Lina Adjout is a Paralegal in the Immigration Legal Services Program. She joined Rian in 2021 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire where she studied Political Science and International Affairs. She supports our Immigration Attorneys with their cases, and assists clients with completing immigration forms. Her role also includes training and directly engaging with volunteers and interns. She previously interned at Project Citizenship where she assisted legal residents with applying for citizenship. As an immigrant from Algeria with a deep rooted passion for immigration advocacy, she is committed to helping immigrants on their path to succeed.

After graduating from Wellesley College with a bachelor of arts in History and Spanish, Jacqueline worked as an immigration paralegal at a small, private law firm. She went on to study at Northeastern University School of Law where she completed four internships in various settings focused on immigration law. Jacqueline speaks Spanish fluently.

Rachel Benedict joined Rian as an Immigration Attorney in March 2023. As an Immigration Attorney she represents her clients in family-based and humanitarian immigration cases. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA in Religion from Carleton College. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  She came to Rian after several years of working as a solo practitioner, where she regularly represented individuals with pending asylum, VAWA, U Visa, SIJS, and family-based cases. When Rachel isn’t working she likes to bake, swim, and spend time with her family.

Emma supports the Learning Exchange Program as a program associate. Her role includes working with J-1 Visa students and interns. She is enthusiastic about work and travel experience. Prior to starting at Rian, Emma graduated with a BA in communications. As well as working in Westfield State University’s administration department. Emma has also previously worked in Westfield’s elementary school district. Outside of work Emma enjoys art, cats and spending time with family and friends.

Jude Clarke joined Rian Immigrant Center in February 2009. He is now Senior LEP Manager, Ireland where he is responsible for the center’s J-1 Intern and J-1 Irish Work and Travel programs. After living in Boston for some years, Jude is now based in Ireland where he also manages Rian engagement with universities, partners, and many other business, governmental, and civic contacts on the island. Jude is a Business and Management graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and he has a passion for helping young people make their way in life. Besides being kept busy with work, Jude’s main interests lay in either playing or watching sports, especially Hurling, Soccer, Golf, Cycling, & Tennis.

Victoria is a licensed social worker from Massachusetts who brings 10 years of experience working with nonprofits nationally and internationally in both direct service and programmatic roles. Driven to address inequities in access to health, safety, and well-being, Victoria’s work has focused on providing anti-oppressive, supportive accompaniment, counseling, and advocacy to immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness and distress, and indigenous Maya communities in Guatemala. Most recently, she worked with the International Rescue Committee in Colorado supporting survivors of torture through direct advocacy and psychosocial support. In her role with Rian, Victoria works alongside clients, offering counseling, group facilitation, therapy, and wrap around case management.

Phil Kirschner (He/His) has worked with nonprofits in the health, education and economic development sectors. He served in the Peace Corps working to build and create new local organizations in remote communities. Phil is passionate about culturally immersive travel experiences and has spent time living and working in Tanzania, Australia and Botswana. During his off time, Phil enjoys cooking food from around the world and spending time with his friends and family.

Jackie Kelley is the Director of the Immigration Legal Services (ILS) program of Rian Immigrant Center, where she directs and supervises a team of attorneys, support staff, and interns, and maintains a caseload of immigrant and refugee clients in a variety of humanitarian and family-based immigration matters. Prior to becoming Director of ILS, Jackie held various roles at Rian including Associate Director of Attorney Supervision, Senior Immigration Attorney, and Manager of Medical-Legal Partnerships, facilitating Rian’s direct partnerships with Boston Medical Center and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. From 2016-2018, Jackie, who speaks Spanish and French, held a prestigious Equal Justice Works fellowship to expand Rian’s capacity to provide comprehensive representation to immigrant domestic violence survivors. She is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Faculty of Language and Linguistics and of Northeastern University School of Law, where she was a Public Interest Law Scholar and was named a Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy Fellow to assist asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border. Prior to law school, Jackie worked for six years at Ayuda, a nationally-recognized leader in legal aid for immigrants, asylum-seekers and domestic violence survivors in and around Washington, D.C., where she helped hundreds of low-income immigrants navigate complex immigration laws. In her close work with immigrant communities, Jackie has developed a passion for trauma-informed and culturally-competent legal aid, and for using the law as a tool for personal empowerment.

Kevin has been serving as Executive Director of Rian since late January, 2025. He is retired from BNY Mellon, having spent most of his career as an in-house counsel supporting its fiduciary businesses. He served on Rian’s Board of Directors from 2014 to 2023, having served at various times as Board Clerk, Vice President and President. While on the Board, he volunteered at ILS Forms Clinics and helped with Education Services citizenship and ESL classes. Kevin has also served in a number of elected and appointed roles in his hometown of Dedham, Massachusetts and has served as a board member and officer of other nonprofits.

I’m a second-year Sociology major at Tufts University, minoring in Latinx Studies. I’m always looking for new ways to connect to different communities within the Boston area; I tutor with EVKids, an organization that serves kids who come from under-resourced communities in Dorchester and Roxbury. I also have taught citizenship classes to Spanish-speaking immigrants at the CORES Center in Somerville. As a daughter and granddaughter of immigrants, I am deeply invested in empowering immigrant communities to feel confident in claiming their space. I’m continually learning how to support immigrants through advocacy, accompaniment, and other relevant supports. After undergraduate, I plan to enroll in law school and further down the line, begin practicing immigration law.

Amanda Petrakis joined Rian as an Immigration Attorney in June 2019. As an Immigration Attorney she represents her clients in family-based and humanitarian immigration cases. She also assists with Rian’s medical-legal partnership with Boston Medical Center, providing critical immigration legal services to hospital patients. Since beginning her legal education at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, Amanda has been dedicated to pursuing opportunities in public interest law and to serving immigrant communities in particular. Before joining Rian, Amanda represented victims of domestic violence and children with immigration and family law matters. Amanda is an immigrant herself and was raised in the vibrant city of Montréal, Canada. She serves her clients in English, French, and Spanish, and is also fluent in Greek. In her free time, Amanda loves to explore new places and the outdoors either on foot, by bike, on SUP or by air!

Jorge Rios is a staff attorney in Rian’s Immigration Legal Services team. He brings to Rian experience in removal defense, asylum, and humanitarian matters. He graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2023. Prior to becoming an attorney, Jorge was a teacher, tutor, and consultant. A lifelong learner, he holds a master’s in economics and a master’s in education. Jorge is passionate about working in and alongside Boston’s vibrant immigrant communities. He is a native Spanish speaker.

Born and raised in Haiti, I moved to the United States when I was 12 years old. I studied at the University of Massachusetts Boston where I earned a Bachelor of Arts In Latin America and Iberian Studies and a Master of Arts in Global Inclusion and Social Development. Prior to working at Rian, I was the Program Coordinator for the Immigrant Assistance Services Program at MIRA where I assisted the team in providing legal services to migrants residing in MA emergency shelters. In my spare time, I like to watch football (soccer) and crochet.

Leah is a versatile professional with a background in Social Studies Education & Archaeology from Boston University. After graduating, she began her career as a middle school teacher, where she cultivated her passion for education and community development. She joined Rian Immigrant Center in 2019 as a Program Associate in the Learning Exchange program, eager to assist J-1 students on their J-1 visa journey. Over time, Leah’s interests shifted towards non-profit Communications & Development, leading her to assume the role of Communications Manager in 2020. In July of 2023, driven by her desire to make a deeper impact, she transitioned to the role of Manager of Grants & Foundations.

A proud first-generation Pakistani-American, Julian (he/him) joins Rian’s Immigration Legal Services team after receiving his J.D from Northeastern University School of Law. Originally from Maryland, he attended Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA where he studied International Relations, Spanish, and Latin American Studies. After serving as a post-graduate volunteer with an organization in Chicago providing a ministry of accompaniment to Spanish speakers, he decided to pursue a career serving immigrant communities. At Northeastern University School of Law, he completed internships focusing on immigration and family law, including a co-op with Rian. Julian joined Rian full time in 2024 and serves clients in English and Spanish.