Board

Our Board of Directors

We could not bring this exciting program to our local community without the support of our Board of Directors. We are pleased to introduce the board for SU2J.

Ryan Anderson
Tucson Electric Power

Ryan Anderson attended McGill University in Canada and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2011.  After graduation from law school, Ryan worked as an associate with the law office of Cheryl Copperstone where his practice focused on consumer bankruptcy matters.  Ryan also lent his considerable skills to Mayor Rothschild serving the City of Tucson as a Planning, Transportation, and Sustainability Policy Advisor.  Currently, Ryan works with Tucson Electric Power as a Senior Customer Relationship Manager.  Ryan brings a history of volunteerism and a commitment to access to justice issues to the board.

Anna Ceder
Ceder Legal

Anna Ceder is an experienced civil trial lawyer who started volunteering her time to improve access to justice in 2004. Anna graduated the James E. Rogers College of Law in 2007 and has – through the years – provided pro bono assistance in the areas of minor guardianship, child support, and landlord-tenant issues.  She has been recognized locally and statewide for her commitments. As a parent, Anna acutely recognizes the need of children in our community to have safe, stable and loving environments, as well as the need for parents and guardians to have access to the justice system with confidence and accurate information.

Hon. Dean Christoffel, Immediate Past Co-President

Dean Christoffel graduated with distinction from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1974.  Judge Christoffel is a retired Pima County Superior Court Commissioner/Judge Pro Tem.  He is also the Past-Chair of the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona.  Judge Christoffel volunteered with Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) for twenty-two years before ascending to the bench in 2011.    In 2008 Judge Christoffel received the Arizona Supreme Court Award for Pro Bono Service and in 2009 he was the recipient of the William E. Morris Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award.

Kristy Clairmont, Secretary
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Kristy Clairmont is a 2015 magna cum laude graduate of the James E. Rogers College of Law. Her coursework during law school focused on family and juvenile law, and she received a Certificate in Family and Juvenile Law Studies. After graduation, she worked as a Fellow for the University of Arizona Community Law Group serving low-income and domestic violence victims by assisting with their immigration and family law needs. From 2017-2021, she was the sole owner and practitioner of Family Law Legal Consulting, PLLC and provided unbundled services to people who are self-representing in all areas of family law.  Kristy currently holds the position of Legal Paraprofessional Program Coordinator at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. She is deeply committed to making legal services accessible to all regardless of ability to pay. Kristy is also a proud recipient of the 2019 Arizona Bar Foundation Top 50 Pro Bono Attorney award, an active Step Up To Justice volunteer, and an active member of the Pima County Bar Association.

Julianne DeGrendele

Julianne DeGrendele began her accounting career in 1983 with the tax department of KPMG Peat Marwick in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Portland State University as an accounting major with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1985 she transferred to the KPMG Tucson office and shortly after received her CPA certificate in Arizona. After close to ten years with KPMG she left in 1993 to form her own practice in Tucson.

Julianne is a member of the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants. She also participates on a community service level as a non-profit board member.

Shannon Giles
Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC

Shannon Giles is a partner with Awerkamp, Bonilla & Giles, PLC practicing almost exclusively in employment law and litigation.  Shannon’s practice is heavily focused on the representation of employees.   Shannon earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Laws in International Trade Law from the University of Arizona.  She is listed in Best Lawyers in America for employment law and litigation and she is a member of the Executive Council of the Employment and Labor Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona.  Shannon has volunteered for Step Up to Justice and for the Volunteer Lawyers Program.  She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Arizona Employment Lawyers Association, the Pima County Bar Association.

Pamela Liberty
Liberty & Associates, P.C.

Pamela Liberty is a 1984 graduate of the University of California Hastings College of Law with 30 years' experience in the area of family law. Ms. Liberty practices as both a litigator and a mediator and is listed in the respected peer review publication Best Lawyers in America. She has been recognized by the Arizona State Bar Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in family law since 1995 and has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.  Ms. Liberty is a former legal aid staff attorney and a veteran pro bono attorney.  She has been volunteering her time to assist low-income clients for more than twenty years.  For her efforts, Ms. Liberty has received numerous local and statewide accolades, including the Arizona Bar Foundation’s William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award.  This award is presented to one Arizona attorney each year for his or her contributions to making legal services available to the less fortunate.

Lisa Lovallo, President
Cox Communications

Lisa Lovallo is Vice President & Market Leader for Cox Communications Southwest Region. Lisa serves on numerous community boards, including Sun Corridor, the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, the Tucson Airport Authority, The University of Arizona College of Science, Tucson Medical Center and the Reid Park Zoo. In 2017, Lovallo was named a board member of Unisource Energy, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc. and the parent company of Tucson Electric Power. Lisa grew up in Tucson and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, serving as Student Body Vice President and playing on the Arizona Women’s basketball team. She also received an MBA with academic honors (Gamma Beta Sigma) from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management.

