As an elder lawyer, I have the privilege of working with older adults and their families to navigate life’s challenges and transitions. I’ve been in the shoes of a client needing legal services for loved ones with dementia, and I understand the need for compassionate, tailored support in older age. At Scheller Legal Solutions, we offer services that bring peace of mind to older Minnesotans facing tough situations. We focus on: - Elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation - Estate and incapacity planning, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives- Long-term care navigation- Medical assistance, veterans benefits and other government benefits - Probate Led by award-winning attorney Suzanne Scheller, the mission of Scheller Legal Solutions is to provide quality, affordable legal and advocacy services with compassion and resolve. All older Minnesotans deserve to chart the path that is right for them, thrive through life transitions, and expect accountability justice when they are harmed. We are here for them.

As director, I lead the overall program at the University of Minnesota. This includes advising Fellows and advancing their academic and professional development; building and expanding relationships with experts, community leaders, faculty, and host families; facilitating the Fellows’ seminar; and supervising staff.

As a senior fellow with the Master of Human Rights program, I teach human rights courses, advise students on their professional development, and engage with civil society organizations.

• Spearheaded innovative projects, including on domestic and sexual violence; sexual and reproductive rights; women’s land and property rights; family laws; labor rights; and work-family policies. • Hired, trained and supervised a diverse team of 15 staff to carry out human rights investigations, advocacy, communications and outreach. Travelled with staff to train on fact-finding and advocacy. • Raised and managed funds, helping achieve a three-fold increase in the division’s annual budget to $3 million. Wrote successful grant proposals and maintained strong relationships with donors.• Edited hundreds of reports and news releases, opinion pieces, campaign materials, and other communications. Worked under tight deadlines and tailored pieces for varied audiences. • Advocated with governments, UN officials, corporations and others to end abuses and promote reforms. Met with a range of authorities, from national ministers to local elected officials and traditional leaders. • Represented the organization through media work and speaking engagements. Provided interviews and placed opinion pieces with news outlets, including NPR, BBC, PBS, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Newsweek, ABC News, AP and local outlets in many countries. • Contributed to positive impacts, including the adoption of treaties on domestic workers’ rights, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence; national law reforms; corporate action to improve human rights practices; and increased government budgets to advance gender equality.

Transactional practice including international joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate counseling. Responsibilities included coordinating transactions, providing strategic advice to clients, and drafting and negotiating agreements.

Worked in the law firm’s corporate department on fast-paced international and domestic business transactions. · Experience with mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures, intellectual property licenses, project finance, securities offerings, and general corporate counseling · Pro bono work on domestic violence, political asylum, and refugee law

Prepared contracts and legal opinions on commercial matters. · Negotiated agreements for banking services, technology, media, and intellectual property · Provided legal advice on privileges and immunities, peacekeeping, treaty interpretation, and UN administrative and employment lawThis one-year position was during a secondment from the Coudert Brothers law firm.