Our Staff

Executive Director

Joanna Woolman, JD

Joanna is an innovative and strategic non-profit executive with a strong foundation in child welfare law and community informed policy. She has expertise in organizational leadership, program design, development, management, and evaluation. Joanna has led community-driven policy initiatives in Minnesota and nationally to create diverse coalitions for change in the non-profit, public, and higher educational sectors. For the last fifteen years she been a Professor of Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law where she directed the Institute to Transform Child Protection and taught Criminal Law and Feminist Legal Theory. She is a nationally recognized expert and advisor to policy makers and agencies leveraging twenty plus years of litigation experience. For her entire legal career, she has directly represented parents and relatives in child welfare cases. She began her legal work as a state public defender in Minnesota.

Joanna lives in South Minneapolis with her son and two cats. She loves poetry, yoga, and playing soccer with her son.

Gillian received her bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and her Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. While in law school, she served as the president of the Black Law Student Association.

Prior to joining Keeping Families Connected Minnesota, Gillian served in Hennepin County District Court, Family Division, as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Naomi S. Garfinkel, Referee of District Court. 

Driven by a strong passion to public service, Gillian joins Keeping Families Connected Minnesota as a staff attorney. Gillian is dedicated to providing holistic and compassionate representation for Minnesota families navigating through complex family court and child welfare matters.

Outside of her practice, Gillian enjoys reading, weightlifting, and spending time with friends and family. 

Kelli is a passionate family law attorney committed to advancing justice and equity for families navigating Minnesota’s child protection system. With experience representing parents and relatives in complex family law matters including custody disputes, surrogacy, and child protection – Kelli brings a trauma-informed, client-centered approach to every case she handles.

Kelli is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she participated in their Child Protection Clinic, providing direct representation to parents and children in child protection cases. That experience solidified her dedication to ensuring access to empathetic and effective legal services. Kelli also clerked with Central Minnesota Legal Services and Anishinabe Legal Services, deepening her understanding of systemic barriers and the need for holistic, culturally responsive advocacy.

Kelli is especially drawn to work that combines direct legal representation with systemic reform. She believes deeply in the mission of KFCMN and is proud to contribute to efforts that prioritize both immediate support and long-term policy change.

Outside of her legal work, Kelli enjoys hiking, knitting, and baking.

Emily is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School who is passionate about public interest work and advocating for children and families. Her prior experience in juvenile justice, child advocacy, and civil rights strengthened her commitment to providing compassionate, client-centered advocacy and supporting families navigating the legal system. 

She is excited to bring this background to the important work of KFCMN. Outside of work, Emily enjoys vintage fashion, going to the movies, and reading literary fiction.