Our founders set out to dramatically change outcomes for families who experience the “child welfare” system—what we refer to now as the family policing system. Today, CFR’s leadership team continues this vision, working to defend families, dismantle systems of oppression, and advocate for a future where parents can live free from surveillance and raise their children with self-determination.

Executive Team

Tehra Coles was named the Executive Director of the Center for Family Representation (CFR) in New York City in March 2023. Previously, Ms. Coles served as policy counsel at Civil Rights Corps (CRC), focusing on a variety of topics related to the criminal legal system including qualified immunity, risk assessment tools and pre-trial detention laws. Prior to her role at CRC, Ms. Coles was the litigation supervisor for policy and government affairs at CFR, where she represented parents in family separation proceedings. She also managed the government funding application process and – in collaboration with impacted parents and families – lobbied elected officials and government agency officials on policy and legislation in areas of immigration, family separation, criminal legal systems and housing. Ms. Coles is a graduate of Albany Law School and Hollins University.

Dr. Alicia Williams joined CFR in July 2021 as CFR’s first Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Williams oversees CFR’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging work, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Administration activities at CFR and also works closely with our CFO and Executive Director on strategic planning, facilities and operations issues. Dr. Williams has 25+ years of extensive HR experience including diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, labor relations, change management, culture champion, talent acquisition, and staff engagement. She comes with HR and operations experience in academic, telecommunications, manufacturing and non-profit settings. Dr. Williams most recently served as Managing Director of Human Resources at Food & Water Watch, a non-profit environmental organization. She oversaw the strategic direction of their Human Resources department, making sure the work was in alignment with the mission, goals and objectives of the organization. Before that, Dr. Williams was the Director of Human Resources, Operations and Training at the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences for 8 years. She oversaw the overall operational matters across the organization and was responsible for creating the Culture and Core Values (Supportive, Transparent, Accountable, Respectful) of the organization.

Dr. Williams earned her Doctor of Education degree at The George Washington University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of San Diego and her MBA, with a Certification in Human Resources, from Keller Graduate School. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) with HRCI, Certified Change Management Practitioner with Prosci and Certified EQ-i2.0/EQ360 Practitioner with EITC.  Alicia holds the position of Board Advisor to the Washington, DC Chapter of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR). Dr. Williams is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, an Adjunct Professor of Diversity Equity and Inclusion & Organizational Leadership at The George Washington University and is also President/Co-Producer of a podcast entitled “RaceToday!”

Samantha Elliott Miele, Chief Financial Officer, oversees CFR’s fiscal and reporting operations. Ms. Miele started at CFR as a Staff Accountant in 2016, gradually managing more of the organization’s fiscal operations during a period of tremendous growth at CFR, before stepping into this leadership role in 2024. Ms. Miele is responsible for CFR’s strategic fiscal planning, establishing budgets and forecasting income and expenses as well as oversight of CFR’s data management and reporting. She creates regular reports for the General Management team and for CFR’s Board Finance Committee. Ms. Miele has a M.S. in Accounting from Touro College and a B.A. in Marketing and Business Management-Human Resources from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Board of Directors

• S. Penny Windle, Esq., Chair
Retired Partner, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
• Claire E. James, Esq., Secretary
Partner, Head of New York Private Equity, Freshfields US LLP
• Margaret A. Dale, Esq.,
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
• Prof. Peggy Cooper Davis, Esq.,
John S. R. Shad Professor of Lawyering and Ethics, New York University School of Law, Former Judge, New York City Family Court
• Shiva S. Farouki, Esq.,
Retired Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Laura J. Gordon,
Director, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
• Margery A. Greenberg, Esq.,
Partner and Chair of the Matrimonial & Family Law Department, Dorf Nelson & Zauderer LLP
• Christopher G. Karagheuzoff, Esq.,
Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
• Jeffrey L. Kessler, Esq.,
Partner, Co-Executive Chairman, and Co-Chair of Competition and Sports Law Practice Groups, Winston & Strawn LLP
• Riché T. McKnight, Esq.,
Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Ultimate Fighting Championship, Deputy General Counsel & Co-Head of Litigation, Endeavor
• Howard Seife, Esq.,
Global Head of Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring, and Insolvency, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
• Prof. Jane M. Spinak, Esq.,
Edward Ross Aranow Clinical Professor Emerita of Law, Columbia University School of Law, Morningside Heights Legal Services, Inc.
• Sam Waters, Director, Barclays
• Nancy Weiner,
Retired, Executive Director, NYS Chapter, American College of Cardiology

Associate Board

The CFR Associate Board is a volunteer council of professionals, community members, and supporters that promotes and advocates on behalf of CFR through fundraising and volunteer initiatives and attracts new friends to the organization. If you are interested in learning more or joining CFR’s Associate Board, please contact Olivia Del Vecchio, Development Manager at odelvecchio@cfrny.org.

• Neha Choudary, Esq.
• Allegra Leitner Holben, Esq., Associate Board Secretary
• Sai Malena Jimenez
• Etophia Lane, Events Committee Chair: Planning
• Lauren Smith, Esq., Associate Board Chair