With Duty and Dignity: Veterans’ Human Rights

Jimmy Hardwick is Director and Adjunct Professor of Law for Cornell Law School’s Veterans Law Practicum. He previously practiced law in California, representing clients in medical malpractice, criminal defense, employment, and family law. Later, as a senior staff attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid, he advocated for indigent and unhoused clients with psychiatric disabilities seeking federal and state benefits. At Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY), he continued this work while developing partnerships with county mental health agencies and local jails to assist justice-involved individuals. A member of the bar in California and New York, Professor Hardwick is a dedicated advocate for people living with disabilities and experiencing deep poverty.

Benjamin Pomerance, Esq., serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Program Development and Training and Deputy Counsel at the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services. In this role, he supervises the appellate unit, leads statewide training initiatives, acts as a legislative liaison, and oversees programs advancing veterans’ benefits and services. A 2013 salutatorian graduate of Albany Law School, Pomerance founded and directed the school’s Veterans’ Rights Pro Bono Project, earning the New York State Bar Association’s President’s Pro Bono Service Award for his efforts. His scholarly work in veterans law, elder law, and related fields has been published widely and cited by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, reflecting his commitment to advocacy and education in service of veterans across New York and beyond.

Viviana DeCohen, Commissioner, New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with more than 20 years of experience in veteran services and health care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science and a Master of Science in Health Services Management from Mercy University. Throughout her career, DeCohen has served in a variety of leadership and service roles, including Associate Pastor of Mount Vernon Heights Congregational Church, Program Manager and Military/Veterans Counselor at Mercy University, and Director of Military and Veterans Affairs at Concordia College. Most recently, she served as Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services, where she played a pivotal role in guiding the agency’s transition into the newly established Department of Veterans’ Services, earning recognition as a key leader in veteran advocacy and support statewide

Dr. Lessie Branch, a U.S. Navy Veteran, serves as the Special Assistant for Community Engagement at the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services, where she leads initiatives supporting New York’s Veterans and their families, with focused outreach to women, minority, and faith-based Veterans. An award-winning author and public policy scholar, Dr. Branch’s work centers on addressing racial, socioeconomic, and political disparities through equity-driven policy solutions. She advocates for inclusive language and restorative policies that promote justice and opportunity. Dr. Branch is the author of Optimism at All Costs: Black Attitudes, Activism, and Advancement in Obama’s America and contributed the chapter “Don’t Believe the Hype: HBCUs and MSIs Are Still Necessary to Black Political and Socioeconomic Development and Advancement” in Reimagining Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Ricardo Aguirre serves as Associate Deputy Commissioner of the Division Initiated Action Unit at the New York Division of Human Rights.  In that capacity, he is responsible for identifying potentially high impact cases and designing investigative plans to carry out Division initiated complaints.  Prior to joining the Division, Mr. Aguirre served as Counsel and Legislative Director to New York State Assembly Member Inez E. Dickens and Counsel to the New York State Secretary of State.  He served in the United States Marine Corps, is a retired NYPD sergeant and a retired practicing attorney.  Mr. Aguirre is a graduate of Herbert H. Lehman College and Fordham University School of Law. 

Katherine Quiñones served over 32 years in the New York Army National Guard, including deployments to Afghanistan and Kuwait. A recipient of numerous honors—including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal—she retired as the first female Commander of VFW Post 412. Katherine earned her associate degree from Monroe Community College, where she also studied American Sign Language. Deeply involved in veteran and youth mentorship, she serves as Regiment Administrator for the 209th Regiment of Cadets, co-founded the Latino Military Coalition, and volunteers with the Blue Star Mothers and Wreaths Across America. In 2021, she donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient during the pandemic. Katherine and her husband, Pedro, have been married 40 years and share five children and seven grandchildren.

