Our Staff

Mekela Goehring, Esq. 

Executive Director

Mekela Goehring has served as the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) since 2006. She began working at RMIAN in 2003 as the organization’s first detention staff attorney, representing detained clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals.  Mekela’s passion for providing legal services began during fellowships at Community Legal Services in Yuma, Arizona, and Colorado Legal Services in Denver, Colorado.  Prior to joining RMIAN, Mekela clerked for Judge James S. Casebolt at the Colorado Court of Appeals. Mekela graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law.  She was admitted to the Colorado bar in 2002.  Mekela has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 2003, and serves on the Access to Services Committee of the Colorado Chapter.

Kristin Petri, Esq.

Managing Attorney, Children’s Program

Kristin Petri became RMIAN’s Children’s Project Staff Attorney in 2005 under an Equal Justice Works fellowship. Kristin had previously worked at RMIAN since 2003 as an intern and interim part-time staff member. She received her JD from the University of Colorado in 2004 and has dual bachelor degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Kenyon College. Prior to studying law, Kristin resided in Guadalajara, Mexico where she worked with abandoned street children seeking adoption or reunification with parents in the United States. Kristin is fluent in Spanish and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2005.

Andrea Gomez Oxman, Esq.

Managing Attorney, Detention Program

Originally from Colombia, Andrea Gomez Oxman is a first generation American bringing with her a personal experience to her work as an immigration attorney. Formerly an attorney with the Colorado Public Defender, she joined RMIAN in April 2007 as the Detention Program Attorney. Andrea has a JD and a Natural Resources Law Degree from University of New Mexico School of Law and a dual Bachelor of Sciences from the University of Michigan. Andrea is a regular volunteer at the Colorado Lawyers Committee's Legal Nights and Ya Es Hora Citizenship Drives. She also currently serves as Colorado AILA's ICE Liaison and is an active participant of the AILA Pro Bono Committee.

Rachel Boyle Lee-Ashley

Director of Programs

Rachel Boyle Lee-Ashley became RMIAN’s Director of Programs in 2008 after serving on the Board of Directors. Rachel has a Masters in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.  Using her MSW, Rachel is committed to bridging social work and legal service delivery at RMIAN and launched RMIAN's Pilot Social Service Project in January 2010. Prior to RMIAN, Rachel worked with the Immigrant Children’s Advocacy Project in Chicago with unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration custody.  Rachel earned her BA in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continued on to work in international development at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, DC.

 

Kathleen Glynn, Esq.

Staff Attorney, Children’s Program

Katie Glynn first worked with RMIAN as a Staff Attorney during 2008-2010 and returned to the Children's Program in 2011. Katie graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 2005. Prior to law school, Katie worked along the U.S-Mexico border as a community educator for BorderLinks, and with foreign-born survivors of domestic violence as the Social Services Coordinator for AYUDA, Inc. in Washington, D.C. Katie graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics and Theology. Katie is fluent in Spanish and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2007 and the US District Court, District of Colorado Bar in 2008.

Brittany Hurley, Esq.

Legal Assistant

Brittany Hurley first worked with RMIAN as a legal intern during the summer of 2009 and became an employee in June 2011. Brittany graduated from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, in August 2010 . Prior to law school, Brittany worked with immigrant communities in various capacities, including in the education and private employment sectors. Brittany graduated from the University of Denver magna cum laude with a dual degree in History and Spanish. Brittany is fluent in Spanish.

 

Abbie Johnson, Esq.

Staff Attorney, Detention and Children’s Programs

Abbie Johnson joined RMIAN as a staff attorney in September 2011 and works with both the detention and children's programs.  She previously worked for RMIAN as an intern during law school.  Abbie has a JD from the University of Colorado Law School, a Master's degree in Childhood Education from City University of New York, and a dual degree in Spanish Literature and International Relations from Claremont McKenna College.  Prior to law school, Abbie was a 2004 Teach for America corps member in New York City where she taught first grade in the south Bronx.  Abbie is fluent in Spanish.  She currently serves on the AILA Colorado chapter Houston Asylum Office Liaison Committee.

Megan Hope

Human Trafficking Project Coordinator, Detention and Children’s Programs

Megan joined RMIAN’s staff in October 2011. Prior to that, she was pleased to be the Social Service Project’s first social work intern while completing her Master of Social Work at the University of Denver. Megan has worked with immigrant communities for approximately 16 years, including as a staff member of Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas; grant writer and immigration paralegal with Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Migrant Farmworker Project; and board member and activist with numerous immigrant advocacy, workers’ rights, and economic justice organizations. For several years she performed program consultations in Latin America and Asia for child sponsorship organizations. Megan has an MA in Latin American Studies and BA in anthropology and English from the University of Kansas.