Meet the Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bettina has served as the Executive Director of The Legal Clinic since 2019. In this role, she works closely with board and staff to develop and implement the organization's strategic plan, secure its financial sustainability, manage people and partnerships, and ensure that the work and activities are mission-aligned. Prior to her work at TLC, Bettina worked for philanthropic foundations, youth-serving organizations, workforce development initiatives, environmental conservation groups, cross-cultural training initiatives, and international exchange programs. She has over 30 years of non-profit management experience, including prior roles as an executive director. She has also served as an independent consultant to other nonprofit organizations in Hawaiʻi and California, primarily focused on fundraising and strategic development. Bettina has a Master’s degree in International Administration and speaks English, German, basic Spanish, and French. The daughter of two first-generation immigrant parents (Chinese and German), Bettina was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and came to the US at the age of six. She is inspired by the power of collective action in the pursuit of justice for all.

SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY (Spanish Speaker/Hablo Español)

Neribel was admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar after graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Law School. For over 15 years, her practice primarily focused on Labor and Employment Law defense litigation. Neribel also has experience in personal injury and family law with Honolulu law firms. Prior to joining The Legal Clinic, Neribel worked as an immigration attorney, representing clients in Immigration Court and in a wide range of immigration matters. Neribel is a Registered Spanish Interpreter (Hawaii State Judiciary) and Notary Public. Neribel’s calling and passion is serving. She believes all experiences in life prepare us to put us in a position to serve at the correct time and season.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & EVENTS

Denise comes to TLC with over 14 years of nonprofit fundraising experience in Hawaiʻi. As a granddaughter of Japanese immigrants, Denise is excited about the mission of TLC. Her grandparents' journey and life in Hawai'i is the foundation of her family's story of opportunity.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Kris joined The Legal Clinic as the Operations Director in December 2025. She has spent her career working in high-growth environments scaling systems, processes, and teams for Silicon Valley tech startups. In her role at TLC, Kris focuses on creating strong foundations, operationally and culturally, so teams can do their best work servicing our immigrant and migrant communities in Hawai'i. As a second-generation Taiwanese-American and daughter of immigrant parents, she is deeply motivated by work rooted in equity, community care, and immigrant justice. Above all, Kris is committed to aligning operations with purpose and helping organizations grow in ways that feel both sustainable and human.

STAFF ATTORNEY (Speaks conversational Cantonese and basic French)

Attorney Wong is a licensed attorney in California. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in International Development and completed her Juris Doctor (law degree) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She was awarded a scholarship for her Masters of Law at UC Berkeley with a concentration on Law & Technology. Prior to joining The Legal Clinic she worked as a Legal Officer at Justice Without Borders fighting against discrimination, labor trafficking, and financial exploitation of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. There, she helped the organization set precedents through her cases to expand access to justice in the courts of Hong Kong. Her strong desire to serve the underrepresented and underserved communities propelled her to a career in important public interest work. At The Legal Clinic, she works on a variety of immigration matters and applications, primarily focused on both affirmative and defensive asylum cases and removal proceedings.

STAFF ATTORNEY

Josh was admitted to the Hawaiʻi Bar right after graduating from Santa Clara University School of Law. Prior to joining The Legal Clinic, Josh served as a research attorney at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. He also interned and volunteered for several non-profit organizations and government agencies serving low-income clients (including Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi and the Office of the Public Defender) in a variety of legal areas, including immigration, consumer, eviction defense, elder law, and criminal defense. Josh’s immigration experience includes assisting clients apply for visas, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), naturalization, and asylum, including assisting families fleeing persecution after the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. As an Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Fellow, Josh’s work is focused on providing direct services to those impacted by the 2023 Maui fires and related advocacy and education work.

ADMINISTRATIVE & GRANTS MANAGER

Katherine joined The Legal Clinic as Administrative & Grants Manager in March of 2024. Prior to that, she was the Director of Outreach for a leading racial equity educational organization and a consultant for the 2020 TLC Cares project. She graduated from the California College of Arts & Crafts with a BFA in Photography. She has over three decades of experience in small business and nonprofit management, including the co-founding of a produce store and restaurant in an underserved neighborhood where she lived. As a granddaughter of Eastern European immigrants and a descendant of enslaved Africans, she deeply believes that strong communities depend on increased access, belonging, and justice for marginalized people.

ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR (Tagalog Speaker/Nagsasalita ng Tagalog)

Mai joined the TLC staff in December 2023 as the Engagement & Development Coordinator. She has a diverse background that spans public service, education, and a deep personal connection to the immigrant experience. Being an immigrant herself, she moved to Hawaii from the Philippines in the 90s when she was only 3 years old. Her unique perspective and personal experiences have made her acutely aware of the struggles that many immigrant families face today.

PARALEGAL

Anna is a dedicated paralegal at The Legal Clinic Hawaii, bringing over eight years of experience in immigration and family law from her extensive work in Hawaii and Japan. She is deeply committed to supporting Hawaii’s immigrant communities.

Anna handles complex immigration cases, including family-based petitions, adjustment of status, asylum, naturalization, and effective client communications. Her multicultural background enhances her ability to effectively serve diverse clients with sensitivity and respect.

Born and raised in Japan, Anna was educated in the US and graduated with a BA in Political Science. She is also a licensed esthetician in Hawaii and a skilled makeup artist. Outside work, Anna participates as a Unified Partner in bowling with Special Olympics Hawaii, reflecting her passion for community involvement and support for inclusivity.

LEGAL ASSISTANT (Spanish Speaker/Hablo Español)

Viri has served as a legal assistant since November 2023. A first-generation Mexican-American raised in San Diego, California, near the southern border, she understands firsthand the challenges faced by immigrant populations.

Her interest in supporting immigrant communities developed during her undergraduate studies at Humboldt State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in international Studies.

LEGAL ASSISTANT (Spanish Speaker/Hablo Español)

As a daughter to immigrant parents, Alicia has a personal understanding of the challenges faced while navigating the immigration system and the language barriers that come with that. Assisting in interpreting and translating for family from a young age, Alicia continued her studies to become a certified Spanish interpreter and now focuses on assisting LEP clients at TLC to facilitate communication with attorneys. Driven by a mission to give back to the community, Alicia brings compassionate care to those who come to TLC. She considers her work to be the blooming of flowers that were planted and watered by her mother’s perseverance in search of the American Dream.

GRANTS & COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Jenni applies her skills as a longtime writer and educator to grant writing and prospecting for The Legal Clinic, as well as preparing external and internal communications. She is thrilled to help give a voice to some of the stories of Hawaii's immigrants, and the important work of TLC.

Jenni received her B.A. in American Literature & Culture and minored in Geography at UCLA and later received her M.A. in Education and teaching credentials from Pepperdine University. She worked for many years in schools serving low-income and traditionally underserved student populations, including many immigrant students.

COMMUNITY & POLICY ADVOCATE

Tina brings nearly 20 years of policy and advocacy experience to The Legal Clinic. Prior to joining TLC, Tina served in her native Northern Mariana Islands as a policy advisor to the governor, elected legislator, congressional staffer, and journalist. Her work in the Marianas included advocating for stable immigration status and access to services for the thousands of foreign-born residents and their families in the islands.  Tina was also the first woman to run for governor of the Northern Marianas. With roots in both the Marianas and Hawai'i, she is proud of her Chamorro/Micronesian, Okinawan, and Italian heritage. Tina holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning and a graduate certificate in conflict resolution from the University of Hawai'i. Outside of TLC, she co-chairs the Climate Strong Islands Network, and serves on the boards of two Marianas-based conservation groups - Tano, Tasi, yan Todu and Friends of the Mariana Trench.    

POLICY & ADVOCACY FELLOW

Ana is a social advocate with over 15 years of experience advancing educational opportunity, economic mobility, and community engagement. Since 2008, she has held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations and government institutions serving diverse populations.

Ana previously served as Executive Director of Gantry Group, supporting college persistence for low-income, first-generation students, and as Consul for Political Affairs at the Consulate General of Mexico in New York City, where she strengthened bilateral relationships with local and state governments across New York. She also served as Executive Director of Mi Casa es Puebla in the Tri-State area, where she led a family reunification program and launched a legal representation initiative while overseeing free services for thousands of individuals.

Ana holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, certificates in Nonprofit Management and Politics from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de las Américas-Puebla. She recently relocated with her family to Mānoa and is eager to contribute to and serve the Hawaiʻi community.