Kelly Posner, Founder and Director, Columbia Lighthouse Project

Dr. Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber is a Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and her work is saving lives all over the globe.  Dr. Posner’s work has been noted in a keynote speech at the White House and in Congressional hearings, and she gave the lead presentation in a U.S. Senate forum on school safety in her partnership with the Parkland community.  The Columbia Protocol is now policy across all 50 states, national agencies, and most countries. The FDA has characterized her work   as “setting a standard in the field” and a lead article in The New York Times called it “one of the most profound changes of the past sixteen years to regulations governing drug development.” Her scholarly work has been included in the compendium of the most important research in the history of the study of suicide, and was recognized as one of top 20 most cited papers from Columbia faculty over the past 10 years.

Dr. Posner has been awarded the United States Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service.

Marieya Jagroop is a current 3L at Cornell Law School. She was born and raised in Queens, NY to Guyanese immigrants. Marieya graduated from Macaulay Honors at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) in 2023 with a major in Political Science and double minor in Psychology and Latino Studies. Marieya has been involved on campus ranging from being a peer advisor to being on two law journals. In 2L, Marieya was in the Capital Punishment Clinic and Movement Lawyering Clinic where she was able to engage in criminal defense work. Currently, she is in the Civil Rights Clinic where she works on First Amendment issues and is in the Gender Justice Clinic where she has been working on the Military Sexual Assault Advocacy team.

Elizabeth Brundige is a Clinical Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, where she founded  and directs the Gender Justice Clinic and teaches courses on international human rights. Her research and advocacy focus on domestic and international responses to gender-based violence and discrimination. She previously served as Cornell Law’s Assistant Dean for International Programs and Executive Director of the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice. Before joining Cornell, Professor Brundige taught at Yale Law School, worked with the International Association of Women Judges and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and served as a judicial law clerk for judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the South African Constitutional Court.  She holds degrees from Yale University, Oxford University, and Yale Law School.

Yejoo Moon is a J.D. candidate at Cornell Law School and a student in the Gender Justice Clinic. She earned her M.A. from the University of St Andrews, where her research focused on women’s rights, the gendered dimensions of the Korean military, and human rights more broadly. Her clinical work at Cornell centers on international human rights and gender justice, particularly in relation to military institutions. She is committed to advancing gender-sensitive approaches to human rights and to promoting the dignity and equality of all who serve.

Osamede Egharevba is a Juris Doctor candidate at Cornell Law. Her experience with human rights advocacy and my time as a woman studies minor in college sparked my interest in the Gender Justice Clinic. She has been in the Gender Justice Clinic for three semesters, allowing her the opportunity to work on a variety of human rights issues including military sexual assault. 

Johanna Hussain is currently a third year at Cornell Law School and a member of the Gender Justice Clinic. As a student in the clinic, she helped author and submit multiple shadow reports for the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, including a report on sexual assault in the United States military. Outside of her work in the Gender Justice Clinic, she is also Executive Editor for the LII Supreme Court Bulletin. 

Bill Rielly is a staff attorney and Justice Involved Veterans Fellow at the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at Syracuse University College of Law. Bill spent 6 years on the peer support team in the Veterans Treatment Court in Santa Cruz, CA. He is a vocal advocate for the value veterans offer in their communities after service. Before his current role, Bill’s career ranged from leading US Army Field Artillery units in Germany to global executive roles at Apple, Microsoft, and JP Morgan Chase. Bill is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Syracuse University College of Law where he was a Tillman Scholar. Bill is a licensed California attorney and a Scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center Veteran Leadership Program.

John P. Darcy serves as the Guidance Specialist for Veterans Services with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS). A U.S. Army veteran who enlisted at 17, John began his state service as a Correction Officer before transitioning into Program Services and later assuming his current role in 2014. He coordinates and monitors NYSDOCCS programs that support incarcerated veterans, helping them reshape their attitudes, address service-related challenges, and prepare for reintegration. John’s approach emphasizes healing, personal accountability, and community well-being. A longtime member of Alcoholics Anonymous, he brings more than 30 years of lived experience and compassion to his work assisting veterans and their families.

