• Staff
• Board

• Anne Ford (Co-Chairperson) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Wilson D. Mudge. Esq. (Co-Chairperson) Senior Counsel, Arnold & Porter LLP
• Reginald Black Community Volunteer
• Maureen F. Browne Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
• Ameera Farrell Community Volunteer
• Kira Ford Community Volunteer
• Maryam Hatcher Senior Counsel, Corporate Sustainability at Mars, Inc.
• Vanessa Hayes Community Volunteer
• Astor Heaven, Esq. Partner, Crowell & Moring
• Eric Humes (Lay Director) Social Entrepreneur
• Samuel C. Kaplan Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner
• Kevin Malone Community Volunteer
• Sara B. Rearden, Esq. (Secretary) Attorney and Certified Mediator
• Paula D. Scott, Esq. Attorney
• Roderick E. Thompson, Esq. Principal, Roderick Thompson Law Group, PLLC
• April Williams, Esq. Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
• Tyra Williams Matthews, Esq. Attorney, United States Department of Homeland Security
• Cheryl L. Ziegler, Esq. (Vice-Chair) Supervisory Counsel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
• Melissa F. Zappala, Esq. (Treasurer) Attorney

Roderick E. Thompson, Esq.Principal, Roderick Thompson Law Group, PLLC

Roderick is a seasoned attorney with decades of experience spanning criminal defense, nonprofit leadership, and entertainment and sports law. Mr. Thompson is the Managing Principal of Roderick Thompson Law Group, PLLC, a boutique sports and entertainment firm representing athletes, filmmakers, creatives, and mission-driven organizations.

For twelve years Mr. Thompson served as a Supervising Attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where he handled some of the most serious and high-stakes cases, including homicide jury trials, consistently delivering life-changing results for District residents. Going up against the full weight and virtually limitless resources of the U.S. government, Mr. Thompson built a reputation as a fearless, strategic, and relentless advocate—outmaneuvering prosecutors, dismantling weak cases, and securing victories where the odds were stacked against his clients. His ability to think clearly under pressure, break down complex legal battles, and negotiate from a position of strength is a defining feature of his work.

Beyond the courtroom, Mr. Thompson brings substantial nonprofit leadership and governance experience. He serves as General Counsel for Diversity In Aquatics, where he provides legal strategy, high-stakes negotiation, and complex business, regulatory, and compliance oversight for a national mission-driven organization. He also serves as Board Chair of The Children’s Guild DC, a District of Columbia public charter school organization, where he works closely with school leadership on governance, fiduciary responsibility, policy development, and long-term strategic planning in support of District families.