OHIO POVERTY LAW CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Training and Program Services
Carson Tucker joined the Ohio Poverty Law Center in May 2022 as a Legislative Specialist, where she focuses on building relationships with executive agency staff to gather data, research legislation, and prepare in-depth reports in support of OPLC's policy agenda on behalf of lower-income Ohioans. Prior to joining the OPLC team, Carson was a Graduate Law Clerk in the Portsmouth office of Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. In this role, her duties included advocating for clients before local courts and agencies and helping to address systemic education-related issues in Southeastern Ohio. Carson received her bachelor's degree at Shawnee State University before attending Capital University Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- President and CEO / Urban League of Southwestern Ohio
Danielle DeLeon Spires joined the Ohio Poverty Law Center team as a Policy Advocate in April 2022 and focuses on issues related to Medicaid, public benefits, unemployment, and consumer issues. Prior to joining OPLC, Danielle spent three years at the Ohio House of Representatives, first as a Legislative Aide and then as a Policy Adviser to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus. In this position, Danielle worked closely with legislators on a variety of issue areas related to health and human services and unemployment compensation. Danielle graduated from The Ohio State University and went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in 2016 with an emphasis on health law.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Chief Advocacy Officer / Ohio Credit Union League
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Director of Advocacy
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- Chairman
- Member of the BOARD
Job Titles:
- Senior Legal Analyst / Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the BOARD
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Development Analyst / Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing
Job Titles:
- Retired Director of Corporation for Appalachian Development
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Executive Director / Community Legal Aid Services, Inc.
Susan Jagers joined the Ohio Poverty Law Center as its Director in February 2018 after 10 years as a government affairs and communications consultant. As a consultant, she helped clients develop messages and strategies to successfully move their issues at the Ohio Statehouse. Susan served as director of the government relations department of a large Ohio nonprofit and was the co-chair of the successful 2006 SmokeFreeOhio campaign. Susan served eight years as a member of Grandview Heights City Council and holds a BA in American Studies from the University of Dayton and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD
- Deputy Director for Advocacy
Tim Johnson joined the Ohio Poverty Law Center in July 2019, after having spent six years in state government. During his time working for the state, Tim was both a staffer to several members of the General Assembly and the senior policy advisor to the Senate Minority Caucus. As senior policy advisor, Tim worked on health and human services initiatives on behalf of the caucus while also focusing on tax and insurance policy. Tim graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2012 where he received his degree in political science. While at Bowling Green Tim was the Director of Student Concerns for the Resident Students Association and helped to shed light on various issues affecting students. As an advocate with OPLC, Tim looks forward to working on education and health policy, as well as other issues impacting low-income Ohioans.
Job Titles:
- Research Director / Policy Matters Ohio
Zack Eckles joined the Ohio Poverty Law Center in March 2022 after spending three years as a Staff Attorney in the Athens office of Southeastern Ohio Legal Services, where he focused on community lawyering throughout the region. In that role, he worked with lower-income clients and social service organizations to advance long term community development projects. Throughout his career, Zack has worked for organizations engaged in policy advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels. Zack earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio University and earned his law degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.