Board of Directors
Kelly Simon, Board President
Community Volunteer
Kelly’s passion for immigration law took root as an Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Staff Assistant specializing in immigration matters for the office of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. From there, Kelly attended Georgetown University Law Center, where she studied immigration law and interned at Hogar Hispano-Immigrant Legal Services. Now Kelly practices exclusively in the area of immigration. In 2014, she was included with the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and in 2014 was named an Up & Coming attorney by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Kelly lives in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis with her husband, Tim Schoemehl, and their daughter.
Doug Stevick, Vice President
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, General Counsel
Douglas L. Stevick is a general counsel at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, for which he works from his home in St. Louis. For more than two decades he has represented migrant farmworkers and other low-wage workers, including U.S. citizens, LPRs, H-2A and H-2B workers, TN-visa workers, undocumented workers, and non-citizen victims of forced labor, in employment and civil rights litigation in federal and state court and in systemic administrative advocacy. He often deals with immigration issues in his litigation practice, typically when employers’ counsel seek to intimidate his clients based on their immigration status. Most of his clients are monolingual Spanish speakers. Doug is a graduate of Yale Law School, and he has undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, General Counsel
Douglas L. Stevick is a general counsel at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, for which he works from his home in St. Louis. For more than two decades he has represented migrant farmworkers and other low-wage workers, including U.S. citizens, LPRs, H-2A and H-2B workers, TN-visa workers, undocumented workers, and non-citizen victims of forced labor, in employment and civil rights litigation in federal and state court and in systemic administrative advocacy. He often deals with immigration issues in his litigation practice, typically when employers’ counsel seek to intimidate his clients based on their immigration status. Most of his clients are monolingual Spanish speakers. Doug is a graduate of Yale Law School, and he has undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.
Tabea Linhard, Board Secretary
Washington University in St. Louis, Professor
After living in Germany, Spain, Mexico, and several states in the US, Tabea moved to St. Louis in 2003. She is a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also directs the Global Studies program. She has spent much of her career teaching and researching migrant stories in the Spanish-speaking world, and also elsewhere. She began volunteering for MICA as an interpreter and translator in 2016 and she greatly welcomes the opportunity to continue learning about immigration and to become a better advocate for migrants in the region.
Washington University in St. Louis, Professor
After living in Germany, Spain, Mexico, and several states in the US, Tabea moved to St. Louis in 2003. She is a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also directs the Global Studies program. She has spent much of her career teaching and researching migrant stories in the Spanish-speaking world, and also elsewhere. She began volunteering for MICA as an interpreter and translator in 2016 and she greatly welcomes the opportunity to continue learning about immigration and to become a better advocate for migrants in the region.
Desiree Chihade, Board Treasurer
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Attorney
Desiree focuses her practice on EDiscovery within Commercial Litigation and Investigations. Prior to law school, Desiree earned a Masters in Public Relations and a Bachelors in Mass Media Communications and Political Science. Desiree has been a volunteer with MICA for 10 years. During law school she worked with the International Refugee Assistance Project, Latin American Coalition, and Inter Faith Legal Services to provide legal representation and humanitarian aid to refugees and immigrants in and out of the U.S. Desiree hopes to support the MICA Project staff provide holistic legal and social services, and further their impact on immigration policies.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Attorney
Desiree focuses her practice on EDiscovery within Commercial Litigation and Investigations. Prior to law school, Desiree earned a Masters in Public Relations and a Bachelors in Mass Media Communications and Political Science. Desiree has been a volunteer with MICA for 10 years. During law school she worked with the International Refugee Assistance Project, Latin American Coalition, and Inter Faith Legal Services to provide legal representation and humanitarian aid to refugees and immigrants in and out of the U.S. Desiree hopes to support the MICA Project staff provide holistic legal and social services, and further their impact on immigration policies.
Jaimie Blum, Board Member
Wolters Kluwer, Content Director
Jamie Blum is a Content Director at Wolters Kluwer, where she leads a team that produces quality content and software services for nursing students, educators, and clinicians. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in project management. A St. Louisan for most of her life, Jamie loves exploring St. Louis’s architecture, green spaces, and restaurants. She has a passion for the city and gives back by volunteering at and supporting local non-profits like The MICA Project and LOVEtheLOU. Jamie has been involved with MICA in some capacity for almost 10 years and is enthusiastic about serving on the board to help achieve MICA’s mission and vision.
Wolters Kluwer, Content Director
Jamie Blum is a Content Director at Wolters Kluwer, where she leads a team that produces quality content and software services for nursing students, educators, and clinicians. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in project management. A St. Louisan for most of her life, Jamie loves exploring St. Louis’s architecture, green spaces, and restaurants. She has a passion for the city and gives back by volunteering at and supporting local non-profits like The MICA Project and LOVEtheLOU. Jamie has been involved with MICA in some capacity for almost 10 years and is enthusiastic about serving on the board to help achieve MICA’s mission and vision.
Elizabeth Shabani, Board Member
Washington University, Olin School of Business, Director of Global Programs
Liz Shabani is an educator, having over 15 years of experience in the field of international education. Having studied art and art history as an undergraduate, Liz has lived and worked overseas and has spent significant time in Italy, Ireland, and Kosovo. As the wife of an immigrant and in her work, Liz has navigated immigration policies and procedures of the US and recognizes the complexity and burdens of these processes. As Director of Global Programs at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Liz oversaw more than 50 international partnerships and programs, aligned strategic vision with operational excellence, and developed and taught intercultural curriculum in the Business School
Washington University, Olin School of Business, Director of Global Programs
Liz Shabani is an educator, having over 15 years of experience in the field of international education. Having studied art and art history as an undergraduate, Liz has lived and worked overseas and has spent significant time in Italy, Ireland, and Kosovo. As the wife of an immigrant and in her work, Liz has navigated immigration policies and procedures of the US and recognizes the complexity and burdens of these processes. As Director of Global Programs at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis, Liz oversaw more than 50 international partnerships and programs, aligned strategic vision with operational excellence, and developed and taught intercultural curriculum in the Business School
Phil Cantwell, Board Member
Dowd Bennett LLP, Partner
Phil Cantwell is a partner at Dowd Bennett LLP where he practices litigation. A native St. Louisan, he received his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College and his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Between undergrad and law school, Phil worked at El Centro, Inc., in Kansas City, Kansas, where he witnessed firsthand the tremendous impact that organizations serving migrant and immigrant communities can deliver. Phil aims to support MICA as it continues to grow and expand its footprint and impact.