Staff

Whitney King, Executive Director

Prior to becoming CLADC's Executive Director, Whitney was an international development professional working in the areas of program monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning. She grew up in Georgia and received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Later she obtained a Master of Public Policy degree from The George Washington University and has lived and worked in Washington, D.C. since 2010. Whitney is an active member of Restoration Church, and is passionate about seeing God transform the city through ministries like CLADC. She also enjoys spending time outside, hosting events, reading, and travel.

Lindsay Ayers, Director of Legal Services

Lindsay Ayers is originally from Atlanta, Georgia but moved to Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. Throughout her time in law school, Lindsay explored public interest law, entrepreneurial law, and business law. After law school, Lindsay had the privilege of working in the unemployment law space and serving on a nonprofit board for an Anti-Sex trafficking organization. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys reading, blogging about food and faith, and working out. Lindsay is passionate about serving the Lord through her career and in her hobbies.

Lindsay is admitted to the Illinois State Bar only. District of Columbia practice supervised by D.C. Bar member Karen Wu, Perlman + Perlman, LLP during pendency of D.C. Bar admissions application.

Savannah Miller, Administrative Assistant

Savannah Miller is a proud Marylander and recent graduate of American University. She received her B.A. in Film and Media Arts in 2019. During her time in college she got to experience the joys of ministry in a variety of contexts, both local and international and is excited to be a part of fulfilling CLADC’s mission. Savannah loves to travel, cook, read and listen to podcasts in her free time. She is a member of Restoration Church in Washington, DC.

Advisors

Robert Rose, Expungement Advisor

Rob is originally from northern New Jersey, where he grew up and attended Ramapo College of New Jersey. From college, he went to Regent Law School in Virginia Beach. After graduating from Regent in 2010, Rob practiced primarily general civil litigation and personal injury law in the Hampton Roads area before joining CLADC in 2015. From 2013-17, he served on the board of directors for Jim White Community Fitness Foundation, a nonprofit that provides fitness and nutrition services to homeless and other underprivileged people in Hampton Roads. He is a member of Christ Our Shepherd Church in SE DC. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing basketball, and going for long runs.

Matthew DeGioia, Social Security Benefits Advisor

Matthew DeGioia grew up in Queens, New York before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend The George Washington University. After graduating from college, Matthew began working at a national Social Security firm as a legal writer and case manager, managing the case development of hundreds of Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases. He then enrolled in The George Washington University Law School and is a recent J.D. graduate. Matthew has seven years of experience assisting on disability benefits claims. In addition to SSD and SSI cases, he also has experience working on FERS disability retirement claims for federal employees, ERISA short-term disability and long-term disability insurance claims, and disability retirement claims through the State of Maryland. Matthew currently works at a small firm in Silver Spring, MD that specializes in disability benefits law, family law, collections, and other areas of civil litigation. He also serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate through CASA for Children of D.C., which provides support for children who have open abuse and neglect cases in DC Family Court. In addition to his legal pursuits, Matthew is enrolled at Reformed Theological Seminary, pursuing an M.A. in Religion, and serves on staff at The Well Community Church in Silver Spring, Maryland as a Pastoral Resident and Family Ministry Coordinator.

Board

Jonathan Ng, Board Chair

Jonathan currently works as an attorney at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Previously, he was the first in-house counsel and global legal director for Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, a global NGO that supports leading social entrepreneurs around the world. He started his legal career in New York at White & Case LLP working several years in its project finance practice group. While in NYC, he attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church and volunteered with Brooklyn Jubilee and was part of the original group of legal volunteers for Open Hands Christian Legal Services. Jonathan graduated from Notre Dame Law School and the University of Kansas. He and his wife, Lauren, attend Grace Presbyterian Church of Washington DC (Grace DC Downtown).

Abraham George, Board Member

Abraham (Abey) George has spent the past 25 years Seeking to draw the Church into the work of bringing justice and freedom. Beginning his ministry as a Pastor and later Seminarian in India, and most recently serving International Justice Mission for 10 years as the Global Director for Church Partnerships, he has travelled the world building relationships, mentoring leaders, and influencing communities. He is the co-author of God of Justice (Inter Varsity Press). He holds a Mater of Theology (Historical Theology) and a Master of Divinity. He and his wife and their two children live near Annapolis, MD, where he enjoys reading, car detailing, and finding new coffee shops in his spare time.

DeLisa Lay, Board Member

DeLisa is a 2005 graduate of the Eugene McDermott Scholarship Program at the University of Texas at Dallas and a 2010 graduate of the Yale Law School. While enrolled at YLS, she served as a board member for the Yale Law Christian Fellowship and student chapter of the Federalist Society, participated for three years as a member of the Lowenstein Clinic for International Human Rights, and spent the summers as a Legal Intern for the International Justice Mission in Kigali, Rwanda and a clerk for Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). In 2010, she joined the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where she practiced civil and appellate litigation and represented clients subject to congressional inquiry. DeLisa left private practice in January 2015 and now works as a congressional staffer.

Sam Logan, Board Member

Sam has served on the CLADC Board since 2007. During that time, he has also served as clinic director at the Central Union Mission clinic and as a volunteer. Sam is currently a Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for an artificial intelligence company headquartered in Washington, D.C. Previously, Sam was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for a global education technology company. From 2005-2010, Sam worked in the Washington, DC office of a large law firm. At the firm, he represented clients across the communications, education, healthcare, aerospace and defense industries in a variety of matters including mergers & acquisitions, private equity, cross-border transactions, corporate governance, venture capital and securities. Sam received his J.D. with honors in 2005 from Georgetown University Law Center where he taught legal research and writing and was Executive Editor of the Georgetown Journal of International Law. He graduated with highest honors from Cedarville University in 2001 and studied abroad at Oxford University, Keble College. Sam lives in the Washington, DC metro region with his artist wife and their two children. His interests include travel and fly-fishing (weather and children permitting).

Karen Wu, Board Member

Karen I. Wu is a partner at Perlman & Perlman, LLP, a law firm serving the philanthropic and social enterprise sector. Karen advises nonprofit organizations on corporate governance, federal tax law compliance, fundraising regulation, contract negotiations, and intellectual property matters. She also counsels for-profit businesses on corporate philanthropy and social impact initiatives. From 2009-17, Karen served on the Board of Directors of Open Hands Legal Services, a Christian legal aid ministry serving low income New Yorkers. Karen and her family attend Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia.