Meet our Team

Project Libertad is made up of a team of passionate and dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters who make our important work possible. Meet our team below!

Rachel Rutter, Esq.
Founder and Executive Director
rachel@projectlibertad.org

Rachel, a passionate advocate for immigrant children's rights, founded Project Libertad in 2015 and serves as the Executive Director. She is a graduate of the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Gettysburg College. Rachel served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica and an Equal Justice Works JusticeAmeriCorps Fellow. She has lived and worked in Spain and Puerto Rico. Prior to transitioning full-time to Project Libertad, Rachel spent several years as a Staff Attorney representing immigrant children in removal proceedings at HIAS Pennsylvania.

Olga Hernandez
​Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@projectlibertad.org

Olga is an undergraduate student majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in Justice and Human Rights and minor in French at Drexel University. Their interests rest heavily upon community organizing and a belief in the power of the people. They have been a volunteer themselves at several other organizations working in social media, graphic designing, and outreach coordinating. Previous to this position, they were a grants researcher and writer at American Friends Service Committee. Olga is most passionate about learning and indulging in new cultures and is excited to be a part of Project Libertad as a bilingual Mexican American!

Guilianna McGinniss
Mentoring Program Coordinator
guilianna@projectlibertad.org

Guilianna oversees Project Libertad's one-on-one mentoring program. Guilianna recently graduated from Cabrini University, where she studied psychology and Spanish. Guilianna is a graduate student at Saint Leo University in Florida, where she is pursuing her M.S. in Psychology. Guilianna is studying the impact of immigration on subjective well-being. In addition to her graduate studies, Guilianna works as a preschool teacher. When she is not studying or working, Guilianna runs a lifestyle blog. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family​​

Lauren Dunoff
Newcomer After-School Program Coordinator
​lauren@projectlibertad.org

Lauren is a graphic designer who loves doing crafts and working with kids. With two grown daughters off to college, Lauren was excited to find the opportunity to volunteer with the children in the after-school programs of Project Libertad. She has enjoyed getting to know the students, and she is learning to speak Spanish. The children of Project Libertad have inspired Lauren to develop craft projects for both virtual and in-person programming, which she calls Creátiva Crafts. Lauren strives to help the students to have fun, and to feel welcome and comfortable in their school and community. 

Abe Shenoy
​​​Adult ESL Program Coordinator
​abe@projectlibertad.org

Abe has been with Project Libertad since the Fall of 2019. Volunteering has always been a big part of his life. In fact, Abe met his wife Priscilla while volunteering. As an IT professional, he has tried to find roles within his volunteer work where he can leverage his professional knowledge and abilities. Being an immigrant himself, he is aware of how much his experience has been positively impacted by the community around him. He hopes that his work with Project Libertad will be a way for him to pay this forward. 

Priscilla Rodriguez
Adult ESL Program Coordinator
priscilla@projectlibertad.org

Priscilla has been with Project Libertad since the Fall of 2019. Having lived in cities like New York and Philadelphia all of her life, she understands the beauty and vibrancy of being part of an immigrant community. She brings this passion to her work with Project Libertad. Previous to her involvement with Project Libertad, Priscilla has also worked with Students Helping Honduras as part of their leadership team based in New York City. Volunteering has always been, and continues to be, something that drives her.

Ian Garvin

Social Media & Marketing Intern

ian@projectlibertad.org

Ian is an undergraduate Animation and Visual Effects major at Drexel University. Ian enjoys music, photography, graphic design, animation, video games, and learning new things. Ian is interested in learning about different cultures and loves meeting people from different countries. 

Camille Van Kote, Esq.

Intake Supervisor, Immigrant Children's Defense Project

camille@projectlibertad.org

Camille currently lives in France, and she is licensed as an attorney in Texas. She has  many years of experience as an immigration attorney, including as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Most recently, she was the Executive Director at Esperanza Immigration Legal Services. Camille is now on the Project Libertad Board of Directors.

M, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is M. I’m 17 years old, I’m also a junior in high school, and my dream is to became a police officer one day, because I love to help people.”

C, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is C, I am 14 years old, and I am in the last year of Middle School. My goal in my life is always to help people who may need me, so I want to be a lawyer or social worker. One day, I want to help people and put into practice everything that Project Libertad has taught me.”

S, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is S, I am 20 years, and I currently work for a state representative. In the future, I want to become an immigration lawyer or get more involved in politics and be able to help minorities in my community. I hope to help and learn from others through Project Libertad. Above all I enjoy physical activities and dancing.”

Maria, student
Student Advisory Board Member

“My name is Maria I was born in Mexico. I am a Junior in High school. My goal is to become a lawyer or a teacher, because I love to help people, and want all of them to have opportunities to study or learn to have a better future.”