Hon. Karen Nygaard

A retired Pima County Superior Court Commissioner, Karen Nygaard is an experienced trial lawyer and a former shareholder in the law firm of DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy. Her practice area was civil litigation, representing individuals, corporations, and governmental agencies in the areas of employment, civil rights, personnel issues, contract disputes, and appeals. Before joining DeConcini, Judge Nygaard served as a trial deputy with the Pima County Attorney’s Office and was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable James D. Hathaway, Arizona Court of Appeals.  Judge Nygaard attended the University of Arizona for a B.S. in Mathematics, a Masters of Education in Counseling and Guidance, and a J.D. with Distinction.  She has been a fierce advocate for access to justice issues for over twenty years and has received numerous awards honoring her commitment to the delivery of pro bono legal services.

Hon. Alyce Pennington, Immediate Past Co-President

A retired Pima County Superior Court Commissioner, Alyce Pennington is an experienced trial lawyer, and a former shareholder of DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy's Tucson office.  Judge Pennington practiced in the areas of domestic relations, probate, and general civil law.   Prior to joining the firm in 1997, she was a partner in the law firm of Richards & Pennington. Judge Pennington was previously an attorney for the Pima County Public Fiduciary and was responsible for the defense of proposed patients in civil commitment proceedings, probating estates, and acted a public guardian and conservator.  Judge Pennington obtained a B.S. from the University of Arizona in Secondary Education in 1978 and a J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1982. Judge Pennington is a certified Specialist in Family Law, and serves on the Executive Council of the State Bar Family Law Section.  Judge Pennington has received local and statewide recognition for her volunteer efforts, including her selection as a recipient of the Governor's Service Award.  

Denice R. Shepherd, Treasurer
Law Office of Denice R. Shepherd

Denice Shepherd has been practicing and litigating in the areas of personal injury, general civil litigation, probates, guardianships, conservatorships and elder law for more than 30 years.  In 2010-2011, Ms. Shepherd was one of two attorneys who served on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Committee to Improve Probate Court Matters. 

In 2012, Ms. Shepherd received the 2012 State Bar of Arizona Eleanor ter Horst Probate award for contributions to probate law. In 2011, she received the Arizona Supreme Court Pro Bono Attorney Award.  Ms. Shepherd has volunteered for many years through Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer Years program.  In 2010, she was named the Volunteer Lawyer’s Program’s Volunteer Lawyer of the Year.  In 2003, 2010, and 2013, Ms. Shepherd was named among Arizona’s Top 50 Pro Bono Lawyers.  In 2006, she received the Volunteer Lawyers Longevity of Service Award. 

Ms. Shepherd has served as a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and has served on both NAELA’s state governing board and on the board of Arizona Fiduciaries Association (AFA).  She has been named AFA’s member of the year for 2011 and 2012. Ms. Shepherd is a licensed fiduciary and has provided fiduciary services since 1999.  She has represented fiduciaries most of her legal career. 

Ms. Shepherd has served on the Reid Park Zoological Society Board of Directors since 2005.  In 2007 and 2008, Ms. Shepherd was President of the Board and currently holds the position of Development Committee Co-Chair. 

In Memory

Juan Perez-Medrano

Long-time friend and Step Up to Justice board member, Juan Perez-Medrano, passed away on January 11, 2018.  Juan’s passing is a loss that is felt by the entire community, and one that touched the SU2J family deeply.

Juan’s passion for access to justice issues was not a fleeting one, but rather a sincere, deeply held commitment.  Juan was quiet about his giving.  He never expected recognition for his efforts, but clearly deserved it.  Juan welcomed every opportunity to volunteer his time to help his community.  He embraced the work of Step Up to Justice and our staff felt his support at every turn.  “Juan was such a steadfast supporter of pro bono and his quiet generosity toward Step Up to Justice in the past year was remarkable,” said Stacy Butler, President of SU2J’s board.  

In 2016, Juan joined the board of Step Up to Justice and helped launch the organization.  Throughout 2017, Juan supported SU2J in numerous ways.  Early on when the organization was trying to furnish SU2J’s office, Juan purchased desks for the staff.  He bought us a paper shredder and he frequently showed up at our office carrying boxes of office supplies that he had purchased or gathered from friends.  Along with the supplies for staff, Juan was always sure to bring along magazines for clients.  Juan challenged his friends at the Y to become involved, too.  But more than donations, Juan was generous with his time.  He would frequently stop in the office to ask how we were doing, provide moral support and help celebrate our successes. 

We hope that in the coming months Step Up to Justice can find a way to honor Juan that is fitting of his legacy.