (John J. Hare, ed., 2018), and “Preserving the Core of Roe: Reflections on Planned Parenthood v. Casey,” published in the Yale Journal of Law & Feminism. She is a member of the adjunct faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she teaches Reproductive Law and Policy and Gender and the Law. Prior to joining the staff of the Women’s Law Project, Frietsche was the Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania ACLU and the organization’s state lobbyist. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Temple University Law School.
JACKIE PERLOW
SUPERVISING ATTORNEY
As supervising staff attorney at the Women’s Law Project, Jackie provides legal representation and supervision across WLP’s program areas, including reproductive rights, pregnancy/caretaking discrimination, LGBTQIA+ equality, Title IX, athletic equity, and workplace justice.
Before joining the Women’s Law Project, Jackie was a staff attorney at the Community Justice Project where her practice focused on impact litigation, primarily in the areas of education, fair housing, and employment. Jackie worked for the Education Law Center as an Equal Justice Works fellow and Kaufman Legal fellow. During her time at the Education Law Center, Jackie used direct representation, systemic advocacy, and community engagement to improve academic achievement and reduce educational barriers for students across Pennsylvania. Jackie clerked for the Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, Chief United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Jackie earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Jackie holds a Master’s in Education from American University and a B.A. from Carleton College. Prior to law school, Jackie worked as a middle school English teacher in Washington, D.C. She is based in WLP’s Pittsburgh office.
CHRISTINE CASTRO
SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY
Christine Castro (she/her) works toward equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care through litigation, legal representation, policy development and advocacy, and institutional reform. Christine provides legal representation and assistance to Pennsylvania abortion providers on a wide range of day-to-day issues including regulatory compliance and defense from anti-abortion violence and harassment and serves as counsel on impact litigation. As the lead on our youth protection work, Christine helps young people navigate Pennsylvania’s parental consent law to access abortion care through direct representation in judicial bypass proceedings, leads WLP’s expanding judicial bypass team, and develops initiatives to increase access and improve the judicial bypass process for young people across the Commonwealth.
In 2021, Christine was awarded the Emerging Activists in Women’s Health Care by the National Women’s Health Network. Christine joined WLP staff in 2017 after initially serving as a joint If/When/How Reproductive Justice State Fellow for WLP and New Voices for Reproductive Justice. During her time at New Voices, Christine worked on state and federal policy advocacy focusing on reproductive health, rights, and justice issues as they affect Black women, femmes, and girls.
Christine earned a degree in Political Science from Temple University and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law. She is based in Philadelphia, PA.
TYLER GILLETT
STAFF ATTORNEY
M. Tyler Gillett joined the Western office of the Women’s Law Project in August of 2022, starting as a law clerk and now working as a staff attorney. He is engaged in supporting all of WLP’s legal work, including victim advocacy, impact litigation, legislative issues, and community outreach.
Tyler has a bachelor’s in English from Southern Methodist University, graduate degrees in religious studies from the University of Kansas and Claremont Graduate University, and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. While in law school Tyler served as an award-winning news writer for JURIST, the world’s only law school-based legal news and commentary service.
SUJAYA S. RAJGURU
STAFF ATTORNEY
Sujaya S. Rajguru is a Staff Attorney at the Women’s Law Project working to advance gender justice through impact litigation, direct representation, and policy advocacy.
Prior to joining the Women’s Law Project, Sujaya clerked for the Honorable Matthew J. Fader, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland. She also published a piece in the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review advocating for a holistic approach to transitional justice in the United States. In law school, Sujaya served as president of the law school’s largest student organization, Virginia Law Women. She also served on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review, was a Fellow in the Program for Law and Public Service, and participated in pro bono and clinical work.
Sujaya earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2022. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Florida with a B.A. in History in 2019. She is based in WLP’s Philadelphia office.
ELIZABETH LESTER-ABDALLA
STAFF ATTORNEY
Elizabeth Lester-Abdalla (she/her) is a Staff Attorney at the Women’s Law Project whose work focuses on access to reproductive healthcare, workplace equity and discrimination, and LGBTQ+ equality.
Prior to joining WLP, Lester-Abdalla worked in the Impact Litigation Section of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General where she represented the Commonwealth in affirmative litigation and policy issues of statewide importance including access to contraception, Title IX discrimination, election protection, gun industry liability, and mental health parity. She previously clerked for the Honorable Harvey Bartle III in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Assignment Judge Deborah Silverman Katz in New Jersey Superior Court, Camden County.
Elizabeth earned her J.D. from William & Mary Law School and a B.A. in History and Religious Studies from Duke University. She is based in the Philadelphia office and roots for all things Philly and Philly sports.
BRITTANY GREEN
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Brittany joined the WLP staff as Development and Administrative Coordinator in February 2017. She helps with organizing events, grant writing, and managing volunteers in the Pittsburgh office.
Before joining WLP, Brittany worked for Artsmarketing Services, leading telephone fundraising efforts for non-profit organizations across the country. She has also worked with Organizing for America as a field organizer in the 2012 presidential campaign.
Brittany has a bachelor’s degree in communication with a focus on media and music from Heidelberg University.
