President
Josh has worked in the pro-life movement since he was 18. After 12 years of full-time pro-life work he launched Equal Rights Institute to maximize his impact for the movement. Josh's primary passion is helping pro-life people to be more persuasive when they communicate with pro-choice people. That means ditching faulty rhetoric and tactics and embracing arguments that hold up under … Read More
Director of Training
Rachel is a speaker, writer, and trainer with Equal Rights Institute. Rachel graduated in 2017 from the University of Michigan with a Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience major and Women’s Studies: Gender and Health minor. She was the president of the Students for Life club at the University of Michigan, leading their efforts to educate students on pro-life topics and to advocate for … Read More
Operations Coordinator
Jacob Nels left a 16-year career as a carpenter to follow his passion for investing in the lives of people by taking a job with Justice For All. Since 2008, Jacob has been working to make abortion unthinkable, to make Jesus thinkable, and teaching others to do the same. Jacob works to show pro-life and pro-choice people that humans matter more than divisive arguments. Through respectful dialogue, … Read More
Writer / Researcher
Andrew Kaake (pronounced like "cake") holds a bachelor’s degree in classics and political science, cum laude, from Amherst College, where he wrote a thesis on the topic of C.S. Lewis and natural law philosophy. He completed his master’s degree in bioethics at Trinity International University, studying the philosophical underpinnings of controversies about life, death, and technology and trying … Read More
Digital Media Manager
Christina Awad graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. While in college, she founded and served as president of Rutgers for Life, a nonsectarian student pro-life advocacy group. She also served on the Board of Directors for Rutgers University Dance Marathon -- the largest student-run philanthropic event in New Jersey -- a yearlong fundraising effort … Read More
Digital Media Manager
Melody Zimmerman graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in piano performance. During her senior year of college, she founded and served as president of Ithaca College Students for Life with the aim of raising awareness about the reality of abortion, engaging in friendly dialogue on the topic, and supporting pregnant and parenting students. Melody now serves as the Director of Campus … Read More
Administrative Assistant
Jen has worked previously for AT&T and Windstream, but in 2014, Jen left her corporate job to be a stay at home mom and homeschool her children. While she was at home she stayed busy by not only educating her kids, but also tutoring other children in math, science, and bible, being involved in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, AYSO soccer, Charlotte HEAT track club, and bible studies during the … Read More
The ERI Teaching Fellow is a part-time speaker who shares the vision and mission of ERI, and helps expand ERI’s reach and influence by sharing the teaching load. All Teaching Fellows are vetted by our staff to ensure quality, professionalism, and good character. Teaching Fellows also can supplement the expertise of ERI with different skills and specialties (law, counseling, philosophy, science, etc.), further strengthening the depth and ability of ERI to advance the pro-life cause.
Teaching Fellow
Currently residing in Pella, Iowa with his wife Hillary, John earned an MDiv in Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary as well as a ThM and PhD in Philosophy of Religion at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. John is a life-long educator and minister having worked at the college, high school, and church levels. He also volunteers his time with Pella Pro-Life and the local … Read More
Our interns spend a period of several months learning about non-profit work and the things that have made ERI so succesful while learning new skills and serving the organization. If you're interested in joining our intern program, email Josh.
Intern
Lauren Chandler is a graduating senior at Christ the King Catholic High School, and will be at Berry College in the fall of 2019. She plans to major in Public Relations and minor in English. She is the founder and president of the pro-life club on campus at her high school, and is also a founding member of The Insiders at the Community Pregnancy Center of Lake Norman. The Insiders are a group … Read More
Intern
Ryan Everson is the secretary of Students for Life at Arizona State University, where he leads campus outreach initiatives to foster productive conversations about abortion on one of America's largest college campuses. He believes abortion is the most pressing issue of our time, and he is passionate about working to create a pro-life movement that welcomes people from all religious and political … Read More
Intern
Mikhala West is a Junior at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. Mikhala is currently studying to obtain her bachelor's degree in International Affairs and Political Science, with a minor in Spanish. Mikhala is involved in Omicron Delta Kappa, a junior academic honorary, and Alpha Sigma Iota, a foreign language honorary. She has also worked on a piece of academic literature on the … Read More
Our Board of Directors provide wisdom and accountability through quarterly meetings where they go over our financial reports, discuss the direction of the organization, and make the decisions that only a board of directors can make.
Certified Public Accountant
David Conley is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Directors. He is a CPA and is an owner and co-founder of Smith, Conley & Associates, PC. David and his wife Gayla reside in Peachtree City, Georgia. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Fayette Pregnancy Resource Center as well as Treasurer for the Center. He's the current President of the Fayette chapter of Georgia … Read More
Logistics Executive
Brien Downie is a member of Equal Rights Institute’s Board of Directors. After spending a decade working in advertising in Los Angeles, Brien now serves as Vice President for Holman Distribution, a 153-year-old Third Party Logistics firm that has been owned by his family since the 1930's. Brien has a BA in Mass Communication ('03) from Biola University, and an MBA ('12) from the Anderson … Read More
Analyst
Nathan Hitchen is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Directors. He completed his M.A. at the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Prior to Johns Hopkins, Nathan participated in the John Jay Institute fellowship, a program in theology and political philosophy, and then worked at a number of domestic and foreign policy think tanks in Washington, D.C. … Read More
Family Therapist
Alice Witt is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Directors. She currently has a private practice for marriage, family, and individual counseling. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Wayfinders Inclusive Post Secondary Education Program on the campus of CSU Fresno. She served as their TPSID grant Project’s Principal Investigator. Alice worked for ten years at … Read More
The members of the Board of Advisors will meet with Josh one-on-one at least once a year. After hearing about Josh's vision for ERI for the next year, he'll ask them for their thoughts, advice and critiques. What pitfalls should we be looking for? Are there major opportunities that we're missing? We’ve purposefully put together an advisory board of people whose advice we not only respect, but who have a diverse set of experiences and areas of expertise.
