Michael G. Bergmann

Executive Director

Michael joined PILI in 2006 as Pro Bono Initiative Director and more recently served as PILI's Director of Programs prior to being named Executive Director on December 1, 2010.  Prior to joining PILI in 2006, Michael served as the Guardian Ad Litem Program Director for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.  An active member of the American Bar Association, Michael is serving as Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division and Vice Chair of the Lawyers Conference of the Judicial Division during the 2011-12 bar year. He previously served for three years on the Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession. Michael is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association where he serves on the Assembly and Young Lawyers Division Council and is a past chair of the Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services and Child Law Committee.  Michael is an Adjunct Professor at the DePaul University College of Law, where he also serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Public Interest Law.  He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Chicago Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society.  He has also served on the boards of directors of several community organizations. Frequently recognized for his contributions to the bar, Michael was also named the 2005 recipient of the Kimball and Karen Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship from The Chicago Bar Foundation and the 2007 Outstanding Young Alumnus from DePaul University College of Law.

Michael attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Politics. He received his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. Prior to and during law school, Michael was a consultant with the Financial Planning Solutions Group of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, responsible for project management and business development.

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Shana Heller-Ogden

Development & Communications Associate

Shana joined PILI in February 2011 as its Development & Communications Associate. She previously served as a Domestic Violence Education and Outreach VISTA at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law and as the Teen Services Trainer with Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) in Washington, DC. Shana holds a Master of Nonprofit Management from DePaul University's School of Public Service, and she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, French and Theology.

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Julia M. Kepler

Office Administrator

Julia joined PILI as its Office Administrator in March 2011. She most recently served as Office Manager and Assistant to the Executive Director for Congregation Bnei Ruven. In this position, Julia had responsibility for all aspects of office and financial administration for one of the largest synagogues in Chicago. Julia currently serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors with the Cuentos Foundation, which creates and facilitates cross-cultural interdisciplinary art programs giving voice to the stories (cuentos) of our diverse communities. Previously, Julia interned with the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio. Julia attended Ohio University and obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History with a certificate in Women’s Studies.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a focus in Nonprofit Management from Roosevelt University.

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Sheila Simhan

Program Manager

Sheila joined PILI in February 2011 as its Program Manager following two years as an Adjunct Professor and Clinical Fellow at the Small Business Opportunity Center (SBOC) at Northwestern University School of Law. Prior to her time at the SBOC, Sheila was a summer associate in the Chicago office of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and the Madison office of Foley & Lardner LLP. Sheila currently serves on the Board of Directors of campusCATALYST, a nonprofit organization that partners with universities to engage college and business school students in high-impact pro bono consulting for nonprofit organizations.  Sheila earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Legal Studies.