SYMONE HARMON
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Symone joined the Western Pennsylvania office of WLP staff in October 2022 as the judicial bypass program coordinator. The objective of her work, centered in reproductive justice, is to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to reliable resources.
She graduated from Georgetown University where she majored in African American Studies and dedicated her time to initiatives empowering Black women on campus and advocating for prison reform. Among the organizations for which she is proudest of having been a part of is the Making Exoneree Program, where she has had the opportunity to befriend and advocate for those who have faced wrongful convictions and incarcerations by our prison systems.
T MARTIN
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Martin joined WLP in April 2023 as Director of Finance and Administration, following 25 years in public and charter education, information technology, communication systems and for-profit and nonprofit accounting. In his personal time, he enjoys helping small-business owners and non-profit organization leaders establish sound business practices and information systems that help them grow in step with their strategic initiatives. Pet projects include helping young entrepreneurs and artists find their voices, advocating for education and human rights causes, and contributing to community and economic growth.
Since first volunteering at a local middle school during his senior year in high school, Martin has been involved in educating and mentoring young people toward their self-actualization. Through board leadership, speaking engagements, mentoring and coaching partnerships, and career day presentations, he has bridged his professional background in IT, communications and accounting to academic and career goals of students throughout Philadelphia.
Joining WLP is natural extension of Martin’s ongoing experience and brings him that much closer to his goal of building sustainable communities through education, social justice and economic development opportunities. He works out of WLP’s office in Philadelphia, where he was born and raised and where he has worked and played throughout this life and career.
TARA MURTHA
DIRECTOR OF IMPACT & ENGAGEMENT
Tara conducts policy analysis, develops communications strategies and digital advocacy campaigns related to the law, policy, and impact litigation; liaisons with media, government officials, and donors; writes op-eds; manages social media with a focus on constituent education and civic engagement; and develops community education and public interest legal communications related to reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, and issues related to gender justice. She brings her experience and skills as an award-winning investigative reporter and writer to her research and advocacy work which includes leading on special projects such as the national Alliance report Designed to Deceive: A Study of the Crisis Pregnancy Center Industry in Nine States.
Tara has also written about pop culture for publications including Rolling Stone, Washington Post and New York Times and moderates on-stage events and interviews, and is the author of critically acclaimed book Ode to Billie Joe, published in the 33 1/3 series by Bloomsbury. She graduated from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, earned a master’s degree in English & Publishing from Rosemont College, and is an Ochberg fellow in the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
TARA JONES
DEVELOPMENT & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Tara came to WLP after earning a B.A. in Gender and Sexuality Studies from New York University. During her undergraduate and postgraduate career she has been an outspoken sexual health advocate, using her digital platforms and written works to connect with her community on these topics.
TAMMI PATTERSON
COMMUNITY EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Tammi Patterson joined the WLP staff as the Community Education Coordinator on December 3rd, 2018. Her responsibilities include processing intakes for the office and functioning as a telephone counselor. Tammi is a liaison between WLP and other community groups providing information about our direct legal services. Prior to working at the Women’s Law Project, Tammi served for 20 years as a victim advocate for victims of crimes, primarily with youth victims of sexual assault.
EVELYN MANGOLD
LEGAL FELLOW
Evelyn Mangold (she/her) is a Legal Fellow at the Women’s Law Project, where she is dedicated to advancing gender and reproductive justice through legal representation, policy development, and advocacy.
Evelyn earned a JD/MPH dual degree from Penn Carey Law School and Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. At Penn Carey Law, Evelyn was a Toll Public Interest Fellow and an Equity and Inclusion Fellow. During her time in law school, Evelyn served as the Direct Services Co-chair for If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice and she was a board member of the Equal Justice Foundation.
Before law school, Evelyn worked at Maternity Care Coalition in Philadelphia. After her first year, she interned at the AIDS Law Project of PA, advocating for individuals living with HIV and AIDS. She then moved to Baltimore to complete her MPH with a focus on Women’s and Reproductive Health. Before her third year of law school, Evelyn was a Summer Associate on the Judicial Strategy team at the Center for Reproductive Rights. During her third year, Evelyn externed at the Women’s Law Project and she is thrilled to return as a Legal Fellow.
MIRA LERNER
LEGAL FELLOW
TERRY L FROMSON
OF COUNSEL
Terry’s entire legal career has been devoted to public interest law.
Since joining the WLP in 1994, Terry has brought high-impact litigation and pursued significant policy initiatives at the local, state, and national levels on a wide variety of issues. Terry is currently working on addressing inequities in women’s economic status, improving the criminal justice response to sexual and domestic violence, enforcing legal obligations of educational institutions to address sex discrimination and sexual harassment, and improving Philadelphia’s institutional response to domestic and sexual violence.
Notable achievements include leading a national effort to stop insurance companies from discriminating against victims of domestic violence, participating in a collaboration to implement the Family Violence Option in Pennsylvania, and helping change Pennsylvania law to provide victims of domestic violence a safe and confidential process to change their names.
Terry is a principal author on several WLP publications relating to the elimination of institutional bias, insurance discrimination against victims of domestic violence, and access to justice for pro se litigants in Philadelphia Family Court. Terry earned her law degree from NYU School of Law.