Anna Brecher is a 3L at Cornell Law School, and a member of the Veterans’ Legal Practicum.  Anna has enjoyed working with veterans for the past two semesters, assisting with discharge upgrade petitions, and drafting an appeal to the Southern District of New York.  Anna is excited to continue advocating for those who have served through the Veterans Legal Practicum, and attending the Veterans Human Rights conference.

David Coombs is a Lecturer in Law at the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he teaches Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Military Justice, and Veterans Law, and directs the Veterans Law Practicum that trains students to assist veterans with their legal needs. A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with more than 21 years of service in the JAG Corps, Professor Coombs has tried over 150 cases, served as the Army’s first senior capital defense counsel, and deployed to Iraq as a judicial advisor supporting the Law and Order Task Force. Before joining UB, he taught at Roger Williams University School of Law and the U.S. Army JAG Legal Center and School, and has been nationally recognized for his teaching and his defense work in high-profile military cases.

Elizabeth “Beth” Kubala is a Teaching Professor at Syracuse University College of Law, where she serves as Executive Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic and Director of Veteran and Military Affairs. A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, she served 22 years in roles ranging from platoon leader and intelligence officer to JAG attorney, legal advisor to the Army Inspector General and Army Staff, and Military Judge at Fort Drum, New York. Kubala is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, holds a J.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, and earned an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. In recognition of her dedication to veteran advocacy, she received the New York State Bar Association’s Judge Robert T. Russell Veteran Advocate Award in 2024.

Estefania Solis is a 2L at Cornell Law School. She is originally from Panama City, Panama but moved to NYC in 2018 when she transferred to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Estefania joined the NY Army National Guard a couple weeks after her move and has been in the service for almost 8 years now as a Sergeant. During her enlistment she has been activated to assist the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (COVID-19) and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in NYC when the state had the most death tolls in the nation. In law school, she continues to be involved in the veteran community as the Vice-President for the Cornell Law Veterans Association and in the Veterans Law Practicum.

Chesley Michaels serves as the Deputy Director for The Veterans Consortium’s (TVC) Legal Assistance Programs. She began working at TVC in 2020 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation. During her fellowship, Chesley managed TVC’s Women Veterans Legal Assistance Program (WVLAP) and focused on the unique legal issues women veterans face. In her current role, Chesley manages WVLAP, where she assists women veterans who are survivors of Military Sexual Trauma with their claims for VA disability compensation. She also manages TVC’s Veterans Naturalization Assistance Program (VNAP), which assists veterans who are applying for U.S. citizenship through their military service. Chesley is a graduate of Florida State University (B.S. 2017) and Stetson University College of Law (J.D. 2020).

Danitza James, a Mexican immigrant, combat veteran, and military spouse, was the first in her family to serve in the U.S. military and earn a graduate degree. Enlisting in 2001, she completed two combat tours in Iraq and has dedicated over 20 years to supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families through both federal and nonprofit leadership. Her advocacy in human rights, mental health, and suicide and sexual assault prevention contributed to the passage of the Brandon Caserta Act and the Military Sexual Assault Prevention provisions in the 2022 NDAA. As a Program Analyst, she provides policy research and analytical solutions for senior officials. Holding a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California with a focus on social change, justice, and military policy, she continues to advance equity and systemic reform across military and veteran communities, guided by her immigrant veteran perspective and lived experience.