National Director, 40 Days for Life
David Bereit is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He became an outspoken pro-life advocate after Planned Parenthood announced plans to build an abortion clinic in his Texas town in 1998. He helped to start and build a local grassroots coalition that rallied 60 churches and thousands of people together and dramatically reduced abortions in the region. Planned Parenthood … Read More
Pastor of Student Ministries, First Baptist Church of Clovis
Nick Bradley is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is one of the Pastors at First Baptist Church of Clovis. He has specialized in Youth Ministries for over 13 years and has heart for truly educating people of all ages in the importance of owning their faith. His desire is for people to come to know the Lord and believes that using logic, critical thinking, history, and … Read More
Executive Director, Fresno Pregnancy Care Center
Kristi Burkhart is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. She is the Executive Director of the Fresno Pregnancy Care Center, an affiliate of CareNet and National Institute of Family Life Advocates (NIFLA). Pregnancy Care Center provides over $700,000 of free goods, services and education every year at no cost to their clients, governments or insurances. They receive over … Read More
Ethics Professor, Fordham University
Charles Camosy is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. Dr. Camosy teaches Christian ethics at Fordham University in the Bronx. Dr. Camosy grew up in the cornfields of Wisconsin, but has enjoyed living and teaching in the Bronx. A theme running throughout his work is the fostering of intellectual solidarity between political groups and ethical approaches which find … Read More
Campaign Director, 40 Days for Life
Shawn Carney is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He began as a volunteer in the pro-life movement while still in college. During this time he helped to lead the first-ever local 40 Days for Life campaign. After graduating from college, he was asked to serve as the Executive Director of the Coalition for Life, a local pro-life organization in Texas made up of more than 60 … Read More
Founder and Director of M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics, Biola University
Craig Hazen is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. Dr. Hazen is the editor of the philosophy journal, Philosophia Christi. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America, the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings, and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. He is a recipient of the Fischer Award, the highest … Read More
Founder and President, Secular Pro-Life
Kelsey Hazzard is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. She founded Secular Pro-Life in 2009 and serves as its president. Her writings appear regularly in pro-life media and she is featured in the pro-life documentary "40". Kelsey has also made appearances in mainstream news sources like NPR, Buzzfeed, and Slate. She is a graduate of the University of Miami (B.A. 2009), where … Read More
Apologist and Speaker, Catholic Answers
Trent Horn is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is an apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers. He earned a graduate degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College. Trent is a regular guest on the radio program Catholic Answers Live, a lecturer who speaks across the … Read More
Founder and President, Issues4Life Foundation
Walter Hoye is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. Walter B. Hoye II is both Founder and President of the Issues4Life Foundation, the California Civil Rights Foundation, Founder of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of California, Core Member of the National Black Pro-Life Coalition, a Board Member of The Morning Center which was founded to provide free full-service … Read More
Founder and President, Life Training Institute
Scott Klusendorf is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is the founder and president of Life Training Institute (LTI), which was established in 2004 to challenge and equip pro-life advocates to persuasively defend their views in the public square. Scott travels throughout the United States, Canada and Europe training groups of people to engage the conversation about … Read More
Senior Counsel & Director of the Center For Academic Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom
Tyson Langhofer is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Academic Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom. He has represented college students and student organizations throughout the country in defending their freedom of speech, freedom of association, and free exercise of religion. In Young Americas’s … Read More
Dave Martina is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He works in advertising for a major automotive manufacturer, in addition to as running his own branding and design consultancy, Martina Brand Therapy. He has helped dozens of clients in a variety of industries (including Equal Rights Institute) with their branding, messaging, and marketing materials, as well as produced … Read More
National Director, Priests for Life
Fr. Frank Pavone is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is one of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the world. Originally from New York, he was ordained in 1988 by Cardinal John O’Connor, and since 1993 has served full-time in pro-life leadership with his bishop’s permission. He is the National Director of Priests for Life, the largest pro-life ministry in the … Read More
Executive Director, Faith Beyond Belief
Jojo Ruba is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is the Executive Director of Faith Beyond Belief. Jojo equips Christians to effectively explain and defend their faith using reasonable arguments that make sense to non-believers. He has spoken at venues that include Sunday morning services, secular debates on universities and morning chapels at Christian schools. Jojo … Read More
Speaker, Stand to Reason
Alan Shlemon is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is an author and public speaker for Stand to Reason and is known for teaching on some of the most controversial issues of our time like abortion, evolution, homosexuality, bioethics, and Islam. He has been a guest on both TV and radio, and has spoken to thousands of adults and students across the country at churches, … Read More
Executive Director, Justice For All
Stephen Wagner is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. He is the Executive Director of Justice For All, an organization that trains thousands to make abortion unthinkable for millions, one person at a time. He has spent hundreds of hours interacting with abortion-choice advocates on over 30 university campuses in the United States and Canada. Frustrated by shallow … Read More
Executive Vice President, Students for Life of America
Tina Whittington is a member of Equal Rights Institute's Board of Advisors. In 1999 Tina began working full-time in the pro-life movement as Project Manager for Rock for Life. While there she put together pro-life literature, wrote for the monthly newsletter, spoke at high schools and colleges, organized events, and toured with Christian bands sharing the pro-life message from stage at hundreds … Read More