Ezra Brown is the Teaching Fellow with Cornell Law School’s Immigration Law & Advocacy Clinic where he teaches students engaging in the direct representation of asylum seekers and dreamers. Prior to this role he worked on the Texas-Mexico border supervising Jones Day’s Border Project where he personally advised over 100 detained asylum seekers and trained volunteer attorneys to conduct over 1000 consultations. Ezra also logged over 1000 pro bono hours while working at Gibson Dunn and was recognized for this work by the State Bar of Texas’ “W. Frank Newton Award” and by the Houston Bar Association’s highest pro bono award—the “Harris County Heart of Pro Bono.” Prior to receiving his J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Ezra worked for a federal judge, a United States Attorney’s office, as a summer associate at Gibson Dunn, as a student attorney in over a dozen clinical environments, and in a role teaching L.L.M. students. Before law school, Ezra received his M.B.A. from Providence University in Taiwan while teaching English and earned a Bachelor of the Arts magna cum laude with honors from The University of Massachusetts Boston. Ezra is barred in Texas, admitted to federal district court in SDTX and WDNY, and speaks Spanish.

Aziz Ali is a 3L at Cornell Law School pursuing a dual J.D./LL.M. in International and Comparative Law. A combat-decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, he has served for 14 years and continues as an Intelligence Officer in the New York Air National Guard. His operational experience includes deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and the Horn of Africa. Aziz has represented clients in Cornell’s Immigration, Human Rights, Veterans Advocacy, and Capital Punishment clinics and served as an Honors Fellow and student leader. After clerking with Clifford Chance, he will return as an associate in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. Passionate about service, Aziz sits on the board of a nonprofit that supports veterans through scuba diving therapy.

J.R. Clairborne is the founding Director of the Office of Veterans Services in Tompkins County, which connects local military veterans to federal and state services.  Clairborne previously served as the advocacy coordinator for Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County. He has also worked in marketing and communications for Cornell University and Ithaca College, as a reporter and assistant editor for the Ithaca Journal, and served on Ithaca Common Council for 10 years. He served eight years in the United States Navy and U.S. Naval Air Reserve, where he achieved the rank of Petty Officer Third Class; Aviation Boatswain’s Mate – Handler.

Lourdes Tiglao most recently served as the Executive Director of the Center for Women Veterans at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under Secretary McDonough in the Biden Administration, advising the Secretary on policies, programs, and legislations affecting women veterans. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former Critical Care Air Transport Team member, she deployed to multiple global locations and helped launch the first Critical Care Medical Attendant Team in the Pacific. Lourdes previously led global partnerships for Airbnb’s Open Homes program and served in leadership roles with Team Rubicon Global. A Truman National Security Project Defense Council member and 2020 AAPI National Security & Foreign Policy Next Generation Leader, she has advanced inclusion and equity across veteran, humanitarian, and policy spaces. She continues to advocate for women veterans and underserved communities through public speaking, advocacy, and mentorship.

Danielle Bernard was born in Brooklyn, NY, and graduated from high School from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) in 1988. She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 and received her commission. She retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, where she primarily worked as a program manager. Then, she attended and graduated from the UNC School of Law. After graduation, she was an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Intern and Fellow, where she assisted low-income veterans with civil legal issues at Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.^® She is currently a Supervising Attorney at LawNY, advocating for clients’ Social Security and Veterans’ benefits, and a dynamic member of the organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She is the current Treasurer of the Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Association, a chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of New York’s Diversity Committee.

Peyi Soyinka-Airewele is the Chair of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission and a Professor of memory, trauma, transitional justice, and human rights at Ithaca College. She served as the first female president of the Association of Third World Studies Inc.,  as co-vice president of the Ithaca City of Asylum, and a fellow of the SSRC Global Security and Cooperation Program. As the first black woman to be tenured and promoted to full professor at Ithaca College, much of her work is dedicated to making rights and protections accessible to marginalized individuals and groups through advocacy and culturally  responsive interventional strategies.

Anita O’Daniel is a Veterans Law Fellow with Cornell Law’s Veterans Law Practicum and a U.S. Air Force veteran. She earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Tulsa College of Law. A 2024 Student Veterans of America Leadership Fellow and graduate of Beneath the Service’s Women Veterans Leadership Program, Anita is dedicated to advancing veterans’ advocacy and policy reform, focusing on accountability and access to care within the VA system.